7970 or gtx670?

RallosZek

Member
Oct 28, 2003
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0
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Hey guys, I currently have a gigabyte 7970 OC (wind force) which is great, it OCs well to 1150/1500 for my 24/7 oc, it does go higher though.

Everyone is saying the gtx670 is beating it? Would it be worth selling it and getting the gb oc version of the 670? I won't lose or gain from it, it will be an even trade. But is it worth it or not? I mainly play bf3 , tribes ascend etc
 

Bumrush99

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2004
3,334
194
106
Not if you already have the card..

I just sold my video cards and picked up a Gigabyte 670, OC edition with triple fans for 399.99 on Amazon.. For me it was a no brainer. I couldn't justify the $80 premium for the 7970 card with essentially the same performance.
 

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
5,493
3
81
No...

Way too much hassle for what your getting in return IMO if you already own the 7970.

once O/C'd the 7970 should be faster overall.
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
5
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The higher resolution you have the better it is to get the 7970; they are more or less tied at 1080p but the 7970's extra memory apparently allows it to pull ahead at 2560x???? rez and is more futureproof.

If you already have one or the other, there is little point in switching unless you can get equal value (like a one for one value swap like you are saying you can get). Usually you have to take a loss to switch though.

Also to consider: the 670 may not overclock as well as your well-overclocking 7970.
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
6,240
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The 670 is faster vs a bone stock reference 7970 in some games, loses in other games. So they end up more or less tied. The 670 cost less new than the 7970.

However, with a 7970 clocked up, it should pull ahead of even an over clocked 670 as the 7970 lets you boost voltage to get higher clocks.

It would not even be worth it for you to go with a 680 over your 7970, just not enough of a difference.
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
3,389
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The 670 isn't faster, it compares, and looses by a small margin.

And I promise you that if you keep that card for 1-1.5 years, you will get at least 10-15%+ additional performance stock vs stock in games of that time. And once both are overclocked you will be at least 15-25% faster.

You will need to wait for that to happen, but within 1.5 years, there is a 95% chance that it will :)

And this has got nothing to do with drivers.

And once both are overclocked 7970 is a good 10-15% faster at most decent settings. So 670 OC will be a small downgrade even for the present.
 

Lepton87

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2009
2,544
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The higher resolution you have the better it is to get the 7970; they are more or less tied at 1080p but the 7970's extra memory apparently allows it to pull ahead at 2560x???? rez. If you already have one or the other, there is little point in switching unless you can get equal value (like a one for one swap). Usually you have to take a loss to switch though.

nope, it's not that additional 1GB that makes it perform better relative to NV cards in higher resolutions, to some extent it's the memory bandwidth that is responsible for that behavior, but that's not the only reason. 6970 also performed better relative to GTX570/580 in higher resolutions and it didn't have any memory bandwidth advantage compared to GTX580.
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
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nope, it's not that additional 1GB that makes it perform better relative to NV cards in higher resolutions, to some extent it's the memory bandwidth that is responsible for that behavior, but that's not the only reason. 6970 also performed better relative to GTX570/580 in higher resolutions and it didn't have any memory bandwidth advantage compared to GTX580.

Interesting. Doesn't change my recommendation. :)
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
3,389
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nope, it's not that additional 1GB that makes it perform better relative to NV cards in higher resolutions, to some extent it's the memory bandwidth that is responsible for that behavior, but that's not the only reason. 6970 also performed better relative to GTX570/580 in higher resolutions and it didn't have any memory bandwidth advantage compared to GTX580.

Games of the future will make the 7970 lead compared to these cards. But you would anyway buy the 8970 by mid 2013, so the gap may or may not come in H1 2013 for too many games. But if you wish to use this for >1 year, like 1.5 years or so, 7970 eyes closed. Even compared to 680 OC in that case.

If you want to change the card soon, get 680 over 7970 of course, assuming you won't do water tho.
 

badb0y

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2010
4,015
30
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Performance is really similar but the 7970 has a lot of OC potential. If you are looking to run the card at stock settings I would get the GTX 670 but since your card is OCed you are basically going for a downgrade.
 

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
Games of the future will make the 7970 lead compared to these cards. But you would anyway buy the 8970 by mid 2013, so the gap may or may not come in H1 2013 for too many games. But if you wish to use this for >1 year, like 1.5 years or so, 7970 eyes closed. Even compared to 680 OC in that case.

If you want to change the card soon, get 680 over 7970 of course, assuming you won't do water tho.

Interestingly enough, newer games seem to do better with Kepler vs. 79xx series. I don't think anyone can really say what future games will do in terms of performance for one side or another. Kepler definitely has 'longer legs' than the current AMD arch, so it could be the opposite as well. I really don't think anyone knows.
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
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Interestingly enough, newer games seem to do better with Kepler vs. 79xx series. I don't think anyone can really say what future games will do in terms of performance for one side or another. Kepler definitely has 'longer legs' than the current AMD arch, so it could be the opposite as well. I really don't think anyone knows.

I think he's talking about the VRAM. They have 4GB editions coming out, but for more money.
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
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It is the 3GB VRAM. 2GB is barely enough, I have seen my usage btw 1.5 to 2GB VRAM even for games which are not intensive at all.

