Help choosing a card please

[EmmEff]

I'm trying to choose a card for my first build. I want to play Skyrim, ESO and various games in future (obviously!). Budget could stretch to £300-ish.

Options are...

Do I go for a single card at the top of my budget?

Do I go for 2 less powerful cards in x-fire or sli set up to get better performance than single card?

Or, maybe settle for a less expensive card that allows me to play what I want for now, and then add another as my needs change?

I've been looking at the following cards, but this is my first build so really not too sure. All advice warmly welcomed!

GTX 760
GTX 770
Sapphire HD7950
Raedon Ice Q HD7950
Raedon HD7970

 

[Kaapstad]

What resolution ? 1080p

There are some real bargains around at the moment, if it was me I would be looking at something like this.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-190-MS

Out of all the cards you have listed for most things it would be hard to tell them apart unless you were running FRAPs to monitor the fps.

 

[remember300]

personally id go for the 770 but if you go for the amd equivalents then you get loads of free games ... so in that case the 7970.

 

[EmmEff]

What resolution ? 1080p

There are some real bargains around at the moment, if it was me I would be looking at something like this.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-190-MS

Out of all the cards you have listed for most things it would be hard to tell them apart unless you were running FRAPs to monitor the fps.

Yes, 1080p. Looking at the reviews on that card it seems to have a noise issue?

What's your thoughts on the GTX660? It's close to that price range and I could sli in future?

 

[remember300]

Its a little under powered if you want to single card it.
maybe would be worth it if you was going to SLI it.
but i think you'd be better going for a more powerful card if you want some longevity from it.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/3gb-sapphire-radeon-hd-7970-vapor-x-ghz-edition-6000mhz-gddr5-28nm-1000mhz-2048-coresdp-dvi-i-hdmi-p this is in budget and if you have the games sell them if not then go for the green team and spend a lil more
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-evga-gtx-770-sc-acx-28nm-pcie-30-(x16)-7010mhz-gddr5-gpu-1111mhz-boost-1163mhz-cores-1536-dport-
or if you want an older card then 670's and 680's are in budget.

 

[Kaapstad]

Yes, 1080p. Looking at the reviews on that card it seems to have a nose issue?

What's your thoughts on the GTX660? It's close to that price range and I could sli in future?

I would leave it alone and go for one of the GTX 670s which are also going cheap at the moment.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-299-AS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-170-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294

 

[KuruOni]

I'm trying to choose a card for my first build. I want to play Skyrim, ESO and various games in future (obviously!). Budget could stretch to £300-ish.

Options are...

Do I go for a single card at the top of my budget?

Do I go for 2 less powerful cards in x-fire or sli set up to get better performance than single card?

Or, maybe settle for a less expensive card that allows me to play what I want for now, and then add another as my needs change?

I've been looking at the following cards, but this is my first build so really not too sure. All advice warmly welcomed!

GTX 760
GTX 770
Sapphire HD7950
Raedon Ice Q HD7950
Raedon HD7970

I would say get the GTX 770 because that is a high end card that can play games at 1080p and some on 1440p on High to Ultra around 30-60fps

 

[NeverBackDown]

Yes, 1080p. Looking at the reviews on that card it seems to have a noise issue?

What's your thoughts on the GTX660? It's close to that price range and I could sli in future?

I have the card linked to a MSI 7950 TF3.. No noise issue unless you're running some insane overclock or very intensive game..

IMO for your budget these are the cards i would consider getting.

770 or 7970(basically equal), 760 or 7950(one is faster than the other depending on game) then 7870 or 660 ti(same as previous) and nothing lower.

 

[EmmEff]

I'm still pondering on this, but I've noticed something. A lot of these cards show as 40cm long, and I think that would give me installation issues on my rig. Is that a standard length? Nearly half a metre?

 

[WillSK]

I'm still pondering on this, but I've noticed something. A lot of these cards show as 40cm long, and I think that would give me installation issues on my rig. Is that a standard length? Nearly half a metre?

Cards can be quite long. Depends what case you have mate but i doubt it'd be an issue

I would go for a 670/770 if i were you

 

[EmmEff]

Cards can be quite long. Depends what case you have mate but i doubt it'd be an issue

I would go for a 670/770 if i were you

Just checked the gigabyte website, it's not 400mm long! Amazon must be stating box length.

Really close to hitting the place order button on this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Ge...TF8&colid=1X84A4JO74P2D&coliid=I3V4X6YFV1SFJ5

 

[WillSK]

Just checked the gigabyte website, it's not 400mm long! Amazon must be stating box length.

Really close to hitting the place order button on this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Ge...TF8&colid=1X84A4JO74P2D&coliid=I3V4X6YFV1SFJ5

Windforce is a good card, although this is just as good (probably better), cheaper and comes with a free game! http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-...8mhz-gddr5-gpu-1019mhz-boost-1079mhz-plus-fre

Edit: The one i've linked you is a today only offer and is actually a higher clocked card plus it has a black PCB which I prefer over the horrible blue one Gigabyte used in their 670

This one is also in your budget and is a 680!! http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-...mhz-gddr5-gpu-1019mhz-boost-1084mhz-cores-153

 

[EmmEff]

Windforce is a good card, although this is just as good (probably better), cheaper and comes with a free game! http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-...8mhz-gddr5-gpu-1019mhz-boost-1079mhz-plus-fre

Edit: The one i've linked you is a today only offer and is actually a higher clocked card plus it has a black PCB which I prefer over the horrible blue one Gigabyte used in their 670

This one is also in your budget and is a 680!! http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-...mhz-gddr5-gpu-1019mhz-boost-1084mhz-cores-153

I've bought the Windforce! Looking forward to getting it installed.

Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[WillSK]

I've bought the Windforce! Looking forward to getting it installed.

Thanks to all for the advice.

Why would you have bought the windforce when the card I linked you was higher clocked, cheaper and came with a free game :S

 

[EmmEff]

Why would you have bought the windforce when the card I linked you was higher clocked, cheaper and came with a free game :S

I had already bought it before I saw your post!

 

[WillSK]

I had already bought it before I saw your post!

Amazon allows you to cancel if you so choose. But those deals i linked you are today only. Even if you do get the windforce I wouldn't worry though, it's a great card

 

[NeverBackDown]

I would cancel the order for that 680.. Cheaper than the 670 you bought. Just make sure you have room for a 3 slot card.

 

[EmmEff]

I would cancel the order for that 680.. Cheaper than the 670 you bought. Just make sure you have room for a 3 slot card.

The 680 isn't cheaper, Gigabyte 670 was £227. It was a £40 saving and I thought the review on the Windforce both here and elsewhere justified the purchase at that saving.

Edit to add, Amazon customer service is also a factor.

 

[KingDazza]

You can pick up a factory overclocked 680 for a good price these days, which would be on par with a stock 770 and cheaper.