Videocard is dying... I need to buy one ASAP

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
My 7970 is going the way of the dinosaur. I've started to get all kinds of artifacts and crashing. I'd guess I have a week before my computer stops booting.

I have a Corsair 750W PSU from... 7 years ago? It's still truckin' just fine. However, I don't know if it will be enough for a 295X2 and I don't feel like buying another PSU. I could get a brand new 295X2 for $550 AR. But, I'd be playing the cards when it comes to whether or not my PSU makes it considering the power draw the 295X2 has. 980 Ti seems up my alley but it's $100 more and basically out of stock everywhere.

Thoughts? What should I get? The 295X2 is appealing from a price/performance stand point. (ugh, as I type this post my screen just glitched. I'm hitting submit now) I need to buy today/tomorrow.
 

.vodka

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2014
1,203
1,538
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Wait until June 16 to see what AMD's 300 series cards and their top end Fury will finally look like, then make a decision.

I'm sure you can hold off until then with a spare basic card or onboard video, if that's available to you.
 

sm625

Diamond Member
May 6, 2011
8,172
137
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Cant you just downclock it to get more life out of it? You got to at least wait two weeks because if the 980ti gets crushed then there are going to be lots of returns and lots of open box sales lol.
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
146
106
In terms of 295X2 vs 980TI the 980TI is a no brainer. You avoid all the SLI/CF issues, lack of profiles and what not. Also you avoid 250W extra power consumption as well.
 

.vodka

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2014
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Cant you just downclock it to get more life out of it? You got to at least wait two weeks because if the 980ti gets crushed then there are going to be lots of returns and lots of open box sales lol.

As a last resort he could always try to give the card a bake in a throwaway oven (you wouldn't want to cook food in there after), I've heard stories of many artifacting cards like OP's that were given some more months thanks to a bake.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Wait until June 16 to see what AMD's 300 series cards and their top end Fury will finally look like, then make a decision.

I'm sure you can hold off until then with a spare basic card or onboard video, if that's available to you.

Ugh, that's a long time when your system is down. I'm gonna try...

This wouldn't be such a big deal but I haven't had my system in 4 months (moved) and I just got it back. I want to play some games so baaaaad.

I'm going to try downclocking but even in a 2D environment the thing is glitching. :(
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
146
106
What do you have for CPU?

You could use its IGP to keep you going for a few days if you wish to wait.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
One thing I have to ask is: Is June 16 going to be also the day they release the cards or just make some [false] announcement and the cards are released a month+ later?

Profanity isn't allowed in the technical forums.
-- stahlhart
 
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TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
65
91
If you want to go nVidia, you COULD get a mid-level EVGA card, then Step Up once the AMD news settles.
 

Gikaseixas

Platinum Member
Jul 1, 2004
2,836
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One thing I have to ask is: Is June 16 going to be also the day they release the cards or just make some [false] announcement and the cards are released a month+ later?

Nobody knows for sure
If that doesn't happen and you card dies, just get GTX 970 SLI or 290x CF... decent jump over what you have
 
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TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Hard to tell if my videocard is dying or not. It might have just been that my tower was standing up and not laying down like normal. (The videocard is the massive 3-slot variant of Asus' 7970, it weighs a quarter-ton and is ridiculously large. It doesn't mount well in many motherboards...) I put the tower down and no errors for the last hour or so. :/ Who knows.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
What's the decision, boys? Seems 980 Ti is the way to go?

My videocard is starting to ah heck out more and more today. I really want to postpone this purchase but who knows.
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
6,240
2,559
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If you want to spend that much go for it. But A 290X/390X is a huge upgrade for you for way less money.
 
Feb 19, 2009
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Perf/price as per your OP:

390, 970 are good mid-range options, a nice upgrade from the 7970.

Higher up, Fury Air, Fury X and 980Ti.
 

Mondozei

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2013
1,043
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The 970 should really be compared with the 290X, not the 390X, Silverforce.
The 390X is doing better than the 980 but of course these are at non-OC speeds.


To OP: I'd recommend getting the 290X from Sapphire(the Tri-X version). Try getting the updated fan revision of the card. AMD is likely going to support your card's long-term performance through driver updates much better than Nvidia due to similarities in GCN architecture. For someone like me who spends about 400 dollars a year on GPU(s), that isn't an issue as I upgrade often. But if you hold onto to your GPU for 3 years or so, it can and will be an issue and AMD's going to be better for you there.

Good luck.
 
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