HD 7870 Tahiti LE vs HD 7950

[Durvelle27]

I'm in the market for a new GPU to replace my GTX 560. My budget is about $230 its actually stretched so i can't go any higher. I'm wondering which would be the best card to get between the HD 7870 Tahiti LE or HD 7950. I game at 1920x1080 and do want some nice eyecandy. I do intend to overclock the card as much as i can get out of it. Games i play Battlefield 3, Crysis 3, Far Cry 3, Sleeping Dogs, Hitman Ab, Assassins Creed III, Batman Ac, Borderlands 2, Devil May Cry, Max Payne 3 etc.. The card also has to be under 10.6" and i don't mind buying Pre-owned either. Also please don't comment about my cpu potently bootlenecking as i do plan to upgrade to a FX 8320 either next week or the week after.


Edit:I also might crossfire later down he road

 

[thilanliyan]

If you can't go higher than $230, you couldn't get a new 7950 anyway right? The 7950 is a fast card...if you can get a used one for about that price go for it, but you may lose out on warranty if you buy used.

 

[Durvelle27]

If you can't go higher than $230, you couldn't get a new 7950 anyway right? The 7950 is a fast card...if you can get a used one for about that price go for it, but you may lose out on warranty if you buy used.

ehh don't mind not having warranty

 

[Necc]

HD 7950 all the way, The 7870 Tahiti LE is has a quarter of the 2048 shader units disabled, leaving 1536. That's still a lot more than what Pitcairn has. The memory bus was reduced from 384 bit to 256 bit, identical to Pitcairn.

If you want performance just spend the extra cash, don't buy a crippled HD 7950.

 

[thilanliyan]

ehh don't mind not having warranty

Then get a used 7950 if you can find one at that price.

 

[RussianSensation]

ehh don't mind not having warranty

Get a $280 HD7950 with a solid cooler, sell the Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite game coupon. That would get you closer to your $230 price level for an HD7950.

EDIT: Just noticed you said the card needs to be 10.6 inches in length at most. That card I linked won't work since it's 11 inches long.

I am actually not aware of many HD7950s that are less than 10.8-11 inches in length. The XFX one is 10.5 but its cooler is one of the worst this generation.

Are you sure your case can only fit a card 10.6 inches in length? User DB006 at OCN has your case an a watercooler PowerColor HD7970. IIRC, every 7970 is longer than 10.6 inches in length.

 

[Imouto]

In Europe the 7870 LE has the same price as the regular 7870 Ghz.

7870 Ghz ~200 €
7870 LE ~200 €
7950 Non ref ~280 €

Just sayin'

 

[Durvelle27]

Get a $280 HD7950 with a solid cooler, sell the Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite game coupon. That would get you closer to your $230 price level for an HD7950.

EDIT: Just noticed you said the card needs to be 10.6 inches in length at most. That card I linked won't work since it's 11 inches long.

I am actually not aware of many HD7950s that are less than 10.8-11 inches in length. The XFX one is 10.5 but its cooler is one of the worst this generation.

Are you sure your case can only fit a card 10.6 inches in length? User DB006 at OCN has your case an a watercooler PowerColor HD7970. IIRC, every 7970 is longer than 10.6 inches in length.

I don't think i can stretch my budget any further as i'm already $30 over. So it's gonna have to be used.

These are under 10.6"

MSI R7950 Twin Frozr Radeon HD 7950 <--- Best out of the bunch
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127667

XFX Double D FX-795A-TDFC Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150588

XFX FX-795A-TNFC Radeon HD 7950 Core Edition 3GB 384-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150590

MSI R7950-2PMD3GD5 Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127719

And i'm sure it can't fit any longer without a HDD drive bay modification

 

[Durvelle27]

In Europe the 7870 LE has the same price as the regular 7870 Ghz.

7870 Ghz ~200 €
7870 LE ~200 €
7950 Non ref ~280 €

Just sayin'

Same price as the HD 7870 GHz here to

 

[RussianSensation]

Definitely try to find a TwinFrozr 7950. It's among the best overclockers out of all 7950s. Or you can wait until Newegg adds Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite to MSI TwinFrozr $290 card and sell that coupon. That's better than buying a used HD7950 for $260-270.

 

[philipma1957]

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-R7950-TWIN...eywords=hd7950


msi hd7950 used 273 with 30 day return policy

 

[Durvelle27]

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-R7950-TWIN...eywords=hd7950


msi hd7950 used 273 with 30 day return policy

Russian linked one for $278 but like i mentioned i can't stretch my budget any further

 

[Durvelle27]

Definitely try to find a TwinFrozr 7950. It's among the best overclockers out of all 7950s. Or you can wait until Newegg adds Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite to MSI TwinFrozr $290 card and sell that coupon. That's better than buying a used HD7950 for $260-270.

i will try


but i found this


Skyrim

Max Payne 3

Borderlands 2

Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 Overclocked

Batman Arkham City

 

[raghu78]

OP the HD 7870 Tahiti LE might just match a HD 7950 at 800 mhz. but its no match for a HD 7950 boost or an overclocked HD 7950.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_7950_X2_Boost/31.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Club_3D/HD_7870_jokerCard_Tahiti_LE/

