(03-17-2014, 02:55 AM)kinkinkijkin Wrote: If you're going to use it for mining, I'd recommend a 290 or 290x.
Graphics card, get the Sapphire Toxic 290 if it's not ridiculously out-of-budget. It is, after all, $800 here. Otherwise, I think you should get a 280x. It'll last around 2 more years, it's lasted 3 already. Both cards can handle Dolphin pretty much completely-enhanced, though, the 280x is not actually as good for mining as retailers are putting it up to be. Consumers tend to be a little stupid, so they're riding on the fact that it's one below the newer 290 and 290x, to ham it up as being just as good as them at it. But, in truth, everything below 290 is from HD7000/HD8000, so don't have new stuff in them at all.
Though, even for the Sapphire Toxic 290, you will still need a well-ventilated case. In a well-ventilated case, it loads at the same temps that my 5770 loaded when I still had my CPU cooler on backwards, blowing hot air into the case.
And, don't use Dolphin as a GPU benchmark. My 5770 handles 4xIR with multiple enhancements in every game I have, INCLUDING Twilight Princess, leaving the rest to the CPU. I'll admit, though, your GPU is pretty weak. Most people say a 750 Ti is pretty damn good for Dolphin, but, since you want to do some mining and you want it to play other games as well, I keep on my assertion of 290. Unless you don't really feel like ever mining a full coin in your lifetime, then I'd say go for the 280x.
I've seen some of the hardware comparisons for the "rates" that other miners had gotten with their cards, being the R9 280X averaged around 600 kh/s, and the R9 290X averaging around 850 kh/s, both not set up with parameters.
I should of mentioned my case too (way better ventilated than my old one). I was originally using an APEVIA case from the 2000's that a friend gave to me, but when I built my new system, I upgraded to the Rosewill Blackhawk with 2 front 120mm fans, a top 120mm fan, a side 120mm fan, and a back 120mm fan. I figured the ventilation with it wouldn't be a problem, and I haven't found one yet.
I'll keep that in mind and watch everything AMD 280X and up. I mean, not that I don't enjoy watching literally 200 coins trickle in a day, but making that 2-3k (at current difficulties) would be more than pleasing.
Thanks for the info.
OH! I forgot to mention. I wasn't using Dolphin as my benchmark. I was using as desktop widget called GPU Meter that monitor the usage of the processor on the GPU, amongst memory, fan speed, and a couple of others things. I've come to like them for the real-time (Or at least what appears to be real time) usage of my computer.