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What's the best card out of the 7970 and 680 factoring in mature drivers?

kissenger

kissenger

kissenger

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Joined
10 Apr 2008
Posts
2,491
I was reading elsewhere that the 7970 has had some ridiculous performance improvements with recent driver updates that put it clearly ahead of a 680 in terms of both minimums and average frame rates, but I was a bit sceptical.

What do you guys think?

If the performance gains from the latest drivers are that big then a lot of the benchmarks online are well underestimating how the 7970 performs.
 
The 7970 costs a lot less, has more memory, and with cat 12.11 performs a fair bit better than the GTX 680.

Based on that I would go with a 7970, I just picked up a new 7970 for £299 with games. (I killed my old 7970)

Some good deals on the 7970's especially with all the free stuff aswell, really no reason to go Nvidia right now unless you need that Nvidia logo ;-).
 
Check the 12.11 benchmarks, neither card is a slouch, if you have the money I'd go for the 7970 matrix plat.
 
Boomstick777 said:
The 7970 costs a lot less, has more memory, and with cat 12.11 performs a fair bit better than the GTX 680.

Based on that I would go with a 7970, I just picked up a new 7970 for £299 with games. (I killed my old 7970)

Some good deals on the 7970's especially with all the free stuff aswell, really no reason to go Nvidia right now unless you need that Nvidia logo ;-).
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A bit one sided that.
New drivers have not made the 7970 faster then the 680, they have helped performance so there is no longer such a large gap, they are now almost equal with the 680 taking a minor lead.

There is also the fact that some people prefer Nvidia drivers over AMD ones. I'm not going to start debates about stability as they have both had problems but Nvidia do offer far more out of their drivers then AMD (per game profiles, digital vibrance etc).

Nvidia also give you Physx which AMD do not, some class it as a gimmick, others want it & will pay for it. So there is more to it then your very bias view, only put forward because you own one & need to justify it.

kissenger said:
I was reading elsewhere that the 7970 has had some ridiculous performance improvements with recent driver updates that put it clearly ahead of a 680 in terms of both minimums and average frame rates, but I was a bit sceptical.

What do you guys think?

If the performance gains from the latest drivers are that big then a lot of the benchmarks online are well underestimating how the 7970 performs.
Click to expand...

It's down to personal preference, performance is about equal, 680 is very slightly faster overall but not much. You have to decide if you want Physx etc or if they don't matter to you. 7970 is cheaper & you get what you pay for. 680 is more expensive but you get a couple of extras as stated above. If you aren't bothered about Physx etc then save your money & get the 7970. If you want Physx then spend a little more on a 680. Either way they are both great cards. :)
 
no_1_dave said:
A bit one sided that.
New drivers have not made the 7970 faster then the 680, they have helped performance so there is no longer such a large gap, they are now almost equal with the 680 taking a minor lead.

There is also the fact that some people prefer Nvidia drivers over AMD ones. I'm not going to start debates about stability as they have both had problems but Nvidia do offer far more out of their drivers then AMD (per game profiles, digital vibrance etc).

Nvidia also give you Physx which AMD do not, some class it as a gimmick, others want it & will pay for it. So there is more to it then your very bias view, only put forward because you own one & need to justify it.



It's down to personal preference, performance is about equal, 680 is very slightly faster overall but not much. You have to decide if you want Physx etc or if they don't matter to you. 7970 is cheaper & you get what you pay for. 680 is more expensive but you get a couple of extras as stated above. If you aren't bothered about Physx etc then save your money & get the 7970. If you want Physx then spend a little more on a 680. Either way they are both great cards. :)
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(Lol at the fact you wrote the GTX 680 is faster, I bet you don't even realize the irony) That is your opinion, me preferring the 7970 is mine.

The OP is asking for opinions on which is better value, im not being biased as you wrote (Bit rude) im giving my own opinion. Right now the 7970 is better value based on the fact that it comes with more memory, costs less, performs better since Cat 12.11. That's not being 'biased' it's an educated opinion. My last card died I had to pick between the GTX 680 and 7970 (I have no fanboy brand loyalty), based on the above points I chose the 7970. Maybe you should consider why my opinion bothers you? Don't accuse people of being biased when they're not, makes you sound a bit weird.
 
