Thoughts on these two cards, Sapphire 7950 and EVGA GTX 660 SC

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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Finishing up a build and need a card system is as follows:

AsRock Z77 Pro3
Lite-On DVD
Core I5-3570K
Corsair TX650
Antec 300 case
16gb Corsair Ram
250 GIG Samsung SSD
500 Gig Hitachi Spinner (ultimately x2 for a gig)

Budget under $300 if possible

Resolution: 1680 x 1050

Main games are SimCity and Battlefield

The cards I am considering:

EVGA 03G-P4-2665-KR GeForce GTX 660 SC Signature 2 3GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130834

SAPPHIRE 100352-4L Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 PCI-Express Video Card with Boost

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202030

Thoughts appreciated
 

guskline

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2006
5,338
476
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Here's the ANANDTECH benchmark link of a GTX 660 vs a Radeon 7950 with boost:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/645?vs=660

With that budget it seems the 7950 is a better choice. I know the GTX660 you chose is OC'd but it still tends to favor the Radeon.

I have an EVGA GTX 660 SC (less expensive but same OC) in a FX 8320 rig and it's a great card but I snagged it for $189. I think a more fair comparison price wise is the 7870 vs the 660.

For your build? Single card? No question the 7950. It also has a much better set of free games.

OR for $300 snag these form a fellow Anandtech poster:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2313545

Then you will really ROCK! I'll leave the "buttkicking" to others!:sneaky:
 
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parvadomus

Senior member
Dec 11, 2012
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7950 wins hands down vs a 660. Its on par or better than 660TI, and when overclocked it easily buttkicks boths, and even GTX670.
 

Montsegur97

Member
Sep 30, 2010
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I just recently bought that 7950, enjoying it so far. With the available rebates and 2 games included, hard not to like the deal.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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Hey thanks all, any other cards to consider in this range? also will my case support the size? some of those look massive

Thanks
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
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I have an Antec 300 with the older version of the Sapphire that I listed. I had to move the hard drive down, but it does fit. Tight, but it fits.
 

Montsegur97

Member
Sep 30, 2010
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The site I bought it from says it's 292 mm long. I have a full size case HAF X...somehting, and it just fit, didn't have to move anything, but a tight squeeze.
 

Stuka87

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Dec 10, 2010
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The site I bought it from says it's 292 mm long. I have a full size case HAF X...somehting, and it just fit, didn't have to move anything, but a tight squeeze.

OP also has same case as me. So he should be ok provided all his HD bays are not full.
 

Attic

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2010
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The game pack for the radeon is big positive. Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon.

I prefer the game pack for the 7800 series though, swapping Tomb Raider for Crysis 3.

Under 300 7950 is hands down winner.

Under 200 it gets more interesting, but still with the game packs, if you want them, radeon's have huge advantage. Games can be sold as well making the price more unique (relatively lower) for the radeons.
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
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Stock vs stock
7950~660Ti
7950 Boost > 660 Ti but < 670

Oced vs oced
7950 ~ 670 oc / 680 stock

I would recommend the 7950 even at ur resolution keeping in mind the latest games so far.
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
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The 7950 is faster in nearly every game. But... The one you have linked has the blower cooler, and its loud. All the blower ones are.

If you can, try and get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202007

Its a few dollars over your budget after rebate, but its extremely quiet.


Just remember the Sapphire 4L even though it has the blower cooler, it also has a slightly stripped down 7970 PCB with Bussman chokes. Very high quality reference PCB with VRM temp Sensors and Voltage control.
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
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Just remember the Sapphire 4L even though it has the blower cooler, it also has a slightly stripped down 7970 PCB with Bussman chokes. Very high quality reference PCB with VRM temp Sensors and Voltage control.

True, but it requires an aftermarket cooler to get the sound level down. Which isnt a bad thing, just an added cost with possible warranty issues. I cannot recall Sapphires standpoint on aftermarket cooling.
 

Montsegur97

Member
Sep 30, 2010
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If you have a decent case with good cooling, the card runs around 50-60c under load with the fan at 40%. Noise level is more then tolerable, but ya, anything higher then that, it sounds like a plane. I read in some other threads people hitting 90c...but not sure what their setup was.