GPU dilemma!!

[PCSauce]

Okay, so here's my dillemma I need to buy a new graphics card for my new build and even though I know that the 7970 is a better card I don't know if it's worth paying that 70-100$ more. Therefore, my main question is, should i get a high end 7950 (i.e HD 7950 Twin Frozr Boost Edition or other OC and boost card) or a reference card 7970?

Thanks for all answer!

[Wats]

A 7950 can be overclocked to compare to a 7970. It won't be the same though.

Just get what ever you can afford.

[PCSauce]

The 7970 can't be overclocked?

[Bill Cosby]

No, what he is saying is that you can overclock a 7950 to the performance (or close) of a 7970. With a 7970 you can STILL overclock, but probaly up around a 7980 ish. So no matter what the 7970 is the better card, but if you just want the 7970 performance, then buy A GOOD 7950 with a good cooler, and overclock it to the 7970 specs.

[Lolipop]

No, what he is saying is that you can overclock a 7950 to the performance (or close) of a 7970. With a 7970 you can STILL overclock, but probaly up around a 7980 ish. So no matter what the 7970 is the better card, but if you just want the 7970 performance, then buy A GOOD 7950 with a good cooler, and overclock it to the 7970 specs.

Wait, what the hell is a 7980? Am I missing something?

[Lolipop]

7950 at 1100Mhz on the core performs like a 7970 Ghz Edition. If this the case, maybe a 7950 @ 1200Mhz performs like a 7970 at 1100Mhz.

It's currently the most bang per buck on the market right now.

[PCSauce]

Oh I see. Alright then! But now another though decision. In order to get close to the 7970 performance I'll need to get a 7950 (with good cooling) but should I go with a model arelady overclocked by the manufacturer or with a boost or both? Like this one:

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=70088&vpn=R7950%20Twin%20Frozr%203GD5%2FOC&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar

or

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=67748&vpn=FX795ATDFC&manufacture=XFX (best price!)

or this 7970 (which is on sale!)

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=80254&vpn=FX797ATDJC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1276

[Lolipop]

Oh I see. Alright then! But now another though decision. In order to get close to the 7970 performance I'll need to get a 7950 (with good cooling) but should I go with a model arelady overclocked by the manufacturer or with a boost or both? Like this one:

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=70088&vpn=R7950%20Twin%20Frozr%203GD5%2FOC&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar

or

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=67748&vpn=FX795ATDFC&manufacture=XFX (best price!)

or this 7970 (which is on sale!)

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=80254&vpn=FX797ATDJC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1276

You can just overclock the card your self...

[TechFan@ic]

Give me your (future) system specs please.

[PCSauce]

Here you go!

• CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
  
• Water CPU Cooler: cooler master or noctua or corsair h60
  
• Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77
  
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB)
  
• Storage: WD Blue (WD10EZEX) 1TB SATA3 6GB/s 7200RPM
  
• Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
  
• Video Card: Can’t decide yet.....
  
• Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case
  
• Power Supply: Probably any psu (not sure if going modular or not yet) priced around $80-100 (600-650 W)
  
• Optical Drive: any optical drive around 20$
  

[Wats]

Here you go!

• CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
  
• Water CPU Cooler: cooler master or noctua or corsair h60
  
• Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77
  
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB)
  
• Storage: WD Blue (WD10EZEX) 1TB SATA3 6GB/s 7200RPM
  
• Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
  
• Video Card: Can’t decide yet.....
  
• Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case
  
• Power Supply: Probably any psu (not sure if going modular or not yet) priced around $80-100 (600-650 W)
  
• Optical Drive: any optical drive around 20$
  

Looking great!

Only get the 7970 if you can really afford it.

Here's your modular PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207022

Don't get an optical drive, use your thumb drive to install Windows. Use that 20 bucks I just saved you on your PSU.

[TechFan@ic]

Here you go!

• CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
  
• Water CPU Cooler: cooler master or noctua or corsair h60
  
• Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77
  
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB)
  
• Storage: WD Blue (WD10EZEX) 1TB SATA3 6GB/s 7200RPM
  
• Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
  
• Video Card: Can’t decide yet.....
  
• Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case
  
• Power Supply: Probably any psu (not sure if going modular or not yet) priced around $80-100 (600-650 W)
  
• Optical Drive: any optical drive around 20$
  

Fantastic, get a 7970.

