Red vs Green - which to go for?

[MrRockliffe]

I just sold my trusty 760 to a mate for 85, so will be looking for a new GPU in the next few months. Yes, months. I haven't gamed at all on PC recently, and have an XBox One, so I've no need for a GPU currently, but will look to get one before my move to university. Question is, which to go for?

I'm not bias towards either company - I'm happy to buy which ever is quicker. I'm only really interested in buying second hand, since they drop in price dramatically otherwise (paid 170 for my 760 a year ago!). Anyway, I don't want to spend much more than 200, if at all. Again, not interested in new at all.

I have a 1440p monitor, but don't mind too much playing at 1080p should I need to (upscaled, of course). Since I'm going to uni, I won't have the money to keep upgrading and would like to go for something that'll offer good performance for a few years.

I was primarily looking at an R9 290, and with 390(x) hopefully releasing in the next few months, it should drop in value.

If anyone has some recommendations, that'd be great!

[Shordes]

Yeah I'd wait for the 3xx series to come out. I'm sure a 970 would be great, even with the 3.5GB thing, which as far as I know only applies to big resolutions like 4k.

But I don't think we know anything about the 3xx cards, so might as well wait Should be released in a couple of months, I believe, so the other cards will drop in price.

Not sure why you're not interested in newer cards though, the architecture is a step above the others.

Maybe look into 770s or 780s as well, really good cards, though I'm not sure how much they cost right now.

[gupsterg]

Currently IMO red team, R9 290.

In several months time, dunno.

Perhaps still red team?

I know you state not interested in new but looking at even used prices for a R9 290 on ebay only a few go for £150 and most go for nearer £170 or + mark. At that sorta price when you see deals for new one's at the £200 mark it's a no brainer IMO vs used. I can't see them being vastly cheaper in a few month times new or used due performance/price ratio.

I stopped buying used video cards near the £200 or plus mark off ebay. I got a GTX 280 and paid over £200, it lasted 3 mths (I did the baking trick and lasted another 3 mths) and then forked out for a HD5850 for over £200 (brand new) as couldn't afford to buy a brand new higher end GPU after the loss on the GTX 280.

[MrRockliffe]

As a student, 20 pounds makes a lot of difference, so I'll only buy used Think
I may just wait and see what AMD come up with.

[Ttaskmaster]

Wait a few months, save up the cash, then see what's around at what prices.
You never know - You might find a Titan X going cheap, from someone who only bought four of 'em for a bit of overclocky-benchy stuff and has since moved on to the latest greatest out of boredom... That's how I usually get my nicer kit!

[gupsterg]

As a student, 20 pounds makes a lot of difference, so I'll only buy used Think
I may just wait and see what AMD come up with.

I agree £20 makes a difference but is it worth it over warranty? that's why I posted about how I lost £200 and had to spend another £200 on a mid range new gpu as couldn't risk losing £ on a used ebay card.

Can you afford to lose £150+? and then pay again within a short space for a card?

What also deterred me from buying a red team card off ebay is how miners sell off their cards on it.

Wait a few months, save up the cash, then see what's around at what prices.

+1 and in your shoes probably still go new at budget of £200.

[MrRockliffe]

I wouldn't use eBay. Plenty of genuine classifieds on the interweb

Most are often willing to (and sometimes do) help with warranty claims, so that's not an issue.

[Biscuit]

Not often that its worth saying wait, but right now it really is. The market is pretty stale with the immenent release of cards, likely from both sides... so its worth seeing what happens IMO.

[Marcvs]

+1 to wait; or if you can find a 290/290X for ~£100 might be worth a punt (I found one this week).

[MrRockliffe]

Definitely be worth it. Where did you find it?

[gupsterg]

Well from the flurry of 290X deals coming up on HUK it would seem stock levels are being lowered.

Seen Asus R9 290X being posted @ £219 delivered today.

[kentishh]

For 1440p gaming then 100% 290 due to it using most of the VRAM available, maybe for the stability and coolness then i'd go for the 970

[gupsterg]

Like the smaller length, cooler running and less power draw and somewhat think nvidia drivers are better than AMD Catalyst but more so I like bang for buck and to me that's where the 970 fails vs 290.

Even after the RAM thing the price of them has stayed stable of them, surprisingly, I guess the demand must be there for them. Don't get me wrong I'm not a "fanboy" of any camp, had nvidia cards in the past and liked them a lot.

[MrRockliffe]

My problem is, I don't want to wait too long, for the 300 series to be a disappointment and/or expensive, then the 290(x) to be sold out everywhere...

The 290X matrix platinum is awfully tempting for 240 GBP, can quite warrant spending that sort of money, however.

[DanceswithUnix]

As Anandtech always say, there aren't bad cards there are only bad prices. The 300 series might disappoint if it is £1000, but in the land of sane pricing that us mortals are interested in I'm sure it will all be fine.

I am kind of in the same boat, trying not to give up and just get a gtx760.

[gupsterg]

The 290X matrix platinum is awfully tempting for 240 GBP, can quite warrant spending that sort of money, however.

I wouldn't really buy the matrix over the standard one.

i) both use same cooler, no contact of heatsink on RAM, all heatpipes don't make contact with GPU.
ii) it's the same CPU/RAM freq as the non matrix.
iii) matrix has more power phases but are you going to be able to tell or make any more use of it?
iv) extra features more LN2 / extreme oc oriented.