Video Card Questions

[xplodpb]

Hello, guys! With the recent price drop from AMD, these two cards, GTX 670 and HD 7970, are now on the same price range, which one you think are better for gaming now and for the next two years? Please, leave your opinion, tell me about the pros and cons, which brands to buy, your experiences, everything that can help with this tough choice!

P.S.: The GTX 680 worth the money?

Thaaaanks!

 

[Evolved]

Get a GTX 680.

It's $100 more than a GTX 670 but... considering a 680 will and can last you more than three years.

In a span of three years, $100 is nothing.

 

[xplodpb]

Which brand do you recommend? You think that the 2 GB ram and a poor DirectCompute will be a issue on future? Thanks!

 

[T4C Fantasy]

um hd7970 its 2x better in non-gaming compute power example: folding crunching then even a gtx 690.... for gaming get a gtx670 its cheaper...

 

[xplodpb]

They are on the exact same price now, that's the problem hehehe You think that future games will use DirectCompute like Dirt Showdown?

 

[T4C Fantasy]

They are on the exact same price now, that's the problem hehehe You think that future games will use DirectCompute like Dirt Showdown?

if its the same price then you shouldnt even be asking people the hd7970 is superior to the gtx670 in almost every way, just overclock it to 1125 core 1575 mem... <-- all preferance 7970s can do this no problem

 

[manofthem]

I've had good experiences with my 7970(s), no major complaints to speak of. I haven't had any major driver issue that many complain about, even running crossfire.

Assuming your running single monitor @1080, either card would be fine. I'd say 7970 because that's what I have used and liked, but the 670 is a beast too.

if its the same price then you shouldnt even be asking people the hd7970 is superior to the gtx670 in almost every way, just overclock it to 1125 core 1575 mem... <-- all preferance 7970s can do this no problem

My first card couldn't max ccc on default voltage, it was one of the first with low default voltage. My current 2 can though, so I'm assuming most new ones can....

 

[T4C Fantasy]

I've had good experiences with my 7970(s), no major complaints to speak of. I haven't had any major driver issue that many complain about, even running crossfire.

Assuming your running single monitor @1080, either card would be fine. I'd say 7970 because that's what I have used and liked, but the 670 is a beast too.




My first card couldn't max ccc on default voltage, it was one of the first with low default voltage. My current 2 can though, so I'm assuming most new ones can....

i have the preferance one from launch im certain of it that all can do this oc, i got it when it was 549$

also its worth noting i bought it on launch date which means i have ordered the first batch released that is non-engineering sample, actually ordered it 3 hours before the release date because newegg actually put it up at that time was like 8pm

 

[xplodpb]

Most of the new HD 7970 are coming with the voltage locked, i saw some issues with heat on the VRM and a lot of suddenly dies on the 7970, do you guys experienced something like this?

 

[manofthem]

i have the preferance one from launch im certain of it that all can do this oc, i got it when it was 549$

I too bought a Sapphire a few days after launch in Jan, and Im saying that despite trying, I couldn't hit 1125/1575 (mine started artifacting like crazy past 1075). Its default voltage was 1.05v, and thus has been RMA'd. My replacement Sapphire and my Asus now don't have that problem, presumably because their voltages are higher, though different. I don't think it's an issue anymore, I'm guessing since most I hear about do overclock to those clocks, so I think you're right. I was just throwing my own little experience out there.

And I paid $568 too much!

 

[xplodpb]

Do you guys think that the future engines will be better on the Tahiti or on the Kepler architecture? I saw that the guys from Unreal are using GTX 680's on the development of the new engine.

 

[T4C Fantasy]

I too bought a Sapphire a few days after launch in Jan, and Im saying that despite trying, I couldn't hit 1125/1575. Its default voltage was 1.05v, and thus has been RMA'd. My replacement Sapphire and my Asus now don't have that problem, presumably because their voltages are higher, though different. I don't think it's an issue anymore, I'm guessing since most I hear about do overclock to those clocks, so I think you're right. I was just throwing my own little experience out there.

And I paid $568 too much!

568 is alot but i dont regret my purchase 1 bit... i bought it for skyrim at the time and it did what i wanted it to, i caould do placeatme **** 1000 without getting booted and without lag so i was happy, and i dont regret wanting it on launch date lol 549$... i dont care ^^ i got a 99$ mouse and 180$ keyboard..

