HD 7870 GHz edition good for hardcore 1080p gaming?

[vanguard27]

I've got a core i5 3570 and 8gb corsair vengeance ram. Looking forward to playing all the demanding games at a constant 30+ fps (not 60) like bf4, crysis 3, metro last light etc. So what do you think? I might overclock a bit if needed or the r9 270x is a somewhat better choice considering all the facts? Thanks in advance!

 

[flatty]

I think 270x would do a better job, now and in the future

 

[vanguard27]

I think 270x would do a better job, now and in the future

Judging from what? Isn't it just a rebranded HD 7870 OC? From what I hear, the earlier one seems to have better overclocking capabilities.

 

[jacktesterson]

I think 270x would do a better job, now and in the future

It's the same card with slightly different clocks.

 

[TreVader]

the 7870 is perfect for 1080p at Ultra on any game except Crysis. It also has the memory bandwidth for 2x MSAA and even 4x MSAA on a few games, which the 750ti can't do at all because of the crippling memory bandwidth problem.



The 270 is the same card and over clocks the same, the 270X is binned higher and so will tend to do a bit better.

 

[tential]

If you're looking at a 30+Fps target then yes, HD 7870 should be fine.

The reason I'd pick up the R9 270 or the X would be because it'd be easier to drop in a second card later and get Crossfire performance. The Crossfire performance of the 270/X is very very good.

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/5...2gb-toxic-video-cards-in-crossfire/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1955429/270x-crossfire-dominates-280x-290x.html

Crossfire performance is usually very good and I wouldn't ignore the fact that you have a cheap upgrade path with the R9 270/X because you'll be able to find that card for a year or two later from now.

I'm thinking of future upgrade paths of course, but any choice you have listed would be good for what you've suggested at 30+ fps.

 

[codyray10]

7870ghz is plenty for 1080p and a mix of high/ultra settings (depending on the game). I run two OC'd to 1100/1300 in crossfire and the performance is great. Before adding the second card, I played BF3, BF4, Batman Arkham Origins, Far Cry 3, Tomb Raider, Crysis 3 all mostly maxed out with good frame rates. While the 270 is the current gen card, it is just a rebadged 7870ghz and I'm not sure that it's worth the extra price premium vs the 7870.

 

[tviceman]

7870 is a great card. Most games will run with high settings (without AA) and smooth frame rates.

 

[Erenhardt]

7870 + Phenom II 965
BF4 1920x1080 Ultra preset + mantle ~50-60 fps on 64player map

 

[nwo]

Depending on the price, a 270 or 270X might be a better choice than a 7870. They will run cooler, use less power, and are more silent than any 7870. But all three should have no issues running any game at 1080p with 30+ fps on high/ultra settings.

If you're paying let's say $150 or more for the 7870, I think you would be better off waiting for a sale on a 270 or 270x or grabbing an open box one from newegg for around the same price or maybe a few bucks more. A 270X is definitely a better choice, with a 270 being an equivalent to a 7870 in terms of performance and OC potential. A 270X will be faster than a 7870 straight out of the box and will also have higher OC potential.

For example, here is an open box 270X for less than $160 and it's actually in stock but 270s are going quick, especially at the $150 price point so you better act quick before they sell out.

 

[DigDog]

what this guy^ said

 

[davie jambo]

270x would be better as it has GCN

 

[NTMBK]

270x would be better as it has GCN

So does the 7870

 

[davie jambo]

So does the 7870

I though it was just 79xx and r9 cards that had GCN tbh

 

[NTMBK]

I though it was just 79xx and r9 cards that had GCN tbh

Nah, 77XX, 78XX and 79XX all do. It's just the 76xx and lower that were rebrands.