gtx 670 or AMD 7950?

hmz007

Junior Member
Nov 15, 2012
6
0
0
hi

im working on my first gaming PC build and i need a graphics card. Ive narrowed it down to the 670 and 7950. I plan on playing Skyrim, BF3, Diablo 3 and Bioshock infinite,crysis 3 in the future. i also plan on overcloking and perhaps even going with a dual graphics card setup in the future.

here is my current build..
i5 3570k
ocz modxstream 700W
ASRock z77 exream 4
8GB RAM
1080p single monitor

i can get both cards at the same price but i would just like to know which one would suit my needs.
 

MarkLuvsCS

Senior member
Jun 13, 2004
740
0
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Both are very capable cards and would do fine for gaming.

It's more a matter of personal choice, especially if there is no cost difference. I would probably say it's better to get the GTX 670 is the cost is the exact same because you also get PhysX (free feature). I would suggest an MSI aftermarket cooled card because they're pretty phenomenal.
 

hmz007

Junior Member
Nov 15, 2012
6
0
0
Both are very capable cards and would do fine for gaming.

It's more a matter of personal choice, especially if there is no cost difference. I would probably say it's better to get the GTX 670 is the cost is the exact same because you also get PhysX (free feature). I would suggest an MSI aftermarket cooled card because they're pretty phenomenal.
what about this one?
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD4893&vpn=GV-N670OC-2GD&manufacture=GIGABYTE
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,900
74
91
7950 and 670 at the same price? definitely the 670. It normally costs around 20% more
 

Kodongo

Junior Member
Sep 7, 2012
15
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0
I would give the slight edge to the 7950 (non-reference) as you should be able to extract more performance from it when it goes max OC vs. max OC against a 670.

Conversely, if you were going for multiGPU, people seem to have less problem with SLI than CrossFire, although this is anecdotal as I have never used more than one card.

One point of advice I can give you first hand, however, is to be aware of the limits of your PSU. Although the ModXStream is rated for 700W, it can actually only supply 550W on the 12V rails. Two 670s should be okay but two OCed 7950s could be a bit too much for the PSU. This HardOCP article demonstrates that the power supply can't put out 700W and later in the article it shows the output is high ripple (unstable) power which can limit component life.

If I were in your position, I would invest in a single 7950 (MSi Twin Frozr or ASUS Top). If you do decide to get a second GPU, accompany it with a better PSU such as a Seasonic X or Corsair AX model.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
If you're overclocking, the 7950 is a much better buy. Using the same site: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD3894&vpn=GV-R795WF3-3GD&manufacture=GIGABYTE . The GTX 670 will be faster at stock, but once both cards are overclocked they'll be neck-and-neck. That said, the GTX 670 wouldn't be worth the extra $60. I think in either case getting the Gigabyte Windforce 3 is a great choice.

As far as upgrading goes, when you need more power just grab whatever newest GPU is out then. Multi-GPU is rarely a good idea and it's even rarer that it's a necessity.
 

Timecop1967

Member
May 17, 2007
80
0
0
I've read that some users can't set their 7950s or other Radeon cards to 120hz for those with 3d monitors. If that is the case I may stick with Nvidia this time around. Can anybody confirm this? Hopefully Black Friday will offer some good deals on both.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
Now that AMD is actively courting suitors, those warranties can easily be made meaningless.

AMD AIB partners are not happy about the news this week.
 

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
Now that AMD is actively courting suitors, those warranties can easily be made meaningless.

AMD AIB partners are not happy about the news this week.

Yes, there are reports everywhere of AIB's dumping AMD and warranties being refused. /sarc.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
Now that AMD is actively courting suitors, those warranties can easily be made meaningless.

AMD AIB partners are not happy about the news this week.
What an absolute load of nonsense. Troll elsewhere.
 

chimaxi83

Diamond Member
May 18, 2003
5,649
61
101
I've read that some users can't set their 7950s or other Radeon cards to 120hz for those with 3d monitors. If that is the case I may stick with Nvidia this time around. Can anybody confirm this? Hopefully Black Friday will offer some good deals on both.

I had this issue. It seems to be specific to the card, and what the AIB did with the connections. For me to get 120 hz or 2560x1440 out of my 7970 Lightning, I can only use Display Port. Dual Link DVI should technically work, but for whatever reason, MSI didn't go that route.





Now that AMD is actively courting suitors, those warranties can easily be made meaningless.

AMD AIB partners are not happy about the news this week.

Is this a new troll or something?
 

stylez777

Member
Mar 5, 2012
91
0
61
If you are going to overclock the clear choice is the 7950 non reference (MSI TF3 or Gigabyte WF3 being my 2 favs). There are numerous benchmarks, reviews etc of how the overclocked 7950 beats out the gtx 670 (and even in certain instances the gtx 680) in most games.

With the 7590 your also getting an extra 1gb of VRAM and a faster bus speed.
 

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
18,193
4,674
136
For the same price it's a coin toss as they're very close in speed, with a slight edge to the 7950 if overclocked. But on the other hand the 670 uses less power and supports physX.
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
Hard to say but I would guess that a GTX 670 might be easier to sell later on because a lot of people might go SLI before x-fire and you'd have an easier time finding a buyer.

Something to consider as well. Both are good as single card solutions though.
 
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Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
Power consumption is not even a factor worth mentioning actually if you are comparing at stock.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/550?vs=598


Honestly.. I recommend either card here, especially if your case has limited airflow and 95% of the 7950s have internal exhaust coolers, I can't recommend in a cramped with restricted airflow case. They are both excellent cards and you would be just as happy with either.
 
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MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
The thing is they aren't the same price. The 7950 is $289CAD and the GTX 670 is $350CAD. If someone can link to a GTX 670 for ~$290CAD that'd be a tougher decision, but the GTX 670 is not worth $60 more for the same performance.
 

96Firebird

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
5,709
316
126
The thing is they aren't the same price. The 7950 is $289CAD and the GTX 670 is $350CAD. If someone can link to a GTX 670 for ~$290CAD that'd be a tougher decision, but the GTX 670 is not worth $60 more for the same performance.

i can get both cards at the same price but i would just like to know which one would suit my needs.

Right in the original post...
 
Feb 19, 2009
10,457
10
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Same price, go with 670 no brainer. It comes with good perf out of box without requiring OC. Doesn't matter that 7950 OC is faster, it requires luck with the silicon lottery, for $60 difference, id take my chances with a custom 7950... but at the same price, no way, go with 670.
 

96Firebird

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
5,709
316
126
True, maybe he has a contact that works retail or something. I'm not sure how he can get them for the same price, but the fact that he said he could I'm willing to believe him. I doubt he would lie about it, but who knows.
 

Durvelle27

Diamond Member
Jun 3, 2012
4,102
0
0
If your going to oc the best option would be the HD 7950 but if you don't want to oc and want Physx get the GTX 670

Simple as that
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
Keep your head in the sand. Or go mosey over to the CPU forum where people aren't afraid to talk about actual news.
Just like all those ATI warranties were useless when AMD bought them, right? Listen, go troll P&N or Off Topic, not where the adults are talking.