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no_1_dave said:
performance is about equal, 680 is very slightly faster overall but not much
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Up until the latest drivers they were, but the 7970 has edged out the 680 overall now. You must remember that GK104 was always supposed to be Nvidia's mid range product, and now that AMD drivers have matured (and EA have allowed them access to code) the 7970 has stretched it legs.

OP if you prefer Nvidia go for a 670 or 680 but for value the 7950 or 7970 are hard to beat.
 
The problem Boomstick777 is that you said:

Boomstick777 said:
and with cat 12.11 performs a fair bit better than the GTX 680.
Click to expand...

That is a statement of fact not opinion. That is what he responded to so I don't know what you've waffled after then...

On topic: I personally think the 7970 is now - with the new drivers and when overclocked - a little bit faster than a 680 overall.

There ain't much in it though and it wouldn't be hard to find reviews showing it swinging one way or the other which typifies that it's close and also much will depend on the overclock. I think a 680 Lightning and a 7970 Lightning will be practically neck and neck.

The 7970's are of course cheaper and offer a far superior package with the free games.
 
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I agree that you have to be careful when stating which one is faster as a fact. As I understand it, with the 12.11 drivers the 7970 is still a bit slower than the 680 when both at stock and at 1080p. When both cards are overclocked though, the 7970 now holds a lead on average whereas before they were both pretty much level.

At high res however, the 7970 is significantly faster. TPU reports that the 7970 GHz is edition is 15% faster on average of their test suite than a stock 680 at 1600p.
 
Rusty0611 said:
The problem Boomstick777 is that you said:



That is a statement of fact not opinion. That is what he responded to so I don't know what you've waffled after then...

On topic: I personally think the 7970 is now - with the new drivers and when overclocked - a little bit faster than a 680 overall.

There ain't much in it though and it wouldn't be hard to find reviews showing it swinging one way or the other which typifies that it's close and also much will depend on the overclock. I think a 680 Lightning and a 7970 Lightning will be practically neck and neck.

The 7970's are of course cheaper and offer a far superior package with the free games.
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Oh I see so he can write,

no_1_dave said:
680 is very slightly faster overall but not much
Click to expand...

no_1_dave said:
7970 is cheaper & you get what you pay for
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That is not biased or fact based right in his opinion, but if I write the 7970 is a bit faster with cat 12.11 and cheaper that's not ok? Do you not see the point I was trying to make?

You can't fix dumb :p.

Derp.
 
From what I've seen:

Right now, it's neck and neck for both cards at 1080

For higher resolutions, AMD pulls way farther ahead. Since I'm a 1440p user, I finally settled for a 7970. With these new drivers, seems like it was the right choice. :)
 
Boomstick777 said:
snip
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Your post was/is horrendous. I had to snip it. :(

I was merely pointing out that he was questioning the statement of 'fact' that you wrote and he wasn't from what I can tell questioning your opinion so I don't know why you flew off the handle as if all you had done was give an opinion. You gave an opinion but you also gave a questionable fact.

I've already given my take on the original post.
 
Rusty0611 said:
Your post was/is horrendous. I had to snip it. :(

I was merely pointing out that he was questioning the statement of 'fact' that you wrote and he wasn't from what I can tell questioning your opinion so I don't know why you flew off the handle as if all you had done was give an opinion. You gave an opinion but you also gave a questionable fact.

I've already given my take on the original post.
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Horrendous? You didn't understand it? Ok will explain..

He wasn't questioning fact like your trying to make out, he accused me of being 'biased' because I said that atm the 7970 was a bit faster since cat 12.11 etc..

Then he went on to say that the GTX 680 was faster, and that the 7970 was cheap because you get what you pay for.

He didn't realize that (his comments) could be viewed as bias, that is what my post was about.

Take it easy.
 
Cat 12.11's even up performance, but at the same price I still think the 680 has the edge (mostly due to cooler, quieter and more efficient running). However, with the current ~£50 difference the 7970 is better value.

So, 680 is best if £50 means nothing to you, but if you need that £50 for something else thsn the 7970 looks better.
 
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