Needing a new Graphics card

[EarthDog]

*7970 is clearly much faster, especially the GHz Editions.
*It overclocks more as well (Nvida has neutered their overclocking/tweaking).
*More vram will help in the future.
*Bus width is thing is a non issue as even with 256bit, you can see the Nvidia cards perform juuuuust fine at your res and higher (does fine at 2560x1440 on my rig). That would come in to play however past 2560x1440 resolutions.

In fact there is a bios upgrade that can turn reference 7970s to Ghz editions.

I never understand this suggestion and 'need/want' to flash a bios on a card. Why take the risk of bricking a card when software does it without the risk? Makes no sense, to me, to recommend this to anyone outside of skilled users, more specifically ones that benchmark at hwbot.

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by EarthDog

I never understand this suggestion and 'need/want' to flash a bios on a card. Why take the risk of bricking a card when software does it without the risk? Makes no sense, to me, to recommend this to anyone outside of skilled users, more specifically ones that benchmark at hwbot.

Pretty sure that this BIOS update is supported by vendors iirc. It's not like this is a dirty hack to get it to run at the same speeds.

[NdMk2o1o]

7950 VaporX considerably cheaper than both 670 and 7970 and all seem to overclock to 1100+ on the core beating out both the above options, mine does 1200+ and yes it can beat some overclocked 7970's and 680's for £50-£100 less

[Jack1n]

+1 to 7970.

[EarthDog]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

Pretty sure that this BIOS update is supported by vendors iirc. It's not like this is a dirty hack to get it to run at the same speeds.

Thats fine and dandy but my point still remains. Why bother taking the risk, especially with people that havent done it before??? Makes no sense to me at all when software can do it just as easily, with ZERO risk. People are brave, especially at this site, suggesting to other members to flash, regardless of company A says is ok (id like to see that as well).

[Zubasa]

Originally Posted by EarthDog

I never understand this suggestion and 'need/want' to flash a bios on a card. Why take the risk of bricking a card when software does it without the risk? Makes no sense, to me, to recommend this to anyone outside of skilled users, more specifically ones that benchmark at hwbot.

There is hardly any risk involved in flashing a 7900 series card, because pretty much all of them comes with a bios switch.
There is a write-protected back-up bios in case something goes wrong.

[wolf]

to me it doesnt seem clear cut that the 7970 is clearly faster.. and overclocking is very dependant on the sample, i have a penchant for selecting duds lol..

[EarthDog]

Originally Posted by wolf

to me it doesnt seem clear cut that the 7970 is clearly faster.. and overclocking is very dependant on the sample, i have a penchant for selecting duds lol..

Perhaps your definition and mine are different. I already linked it up, and across all titles tested at 1920x1200 it averages 5% faster. There may be a title or two it loses in, but overall 5% is a clear win (on average).

[NdMk2o1o]

Originally Posted by wolf

to me it doesnt seem clear cut that the 7970 is clearly faster.. and overclocking is very dependant on the sample, i have a penchant for selecting duds lol..

Depends, the VaporX cards that I mentioned all seem to hit at least 1100 on the core from what I have seen and they come factory OC at 950mhz to begin with.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by EarthDog

Perhaps your definition and mine are different. I already linked it up, and across all titles tested at 1920x1200 it averages 5% faster. There may be a title or two it loses in, but overall 5% is a clear win (on average).

it's not like that in every review, so it clearly depends on system configuration

[EarthDog]

Originally Posted by Zubasa

There is hardly any risk involved in flashing a 7900 series card, because pretty much all of them comes with a bios switch.
There is a write-protected back-up bios in case something goes wrong.

Several of mine didnt have a second bios...depends on the card.

Im not a conservative person, but telling people to do this is much more risky than just doing it via software. No risk = same result. Risk of bricking your card or spending time blind flashing to get it back = same result.

[EarthDog]

Originally Posted by wolf

so it clearly depends on system configuration

It dpends on the game and resolution. I dont care if a potato was running the 7970. If the potato ran a 680 with the same settings/res in this review, the results would be the same.

[Zubasa]

Originally Posted by EarthDog

Several of mine didnt have a second bios...depends on the card.