 

[manofthem]

Do you guys think that the future engines will be better on the Tahiti or on the Kepler architecture? I saw that the guys from Unreal are using GTX 680's on the development of the new engine.

Man i don't know about all that. I think what matters is: your resolution, your current specs, will you overclock, and games you play. Take that into consideration and then check W1zz's reviews, since he has all that info in there. It you look at his reviews, you can see how the 670 does against the 7970 and vice versa.

568 is alot but i dont regret my purchase 1 bit... i bought it for skyrim at the time and it did what i wanted it to, i caould do placeatme **** 1000 without getting booted and without lag so i was happy, and i dont regret wanting it on launch date lol 549$... i dont care ^^ i got a 99$ mouse and 180$ keyboard..

I don't regret the card as its been go to me and Sapphire was great to work with. The price was steep, but I had sold my 6950s just prior and only had to shell out like $50. But that's the price you pay. A few months later however, I bought a used Asus for $440, right when the 680 came out, big drop.

 

[T4C Fantasy]

Most of the new HD 7970 are coming with the voltage locked, i saw some issues with heat on the VRM and a lot of suddenly dies on the 7970, do you guys experienced something like this?

i havent had any permanent death on my hd7970 if your pc starts up with a black screen and only them ouse is visible its from an overheated gpu and or cpu just wait an hour with the psu switched off turn it back on and its like new again, unfortuantly for me i keep my pc on 24/7 no matter what with a 24/7 oc at 4.3ghz for cpu and 1125mhz for gpu so i can with confidenance say its a stable card and so is the 3770k 24/7 oc'd while crunching 24/7... theres no better way to prove its stability...

 

[xplodpb]

I'm thinking about the EVGA GTX 680 SuperClocked or the MSI HD 7970 Lightning, what do you guys think?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KC1R9E/?tag=tec06d-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NG3WQI/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[T4C Fantasy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PQAE98/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[xplodpb]

You think that this Sapphire is better than the Lightning?

 

[manofthem]

You think that this Sapphire is better than the Lightning?

I can vouche for Sapphire's great RMA department lol.

 

[T4C Fantasy]

I can vouche for Sapphire's great RMA department lol.

rofl!, actually i am just pushing out a card that is very underrated, im sure tha tcard can oc the same as msi's version

 

[xplodpb]

And about their quality? I don't know why, but i never liked the Sapphire brand, it's always looked "poor" to me, it's idiot, i know. And i saw some complaints with their RMA.

 

[raghu78]

HD 7970 Ghz which runs at 1.05 Ghz is on par with GTX 680 at 1080p and faster at 1440p or higher resolutions. Get the Sapphire HD 7970 Ghz Vapor-X . One of the best custom designs. newegg has the card selling for USD 470. currently out of stock.

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100351VXSR Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edi...

alternatively if you want the best value for your money get the Sapphire HD 7970 OC (1 Ghz) card. with voltage tweaking you can get this card to 1.2 Ghz or higher. price USD 400 (USD 380 after rebate)

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7970 OC 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI ...

this hardocp review was done in april when the card was selling for USD 580. at current prices its an awesome card

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/04/10/sapphire_hd_7970_oc_edition_video_card_review/3

 

[T4C Fantasy]

And about their quality? I don't know why, but i never liked the Sapphire brand, it's always looked "poor" to me, it's idiot, i know. And i saw some complaints with their RMA.

every company has their downs, the lightning gets praise from everyone, i dont see much from the saphire side, i know they are reliable also sapphire i my view makes waaaay better physically looking cards than msi does...

 

[manofthem]

And about their quality? I don't know why, but i never liked the Sapphire brand, it's always looked "poor" to me, it's idiot, i know. And i saw some complaints with their RMA.

Quality: first card died. Had to RMA.
Customer service: asked for a few things and as soon as I sent them in (invoice and description of issue), RMA was approved. Time from when I sent it away til a replacement arrived was 11 or 12 calendar days. Not too shabby

 

[xplodpb]

I really liked this Vapor-X model, it's kind of sad seeing a horrible blue PCB on a card this beautiful. Someone to talk for the Lightning side? And about the GTX 680? What do you guys think?

 

[Mathragh]

I would also vouch for the 7970 if its the same price, it has a way bigger "Oomphf" with its greater memory amounth, bandwith, and peak processing power.
(Although debatable wether this is an actual advantage in games, it might be a plus for future games especially with the new consoles hitting in maybe a year?)