7970GE vs 7970

[Aotengs]

What are the benefits of a 7970GE over a 7970? Even though the 7970GE comes with higher clocks out of the box, everybody seems to be OCing their 7970s anyway, and I've heard that 7970s can achieve higher clocks than a 7970GE, especially considering more have unlocked voltage.

If the two were side-by-side, at identical clocks, would there be any advantage at all of a 7970GE over a standard 7970?

Thanks

 

[blackened23]

IMO, just get the plain 7970 if it's cheaper, especially if it's reference. If it's a reference plain 7970 it should be voltage unlocked (which isn't the case with all Ghz editions) and IMO it will be incredibly easy to get 1050mhz and probably higher. I had a 7970 plain for a few months and my experience was like that. going 1100 or higher was easy. Conversely, I hear the GE's are actually harder to overclock due to many AIBs locking them down.

 

[raghu78]

HD 7970 ghz comes at 1050 mhz core and 6000 mhz memory clocks. HD 7970 comes at 925 mhz core and 5500 mhz memory clocks. at the same core clock there is no difference. the memory speed makes very little difference. and the normal HD 7970 can also overclock its memory to above 6000 mhz. so yeah focus on getting a HD 7970 with unlocked voltage and good cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202008

the sapphire card with dual x cooler comes with good cooling and unlocked voltage

 

[Durvelle27]

HD 7970 ghz comes at 1050 mhz core and 6000 mhz memory clocks. HD 7970 comes at 925 mhz core and 5500 mhz memory clocks. at the same core clock there is no difference. the memory speed makes very little difference. and the normal HD 7970 can also overclock its memory to above 6000 mhz. so yeah focus on getting a HD 7970 with unlocked voltage and good cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202008

the sapphire card with dual x cooler comes with good cooling and unlocked voltage

Not true at all Memory does make a difference with the 7900 series but IMO just get a plain HD 7970 and OC it to like 1100MHz and you'll have a awesome performing card

 

[Face2Face]

Not true at all Memory does make a difference with the 7900 series but IMO just get a plain HD 7970 and OC it to like 1100MHz and you'll have a awesome performing card

I think he meant games, not synthetic benchmarks. Crysis 3 is one of the few that I have seen to take the most advantage of higher memory clocks on Tahiti.

 

[Aotengs]

Hmm okay. I'm just asking because I have a xfx 7970GE oced to 1165/1600 (it's voltage locked) and I've been seeing others with plain 7970s at higher clocks and wondering if they would be performing better than mine.

At those clocks I managed to get 960 on heaven 38.1 avg fps 21.1 Min 83.8 max. Are those decent scores?

 

[Face2Face]

Hmm okay. I'm just asking because I have a xfx 7970GE oced to 1165/1600 (it's voltage locked) and I've been seeing others with plain 7970s at higher clocks and wondering if they would be performing better than mine.

At those clocks I managed to get 960 on heaven 38.1 avg fps 21.1 Min 83.8 max. Are those decent scores?

It's fine. Of course they are better scores out there, but a 7970 @ 1165Mhz is no slouch IMO.

 

[raghu78]

Hmm okay. I'm just asking because I have a xfx 7970GE oced to 1165/1600 (it's voltage locked) and I've been seeing others with plain 7970s at higher clocks and wondering if they would be performing better than mine.

At those clocks I managed to get 960 on heaven 38.1 avg fps 21.1 Min 83.8 max. Are those decent scores?

1165 mhz is a good overclock. definitely average OC and not poor OC. if you want more performance your best bet is to wait for hawaii.