Im not a conservative person, but telling people to do this is much more risky than just doing it via software. No risk = same result. Risk of bricking your card or spending time blind flashing to get it back = same result.

That is why I checked that my card comes with dual-bios, and it happens to be the cheapest one around as well.
Some manufacturers tends to cut features as the cards drop in price.

[EarthDog]

Some manufacturers tends to cut features as the cards drop in price.

Ironically, the HIS 7970 X (think Matrix/Lightning level - see review here or at OCF where I reviewed it) DOESNT have one and is one of the most expensive out there... yet its little brother, the 7970 IceQ X2 DOES have one...

tough to hang your hat on anything these days.

[wolf]

you cut the first part of my quote off, where I said it's not as clear cut as you make it seem in all the reviews I have read, for isntance Guru3'd reviews have a 670 beating out a 7970 as often as it gets beat, so please help me with reasoning other than that the 7970 is clearly faster.

from what I've read the average GTX670 oc's rather well too so perhaps some reccommendations of exact models and why? non reference coolers, pre oc's and the like.

[EarthDog]

You would want to check the drivers they used in that review. If its not the 12.11's, then its about useless IMO as those gave a lot of the 7 series a significant boost in performance. I think I did give other reasoning...feel free to check my post again.

As far as your post, cutting that part off didnt change the meaning of my post(s) or yours. The hardware has nothing to do with it. Its what titles and settings and drivers that vary in the review(s).

the average GTX670 oc's rather well too

They do... but as I mentioned twice now, voltage is limited and overclocking is dumbed down a ton. If that is cool, then it is.

[wolf]

This is the store I would have to choose from, so I'll link GTX670's and 7970's for some specific choices.

7970's

http://www.grosbill.com/catv2.cgi?td..._filtre_2=2665

670's

http://www.grosbill.com/catv2.cgi?td..._filtre_1=2665

[Zubasa]

Originally Posted by wolf

you cut the first part of my quote off, where I said it's not as clear cut as you make it seem in all the reviews I have read, for isntance Guru3'd reviews have a 670 beating out a 7970 as often as it gets beat, so please help me with reasoning other than that the 7970 is clearly faster.

from what I've read the average GTX670 oc's rather well too so perhaps some reccommendations of exact models and why? non reference coolers, pre oc's and the like.

SAPPHIRE 100351SR Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5...
Cheapest on the egg.
$20 rebate, free games and bios switch.

Originally Posted by wolf

This is the store I would have to choose from, so I'll link GTX670's and 7970's for some specific choices.

7970's

http://www.grosbill.com/catv2.cgi?td..._filtre_2=2665

670's

http://www.grosbill.com/catv2.cgi?td..._filtre_1=2665

That 7970 looks like it shares the same design.

[wolf]

I Live in inner Paris so my best choices and price come from this store:

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=42

I've bought tech here for the past 2 and 1/2 years and this is about the best I can do without ordering online which I'd really prefer not to do

[Zubasa]

The good thing having a card that is base on the same design is you can grab hold of the Bios of the OC version and flash it on the standard one.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1962/1/

The only concern is that the pic provided by the store isn't big enough to determine if they are indeed the same PCB.

[wolf]

You all mayhave convinced me on a 7970 unless something amazing in the way of a special on a 670 pops up... its 10 Euro cheaper than the cheapest one and I would look forward to some bulk overclocking.

[EarthDog]

Its tough to move away from what you know, but when your wallet and the facts are driving the purchase instead of brand preference, the choice becomes almost painfully obvious. You would be quite happy either way, but your wallet thanks you on the price: performance side of things.

[Crap Daddy]

Borderlands 2 and Assassin's Creed III as opposed to Far Cry 3 (which you have) Sleeping Dogs and Hitman?

Really, if you want to overclock the hell out of the card and are comfortable with the power consumption, heat and maybe noise that come with it, the 7970 is the winner.

[wolf]

I'd have thought 670's were cheaper by now but AMD cards have really dropped a lot more than I thought!

[EarthDog]

AMD dropped prices aggressively twice in the last few months, then with the 12.11 'performance' driver out, you have the landscape you have seen now.... an extremely competitive product and market. God bless competition!