Bang for your buck gpu?

Hello all! I am considering wasting up to $500 on a single gpu. my needs are:
anyhting more powerful than a gtx 280 of radeon 4870x2 will do as I only use inventor and play far cry 3 and older games such as garrys mod, gta 3 and san andreas. I am not even remotely interested in other modern games as mmorpgs and fps games have ruined everything. Not to mention the stupid ass games like minecraft and rust. 

needs a  decent cooler that will go along with my positive pressure set up

NO OVERCLOCKING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM REGARDLESS IF ITS FACTORY OR NOT

 i really do not care what it looks like

amd is prefered

second hand is preferred

please post links

I am mostly looking at the stock 780 and stock 290 

the reason that I am getting so much more than I need is because so decade down the road I still will be pleased.

270x is best bang for buck  ! but if you want to spend more,  go for 290. But a non reference one.

Nvidia's 760 is a good bang for buck in lower price and 780 in a bit higher. i havnt checked the latest prices, but i have a rough figure in my mind. 

My Recommendation : AMD 

Reason : Mining

Best would be NON REference 290 ( Lots of room for playing around and getting good overclock

 

I think what your willing to spend pretty much determines which gpu s to consider. For 500 dollars i personally would consider a 780

I wiill never buy a 270x because it is a pre overclocked 270

Most Non reference cards are going to be factory overclocked.

Get a Raspberry Pi.

+1

Just curious, why are you worried about overclocking? 

I would recommend the R9 270X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127775 

 

I am not worried I just know that it reduces the lifespan by 50% minimum i once killed a completely stable 3770k by it being overclocked to 3.9 ghz. never rose above 60c never delided and used an overkill 1000w 80+ psu. It died 6hrs after it was oc'ed 

Holy cow? Was it the voltage that did it in? I also thought the 270x was a 7870, and the 270 a 7850? Sounds like you are willing to drop some cash though, I'd lean towards a 770/780.

the voltage was fine. it just died. i have no idea why.  my oc'ed gtx 280 died easily so I am done with ocing any thing more expensive than my raspberry pi and nook color

I meant 270 or 270x. When i bought a 270x, 270 wasn't available in my country.

But 270 / 270x , both are equally good.

Just get this and be happy, lol.

http://tinyurl.com/lbz4q66

FTW editions are factory overclocked. RRRUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!!!! In all seriousness though, OP: if it has a good warranty and is from a brand that has a good customer service reputation (ASUS, EVGA), factory overclocks are not something to be wary of.

i dont think there are any "decades down the road" gpu.  but i'll give it a try

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131549

R9-290  some came down in price on newegg, like the msi gaming, and the one "anarekist" posted, the powercolor.

there are tons of r9 290's on ebay right now but a warning, alot of them could be burnt out on scrypt mining.

For the love of god DO NOT BUY A USED GPU,the miners are starting to sell the gpus since it's not longer profitable for the average miner. By june-july the market will be flooded with used gpus that have been stressed for months or years 24/7 and they just might die right after you get it. If you're going to get something,get a new gpu or buy it from a reliable source,a friend that did not use it for mining.