AT members choice: GTX 680 or 7970 (ghz) ?

[Jacky60]

I'd get the 7970. Recent benchmarks do it for me.

 

[KompuKare]

But really, its easily fixed with radeon pro (AMD needs to hire this guy, he's doing a better job than their entire driver team for CF), delivering better results than SLI. Faster, smoother, cheaper.

+1 (I've said this before).

In the poll I've voted 7970GHz because it's faster, better built, and more tweakable (voltage control). But only because lavaheadache said we couldn't sell the card: with the price 4GB 680 are going for you can almost buy two 7950s which sounds a lot better value.

 

[omeds]

But really, its easily fixed with radeon pro (AMD needs to hire this guy, he's doing a better job than their entire driver team for CF), delivering better results than SLI.

You can cap frame rates with SLI too you know.

 

[Skurge]

7970,

I got to test it for a few days in place of my 6990 on my Eyefinity setup. I didn't notice it being smoother, but Most wanted didn't have a CF profile at the time so performance was better, but the same in most other games. The 7970 Does quite a bit better at my resolution than the 680. So 7970 for me.

 

[Sable]

7970 ghz. it's just a wee bit faster. I bought a 680 because it was cheaper and a wee bit faster than the vanilla 7970.

 

[lavaheadache]

At this point it's pretty safe to say that we have a run away winner. I wonder how different this poll would have been if I made it 1 month ago, just before the 12.11 driver?

 

[BrightCandle]

I wonder how many of the voters have actually used both these cards, or either infact. Its one thing voting from other peoples benchmarks its an entirely different thing testing them in real games yourself. Especially considering the massive frame time consistency differences between the two.

 

[lavaheadache]

I wonder how many of the voters have actually used both these cards, or either infact. Its one thing voting from other peoples benchmarks its an entirely different thing testing them in real games yourself. Especially considering the massive frame time consistency differences between the two.

Frame time consistency? for single GPU? I'm not sure there is a major difference.

I have had them both and I never noticed this.

 

[sontin]

At this point it's pretty safe to say that we have a run away winner. I wonder how different this poll would have been if I made it 1 month ago, just before the 12.11 driver?

it has nothing to do with the driver. Even with the 12.11 the 7970 is not faster than the GTX680.

It's only price which dictates the poll.

BTW: I would buy a GTX670 like the 3 fan version from Gigabyte. Nearly as fast as the GTX680 but cost much less and has the better cooler and board design.

 

[jacktesterson]

it has nothing to do with the driver. Even with the 12.11 the 7970 is not faster than the GTX680.

It's only price which dictates the poll.

BTW: I would buy a GTX670 like the 3 fan version from Gigabyte. Nearly as fast as the GTX680 but cost much less and has the better cooler and board design.

Pretty sure the 7970 GHz edition is faster overall.

Either way, he's getting the card for free so price doesn't matter (he stated so)

 

[lavaheadache]

it has nothing to do with the driver. Even with the 12.11 the 7970 is not faster than the GTX680.

It's only price which dictates the poll.

BTW: I would buy a GTX670 like the 3 fan version from Gigabyte. Nearly as fast as the GTX680 but cost much less and has the better cooler and board design.

Epic fail again... 4th time now I think, reading comprehension FTL

 

[ICDP]

HD 7970 at current price/perf.

I have tried both and the 7970 is undoubtedly a faster and card. Add in the extra VRAM and the cheaper price and it is a clear winnner.

Only PhysX is a potential reason to go Nvidia.

 

[tviceman]

because to some of us, multi gpu provides "less" performance than single gpu... aka microstutter. Also, dual gpu support is often less than desireable a year or 2 down the road.

But why not include it in the poll and let people explain why they would pick it (or not)?

 

[Sable]

Epic fail again... 4th time now I think, reading comprehension FTL

lol.

 

[Eureka]

At this point it's pretty safe to say that we have a run away winner. I wonder how different this poll would have been if I made it 1 month ago, just before the 12.11 driver?

12.11 changed everything. The 7970 was always the beefier card but never had the drivers to utilize it. Now that they polished it, the 7970 shines.

 

[boxleitnerb]

12.11 changed everything. The 7970 was always the beefier card but never had the drivers to utilize it. Now that they polished it, the 7970 shines.

No, look here:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

~5% on average doesn't "change everything". Sontin is right: the price is the main factor in the purchasing decision. Overall the cards are still pretty close. Only when you look at specific games, that changes.

 

[wand3r3r]

it has nothing to do with the driver. Even with the 12.11 the 7970 is not faster than the GTX680.

It's only price which dictates the poll.

BTW: I would buy a GTX670 like the 3 fan version from Gigabyte. Nearly as fast as the GTX680 but cost much less and has the better cooler and board design.

Riiiiiight. Do you need a disclaimer in your sig like keys? What a blind fanboy.

