Video card recs

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
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I figured now is a good time to post this, since hopefully there will be Titan benchmarks out soon, which might make this entire post be answered by simply going for one of those.

I am soon going to get my third 1080p TV which will give me 5760 X 1080. I'm limited to one GPU because of the mobo I chose(I wasn't looking for triple screens when I built this) and not looking to go 690 (if my PSU would even handle one). I'm guessing my options are:
1. Titan - benchmarks TBD
2. 4GB 680 such as http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-D...04G-P4-2686-KR
3. 7970 GHZ edition
4. Suck it up and wait til I build an SLI system
5. Suck it up and get a higher amp/watt PSU and have to deal with pulling my system apart to install it, and get a 690

So, the two main questions:
1. The Ghz edition is the cheapest option, such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150632 . I know there's coil whine complaints on XFX 7970s, should I really worry about that, though?
2. What kind of performance can I in the real world expect from either 4GB 680 or a 7970 Ghz? Benchmark and review numbers for 5760 X 1200 (I myself would be 1080) seem to vary a bit, from tolerable to not so tolerable. I will say that I don't mind if 1 or 2 games simply won't work at that resolution or if I have to dial the AA down or something (see notes at end). So am I better off waiting and doing Titan, or getting a 680 4GB/7970 Ghz for whatever performance I will get at whatever tradeoffs are required? Perhaps if I went 7970, I would be able to get a second one at a good price 9 months from now when I build a Haswell system and use a crossfire capable mobo.

Current system PSU is Antec Neo Eco 620(48 amps). Games I'd play would be like racing games, Planetside 2, BF4 (if worthy), that kind of thing. If I can't run a few games like Metro 2033 or Crysis 3 at 5760 X 1080, I can live with that.
 

SithSolo1

Diamond Member
Mar 19, 2001
7,740
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Just glancing around it looks as though the GTX 680 4GB and the 7970Ghz trade blows depending on what games you play. Here is a review from August of a GTX 680 4GB which also includes a 7970Ghz for comparison at the 5700x1200 resolution. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6096/evga-geforce-gtx-680-classified-review/5

Titan may or may not be the greatest thing since sliced bread but from the discussion I've seen it should be between a GTX 680 and a GTX 690 performance wise.

Also depending on the rest of your system you might be able to run a GTX 690 off your current PSU.

Lastly, AMD just updated their game bundles on the 7970 to Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
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Also depending on the rest of your system you might be able to run a GTX 690 off your current PSU.

Hm, this is what I got:
CM Storm Enforcer with std fans
Neo Eco 620c 48 amp
Asrock Z77 pro4
i5 3570
8GB DDR3 1600 RAM
2 OCZ Vertex 4 128
1 OCZ Agi 3
1 Samsung Spinpoint 1TB
DVD-RW drive

That's about it inside the case.


Lastly, AMD just updated their game bundles on the 7970 to Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite.

Yeah, if Titan isn't a big enough improvement I'm definitely thinking a 7970 now (even if I had to drop AA and settings a bit) and another later when I build a CF capable board, would be much more cost effective not the least reason for which would be getting Bioshock and Crysis 3 free...
 

absolutezero

Junior Member
Jan 11, 2013
21
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Well, HD 7970 GE is quite a bit faster now due to the never settle drivers and now the 13.2 beta.
 

The Alias

Senior member
Aug 22, 2012
646
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perfrel_2560.gif
 

BrightCandle

Diamond Member
Mar 15, 2007
4,762
0
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You need to find out if your PSU can copy with the 690. One card really isn't up to these resolutions, you will be turning down details on the 690 along with loosing AA often. With 1 card you'll really be turning the settings down a lot.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
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You need to find out if your PSU can copy with the 690. One card really isn't up to these resolutions, you will be turning down details on the 690 along with loosing AA often. With 1 card you'll really be turning the settings down a lot.

Unfortunately it can't, it only has 1 8 pin PCI-E and the 690, at least the ones on Newegg, need two.

I was thinking I would get a 7970 now and go crossfire 9 months from now when I build a Haswell system.

I also have a card length limitation, my current case (also will get a bigger one 9 months from now) will only take about 10.5" card.

But - I found this on Newegg and it's claimed to be 9.3":

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150665

XFX's site says that too: http://xfxforce.com/en-us/Products/...-HD-7000/AMD-Radeon-HD-7970/FX-797A-TDJC.aspx

It's apparently so new there isn't even feedback on it. Anyone know anything about this card/can confirm anything?
 

ICDP

Senior member
Nov 15, 2012
707
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Just glancing around it looks as though the GTX 680 4GB and the 7970Ghz trade blows depending on what games you play. Here is a review from August of a GTX 680 4GB which also includes a 7970Ghz for comparison at the 5700x1200 resolution. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6096/evga-geforce-gtx-680-classified-review/5

Titan may or may not be the greatest thing since sliced bread but from the discussion I've seen it should be between a GTX 680 and a GTX 690 performance wise.

Also depending on the rest of your system you might be able to run a GTX 690 off your current PSU.

Lastly, AMD just updated their game bundles on the 7970 to Crysis 3 and Bioshock Infinite.

Unfortunately you can't link to reviews in August and expect them to be representative of today's performance. The drivers are just too old and both Nvidia and AMD have released later, faster drivers. It's even hard to use such reviews to give a general perception of relative performance because it flip flops dependent upon the drivers used.

One of the problems with forming an informed purchase decision is that most review sites do not update their reviews with later drivers. Some even go so far as to use old archive data to compare to new GPUs tested with the latest drivers.

My advice would be to do a google search for GPU reviews done within the last month. That way you are at least guaranteed to have reviews using more recent drivers.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
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maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
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81
Anyone know if that above referenced card really is 9.3 inches? Considering no more and cards for a while and only Titan for nvidia it might be my best bet.
 

Fx1

Golden Member
Aug 22, 2012
1,215
5
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Non Ghz 7970 are even cheaper than the GHZ cards and clock just as high if you buy MSI.

Im 1125/1800 for £300 which is £50+ cheaper than all GHZ cards and 680's and faster than all of them at their normal clocks