HD 7870 Tahiti LE - 59.2
HD 7950 iceq x2 boost - 67.5
HD 7870 Tahiti LE(1210 Mhz) - 69.8
HD 7970 Ghz - 78.9
HD 7950 iceq x2 boost(1210 mhz) - 82.9

HD 7950 boost is 15% faster than HD 7870 Tahiti LE at stock and close to 20% faster at same clocks.

the MSI HD 7950 twin frozr cards are now coming with boost BIOS - 880 mhz core , 960 mhz boost and with 6 + 6 pin. but the problem is there are few older MSI HD 7950 twin frozr cards at 880 mhz which use HD 7970 PCB with 8 + 6 pin. they are 11 inch (279 mm) long. so unless you know the exact card you are getting its difficult to say if it will fit in CM Scout.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1332900/7950-msi-or-xfx-dd/10#post_18725170

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/landing/scout/faq.php

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127667

 

[Durvelle27]

OP the HD 7870 Tahiti LE might just match a HD 7950 at 800 mhz. but its no match for a HD 7950 boost or an overclocked HD 7950.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_7950_X2_Boost/31.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Club_3D/HD_7870_jokerCard_Tahiti_LE/

HD 7870 Tahiti LE - 59.2
HD 7950 iceq x2 boost - 67.5
HD 7870 Tahiti LE(1210 Mhz) - 69.8
HD 7970 Ghz - 78.9
HD 7950 iceq x2 boost(1210 mhz) - 82.9

HD 7950 boost is 15% faster than HD 7870 Tahiti LE at stock and close to 20% faster at same clocks.

the MSI HD 7950 twin frozr cards are now coming with boost BIOS - 880 mhz core , 960 mhz boost and with 6 + 6 pin. but the problem is there are few older MSI HD 7950 twin frozr cards at 880 mhz which use HD 7970 PCB with 8 + 6 pin. they are 11 inch (279 mm) long. so unless you know the exact card you are getting its difficult to say if it will fit in CM Scout.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1332900/7950-msi-or-xfx-dd/10#post_18725170

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/landing/scout/faq.php

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127667

Well my only option would be the HD 7950 Twin Frozr

 

[Corporate Thug]

I'm going to take the contrary postion here.

Cheapest 7950 is $280AR

Cheapest 7870 XT is $215 AR

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=78372

I don't see how the 7950 is worth a 30% premium

Even compared to the 7950 iceq x2 boost, HIS iceq is 20% faster. However, from my understanding, the HIS is the best OCing 7950 out of the bunch. I would not expect the $290 MSI to consistently top 1200+ Mhz on the core. The 7950 iceq x2 boost, on the other hand, is a $350 card...about 50% more pricey than a 7870 XT.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_7950_X2_Boost/31.html

 

[Durvelle27]

I'm going to take the contrary postion here.

Cheapest 7950 is $280AR

Cheapest 7870 XT is $215 AR

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=78372

I don't see how the 7950 is worth a 30% premium

Even compared to the 7950 iceq x2 boost, HIS iceq is 20% faster. However, from my understanding, the HIS is the best OCing 7950 out of the bunch. I would not expect the $290 MSI to consistently top 1200+ Mhz on the core. The 7950 iceq x2 boost, on the other hand, is a $350 card...about 50% more pricey than a 7870 XT.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_7950_X2_Boost/31.html

Its also to large

 

[Corporate Thug]

Its also to large

The powercolor version is 10.5 inches

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/01/powercolor_radeon_hd_7870_myst_edition_review/

Also, I believe we will be seeing at least another few OEMs slowly releasing these 7870 XTs in the coming weeks.

 

[Durvelle27]

The powercolor version is 10.5 inches

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/01/01/powercolor_radeon_hd_7870_myst_edition_review/

Also, I believe we will be seeing at least another few OEMs slowly releasing these 7870 XTs in the coming weeks.

i was talking about the His ICEQ as ik the HD 7870 will fit fine

 

[Corporate Thug]

i was talking about the His ICEQ as ik the HD 7870 will fit fine

I see.

Just a FYI, Sapphire lists its 7870 XT at 275mm in length = ~10.82 inches.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1160&pid=1790&psn&lid=1&leg=0

 

[bigsnyder]

MSI TF3 R7950 is right around 10.5-10.75 inches. Order from Amazon if you have prime. No problems with a return in case it doesn't fit. The new game bundle is also good there.

 

[Corporate Thug]

MSI TF3 R7950 is right around 10.5-10.75 inches. Order from Amazon if you have prime. No problems with a return in case it doesn't fit. The new game bundle is also good there.

The MSI 7950's sold through amazon are through 3rd parties and not eligible for prime...they are also substantially more expensive than eggs offering. ($290 vs $325).

 

[Durvelle27]

leaning toward the HD 7870 Tahiti due to length and price

 

[bigsnyder]

I should add that I measured the R7950 myself. About 10.5 from edge to edge (including the slight overhang from the cooler) or 10.75 including the lip of the case bracket where you lock the card down in the case.

 

[Durvelle27]

I should add that I measured the R7950 myself. About 10.5 from edge to edge (including the slight overhang from the cooler) or 10.75 including the lip of the case bracket where you lock the card down in the case.

not bad might be a tight fit