Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 38

Thread: Did I buy the right GPU??

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Durham, England
    Posts
    637
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    25 times in 24 posts
    • Rookie1986's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock Fatal1ty z77 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB (2 x 8GB) Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR3 2400Mhz (Red)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 SSD 128/256GB - Seagate 2TB 7200rpm
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon 3GB XFX 7970 Black with Ghost + Hydrocell
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX850
      • Case:
      • Corsair Obsidian 650D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34UM95 34" 21:9 UltraWide QHD

    Did I buy the right GPU??

    Hey guys,

    All going well I should receive my new PC system on Wednesday but I'm already starting to have doubts about my GPU choice. I've gone for a 3GB XFX 7970 Black with Ghost and Hydrocell but now I'm starting to think that maybe the GTX 680 would have been the better choice, what do you guys think? Should I swap my 7970 for a 680 before its to late or should I just stick with the 7970. I do plan on Crossfireing the 7970 if that makes much of a difference to what you guys think I should do??

    Hope u can help,
    Rookie

  2. #2
    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    I'm a Jessie
    Posts
    35,157
    Thanks
    3,105
    Thanked
    3,138 times in 1,916 posts
    • Zak33's system
      • Storage:
      • Kingston HyperX SSD, Hitachi 1Tb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 1050
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 800w
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT01
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTC uber speedy

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    you chose right, stop worrying. Both are great cards

    why?

    because they're both so blisteringly fast it makes not one jot of difference except in e-peen bragging rights on the odd benchmark.

    Stop fretting ... loook forward to owning one of the fastest things on earth and get your games ready!

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

  3. #3
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    6,260
    Thanks
    1,618
    Thanked
    608 times in 518 posts
    • Phage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Crosshair VIII
      • CPU:
      • 3800x
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb @ 3600Mhz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 512Gb + 2Tb Samsung 860
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 1080ti
      • PSU:
      • BeQuiet 850w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Define 7
      • Operating System:
      • W10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama GB3461WQSU-B1

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Depends on what resolution you're playing at. If you're going multi-screen then stick with the 7970. Otherwise I'd go for a 680 with a custom cooler. Something like this.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-g...cores-15362xdl

    EDIT: I should add that Zak is correct. There's no real difference in reality. I certainly have no plans to replace my 7970.
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Durham, England
    Posts
    637
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    25 times in 24 posts
    • Rookie1986's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock Fatal1ty z77 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB (2 x 8GB) Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR3 2400Mhz (Red)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 SSD 128/256GB - Seagate 2TB 7200rpm
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon 3GB XFX 7970 Black with Ghost + Hydrocell
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX850
      • Case:
      • Corsair Obsidian 650D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34UM95 34" 21:9 UltraWide QHD

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    you chose right, stop worrying. Both are great cards

    why?

    because they're both so blisteringly fast it makes not one jot of difference except in e-peen bragging rights on the odd benchmark.

    Stop fretting ... loook forward to owning one of the fastest things on earth and get your games ready!
    Yeah I guess your right, I just worry lol! I think it's time to get some new games to go with my new GPU, any recommendations to help show off its capabilities?.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Durham, England
    Posts
    637
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    25 times in 24 posts
    • Rookie1986's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock Fatal1ty z77 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB (2 x 8GB) Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR3 2400Mhz (Red)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 SSD 128/256GB - Seagate 2TB 7200rpm
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon 3GB XFX 7970 Black with Ghost + Hydrocell
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX850
      • Case:
      • Corsair Obsidian 650D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34UM95 34" 21:9 UltraWide QHD

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    Depends on what resolution you're playing at. If you're going multi-screen then stick with the 7970. Otherwise I'd go for a 680 with a custom cooler. Something like this.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-g...cores-15362xdl

    EDIT: I should add that Zak is correct. There's no real difference in reality. I certainly have no plans to replace my 7970.
    I will be gaming at no larger than 1920 x 1200 and I have no direct plans to multi-screen at the moment. So maybe the 680 would have been the better choice??

    How does your 7970 perform? Have you found anything that it can't run??

    Rookie

  6. #6
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,749
    Thanks
    1,788
    Thanked
    3,288 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by Rookie1986 View Post
    I will be gaming at no larger than 1920 x 1200 and I have no direct plans to multi-screen at the moment. So maybe the 680 would have been the better choice??
    Well technically a 7870 would have been a better choice from a value for money point of view because you won't notice the difference to a 7970

    In a few years, if games start to push on and demand more powerful stuff, then the 680 probably has the edge over the 7970, but then the £75 or so you saved getting a 7970 will be better put towards whatever card is out then, rather than trying to buy a card now for use a few years later.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Rob_icepick's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P5WDH Deluxe S775
      • CPU:
      • E6850 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair TwinX 2GB
      • Storage:
      • 1.5TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD 5850
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX850W
      • Operating System:
      • MS Windows XP PRO SP3
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20"
      • Internet:
      • O2

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    For Power consumption and relative scaling of frame rate per game, the 680 is your choice. Reading some reviews it definitely looks the better designed card. I've been ATI for a good while now, but think nvidia will be pioneering the gfx market with the new tech in these new cards.

    To be honest, you can't go wrong with the card you have, so be at peace of mind and enjoy it!

    I always find reviews at http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...phics-Cards,4/ useful as well as hexus.

