Best 7950 in terms of price and cooling?

[Techhog]

So, I'm getting ready to make my first build. I'm kinda limited to around $900 though, so bang for the buck is pretty important. Basically, I want one that isn't super loud, is less than $250 before any mail-in rebates, and can likely take an overclock to over 1000MHz. If I'm asking too much, it's fine.

Also, I won't be buying it immediately; just trying to figure out how much I'll end up spending. If the Volcanic Islands cards are announced really soon and I can get one in my price range (which I doubt, especially since paper launches are so common these days), I might decide to wait, but for now I'll assume that won't be the case.

 

[brandonmatic]

I think you absolutely should get the Powercolor PCS+ 7950, which right now is $229 ($199 after rebate) at Newegg. It's an excellent cooler and either the quietest or second-quietest 7950 available (only challenger is the Asus DCII card).

The PCS+ is what I would have bought a month ago had it been priced as low as it is now. I ended up with the Sapphire 3L 7950, which I'm very happy with and have managed to get to be very quiet through a custom fan profile, but I see that card is now more expensive than the PCS+ card. My card overclocks easily to 1100 with a moderate voltage increase and I can't imagine the PCS+ would do any worse.

Edit: Here's the review that sold me on this card.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7950_PCS_Plus/

 

[futurefields]

I've only ever bought Sapphire. IMO they are the top mfr of AMD cards but that is just my opinion and I dont really have anything to base it on other than my own experiences with both cards (6850 and 7950) running very cool and efficiently.

 

[DDRGamer]

I've only ever bought Sapphire. IMO they are the top mfr of AMD cards but that is just my opinion and I dont really have anything to base it on other than my own experiences with both cards (6850 and 7950) running very cool and efficiently.

I owned a Sapphire 4830, and then freaked out when I heard horror stories about non-existent Warranty Service for Canadians.

the MSI Twin Frozr design looked really nice - if I didn't craigslist my XFX 7850 (yay warranty support), I'd probably have looked at that one.

Review link: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_radeon_hd_7950_twin_frozer_iii_review,1.html

 

[Techhog]

Hm. I like that 2 of you like the Sapphire, but that $199 after rebate is so tempting...

 

[boboftw]

A couple weeks ago, both Sapphire + MSI 7950 was $178 after rebate. I'd rather have a card from one of those 2 manufacturers than PowerColor.

 

[Rhoxed]

Another vote for Sapphire!

 

[alexruiz]

- The powercolor PCS+ also as top choice
- HIS Ice Q x2 as second
- Sapphire, powercolor double fan "swirl" or MSI twin frozr as third.

At today's prices, hard to go against powercolor, the swirl fan is $190AR, the PCS+ is $200AR.

Edit: The swirl fan was $180 AR, and I say "was" because it is out of stock at the egg.

 

[Kuroimaho]

I only had the Sapphire ones, owned 2 of them.

I can't compare the 7950 ones to other models, but I can say was very happy with them, the fan was silent while idling and under full load as well, clocked to 1.1Ghz on stock V.
No noise from the PWM under load, which my sappire 7970s unfortunately did.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Toss up between PCS+ or Sapphire 100352-3L. Either looks good

 

[Techhog]

This deal on Newegg looks fantastic. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-14202026-L0B

I might go with this. I'm slightly worried about jumping in before Volcanic Islands, but I doubt any of the cards will be that cheap at launch. Should I go for it?

 

[raghu78]

This deal on Newegg looks fantastic. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-14202026-L0B

I might go with this. I'm slightly worried about jumping in before Volcanic Islands, but I doubt any of the cards will be that cheap at launch. Should I go for it?

Hawaii is releasing next month but at the USD 450 - 600 price range. there is nothing which can beat a HD 7950 at current prices. i agree with the recommendations . pcs+ is quieter than dual x. both cards have unlocked voltage and so hitting 1100 - 1150 mhz should be easy. pcs+ comes at 880 mhz and sapphire dual x at 925 mhz boost. so take your pick :thumbsup:

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16814202026
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16814131458

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/35033-powercolor-radeon-hd-7950-pcs/?page=12

 

[Fastx]

FWIW could keep a watch for this PC 5E for it to come back in stock, when it was in stock it was $179.00 shipped. This one is a newer boost clocked at 925 and seems to have possibly a newer slightly larger dual fan cooling compare side pics side by side of the 5E & PCS+.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

I know the below info/link is not really related but thought I post this anyway on new PC cooling double blade fan for the Hawaii coming out.

http://videocardz.com/45564/powercolor-announces-double-blades-fan-design

 

[yacoub]

The HIS IceQ X2 is reportedly among the best OEM air coolers and it was on sale for $240 on Amazon at one point. The heatsink on it actually covers (and physically touches, not just blocks from your view) the VRMs, RAM, and other parts, not just the core.