The dual fan (Dual-X) model from sapphire costs about 410$ it's currently the best 7970 for that price point.

Great cooling, good overclockability and unlocked voltage control.

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=79472&vpn=11197-11-40G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE

The XFX 7970 DD has a disappointing cooler, it's very quiet but it's just as good as the reference cooler, which isn't very good.

[Magic8Ball]

No, what he is saying is that you can overclock a 7950 to the performance (or close) of a 7970. With a 7970 you can STILL overclock, but probaly up around a 7980 ish. So no matter what the 7970 is the better card, but if you just want the 7970 performance, then buy A GOOD 7950 with a good cooler, and overclock it to the 7970 specs.

He's just using 7980 as a hypothetical comparison. There's no such thing.

[mgsstar]

I would get a Gigabyte Windforce 7950 because it has a triple fan configuration and it should cool well if it is being overclocked. This also has a 7970 version of it if you can afford it.

[TechFan@ic]

I would get a Gigabyte Windforce 7950 because it has a triple fan configuration and it should cool well if it is being overclocked. This also has a 7970 version of it if you can afford it.

The cooler becomes loud when the card is overclocked and gigabyte started locking the voltages on them a few months ago.

[Bill Cosby]

No, what he is saying is that you can overclock a 7950 to the performance (or close) of a 7970. With a 7970 you can STILL overclock, but probaly up around a 7980 ish. So no matter what the 7970 is the better card, but if you just want the 7970 performance, then buy A GOOD 7950 with a good cooler, and overclock it to the 7970 specs.

Thank you Magic8Ball. Yes, there is no such thing as a 7980. i was just using as a reference between 7990 and 7970.

[PCSauce]

Okay! Thanks for the help, just another quick question! What about the gtx 670 like these models?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=048979

and

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=050848

[Raider102002]

Okay! Thanks for the help, just another quick question! What about the gtx 670 like these models?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=048979

and

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=050848

The GTX 670 would be around the performance of 7970 but lately AMD has been pushing their drivers more and edging out NVIDIA

but it comes down to what types of games your gonna be playing

NVIDIA if your gonna be playing heavy physX games or 3D

AMD would be for multi monitor/ high res

in my opinion more bang for your buck in the 7900 come "Never Settle Bundle" with bio shock/crysis 3 (if available were you live )

[TechFan@ic]

Okay! Thanks for the help' date=' just another quick question! What about the gtx 670 like these models? [url']http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=048979 and http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=050848

You're better off with a non-reference 7950 than a reference 670.

When both cards are overclocked the 7950 tends to out-perform the 670. The 3GB of 7950 RAM also comes in handy with Anti Aliasing.

[PCSauce]

The game bundle is one of the reason I was going to get an amd card. By the way, I play on a single monitor at 1080p. But my main problem is that I'm planning on building my computer in 1 month. So i'm not sure if its better if I wait til mid-may and see if I can get a better card or jump before the end of march and get a 7950 with the games. (the 7970 is a bit pricy though right now, I have a 400$ with taxes for the gpu)

[TechFan@ic]

The game bundle is one of the reason I was going to get an amd card. By the way, I play on a single monitor at 1080p. But my main problem is that I'm planning on building my computer in 1 month. So i'm not sure if its better if I wait til mid-may and see if I can get a better card or jump before the end of march and get a 7950 with the games. (the 7970 is a bit pricy though right now, I have a 400$ with taxes for the gpu)

The game bundle officially ends by the end of 2013 or if supplies are exhausted which ever comes first.

[Raider102002]

The game bundle is one of the reason I was going to get an amd card. By the way, I play on a single monitor at 1080p. But my main problem is that I'm planning on building my computer in 1 month. So i'm not sure if its better if I wait til mid-may and see if I can get a better card or jump before the end of march and get a 7950 with the games. (the 7970 is a bit pricy though right now, I have a 400$ with taxes for the gpu)

for a 7870 would run think most games in ultra with a 1920 x 1080 display

if you want to save some money you can go with that

That would save you around 50-60 to put into other parts of your build

[PCSauce]

Well if you look at the bottom its written that the offer ends the March 31st.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000859341