graphics card 1 gtx 670 or 2 hd7850s?

[omslemming]

So basically my budget for a graphics card is about 350-360 english pounds.

For this I can get a decent nvida gtx 670 (im leaning towards the gigabyte windforce 3 fan version) or I could get 2 of a card like the radeon hd7850 (Looking at the xfx duel fan version) and run them in crossfire.

For a gaming rig, which would be the best option?

 

[CDdude55]

I'd go with a single GTX 670 now and then grab another a little later.

 

[GSquadron]

Since the GTX670 is a 3 fan, i would have bought it immediately.

 

[adulaamin]

I'd go with a single GTX 670 now and then grab another a little later.

^this... and single card would mean less hassle...

 

[DarkOCean]

have you tought about 7950 ? seems pretty decent value with the actual prices after the recent price drop.

 

[Hilux SSRG]

I would go for the gigabyte 670 oc version.

 

[omslemming]

I was leaning towards the single card option, however I dont have a lot of experience in this, the system im building is only my 2nd attempt (current system has a single sapphire radeon vapor x edition hd 5750 so this is a big upgrade) how much advantage does a duel gpu setup give you? I mean do you get the full benefit from both cards or is there some loss there? Im aware the gtx 670 is the more powerful card, would 1 of them be a match for 2 of the hd 7850s? or? Think if i get the gtx670 ill stick with the single unless I win the lottery in the future as im overbudget for this system slightly already, so without the option of going sli with a 2nd card in the future if i get the gtx 670, which would provide the better option performence wise? the single setup 670 or the crossfire hd7850`s? this is the limit of my spending so id like to go for whatever would perform the best out of the 2 options.

 

[manofthem]

I'm assuming 1920.1080, go with the 670, I think it'll serve you better. Don't get me wrong, i'm a fan of crossfire; I'm running cfx now and last 3 generations, with very little issues to speak of. That's mainly on a single monitor, it usually works fine.

2 7850s would likely be a little more powerful than a stock 670, but 670 OCd beats stock 680, so that's beast right there. Go with the 670

 

[radrok]

GTX 670 for 1080p or 7970/50 if you are on atleast 2560x1600.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

GTX 670 for 1080p or 7970/50 if you are on atleast 2560x1600.

No, GTX670 can handle that high of resolution pretty well. Not as well as the 7970, but still beats the 7950.

 

[radrok]

No, GTX670 can handle that high of resolution pretty well. Not as well as the 7970, but still beats the 7950.

The GTX 670 doesn't overclock as much as 7950/70 because of the locked voltage, also 3GB VRAM on the Radeons will help on 1600p+ especially looking onward to future games.

Maybe a GTX 670 MSI power edition with unlocked voltage, that could do very well

 

[omslemming]

The GTX 670 doesn't overclock as much as 7950/70 because of the locked voltage, also 3GB VRAM on the Radeons will help on 1600p+ especially looking onward to future games.

Maybe a GTX 670 MSI power edition with unlocked voltage, that could do very well

I assume you mean this one? MSI GTX 670 OC Edition 2GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDMI.. |...

I did look at this for the cheaper price but Ive read some dodgy reviews focusing on the high temps particualy, it does look like a small and cheap cooler attached to the card, esp with this being an oc edition.

any other suggestions though for cards around this price range? or is there anything just over that kind of price but that much better it might be worth me saving a few more pennys for?

ive seen a sapphire vapor x edition 3gb 7970 for 20 quid more so considering this option as well

 

[the54thvoid]

If you can acquire on of these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-007-VX&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

They sell quite cheap for what is one of the fastest and quietest 7970's. It may have 'coil whine' to a small extent being a custom PCB but it may not. The earlier PCB's suffered a lot from what i can tell. My Powercolor LCS 7970 has coil whine but it seems to vary and is never loud (cheap custom PCB with EKWB on top).

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/VTX3D/Radeon_HD_7970_X-Edition/33.html

Of course a Asus GTX 670 Direct CUII TOP would rock but they're impossible to find (in UK at least).

 

[omslemming]

one other question, I currently run a sapphire hd 5750 vapor x edition in my current build.

cards in perfectly good condition, no running issues etc.

