Going from 580 SLI to 7970 CF?

[themasterpiece1]

Got a good deal on 2 7970 today (Sapphire Vapor X 3 GB version new). I will have about 30 days to return them. Just wondering what kind of upgrade this will be when compared to the 580 SLI set up I have now. Reason I bit on them without doing research was because of the price ($220 each). I always buy first and ask questions later.

I run a single 1080p 120hz monitor. Should I keep them? They should be here in a week.

Edit:

Rest of my specs

GTX 580 SLI - i5 2500k @ 4.6 - 8GB RAM - Crucial M4 256GB - HX1050 - ASRock Z3X3 - NZXT Switch 810 - BenQ XL2420TX

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Pretty decent assuming you overclock and have a fast cpu to push them.

 

[nrok45]

At 1080p it will be quite a big difference. You should be able to max out any game and get 60+ fps no sweat with those cards. I noticed a good jump from my 570 sli going to my 670s.

 

[OCGuy]

That just isn't worth it...a single 580 is within 6% of a single 7970 according to TPU: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7970_CrossFire/23.html

If you had $400+ blowing a hole in your pocket and wanted to see a difference, I would have gone either 290 pro + new HSF, or GTX780. Not even close.

 

[Techhog]

That just isn't worth it...a single 580 is within 6% of a single 7970 according to TPU:

If you had $400+ blowing a hole in your pocket and wanted to see a difference, I would have gone either 290 pro + new HSF, or GTX780. Not even close.

That graph is based on launch drivers. It's not even remotely true now. Hell, that's not even the GHz edition. You really should know better than to post a graph like that here

 

[OCGuy]

That graph is based on launch drivers. It's not even remotely true now.

At OP's resolution, I don't see a game that would go from unplayable to playable with the side-grade.

Sorry, just isn't worth it to me based on available data.

 

[chimaxi83]

That just isn't worth it...a single 580 is within 6% of a single 7970 according to TPU: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7970_CrossFire/23.html

If you had $400+ blowing a hole in your pocket and wanted to see a difference, I would have gone either 290 pro + new HSF, or GTX780. Not even close.

OP, ignore the quoted post ^^^


While not surprised, what a laughable cherry pick man.... Try harder.

And OPs resolution, the one that matters

 

[OCGuy]

"Ghz edition"....ehhh.....

I'm just not sure how anyone could say that is a worthwhile sidegrade. OP locked himself into a previous generation with no upgrade path. If he is searching for AMD, he could have got a 290pro for less, with the ability to add another one in 6 months.

 

[Techhog]

At OP's resolution, I don't see a game that would go from unplayable to playable with the side-grade.

Sorry, just isn't worth it to me based on available data.

Still about a 30% difference, so your outdated graph is still misleading. You're free to give your opinion, but trying to lie to back said opinion up? Really pathetic and says a lot about your character.

"Ghz edition"....ehhh.....

I'm just not sure how anyone could say that is a worthwhile sidegrade. OP locked himself into a previous generation with no upgrade path. If he is searching for AMD, he could have got a 290pro for less, with the ability to add another one in 6 months.

Which would have been more money altogether and leaves him with a downgraded system for 6 months. You're not making any sense here.

 

[chimaxi83]

"Ghz edition"....ehhh.....

I'm just not sure how anyone could say that is a worthwhile sidegrade. OP locked himself into a previous generation with no upgrade path. If he is searching for AMD, he could have got a 290pro for less, with the ability to add another one in 6 months.

GHz was used for the clock speeds. OPs Vapor X has the same clocks. Therefore, performance would be the same. In addition to that, he's asking about his 7970s versus 580s. What does 290 have to do with it?

You can't back up that bs "within 6%" claim, so stop trying.

Not a worthwhile "sidegrade"? Heh. Since power usage matters again all of a sudden, since 290X release, it's worthwhile for not only 25% more performance, but also 25% more performance per watt:

After all, the 580 does use more power:

 

[OCGuy]

Which would have been more money altogether and leaves him with a downgraded system for 6 months. You're not making any sense here.

@ 1080p, a 290 is certainly not a downgrade from 7970s (especially considering non-Hawaii Xfire issues).....heck, this is before getting a real cooler on the 290:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/R9_290/26.html

OP has seen both opinions, this is a discussion board 7970CF is a monster setup for that price, but not monster enough coming from 580SLI.