From the Techspot, 2560x1600 would lean even further towards 7970.
1920x1200

AVP
7970 71.00
680 53.00
-0.34
Alan Wake
7970 72.00
680 64.00
-0.13
BF3
7970 83.00
680 74.00
-0.12
BL2 Physx low
7970 75.00
680 74.00
-0.01
COD BO2
7970 103.00
680 98.00
-0.05
Crysis 2
7970 48.00
680 46.00
-0.04
Dragon Age 2
7970 59.00
680 64.00
0.08
Deus Ex: HR
7970 109.00
680 105.00
-0.04
Dirt 3
7970 121.00
680 106.00
-0.14
Hard Reset
7970 84.00
680 95.00
0.12
Just Cause 2
7970 74.00
680 70.00
-0.06
Medal Of Honor Warfighter
7970 65.00
680 57.00
-0.14
Max Payne 3
7970 74.00
680 75.00
0.01
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
7970 105.00
680 91.00
-0.15
Sleeping dogs
7970 46.00
680 36.00
-0.28
The Witcher 2: Ass of kings
7970 88.00
680 78.00
-0.13


The 680 is faster in 2 games, 8% and the most being 12%. (1 game is 1% but close enough to be about even)

The 7970 is faster in 13 games, up to 34% faster, 6 faster then then fastest NV game (> 12%.)

 

[JohnnyChuttz]

If I was given the card, I'd take the 680 4gb and buy another for SLI. I'm a little bummed I didn't wait for the 670 FTW 4gb, but when I bought in July, EVGA said "No 4gb FTW". At the rate Nvidia is releasing drivers, they should be able to get the 680 back to being faster than the 7970 next month.

 

[wand3r3r]

No, look here:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

~5% on average doesn't "change everything". Sontin is right: the price is the main factor in the purchasing decision. Overall the cards are still pretty close. Only when you look at specific games, that changes.

It's closer to 10% in the techspot review and even in the techpowerup at all resolutions, but I do agree price/performance is what matters to most of us, with the exception of a few corporate fanboys.

If I was given the card, I'd take the 680 4gb and buy another for SLI. I'm a little bummed I didn't wait for the 670 FTW 4gb, but when I bought in July, EVGA said "No 4gb FTW". At the rate Nvidia is releasing drivers, they should be able to get the 680 back to being faster than the 7970 next month.

They have a ways to go, see the post above.

 

[Eureka]

No, look here:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

~5% on average doesn't "change everything". Sontin is right: the price is the main factor in the purchasing decision. Overall the cards are still pretty close. Only when you look at specific games, that changes.

Yes, they're close, but at the higher resolutions, the 7970 has the advantage. When we're not talking about price, only the top card at top quality matters. And now since the 7970 has more performance in more games, it does change everything. Although I should clarify, I'm particularly talking about the GHz's performance, it's the one that matches the 680's specs the closest.

 

[boxleitnerb]

How is it then that techpowerups review shows the 7970 (non GHz) so close to the 680 with 12.11 at 2560x1600? They are basically equal even there. Other games, other benchmark scenes. But because techspot shows AMD in front, only that should count? I don't get it.

If you include Assassins Creed 3, Black Ops 2 and Far Cry 3, Diablo 3, Star Craft 2, Shogun 2, the results change. Only looking at one review (and thus one review methodology) is never a good idea.

btw the 7970 GE has 33% more compute power and 50% more bandwidth than the 680. So much for specs being close

 

[Eureka]

TPU...

Ghz is ahead at 1200p. Both are ahead at 1600p.

 

[wand3r3r]

How is it then that techpowerups review shows the 7970 (non GHz) so close to the 680 with 12.11 at 2560x1600? They are basically equal even there. Other games, other benchmark scenes. But because techspot shows AMD in front, only that should count? I don't get it.

If you include Assassins Creed 3, Black Ops 2 and Far Cry 3, Diablo 3, Star Craft 2, Shogun 2, the results change. Only looking at one review (and thus one review methodology) is never a good idea.

btw the 7970 GE has 33% more compute power and 50% more bandwidth than the 680. So much for specs being close

Yeah, the point is only to prove that the 7970 *is* faster, albeit by how much seems to vary a bit. I only bothered to use that site because it was the newest review I've seen lately with both drivers up to date. Feel free to crunch some more numbers and see if the results are closer. I don't depend on one review alone, but the 7970 is faster atm.

Actually the images above proves the point again. The 7970's 5-10% faster.

Sontin just proclaims the survey has nothing to do with the driver, but I beg to differ as it (7970) has came from the underdog to being the performance winner with a lower price to boot. The 680 is the mid range card and fares quite well against the bigger 7970, but is overpriced. Just had to clear up a clear fanboys fud.

Back on topic, if the card was a gift then it would only be about performance (due to the drivers) and possibly about perhaps some features like physx.

Talking GHz of course.

 

[boxleitnerb]

No, the 7970 is not faster in general. It may be faster in one particular review and slower in another. The 7970 GE is faster, the normal 7970 is not. If I say 7970, I don't mean GE
The main reason why the 7970 and/or 7970 GE are a better deal right now is price, not performance advantage. AMD has lowered prices 2 or 3 times now, Nvidia did not.

 

[Grooveriding]

Thread is about the 7970GE, 7970GE is faster. Brings up the 7970....