When I make this new build im planning on transferring a few components(no point buying a new dvd rewriter etc when the one i have in current build works fine)

Say if I got a 7970 for the new build, would it be worth transferring my 5750 and running that as well with crossfire? I mean ive never done it before do cards have to be a similar spec to be crossfire compatable? and would it give much of a boost compared to running the 7970 alone(even though its lower spec surly the added ram from the old card would have some impact) or would it be negliable? in which case I might just ebay the old card.

 

[the54thvoid]

ebay the old card.

The 5750 would not be crossfire compatible - they need to be from same family (5750 with a 5770, or a 7970 with a 7950)

 

[omslemming]

ebay the old card.

The 5750 would not be crossfire compatible - they need to be from same family (5750 with a 5770, or a 7970 with a 7950)

Thourght something like that would be the case, thanks for the info dudes.

 

[Zubasa]

If you manage to find a 7970 priced similar to the 670, I would definitely get that.
Or else find a decently built 670.

 

[omslemming]

If you manage to find a 7970 priced similar to the 670, I would definitely get that.
Or else find a decently built 670.

well ive found that sapphire vapor x edition 7970 for only about 20 quid more then the 670 with ebuyer.co.uk Sapphire HD 7970 VAPOR-X GHZ Edition 3GB GDDR5 Dua... so I think ill be going for that one, similar performence by the looks of it but the 7970 has 1gb more ram and I know vapor x is a good cooling system as my current 5750 has it and ive had no temp issues even when overclocking it (currently find I can go as high as 800mhz gpu and 1430mhz mem clock with it stable which is not bad for a cheap card like the 5750 was)

 

[Frenzic]

well ive found that sapphire vapor x edition 7970 for only about 20 quid more then the 670 with ebuyer.co.uk Sapphire HD 7970 VAPOR-X GHZ Edition 3GB GDDR5 Dua... so I think ill be going for that one, similar performence by the looks of it but the 7970 has 1gb more ram and I know vapor x is a good cooling system as my current 5750 has it and ive had no temp issues even when overclocking it (currently find I can go as high as 800mhz gpu and 1430mhz mem clock with it stable which is not bad for a cheap card like the 5750 was)

Well i have one and they are awsome. You will be happy with it

 

[omslemming]

Well i have one and they are awsome. You will be happy with it

awesome and id like to take this chance to say a little prayer to the zombie jesus of pc building that someday I may actully have the spare funds to buy another 1 for crossfire....doubly awesome

 

[Frenzic]

awesome and id like to take this chance to say a little prayer to the zombie jesus of pc building that someday I may actully have the spare funds to buy another 1 for crossfire....doubly awesome

Yer absolutley awesome with 2 of the beasts. 1 was plenty expensive for me but a good future upgrade, aaahhh 2 in crossfire = quality

 

[manofthem]

Absolutely, 2 7970s is beast! If you could score that, you'll be lovin' in, like McDonalds. and don't let everyone and their mother scare you about crossfire issues, as many here haven't had them.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

IDK this is a tough one...7850 crossfire is a very tempting option.

 

[DarkOCean]

well ive found that sapphire vapor x edition 7970 for only about 20 quid more then the 670 with ebuyer.co.uk Sapphire HD 7970 VAPOR-X GHZ Edition 3GB GDDR5 Dua... so I think ill be going for that one, similar performence by the looks of it but the 7970 has 1gb more ram and I know vapor x is a good cooling system as my current 5750 has it and ive had no temp issues even when overclocking it (currently find I can go as high as 800mhz gpu and 1430mhz mem clock with it stable which is not bad for a cheap card like the 5750 was)

Too expensive this looks better for 330 pounds http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-063-HS or you could go for a 7950 and crossfire later http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-148-MS

 

[MxPhenom 216]

The GTX 670 doesn't overclock as much as 7950/70 because of the locked voltage, also 3GB VRAM on the Radeons will help on 1600p+ especially looking onward to future games.

Maybe a GTX 670 MSI power edition with unlocked voltage, that could do very well

Actually Kepler in terms of the mhz overclock just as good if not better(Overclocking will always come down to the chip though. Luck of the draw), but the thing is they do not scale as well when overclocked only an increase of 3-4 frames while the 7950/70 scale up to 7-8fps when the same amount of overclock. At this point if you look at reviews at 1600p resultions kepler cards hold their own VERY well and the 2GB memory buffer barely even slows it down.