Since 680 and 7970 are so close, all that a game needs to do is require 2.2-2.4GB VRAM and the 7970 will be a good 10-20% faster because of that unless you lower the settings on the 680.

It has already started to happening with 680 SLI at super high settings when VRAM limit is reached, performance hit is 15-40% based on the situation even with 680 SLI when the rez is insane.

When new games come up, the difference is likely to grow.

And although the chance may not be 100%, but it is definitely 90%+.

Just look at what happened to 4870 512 vs 4870 1gb,
460 768 vs 460 1gb, 5870 1gb vs 5870 2gb,

all these are recent cards, 1-2 years old, everybody said the same thing every time, they repeated the same mistake in the same situation and expected different results. Won't happen.

This is the same mistake and it is being repeated again.

In a time when even mid range cards have 2GB VRAM, and enthusiast cards are trying to target 3-4GB VRAM, by latest H2 2013, or H1 2014, there will be at least a few games where a min of 3GB will be required to max at 1080p 4x AA or 1440p no AA. The 7970 will be okayish then, but the 680 will be a lot slower.

Many of us would have upgraded their PCs, those who do every year. But those who upgrade once in 2 years will enjoy making the right decision then.
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
3,389
0
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I think he's talking about the VRAM. They have 4GB editions coming out, but for more money.

If you can get 4GB, then there will be no VRAM issue, but 4GB 680 is a lot mroe expensive than 3gb 7970 and when both are overclocked, similar performance. Both these cards will only be able to use a max of 2.5~ GB is properly, by the time you need > 2.5+GB, both would be too slow :)

So spending on a 4GB 680 makes no sense if it is $100+ over 7970, rather update next year again :) or save money
 

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
sidegrade at best (if not a downgrade as you have a respectable overclock) unless you only play a few games where the 670 is clearly faster
 

giskarded

Junior Member
May 10, 2012
10
0
0
Keep your 7970 if it overclocks well. Make sure your 7970 does not have coil whine.
Both mine did. It was bad enough that I gave up on them.

Initially had 7950 which I sold for the GTX 680. In Skyrim/BF3 (specially BF3) the GTX 680 feels smoother even at slightly higher settings, even at same FPS.

Sold GTX 680 and got 2 7970s at 450 each.

Returned 1 of the 7970 and sold the Sapphire 7970oc. Both had terrible coil whine The Sapphire was worse since it was a quieter card.
Loved the performance in Skyrim, drivers were fine .4 variants.

Ordered the GTX 670.

Performance wise at 450 the 7970 is an excellent buy. No question... the Sapphire is silent if you get lucky with no coil whine. For me it was a deal breaker with the whine.
 
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aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
3,389
0
76
Assuming you are not asking specific to a game, and are only talking of today:

At stock,
it is a very small downgrade

Once overclocked
It is a downgrade. Like going from a stock 7970 to 7950 box oc sorta downgrade, assuming both are highly overclocked 670 and 7970, that is.
 

Jaydip

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2010
3,691
21
81
Hey guys, I currently have a gigabyte 7970 OC (wind force) which is great, it OCs well to 1150/1500 for my 24/7 oc, it does go higher though.

Everyone is saying the gtx670 is beating it? Would it be worth selling it and getting the gb oc version of the 670? I won't lose or gain from it, it will be an even trade. But is it worth it or not? I mainly play bf3 , tribes ascend etc
Keep ur 7970,why would anyone shuffle a faster card for a slower one?:hmm:
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
5
76
People like you drive up the cost of graphics cards for everybody else, with all your freaking returns.

Went from 7950 to GTX 680
Sold GTX 680 and got 2 7970s at 450 each

Returned the diamond 7970 and sold the Sapphire 7970 oc (both had terrible coil whine) The Sapphire was worse since it was a quieter card.
Loved the performance in Skyrim, drivers were fine .4 variants.

Ordered the GTX 670.

Performance wise at 450 the 7970 is an excellent buy. No question... the Sapphire is silent if you get lucky with no coil whine. For me it was a deal breaker with the whine.
 

giskarded

Junior Member
May 10, 2012
10
0
0
People like you drive up the cost of graphics cards for everybody else, with all your freaking returns.

I returned 1 card. The Diamond 7970 for terrible coil whine. If you like loud noises from your case you are welcome to it. Not everyone considers it acceptable.

Sold the 680, the 7950 and the Sapphire 7970. Lost money on the 7950 and 7970,
 

giskarded

Junior Member
May 10, 2012
10
0
0
Keep ur 7970,why would anyone shuffle a faster card for a slower one?:hmm:


Keep the 7970 if you dont have one with a bad coil whine. The 680 feels better in BF3 for what its worth. Even at similar FPS (Had my Sapphire oced to almost match frames).
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
5
76
I returned 1 card. The Diamond 7970 for terrible coil whine. If you like loud noises from your case you are welcome to it. Not everyone considers it acceptable.

Sold the 680, the 7950 and the Sapphire 7970. Lost money on the 7950 and 7970,

I stand corrected and apologize for jumping to conclusions, then! :)