Purchasing advice AMD 7970

[aaksheytalwar]

With a 2600k 7970\680 makes sense. For a 860 stick to 7950 ESP at 1080p

 

[Phynaz]

With a 2600k 7970\680 makes sense. For a 860 stick to 7950 ESP at 1080p

This is once again bad advice - twice in this thread.

An 860 will push a video card just as hard as a 2600k.

 

[chimaxi83]

With a 2600k 7970\680 makes sense. For a 860 stick to 7950 ESP at 1080p

lol dude just stop. That 860 will do anything in gaming that a 2600K/3770K/3960X will do. Keep bad "info" to yourself. Recommend a 7950 for the price, not because you incorrectly think that 860 will hold a 7970/680 back.

This is once again bad advice - twice in this thread.

An 860 will push a video card just as hard as a 2600k.

Exactly.

 

[Tempered81]

there is a slight difference

 

[chimaxi83]

there is a slight difference

I don't think anybody plays at 1024 * 768 where you'd notice that difference.

 

[imported_DukeP]

I finally settled on the ASUS HD7970-DC2T-3GD5.

The Corsair HX520W seems to handle it just fine and it had precisely two spare "6+2" connectors free.

The challenge was the Thermaltake Lanbox Lite.
The big(!) asus did not fit. It was:

1) Too wide to pass between the vertical and the horizontal drive cages.
2) Had the two 8pin power-connectors placed on top of the really tall card - clashing against the bottom of even the highest part of the drive cage assembly. The former card had its connectors placed to the rear.

Here you can see just how tight a fit it was, even after removing pieces of the drive-cage!
(Click on the pictures to enlarge, zoom and focus).
pictures.lytro.com/DukeP/stories/57862
pictures.lytro.com/DukeP/stories/57863

(Some of the tools needed: pictures.lytro.com/DukeP/stories/57864)

Thanks all for the advice!
~~DukeP~~

 

[RussianSensation]

Congrats on the card! Hope she works out for you for 3 years before your next upgrade. It should overclock to 1125-1150mhz on stock voltage with Asus GPU Tweak / MSI Afterburner / Sapphire Trixx should you want to do that.

Those pics are pretty small to see what modifications you had to do to the drive cage but good thing it fit. Also, how are the noise levels/temperatures in that small case?

 

[imported_DukeP]

Small? Ah!

Yes. You need to click on them, and then click again to refocus them. Should be at least 1000x1000.

And thanks. So far (well - after 30 mins of testing) seems like the card is limited by my CPU. Perfect!

~~DukeP~~