New Hardware Need help deciding on a video card

[Helpless Glint]

Here's the story. Wanted to build a gaming PC and while checking a ton of sites for PC components sales I stumbled upon a great deal for ~$270

4th Generation Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz processor
12GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz (8GBx1 + 4GBx1)
Intel HD Integrated Graphics, HDMI
1TB 7200 rpm SATA 6Gb/s
Wireless-N 1705 + Bluetooth 4.0
Windows 8.1

So this deal not only left me with some extra cash, it also saved me time by waiting for a component to be on sale(+ better specs from what I wanted to build). I'm going to remove the 4GB ram and add a 8GB from my current PC to make it 16GB ram. I'm going to change the psu(probably has a ~300w psu) to a 550w-650w, add some extra fans but I'm stuck on a graphics card. Don't know which card to buy. I'm stuck between a couple of cards for now:

-Radeon R9 270X 2GB 256-Bit(this is my first choice ~$180 with rebates could find it cheaper but this card has a life time warranty and a x4GB for ~$220-a little bit over the budget)

-GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB

-GeForce GTX 960 2GB (~$200)

So I have a budget of $200 for a video card. As being a conscious consumer(cheap) I was hoping there are alternative cards out there(to be good cards) or if I spend $200 on a card,are there better options out there(could wait for them to pop up on sale). Any input would be great. I'm going to purchase a card when the PC will arrive and open it to change the psu and see how much space I have in it(some cards are longer than others).

 

[MrDJSilva]

i'd say don't worry about getting more ram and use that extra money to save up for a GeForce GTX 980

 

[Helpless Glint]

i'd say don't worry about getting more ram and use that extra money to save up for a GeForce GTX 980

I already have the ram from my current PC. Checked the card(seems awesome) but the cheapest one I found was $545 and that's way over the budget I set for myself. Thanks.
It did however make me have a second look at the GeForce GTX 960.

 

[Snipeye]

Reviews are still pouring in on the GTX 960. With that said, reviews show it competing against (and surpassing) the R9 285 and GTX 760. In some cases, it's actually close with the GTX 770 performance wise. I think the decision for you will be between the 960 and the 270X. Cheaper price (standard model), more VRAM (higher end model), and a higher bus for the 270X. However, to get more VRAM, you'll be giving the 960 the lower price crown, and it still edges the 270X in performance. I think the main question will come down to what games you play and the optimization these two cards' drivers bring to the table.

 

[Helpless Glint]

Reviews are still pouring in on the GTX 960. With that said, reviews show it competing against (and surpassing) the R9 285 and GTX 760. In some cases, it's actually close with the GTX 770 performance wise. I think the decision for you will be between the 960 and the 270X. Cheaper price (standard model), more VRAM (higher end model), and a higher bus for the 270X. However, to get more VRAM, you'll be giving the 960 the lower price crown, and it still edges the 270X in performance. I think the main question will come down to what games you play and the optimization these two cards' drivers bring to the table.

Thanks for the great input. CSS for sure, Battlefield and CSGO(most of the players with whom I play are making a transition to GO-not a fast one which is good for now ). These are the main games I'll be playing. So I'm going to decide between the 270 or 960(gonna read more reviews on both these cards and have to decide).
Thanks again for the input.

 

[Snipeye]

Anytime. Let us know what you ultimately decide on. I'm personally debating saving for the GTX 970/980 or "settle" for the 960. Current GPU is a 560 Ti.

 

[MrDJSilva]

I already have the ram from my current PC. Checked the card(seems awesome) but the cheapest one I found was $545 and that's way over the budget I set for myself. Thanks.
It did however make me have a second look at the GeForce GTX 960.

Yer i'm aware of you're budget xD it'll just take a little more time to get the GTX 980 and it'll be awesome the reviews and benchmarks are really good my friend, i would consider taking the extra time to save up i'd reckon it'll be worth it

 

[Jake123]

This was just updated for the month of February. They do all the tests and reviews and let you know what the "best bang for your buck" is, in all budgets.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

I upgrade my card about every two years, and usually buy a $200 card. Last July I went with the 270x and I love it. I get good FPS in all games. but at this point I would be getting the evga 960 or saving my pennies for the 970

 

[Helpless Glint]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm now quite sold on the 960 card(and it was actually my third option). It seems the best card out there at my price range. I'm going to camp out the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0 to pop up on sale(it was on sale two weeks ago for $185-$20 rebate card).


Dictated but not read
Thanks

 

[J33f]

I used http:// pcpartspicker . com to pick out and select the pieces of my system. I'm at Graphics cards right now and thankfully, tax season has been ever-so generous to me.

My thoughts on your decisions are pretty simple. There's several sites that will do comparison's and bang -for-your-buck graphics cards, but in the end it's NIKE vs ADIDAS. Intel vs AMD. Do you go for Radeon or GeForce?

I prefer Radeon, unlike the going crowd, but I also have an FX-8350 8-core AMD.

The 960 consumes less power, but you didn't mention your power output of your new system. $209.00
The Radeon R9 280 is has pretty rockin' performance specs. $216.00

Pegged against one another for specs:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html

If you've got an extra hunny, the GeForce GTX 970, at 329.99 is the ultimate conservative buy. The bang.


EDIT:
Since you said the 960 was your pick.

199.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487093&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Desktop+Graphics+Cards-_-N82E16814487093&gclid=CjwKEAiAo8emBRCX_OqU4qek6y8SJACzgf8fwkOjnFh-x_Nxrk_sIKQBXBF87JjQDNEIRDFRGm8JthoC3gLw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Helpless Glint]

I used http:// pcpartspicker . com to pick out and select the pieces of my system. I'm at Graphics cards right now and thankfully, tax season has been ever-so generous to me.

My thoughts on your decisions are pretty simple. There's several sites that will do comparison's and bang -for-your-buck graphics cards, but in the end it's NIKE vs ADIDAS. Intel vs AMD. Do you go for Radeon or GeForce?

I prefer Radeon, unlike the going crowd, but I also have an FX-8350 8-core AMD.

The 960 consumes less power, but you didn't mention your power output of your new system. $209.00
The Radeon R9 280 is has pretty rockin' performance specs. $216.00

Pegged against one another for specs:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html

If you've got an extra hunny, the GeForce GTX 970, at 329.99 is the ultimate conservative buy. The bang.


EDIT:
Since you said the 960 was your pick.

199.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487093&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Desktop+Graphics+Cards-_-N82E16814487093&gclid=CjwKEAiAo8emBRCX_OqU4qek6y8SJACzgf8fwkOjnFh-x_Nxrk_sIKQBXBF87JjQDNEIRDFRGm8JthoC3gLw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks for the input. Ordered a 750 watt PSU so with power management I good. As for the debate between Radeon or GeForce I don't have any preferences(used both) it's about getting more bang for your buck. The Radeon R9 290 4GB(not the 290x- would have bought it in a heart beat) is on sale for $219.99(after rebate at newegg).As for the GTX 960 I'll get this one(better cooling at the same price)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487092

Got sold with the 960(after reading reviews of the card) I'll just camp out for a discount(Visa checkout $25 off $100 or a better rebate) especially with valentine's day around the corner(it was on sale for $185 2 weeks ago).

 

[DragonD]

I picked up a GTX 970 back in Oct or Nov... don't remember when.

It's very nice...