 

[el etro]

That just isn't worth it...a single 580 is within 6% of a single 7970 according to TPU: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7970_CrossFire/23.html

If you had $400+ blowing a hole in your pocket and wanted to see a difference, I would have gone either 290 pro + new HSF, or GTX780. Not even close.

This review is from the Ice Age! Two 280x/7970 at 1,05Ghz+ should blow the SLI to dust!


But hear my words OP, for your resolution, SLI and CFX is a waste! Buy an 290x Lightning or GTX 780 Ti HOF for your configuration. High tier cards SLI/CF tend to unleash the max multi-GPU scaling at resolutions of 1600p and beyond!

Other thing you can do is buy a new monitor before think of multi-GPU configurations. Hear my word, you're wasting money building this way in a config that already bleeds your budget!

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Ya'll cherry pickin'

Nothings changed, 800MHz 7950 is still basically the same performance as the 580, 7970 @ 925 still has basically the same non discernible performance increase.

Nobody asked if he got 7970s or 7970 GHz cards, I'll stick with "If you overclock and have a fast enough cpu to push them".

 

[tential]

I think this was a bad decision.
I don't think the 7970 CF offers a significant upgrade at $440.

I'd rather get the R9 290 instead. I think that's a much better deal. Just my 2 cents.
I would link graphs, but I'm going to the gym soon but I mean, I think it's fairly obvious...

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I think this was a bad decision.
I don't think the 7970 CF offers a significant upgrade at $440.

I'd rather get the R9 290 instead. I think that's a much better deal. Just my 2 cents.
I would link graphs, but I'm going to the gym soon but I mean, I think it's fairly obvious...

lol.

 

[el etro]

Ya'll cherry pickin'

Nothings changed, 800MHz 7950 is still basically the same performance as the 580, 7970 @ 925 still has basically the same non discernible performance increase.

NO WAY!! Not with new drivers!

And TPU test nowdays is BS!

 

[Techhog]

@ 1080p, a 290 is certainly not a downgrade from 7970s (especially considering non-Hawaii Xfire issues).....heck, this is before getting a real cooler on the 290:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/R9_290/26.html

OP has seen both opinions, this is a discussion board 7970CF is a monster setup for that price, but not monster enough coming from 580SLI.

And a single R9 290 or 780 is? I can only guess that this is your bias against bridged CF talking and not your sense. Here's your logic in a nutshell:

"7970CF is a sidegrade. Not enough of a difference to be worth it. Instead, you should go with a single R9 290, which is much weaker that the 7970CF sidegrade but still a bigger upgrade!"

Do you see the problem here? Your suggestion is fine if he's fine with having a weaker system for 6 months. Otherwise, we need to at least know how good of a deal he got.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

NO WAY!! Not with new drivers!

And TPU test nowdays is BS!

You forgot the /sarcasm.

 

[Techhog]

Ya'll cherry pickin'

Nothings changed, 800MHz 7950 is still basically the same performance as the 580, 7970 @ 925 still has basically the same non discernible performance increase.

Nobody asked if he got 7970s or 7970 GHz cards, I'll stick with "If you overclock and have a fast enough cpu to push them".

I don't think that there's a non-GHz version of the Vapor-X 7970.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

^ You might be right!

 

[el etro]

You forgot the /sarcasm.

Forgot the /sarcasm ??

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/grafikkarten/2013/nvidia-geforce-gtx-770-im-test/4/

 

[BallaTheFeared]

They have 4-6% for the non boost 7950, what did you expect me to find?

 

[el etro]

You posted that 7950NonB perform as the same as GTX 580, that's not right(nowdays).

 

[themasterpiece1]

I think this was a bad decision.
I don't think the 7970 CF offers a significant upgrade at $440.

I'd rather get the R9 290 instead. I think that's a much better deal. Just my 2 cents.
I would link graphs, but I'm going to the gym soon but I mean, I think it's fairly obvious...

Wait I was under the impression that the 7970 CF is stronger than a single R9 290 and single GTX 780. I mean I can still return them. I thought it was going to be a nice upgrade. The main thing I disliked about my 580s was the VRAM being so low.

 

[Techhog]

Wait I was under the impression that the 7970 CF is stronger than a single R9 290 and single GTX 780. I mean I can still return them. I thought it was going to be a nice upgrade. The main thing I disliked about my 580s was the VRAM being so low.

7970CF is stronger. I don't know what these guys are trying to say at all.