Need help choosing $300 GPU

[dre92]

I am using my 20inch BenQ monitor (1600x900 res) for gaming and I think I'll stick with it for a while. Right now, I need help choosing the right GPU and here are my options: Sapphire 7870 XT, MSI GTX 660 Twin Frozr, MSI GTX 660Ti Twin Frozr, or Sapphire 7950 Boost. I need a bit overkill GPU because I will be using it for at least 2-3 years to max out pretty much all the GPU intensive games on the market including Crysis 3.

Other than playing games, I also use Photoshop a lot. I wonder whether Photoshop CS6 is using OpenCL or CUDA. If it is using OpenCL, then I'll have to choose between 7870XT or 7950. But if it is still using CUDA, then I'll have to choose between the 660 or the 660Ti.

So, which one should I buy? I'll appreciate every input from you guys.

Regards,

Dre

[killerx525]

Adobe Premiere is the only Adobe program that uses CUDA. 7870 XT or 7950 would be fine.

[Helltech]

Well it uses OpenCL and OpenGl which means Radeon or Nvidia will work just as well. I personally howerever use CUDA based plugins for Photoshop, but I do a lot of business for Photoshop, make sure you don't need those plug-ins before going AMD.

Regardless.

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?...A-795WF3G&c=CJ

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=

Get which ever you feel more comfortable paying for (unless you use CUDA plug-ins).

[Helltech]

Adobe Premiere is the only Adobe program that uses CUDA. 7870 XT or 7950 would be fine.

After Effects also uses CUDA.

[LapX]

I would personnaly go with the 660ti Power edition, this is the one I got. + as far as I know, Adobe programs uses cuda so you're better with an nvidia card.

[dre92]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read, the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?

[Helltech]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read' date=' the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?[/quote']

I feel like you are misinformed, you should take a look at this article.

Here are some quotes of interest.

The best thing about the Mercury Graphics Engine is, it uses both OpenGL and OpenCL. Which means, you do NOTneed a CUDA enabled video card from NVidia.

Let me repeat that, Photoshop CS6 itself, does not use CUDA, it uses OpenGL and OpenCL for GPU acceleration. So there are no hacks, mods, etc. to get your video card to work. All you need to do is setup PhotoShop CS6 to your your video card.

This means, you can use pretty much any of the newer video cards from AMD/ATI, Intel and NVidia. However, keep reading. There are some things you are going to need to know.

NOTE: There are some 3rd party plugins for Adobe Photoshop that use the CUDA technology. If you use any 3rd party plugins that use the CUDA technology, then you will need a NVidia graphics card.

NOTE: If you are going to be running After Effects CS6 or Premiere CS5 or higher, please make sure you read those two articles, as both of those programs have special requirements of the video card since they use the NVidia CUDA technology. The links to those articles are at the top of the page.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Ar.../PhotoShop.htm

[dre92]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read' date=' the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?[/quote'] I feel like you are misinformed, you should take a look at this article. Here are some quotes of interest.

The best thing about the Mercury Graphics Engine is, it uses both OpenGL and OpenCL. Which means, you do NOTneed a CUDA enabled video card from NVidia. Let me repeat that, Photoshop CS6 itself, does not use CUDA, it uses OpenGL and OpenCL for GPU acceleration. So there are no hacks, mods, etc. to get your video card to work. All you need to do is setup PhotoShop CS6 to your your video card. This means, you can use pretty much any of the newer video cards from AMD/ATI, Intel and NVidia. However, keep reading. There are some things you are going to need to know. NOTE: There are some 3rd party plugins for Adobe Photoshop that use the CUDA technology. If you use any 3rd party plugins that use the CUDA technology, then you will need a NVidia graphics card. NOTE: If you are going to be running After Effects CS6 or Premiere CS5 or higher, please make sure you read those two articles, as both of those programs have special requirements of the video card since they use the NVidia CUDA technology. The links to those articles are at the top of the page.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Ar.../PhotoShop.htm

Oh okay then. I think I am going with AMD, and I believe the best choice from AMD is the 7950. Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it.

[DLM_012]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read' date=' the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?[/quote'] I feel like you are misinformed, you should take a look at this article. Here are some quotes of interest.

