Graphics Card 1080p

[Conza]

Hi, I'm looking at upgrading my GTX285 card, she's done her service, but is getting a lil long in the tooth, and has been for a while (last 12-18 months, once I tried The Witcher 2 at max settings I knew her days were numbered).
Arguably one of the bext DX10 cards of her day, imported from Japan in mid-2009.

So late 2012/early 2013, I think I have a winner (for 1080p) The Radeon 7970 GHz edition, Gigabyte.

I really want the 680GTX to be better, as its the equivalent of my current card, 3 years on, however, it 2GB version is more expensive (have found the 4GB version, but anyway), has a smaller memory bandwith, and slower shader clocks, with less processors?

I'm using this* website to compare, may be worth taking a look, remember, the speeds are adjustable and neither of the cards I'm looking at are stock speeds.

Gigabyte Radeon HD7970 GHz Edition 3GB: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1309&products_id=20995

Leadtek 680 GTX 4GB : http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221170067797?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

*http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_1309

My current build is, also aging, but was pretty good at the time

i7 950 3.07 GHz 4core/8thread, liquid cooled, has never seen a 4X C temperature afaik.

12GB of 1600MHz Patriot Ram

7200 rpm drives (698GB + 930GB, a.k.a 750GB+1TB)

Samsung P2350, 1080p, 500,000:1, 2ms display

Thermaltake 750W Tough Power Supply

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

My biggest downers on the 7970GHz edition, it's still $480, if I'm not thinking clearly and a $400 non-GHz edition will see me not lose too much performance, please let me know, its hard to make clear some of the reviews.

Also it needs 600W? I'm assuming this figure means 'you need a 600W PS' not 'it needs 600W alone to power it' because some of the power consumption tests I've seen show it using much less at idle.

Having said that, if I'm not losing dramatic performace with a cheaper 550W 7970 standard version, I'd much rather that, say for example, a DD version?

Let me know what you picked if you have a 600 series Geforce / 7000 series Radeon, or are just generally knowledgable about this stuff. Thanks!

EDIT: Moved, was in wrong section

 

[dice1998]

I has EVGA Gefore GTX 670 FTW. It is an absolute monster.

The 7970 is faster in some games while the 680 is faster in others.

Just saying.

 

[II-zOoLoGy-II]

Buy a 7970 and overclock it yourself. The "GHz Edition" was to decrease the performance gap between the 680 and 7970 (prior to 12.11b) for those who don't overclock.

 

[Conza]

Thanks gents

@II-zOoLoGy-II I think you're right, I'm paying a premium on the GHz Edition for the overclocking to be covered by warranty, but the 7970 is so stable, I may as well just take the risk

Found two standard 7970s that I like, both for $400, one new and one used.

The R7970 Lightning, $400

The XFX Radeon 7970 DD (GHz Edition just realised) also $400.

I think now my focus is going to be on power consumption and temperature, lowest of both overclocked would be nice.

 

[II-zOoLoGy-II]

XFX DD don't have the best coolers... I was not impressed with it at all. I hit the thermal limit way before this card started crashing or showing artifacts (XFX R7950). So, really I don't even know what this card's max OC is until I put it on water (which may or may not happen depending on next gen release...).

Now, I wouldn't necessarily let this sway you from purchasing an XFX card; just something you should consider... If you are not trying to absolutely max out the card's performance then you won't even notice. If you are just trying to take a non-GHz edition and either flash that bios or over-volt/clock it to that level then you won't even notice either.

Any over-volting/clocking that YOU do can/will be more stable than what the manufacturer does (typically they may be supplying MORE voltage than a particular chip would need). All chips are given the same voltage at the factory, and as everyone knows... every chip is different.

Pros... They have a lifetime transferable warranty (on the 7xxx DD/BE cards) and their customer service has always been helpful to me (even helped me out on some throttling/over-volting questions I had...). The cards are gorgeous and perform extremely well.

I have owned two XFX R7870's (sold to local buyer and transferred lifetime warranty; big plus for resale) and a R7950.

Pssst... they don't know you over-volted/clocked unless you leave burn marks..

 

[Conza]

Very surprising that the GHz/OC editions, with warranties, are actually less stable.

I could just go find the cheapest reference card I could find, then add an additional quiet cooler to it, but I'd rather pay a little more for a package that I don't need to physically tamper with, and only play around with bios settings and alike.

Set it and forget it, I want to get my 6000Mhz Ram and 1100MHz Core, running, at a cool temperature, 40-55C, and my liquid cooled cpu, operates on a whiring pump, so sound isn't that big a deal, but power consumption is, so between 200-300W at load would be nice.

That's another thing the GTX680 has, it uses less power, staight out of the box.

Thing I'm struggling to get my head around, all of the pre-game numbers say 'the 7970 is better' all of the in game numbers vary, and half the time its 'get the GTX 680', the other half it's 'get the 7970'. Wish there was consistency in the reviewer market.

But it's all mute to a point anyway, can't find a 680GTX within my new budget, $400, I found one at $500, new, the 4GB version too (which means nothing at 1080p), but it isn't 25% better.

so 256-bit bandwith vs. 384-bit (Nvidia and Radeon respectively) is the a number to multiply, or is the 50% lacking bandwith of the Nvidia a true killer?

 

[II-zOoLoGy-II]

Either card will be fine at 1920x1080. You're not going to see the bus difference come in to play until you hit much higher resolutions. However, I would suggest going with 3GB VRAM just so you're future proofed.