 

[nitromullet]

Some of these 7950's are super tempting. If AMD can confirm BF4 as a Never Settle Forever title, I think it would be too much for me to turn down.

 

[Mastercommander]

HIS is pretty sweet

What I would have gone with if hadn't bought Galaxy 660 Ti

Sapphire, MSI, Asus, Gigabyte all good

 

[boboftw]

If you can stretch your budget a little bit, you can grab a 7970 for $260-280 after rebate. Last month, the Sapphire 7970 was $260 AR.

 

[crashtech]

+1 for Sapphire, here.

It would also be interesting to see your complete build specs, do you have another thread going for that?

The reason I ask is that it's not that hard to fit a 7970 into a decent quality $900 build. Most gamers buy more CPU than they need. For example, this build is less than $900 (sans optical drive and OS) and includes a sweet PSU and GPU in exchange for aiming a bit lower on CPU, which can be upgraded later.

 

[Techhog]

If you can stretch your budget a little bit, you can grab a 7970 for $260-280 after rebate. Last month, the Sapphire 7970 was $260 AR.

I wish, but $250 is already pushing it a bit. :/

+1 for Sapphire, here.

It would also be interesting to see your complete build specs, do you have another thread going for that?

The reason I ask is that it's not that hard to fit a 7970 into a decent quality $900 build. Most gamers buy more CPU than they need. For example, this build is less than $900 (sans optical drive and OS) and includes a sweet PSU and GPU in exchange for aiming a bit lower on CPU, which can be upgraded later.

Hm. That's interesting. The thing is, I need the OS, and optical drive, AND a monitor while trying to get this as close to $1000 as possible. Also, I want a good CPU because I plan to use it for live-streaming games. I'm thinking an OC'd 7950 will be pretty good at 1080p for 2 years, and then I can upgrade at a time when I'll have a lot more money.

I should make a thread for my build though I guess. I'll do that soon.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

If you can stretch your budget a little bit, you can grab a 7970 for $260-280 after rebate. Last month, the Sapphire 7970 was $260 AR.

The difference in performance between 7950 to 7970 doesn't justify an extra $60.- IMHO.

 

[rancherlee]

The sapphire at 17x$ after rebate was a dang good deal, the one I got isn't the best overclocker but still goes 1100/1600 with little effort with the voltage backed off to 1.20(~1.155v after v-sag). It came stock set to 1.25v but would throttle at 1100/1600 with the power set +20. Stays at 61-62* @ 60% fan (slightly noticeable) in decently cooled case. The card definitely gives the old Phenom II @ 3.64 a hell of a work out, don't think an i5 or FX-63xx/83xx would have any issues feeding it though.

 

[Mushkins]

There was a really awesome review of the 7900s and their coolers measuring noise and temps, pretty sure it was here on AT but it might have been Toms.

Based on it, I went with the Gigabyte GV-R795WF3-3GD. Runs quieter than my CPUs H80 even under load and never goes above 70C. Couldn't be happier.

 

[XiandreX]

Older Powercolor 7950 3gb boost cards were decent however the new 2 fan versions are very very Good. I have one and am extremely happy. I would say it depends on the deals available at your point of purchase.

 

[crashtech]

Hm. That's interesting. The thing is, I need the OS, and optical drive, AND a monitor while trying to get this as close to $1000 as possible. Also, I want a good CPU because I plan to use it for live-streaming games. I'm thinking an OC'd 7950 will be pretty good at 1080p for 2 years, and then I can upgrade at a time when I'll have a lot more money.

I should make a thread for my build though I guess. I'll do that soon.

Here's my idea, based on your comments so far, food for thought perhaps when you post your build thread:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/crashtech/saved/2nCq

It includes a overclockable Sapphire 7950.

 

[Techhog]

Here's my idea, based on your comments so far, food for thought perhaps when you post your build thread:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/crashtech/saved/2nCq

It includes a overclockable Sapphire 7950.

Yeah, that's pretty similar to the build I'm looking at.

Just out of curiosity, though, how is this card?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I have an Amazon gift card that I can put toward this, so I'm wondering if it's any good. Does only having a single fan basically ruin it? Based on reviews, it seems to not be too loud and overclocks well.