The best thing about the Mercury Graphics Engine is, it uses both OpenGL and OpenCL. Which means, you do NOTneed a CUDA enabled video card from NVidia. Let me repeat that, Photoshop CS6 itself, does not use CUDA, it uses OpenGL and OpenCL for GPU acceleration. So there are no hacks, mods, etc. to get your video card to work. All you need to do is setup PhotoShop CS6 to your your video card. This means, you can use pretty much any of the newer video cards from AMD/ATI, Intel and NVidia. However, keep reading. There are some things you are going to need to know. NOTE: There are some 3rd party plugins for Adobe Photoshop that use the CUDA technology. If you use any 3rd party plugins that use the CUDA technology, then you will need a NVidia graphics card. NOTE: If you are going to be running After Effects CS6 or Premiere CS5 or higher, please make sure you read those two articles, as both of those programs have special requirements of the video card since they use the NVidia CUDA technology. The links to those articles are at the top of the page.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Ar.../PhotoShop.htm Oh okay then. I think I am going with AMD, and I believe the best choice from AMD is the 7950. Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it.It's also currently a really good value.

[Lukiose]

$300?

7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950 7950

Word.

[TechFan@ic]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read' date=' the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?[/quote'] I feel like you are misinformed, you should take a look at this article. Here are some quotes of interest.

The best thing about the Mercury Graphics Engine is, it uses both OpenGL and OpenCL. Which means, you do NOTneed a CUDA enabled video card from NVidia. Let me repeat that, Photoshop CS6 itself, does not use CUDA, it uses OpenGL and OpenCL for GPU acceleration. So there are no hacks, mods, etc. to get your video card to work. All you need to do is setup PhotoShop CS6 to your your video card. This means, you can use pretty much any of the newer video cards from AMD/ATI, Intel and NVidia. However, keep reading. There are some things you are going to need to know. NOTE: There are some 3rd party plugins for Adobe Photoshop that use the CUDA technology. If you use any 3rd party plugins that use the CUDA technology, then you will need a NVidia graphics card. NOTE: If you are going to be running After Effects CS6 or Premiere CS5 or higher, please make sure you read those two articles, as both of those programs have special requirements of the video card since they use the NVidia CUDA technology. The links to those articles are at the top of the page.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Ar.../PhotoShop.htm

Oh okay then. I think I am going with AMD, and I believe the best choice from AMD is the 7950. Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it.

It's impossible to go wrong with a 7950 , just impossible .

Best performance/value card out there right now .

[Lukiose]

I'm a bit confused here. From what I read' date=' the Photoshop CS6 has new blur filters which use OpenCL that can be found on AMD cards. I know that the CS5 is using CUDA, but does this mean that the CS6 is still having features from CS5 which use CUDA and only added some new filters which take advantage of OpenCL? So in other words, is the OpenCL only needed for those new blur filters while others are still using CUDA?[/quote'] I feel like you are misinformed, you should take a look at this article. Here are some quotes of interest.

The best thing about the Mercury Graphics Engine is, it uses both OpenGL and OpenCL. Which means, you do NOTneed a CUDA enabled video card from NVidia. Let me repeat that, Photoshop CS6 itself, does not use CUDA, it uses OpenGL and OpenCL for GPU acceleration. So there are no hacks, mods, etc. to get your video card to work. All you need to do is setup PhotoShop CS6 to your your video card. This means, you can use pretty much any of the newer video cards from AMD/ATI, Intel and NVidia. However, keep reading. There are some things you are going to need to know. NOTE: There are some 3rd party plugins for Adobe Photoshop that use the CUDA technology. If you use any 3rd party plugins that use the CUDA technology, then you will need a NVidia graphics card. NOTE: If you are going to be running After Effects CS6 or Premiere CS5 or higher, please make sure you read those two articles, as both of those programs have special requirements of the video card since they use the NVidia CUDA technology. The links to those articles are at the top of the page.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Ar.../PhotoShop.htm

Oh okay then. I think I am going with AMD, and I believe the best choice from AMD is the 7950. Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it.

It's impossible to go wrong with a 7950 , just impossible .

Best performance/value card out there right now .

When you run BF3 Maxed out 1080p at 60c with ambient 29... i couldn't have worded it better.

Sapphire HD 7950 Vapor-X, go for it! +1