Msi 7970 lightning or asus 670 top

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 12:28

Trying to choose between the 2 cards, at the moment i only play BF3, my current gpu 280gtx is causing problems(see other thread)

I game at 1080p and budget is £380
Really would like to have a go at watercooling, but not definate
I know bf3 is nvidia optimised but is there really much in it???

Can anyone summerise the pros and cons

Thanks

pgi947 · 27 May 2012 at 12:30

What about: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-276-AS

The best of both worlds really while saving a bit of money?

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 12:45

Same 3 year. Warrenty, whats the support like between the 2 companys? And if i were to put them under water would one lend themselves better? I.e blocks?

old gamer · 27 May 2012 at 12:51

I like the msi myself, i think its on offer with 3 free games, could be a deal breaker

Martini1991 · 27 May 2012 at 12:52

pgi947 said:
What about: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-276-AS

The best of both worlds really while saving a bit of money?

If he doesn't like OC'ing and can fit 3 slot cards.

Cleeecooo · 27 May 2012 at 12:57

Nickolp1974 said:
Same 3 year. Warrenty, whats the support like between the 2 companys? And if i were to put them under water would one lend themselves better? I.e blocks?

MSI have far superior RMA policies and te lightning will have blocks soon whereas, IIRC, the DCU already has blocks out

jewii · 27 May 2012 at 12:58

pgi947 said:
What about: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-276-AS

The best of both worlds really while saving a bit of money?

i've heard reports on here that theres no voltage controller; worth researching.

well i've just returned my 670 gigabyte windforce & got the insanely cheap msi lightening. Research 670 stuttering issues due to boost clock design.

i'd defo go for the lightning as i did

Also i've read many reports of a lot of 7970 having coil whine & it's really loud! even the respectable non-ref sapphire has it; the odds of having it with the lightning is very low as they're using very high class components;

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:00

Love tweaking/oc'ing, just never been able to with current gpu, even in my case antec 1200 its like a furnace or sounds like a leaf blower, not interestred in sli/cf so 3 slots not a problem

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:04

Heard of stuttering issues but nvidia appear to have better driver support, the recall rumours are a bit of a worry???
Not had amd/ati card for about 9 years, and sometimes its better the devil you know.

Oh my god decisions, decisions

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:06

And if i was to base my decision on looks it would most definately go with the lightning

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:18

Is the price of the lightning likely to go up once there in stock?

hyperst · 27 May 2012 at 13:21

Well there really is no need to spend that amount of money, what about a 480 at £185, and if you want to water cool it it will work about about the same as 1 of the newer cards if you can get a water block for it that is, there pretty hard to get hold of.

Cleeecooo · 27 May 2012 at 13:25

Nickolp1974 said:
Is the price of the lightning likely to go up once there in stock?

Yes

hyperst said:
Well there really is no need to spend that amount of money, what about a 480 at £185, and if you want to water cool it it will work about about the same as 1 of the newer cards if you can get a water block for it that is, there pretty hard to get hold of.

A 480 won't play BF3 at full settings, 2, yes.

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:27

I know that it may be slightly overkill for my resolution, but i only change my gpu aprox every 3-4 years, and i'd rather not go down the sli/cf route, so spending a little more now is more cost effective for me in the long run.

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 13:31

And yes i want to run bf3 to the max, and when i upgrade my monitor, probably a years time, it will be 1440p res.

hyperst · 27 May 2012 at 15:14

Cleeecooo said:
Yes

A 480 won't play BF3 at full settings, 2, yes.

Of course it will, it will just not be as smooth as it could be with a more powerfull card.

But tbh if your playing bf3 for eye candy something is wrong, ultra settings and everything on only hampers seeing the enemy.

pgi947 · 27 May 2012 at 15:40

Nickolp1974 said:
Love tweaking/oc'ing, just never been able to with current gpu, even in my case antec 1200 its like a furnace or sounds like a leaf blower, not interestred in sli/cf so 3 slots not a problem

In which case grab something like the lightning, you're not going to have much fun overclocking on the 7970 Dcu2 or any 670 to be fair.

Cleeecooo · 27 May 2012 at 15:55

hyperst said:
Of course it will, it will just not be as smooth as it could be with a more powerfull card.

But tbh if your playing bf3 for eye candy something is wrong, ultra settings and everything on only hampers seeing the enemy.

No it won't.

Ultra is full settings and my 570 lags every now and then, it's horrible and not what id describe as playable

Nickolp1974 · 27 May 2012 at 16:00

Looking at reviews and other comments/ posts i think it will be the one for me, did not think i would leave nvidia :-(

but not keen on the whole boosting thing, and when i have a dabble at water i think it would be more suited? and just told mrs that its on offer and too good too miss at that price, so when she gets back off train she's placing the order for my birthday!!! She may just get a cuddle for that ;-)

pgi947 · 27 May 2012 at 16:07

Nickolp1974 said:
and when i have a dabble at water i think it would be more suited? and just told mrs that its on offer and too good too miss at that price

This card was aimed at everything apart from air cooling to be honest. Though I will be very disappointed if it flops under water.

I used the same "its on offer, I'd be saving a shed load" excuse on my mrs too, it worked!