  8. #8
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,749
    Thanks
    1,788
    Thanked
    3,288 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by Rob_icepick View Post
    I always find reviews at Toms useful as well as hexus.
    Hoho

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    7
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Rob_icepick's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P5WDH Deluxe S775
      • CPU:
      • E6850 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair TwinX 2GB
      • Storage:
      • 1.5TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD 5850
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX850W
      • Operating System:
      • MS Windows XP PRO SP3
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20"
      • Internet:
      • O2

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Hoho
    Didn't realise xmas was starting that early this year?!

  10. #10
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    6,260
    Thanks
    1,618
    Thanked
    608 times in 518 posts
    • Phage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Crosshair VIII
      • CPU:
      • 3800x
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb @ 3600Mhz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 512Gb + 2Tb Samsung 860
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 1080ti
      • PSU:
      • BeQuiet 850w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Define 7
      • Operating System:
      • W10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama GB3461WQSU-B1

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Dunno if this helps. I do disagree with Kalniel though. If BF3 pushes the 7970 to it's limits already, to the point where I can see the difference between standard and overclocked, then what what will next year bring ? I think you would notice the difference to a 7870. I think your choices are 680 vs 7970.
    You should always buy the best GPU you can afford as they are single item that dates the most quickly.

    CPU at 3.8Ghz
    GPU at 1100/1500.

    http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3363086;jses...51uclcek5d8yc5
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

  11. #11
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,749
    Thanks
    1,788
    Thanked
    3,288 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    Dunno if this helps. I do disagree with Kalniel though. If BF3 pushes the 7970 to it's limits already, to the point where I can see the difference between standard and overclocked, then what what will next year bring ? I think you would notice the difference to a 7870. I think your choices are 680 vs 7970.
    If you are one of the few that can tell the difference in responsiveness when you are talking in both cases about frame rates faster than the refresh speed of your monitor then I agree, spend as much as you can on the graphics card. For most of us however, once you hit above 60fps there's no point spending more.

    (From anandtech: )

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    1,891
    Thanks
    218
    Thanked
    61 times in 53 posts
    • jonathan_phang's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage III Extreme
      • CPU:
      • i7 930 @ 4.2 ghz (200x21)
      • Memory:
      • 12GB Corsair XMS3 1600
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 128GB SSD + Misc Data Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 1080 FTW
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX850 Modular
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PB278Q (27" 2560x1440)
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 100mb

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Generally I would agree with you, but for me, its the minimum framerates that are the most important. I run with V sync anyway, so 1 gazillion fps isnt a bother, but a higher end card might give less variation. Thats why I like reviews that state min rather than say just the average. I find Hard OCP does that quite well, though not sure how objective they are. I have always found them to be good and detailed in their reviews.

  13. #13
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,749
    Thanks
    1,788
    Thanked
    3,288 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Yep valid consideration. Have you see the techreport reviews? They do detailed analysis of how many frames take an unusual time to render - more informative than any site that gives a one off minimum figure.

    http://techreport.com/articles.x/22653/10

    (That's at 2560x1600 mind, just to give an example of the type of reporting)

  14. Received thanks from:

    jonathan_phang (07-05-2012)

  15. #14
    IQ: 1.42
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    old trafford
    Posts
    1,340
    Thanks
    132
    Thanked
    94 times in 80 posts
    • Tunnah's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus somethingorother
      • CPU:
      • 3700X
      • Memory:
      • 16GB 3600
      • Storage:
      • Various SSDs, 90TB RAID6 HDDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1080Ti
      • PSU:
      • Silverstone 650w
      • Case:
      • Lian-Li PC70B
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Internet:
      • 40mbit Sky Fibre

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    The 680 generally seems the better card, plus I find Nvidia drivers to be updated more often with better improvements than ATI ones.

  16. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    1,891
    Thanks
    218
    Thanked
    61 times in 53 posts
    • jonathan_phang's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage III Extreme
      • CPU:
      • i7 930 @ 4.2 ghz (200x21)
      • Memory:
      • 12GB Corsair XMS3 1600
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 128GB SSD + Misc Data Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 1080 FTW
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX850 Modular
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PB278Q (27" 2560x1440)
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 100mb

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Yep valid consideration. Have you see the techreport reviews? They do detailed analysis of how many frames take an unusual time to render - more informative than any site that gives a one off minimum figure.

    http://techreport.com/articles.x/22653/10

    (That's at 2560x1600 mind, just to give an example of the type of reporting)
    Nice, never used that site for tech reviews. Will have to give it a read over in the future

  17. #16
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    6,260
    Thanks
    1,618
    Thanked
    608 times in 518 posts
    • Phage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Crosshair VIII
      • CPU:
      • 3800x
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb @ 3600Mhz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 512Gb + 2Tb Samsung 860
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 1080ti
      • PSU:
      • BeQuiet 850w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Define 7
      • Operating System:
      • W10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama GB3461WQSU-B1

    Re: Did I buy the right GPU??

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    If you are one of the few that can tell the difference in responsiveness when you are talking in both cases about frame rates faster than the refresh speed of your monitor then I agree, spend as much as you can on the graphics card. For most of us however, once you hit above 60fps there's no point spending more.
    That's an unsubtle cheap shot. Obviously no-one can tell the difference once you exceed the refresh rate. Why is it that you discuss the obvious point with JP, yet feel free to put me down ?
    I had thought you were one of the more reasonable members. Shame that.
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •