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7970 Windforce VS DCU II TOP vs ???

So gonna buy a 7970, what to pick? Priority overclock>noise>price

So far mostly been looking at the gigabyte windforce and the Direct CU II top. The windforce is out already and has some good reviews, the DCU will be out in a weeks time where I live.


http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/02/08/gigabyte_radeon_hd_7970_oc_video_card_review

still waiting for dcu ii review.
Hi mfj,
Have a windforce gtx 580 for the past 12 months and has been a really solid,quiet card.Idle temps @ 28-30 and full load @65-70.This is with fans at 40% I cant even hear them.Good card to oc too.
Also a nice looking card.When I upgrade again I will defo be getting another windforce(hopefully when Kelper launches at the end of the year).
Have never used a DCU II card so can't advise on that.
Good luck with whatever you buy,hope you enjoy.
 
I went from a Gigabyte 460 to an Inno3D 570 and the noise level is really noticeable, the gigabyte card was so quiet. I will be going back to Gigabyte the next GPU upgrade as they really do stay quiet even under serious loads gaming.
 
The DCU one is a monster size, make sure you have enough space for it. :) Not a problem if you don't have any other cards in the slots.

As the others have said, the 570 Windforce one is great value for money, have many friends with the same card.
 
I've tried out a GTX 570 Direct CUII and it's an absolute monster. Even with the fans fairly high it didn't make too much noise, and I could overclock the crap out of it, and it'd still be under 70. :D
 
Why not buy the cheapest 7970 on here and use this as the cooler? Surely that would be cheaper?

Some people might be uncomfortable dissecting and assembling their gfx card themselves. It's not the exact same thing as attaching a custom CPU cooler. :)
It's a good point tho, would possibly go for something like this myself next upgrade, still needs fans on top of that price no?
 
Some people might be uncomfortable dissecting and assembling their gfx card themselves. It's not the exact same thing as attaching a custom CPU cooler. :)
It's a good point tho, would possibly go for something like this myself next upgrade, still needs fans on top of that price no?

Yes, but you have the choice of whatever fans you want to put on there. Looks like a beast of a heatsink though.
 
uh oh.... the itch is becoming hard to resist... need to scratch that itch... ahhhh
must... break... internet

seriously though, when will OcUK get them? i cant buy "elsewhere"
 
Why not buy the cheapest 7970 on here and use this as the cooler? Surely that would be cheaper?


It's actually not really cheaper, the cheapet 7970 in denmark costs

449 £ and the windforce oc one costs 490 £. (you can get both cheaper if u order from places out of stock though, but i cba waiting a month) those are the cheapest in stock prices.

Also not sure If I am mistaken, but don't windforce3x oc and dcu ii top got custom pcbs as well?
 
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Gigabyte support pwns and the cooler is excellent. Windforce all the way

Ya I ordered the Windforce, also DCU II TOP was just pushed back one week for early March, besides 2 slots vs 3 is nice if I decide to get another down the road.

Hope I can get 1300GHZ stable like in that review :)
 
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