GPU upgrade advice requested

blunt_eastwood

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
173
Hi All,

I currently have an I5-3570K with 12 GB of RAM and a Radeon 6950 HD GPU. I'm looking to upgrade to a new video card and was wondering what would card would give me the best value.

I'm thinking about either a 1050 TI (about $130), a 1060 3 GB (about $190) or a 1060 6 GB ($260 at the below link)

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...LC-_-na-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16814125881&cm_sp=

I'm fine with getting the 1060 6 GB to future proof my system as much as possible. In about a year or so I will upgrade my CPU.

I play the below:

Battlefield 4
Battlefield One
Destiny 2
Warframe

And I tend to play whatever the newest games are.
 
A big part of giving the best answer is knowing what resolution and refresh rate you plan to game at. 1080p@60Hz is by far (really...enormous gap) the most common monitor type used for gaming. With that a 1060 6gb will do pretty well with all of those titles. Unless you upgrade to a higher resolution or a higher refresh rate, there isn't a game out there that will cause a 1060 6GB to have to run at low or medium settings for 1080p@60Hz.

Edit: I endorse the 6GB because that model will give you the most headroom for the next couple of years, as well. If a 1060 of any flavor is being considered, the 1050 shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.
 
A big part of giving the best answer is knowing what resolution and refresh rate you plan to game at. 1080p@60Hz is by far (really...enormous gap) the most common monitor type used for gaming. With that a 1060 6gb will do pretty well with all of those titles. Unless you upgrade to a higher resolution or a higher refresh rate, there isn't a game out there that will cause a 1060 6GB to have to run at low or medium settings for 1080p@60Hz.

Edit: I endorse the 6GB because that model will give you the most headroom for the next couple of years, as well. If a 1060 of any flavor is being considered, the 1050 shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.

Thanks for the response. I don't know the exact resolution or refresh rate I use, but it is most likely 1080@60. It sounds like the 1060 with 6 GB is probably the way to go because it will give me more performance than the 3 GB version and the 1050 TI, and will also give me some future proofing.

What do you think about the model I linked? It's currently on sale for $260. Would you recommend that or another 1060 6 GB model?
 
The one you have linked is fine. The nice, if kind of bland, thing about 1060s is that there is very little functional difference between any of the AIB partner boards. All boost fairly well from stock, all respond well to overclocking if you want, all are fairly quiet under load (unless something is wrong mechanically with the fans). The 1060 is reliable and consistent to the point that aesthetics on your card may actually be viable point to differentiate, since performance is the same everywhere.
 
The one you have linked is fine. The nice, if kind of bland, thing about 1060s is that there is very little functional difference between any of the AIB partner boards. All boost fairly well from stock, all respond well to overclocking if you want, all are fairly quiet under load (unless something is wrong mechanically with the fans). The 1060 is reliable and consistent to the point that aesthetics on your card may actually be viable point to differentiate, since performance is the same everywhere.

Thank you. I will get it. I don't really care what it looks like.

If you have the money to spend on it, the 980 Ti would be the best option currently for your requirements.

https://www.ebay.com/b/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-980-Ti-Computer-Graphics-Video-Cards/27386/bn_8952537?LH_BIN=1&_sop=15&LH_ItemCondition=2000|1000|1500|2500|3000

They cost not very much more than 1060 6 gB and are about as powerful as a 1070.

Thank you. The first new one listed there is $360 (with shipping), which is already way more than I'm willing to spend. I'm going to get the 1060 6 GB.
 
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My recommendation is the same for everyone: Always, always get the highest performing GPU that your budget allows for, at the time you purchase it.
 
After shipping it would cost $11 more and 1 extra day to receive the EVGA card. Is their warranty and customer support that good that it justifies the difference?

In my honest opinion, I completely believe so. I think 11 bucks is a drop in the bucket for the peace of mind going forward, especially give the age of the card you're coming from. I assume you wait multiple gens before upgrading?

Most AIB's offer 1 year warranties, where EVGA does 3. They often will cross-ship GPU's in the event of an RMA too if requested, so less time being without one in the event something does go wrong. On top of being 100% US-based customer support (if applicable, I'm from the mid-west).

I've had 2 buddies 970's die (both MSI I believe) shortly after year 1, and had to purchase new cards (sold one of them my old 970 FTW).

TL;DR: Absolutely! :)
 
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In my honest opinion, I completely believe so. I think 11 bucks is a drop in the bucket for the peace of mind going forward, especially give the age of the card you're coming from. I assume you wait multiple gens before upgrading?

Most AIB's offer 1 year warranties, where EVGA does 3. They often will cross-ship GPU's in the event of an RMA too if requested, so less time being without one in the event something does go wrong. On top of being 100% US-based customer support (if applicable, I'm from the mid-west).

I've had 2 buddies 970's die (both MSI I believe) shortly after year 1, and had to purchase new cards (sold one of them my old 970 FTW).

TL;DR: Absolutely! :)

Alright, I'll get the EVGA one then. Thanks!
 
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