Nvidia Geforce GTX 295 or ATI Radeon HD 5970?

[undeclared]

I'm not really sure which upgrade to go for..

They both look good, but I find myself leaning towards the GTX even though the 5970 is higher performance.. Because of Nvidia's PhysX/Cuda and what not..

 

[SunnyD]

5970 hands down.

 

[lifeblood]

How often do you replace your video card? For me it would be a 5970 as I rarely replace it and therefore want DX11 for longevity. If you plan on replacing by the time DX 11 goes mainstream, then either card is great.

 

[mhouck]

Depends on if you think the features of dx11 will be more widely implemented than physx in the time frame you are planning on having the card.

 

[v8envy]

You would be nuts to spend $500+ on a video card without DX11. Lay out out that kind of scratch and not have the ability to see even today's games at full potential? No thanks. A card like that will last you at least a year if not two or three, and you'll definitely wish for DX11 support for most of that time.

 

[undeclared]

I think I understand that it's all about DX11... and it is a faster card..

I think I'll have to wait for the next gen Nvidia -- the more I think about it, the bigger the additional features on the nvidia are to me..

Actually it's more along the lines of the 3d tech that I REALLY want to use.. but can't on the ATI...

 

[Grooveriding]

DX11 is not that big a deal atm. But what does matter is performance and the 5970 blows away the 295

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If you REALLY want physx then you're only reasonable choice is to wait. If you really want a video card now 5970 is pretty much a no brainer unless you just have some incredible use for cuda or something.

 

[Painman]

^ that... if you really value the nV features, wait for Fermi.

 

[nemesismk2]

The 5970 is currently the fastest video card you can buy

 

[Wreckage]

I'm not really sure which upgrade to go for..

They both look good, but I find myself leaning towards the GTX even though the 5970 is higher performance.. Because of Nvidia's PhysX/Cuda and what not..

You could just wait for fermi. The GTX380 may perform as well as the 5970 and you get Physx/CUDA without have do deal with Crossfire.

Either way I just checked newegg and they don't have any 5970's. Even if you find one it might be $700.

 

[Qbah]

Either get the HD5970 if you can find it for a reasonable price or wait for Fermi.

The HD5970 completely demolishes a GTX295 in terms of performance. It's not even comparable.

 

[Wreckage]

Either get the HD5970 if you can find it for a reasonable price or wait for Fermi.

The HD5970 completely demolishes a GTX295 in terms of performance. It's not even comparable.

Depends on the game.
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/17986/5

A good option may be to pick up a could of 285's on eBay.

 

[scooterlibby]

You could just wait for fermi. The GTX380 may perform as well as the 5970 and you get Physx/CUDA without have do deal with Crossfire.

Either way I just checked newegg and they don't have any 5970's. Even if you find one it might be $700.

So predictable.

 

[yh125d]

So predictable.

Don't troll him (yes that's what you're doing)


I doubt the GTX380 will be on par with 5970 like he said but its a very valid recommendation to wait for fermi


OP, in your situation I'd do one of two things


Just buy a middling $150-300 card (anything from GTX260 to 5850) and use the difference to upgrade to i7 - this is what I would do

or

Wait for fermi, see how things pan out and get something along the lines of 5870CF or GTX360/375 SLI, depending on how fermi works out perf/price and ATI price drops

 

[Qbah]

Depends on the game.
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/17986/5

A good option may be to pick up a could of 285's on eBay.

So you found one game where the Radeons don't play nice yet... Are you really trying to suggest a HD5970 is comparable to a GTX295 in speed? Really?

I can show you something funny too:
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=885&pageid=8

Finally, a GTX285 in SLi is a nice setup provided the OP can find the cards well under 300$, otherwise not worth it if he's considering a HD5970 or a GTX295.

 

[solofly]

I'm not really sure which upgrade to go for..

They both look good, but I find myself leaning towards the GTX even though the 5970 is higher performance.. Because of Nvidia's PhysX/Cuda and what not..

Do you want OLD tech or NEW tech, the choice is yours...

 

[thilanliyan]

Absolutely no contest. 5970 hands down. Actually I'd even get a 5870 over a 295 since that is so close in performance (well...once the price goes down anyway).

HOWEVER...if you CAN wait...I'd wait until nV releases their new cards so you can compare with ATI's new cards. There's really no point in spending that much on a card if you're going to buy older tech.

 

[v8envy]

And think about this: if Fermi shows up in April or so all the pent up demand from people waiting for it will make the current 58xx availability look like an all you can eat card buffet. Worst case scenario could be very, very grim -- no card in your hands until the summer. At about $1000.

 

[akugami]

If you require PhysX and CUDA (CUDA is puzzling cause it offers basically nothing to gamers) either get GTX285's in SLI if you want a card now or wait for Fermi.

If you want a card now. Get a Radeon 5970.

Either way, get a card that supports DX11 because if you're spending that much money on a video card, you want it to support everything out now and upcoming in the next year and more because you seem like someone who isn't going to upgrade his video card often. If you were, you wouldn't be asking this question and would be buying a Radeon 5xxx series and then upgrading to Fermi when it comes out.

 

[Wreckage]

If you require PhysX and CUDA (CUDA is puzzling cause it offers basically nothing to gamers)

Computers can be used for much more than just games. It's true. :\

 

[akugami]

Computers can be used for much more than just games. It's true. :\

And just how useful is CUDA to the average person or even the average gamer? Almost zero? I rest my case.

If you want to make a case for PhysX fine, it is arguable on how useful PhysX is giving the relatively small percentage of games that makes use of it and the even smaller percentage of games that make good use of it. And by good use I mean one that actually leverages PhysX to improve the game.

CUDA...what consumer apps leverage this technology? How does this help the average consumer or even gamer?

 

[SlowSpyder]

There is no way I'd choose a GTX295 over a 5970. If you have a need for CUDA I'd wait for Fermi to show up, then you can have Physx (if that's important to you), CUDA, and DX11.

Otherwise I'd take the 5970 now and enjoy the large performance gain over the GTX295 and have a DX11 capable card.

 

[cbn]

5970.

 

[cbn]

I

Actually it's more along the lines of the 3d tech that I REALLY want to use.. but can't on the ATI...

What 3D tech do you want to use?

DX11 effects can look more 3D than DX10.