Upgrading to GTX 970 or R390x?

[reemi]

I want to upgrade my GTX 560TI. Not only for WoW of course.

My 2 choices are: the GTX 970 @ ~450$ CAD, or the R390X @ ~550$ CAD.

Do the R390X is really better? I know there's 8GB instead of 4GB...

Note: At the moment my MB/CPU will bottleneck but I will change my MB/CPU in few months.

I always use Intel, I will buy an i5 or i7, and usually I always use Nvidia.

[mrgreenthump]

390x is better yes, but is it better by 100 Dollars, probalby not. Also 8 gigs of memory on the 390x is probably an overkill unless you go for 4k gaming, but even then it's not much apart from 290x with 4 gigs, which is basically the same card with a bit lower clocks and memory bandwidth.

In the end you should only consider 390x if you plan on 2560x1440 or 2560x1600. But even then you can find a 290x on sale for quite a bit less.

- - - Updated - - -

Should probably also add that 390x requires a better CPU than 970GTX under DX11 to avoid bottlenecking.

[reemi]

Do 1440p will work with a single R390x, with latest games like Witcher 3?

Edit: I'm waiting Windows 10 to reinstall all my PC, then I'll upgrade my MB/CPU, and I guess I'll used DirectX12. I want my graphic card to run games for 2 or 3 years of course, not necessary at FULL resolution and details.

If I can run at 1440p, maybe I'll buy a new monitor too!!

[mrgreenthump]

Original reviews for Witcher gave 390x around 40 fps on ultra @1440.. Though as far as I know they did update the drivers since then and you should be getting a bit more performance out of it now. So yeah 40-50 fps is something you will get. Is that enough.. for an RPG, maybe.

And what comes to DX12, I don't know if we will get any pure DX12 games this year. And even next year depends on the adaptation rate of Windows 10 if it's only on it.

[Gaidax]

I have 1440p monitor and overclocked 290X (which is the same thing as 390X, by the way)

Here is what I can tell you - you can't run any recent game in ultra settings and expect 60 FPS, you will get anywhere between 30-70 FPS, which is okay, but not really optimal.

But really, same with 970... Those two are excellent 1080p cards, but 1440p is still a bit tough for them to swallow, they are decent there, but not really optimal.

If you don't care about stable 60 FPS with ultra quality, then they are okay.


If you want optimal 1440p experience (think ultra, 60 fps, blah blah) then you need either 980Ti or Fury or dual GPU solution.

Also, one final piece of advice - don't buy 390X, but 290X if you can - it's virtually the same GPU, but like 100 bucks cheaper because it's "old generation", you even have 8GB versions of those too (useless BTW, my 290X never even manages to use up 4GB with 1440p at best quality).

[Vash The Stampede]

Also, one final piece of advice - don't buy 390X, but 290X if you can - it's virtually the same GPU, but like 100 bucks cheaper because it's "old generation", you even have 8GB versions of those too (useless BTW, my 290X never even manages to use up 4GB with 1440p at best quality).

^
This before the 290X's are no longer sold. The extra 4GB is useless. The 970 has 3.5GB and that doesn't matter.

[Jimmy Thick]

How about upgrading from a R9 270x to a 290x/390x or 970? I have a little extra gaming cash was was considering a upgrade and was wondering if an upgrade from my current 270x would be worthwhile or if I should just keep it until a bigger jump in performance is out there?

[Djuntas]

My build without full CMAA and some other settings gets like 20-25 FPS inn 40 mans pugs. 1080p

I love my gtx asus 970, its epic. Also never seen more than 67 degress

[Vash The Stampede]

How about upgrading from a R9 270x to a 290x/390x or 970? I have a little extra gaming cash was was considering a upgrade and was wondering if an upgrade from my current 270x would be worthwhile or if I should just keep it until a bigger jump in performance is out there?

For most 1080P games, the 270x will run max settings without issue. Remember it's a rebranded Radeon HD 7870. But if you're into 1440p and want games running 60 fps then you get a 290 or 970. It's all up to what you want. If you feel games are running slow than buy new hardware.

[Gaidax]

You won't get 60 FPS at 1440p with 290, I got 290X (and overclocked at that) and it's everywhere between 30-70 FPS at that resolution in any decent game. I do play at ultra settings, so maybe if you are ready to drop down a notch it will be better.

290 won't be bad, but 60 FPS won't be happening with best settings.