7950 upgrade doubts!

[jesus2nd]

So I posted a thread a couple of weeks back querying the process of upgrading my gigabyte 7950 to an 290/290x and everything was gravy up until I noticed the price drop on the 970 and a couple of people posting in other threads about how now wasn't the greatest time to be updating.

Whilst the 7950 still serves me well I cant help but feel that certain games are missing out on a little SSAA.

Basically, is it worth me up grading now or should I hang on a bit?

And does my current spec allow me to make the switch to green if it tickled my fancy?

Currently specs:

Spoiler

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (clocked to 4.0 GHz under pressure)
Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77
Gigabyte 7950
XFX Pro 550W Core Edition
8gb Ram
I'm rolling with a 27inch monitor and like my games a running at 2560

Thanks in advance for any help, advice or abuse you throw my way!

 

[jesus2nd]

Thanks for the reply buddy, I don't really have "a game" at the moment. Fallen out of touch with multiplayer stuff so I tend to grab the "big releases" a couple of months down the line when they've being ironed out and price dropped. Just feel like I'm missing out on something with my current set up.

 

[jesus2nd]

I'm in the same boat. Got a 7950 and I'm happy with how it plays all my games but these 970's got me itching like crazy.

I'm trying to hold out to see what might come out in a few months or maybe get a good deal on a 970.

So tempting isn't it! My 7950 runs everything fine with all the fancy extras turned off but the other day I bumped all the SSAA and AA on on Metro and whilst it ran like a slideshow, visually it was amazing...sort of highlighted what I was missing out on.

7950's fetch around £80-100 2nd hand as well so that's a decent chunk off of whatever I go for...the longer I wait though the less I'll get back from it!

Such hard choices

Edit: If I were to switch to Nvidia there's be no problem compatibility wise would there with my current spec?

 

[jesus2nd]

Not quite.

Cheapest 970 £260, 290 DD Black Edition £240, the important part though is the gold ticket.

'Mustang Omega Racer AMD edition star citizen'-£32 and bidding hasn't ended yet, Alien isolation will net you about £15-£20, last game is going to get you at least £5, that's a 290@~£185.

970 is a cracker but it's not quite bbfb@~£75 more expensive than a 290, a £100 upgrade for the op is considerably cheaper than £175.

Thanks for the input bud, little confusing...are you suggesting stick with a 290 upgrade if I'm looking at it from a money angle?

Reckon I'd be best acting sooner or later or waiting on a few months?

 

[jesus2nd]

Spoiler

Yes, bfb=290 after selling your game codes.

If you got £80 for your 7950 and after selling the game codes by auction, you are looking at a ~£100 outlay for a 290 rather than ~£175 for a 970, that is a large whack cheaper for the small performance delta lost, I doubt you will notice in actual game play unless your day job is an attack fighter pilot.


Even if AMD drop the price to £200, they will remove the golden ticket imo, cheaper route purchasing now.

The devil on my shoulder likes that idea, reckon the 290x would be worth the extra pennies whilst I'm there or am I just being silly now?

 

[jesus2nd]

I work on the same policy, bbfb, if the golden ticket wasn't worth so much this time round it would be a different story, yes you are being silly going for the 290X.

I only have 290X's as the 290 unlocked to an X and the 290X DCuII was a freebie courtesy of AMD/OcUK.

Well that pretty much settles that then, any specific 290 that you would recommend?

 

[jesus2nd]

Long term the 970s power efficiency may come into play, depending on how much you use the PC. Should also make it cooler if that's a concern.

The 290s are very good cards though and that's a very good price. I disagree with tommy though and think the Tri-X looks better than the XFX card.
XFX are now a bit better because OcUK deal with the warranty (I believe), but I don't think XFX cards have ever been the best quality. Sapphire on the other handy are decent. Also I believe Sapphire are the company AMD uses to produce its reference stuff, which has to say something.

EDIT:
The Sapphire also has a larger out-of-the-box overclock.

Might as well spend that little bit extra then for that little bit of quality, I know I've got a small PSU bit its a decent bit of kit, might look into upgrading the processor/Mobo in the new year with a mind to crossfire in the future so I'll be upgrading the PSU then so this little upgrade itself isn't fully long-term (...if that makes sense)

 

[jesus2nd]

One thing to keep in mind with the Tri-X is that the cooler take up a little bit more than 2 slots (2.5 or something). Worth considering if/when you crossfire (or buy a motherboard to crossfire with).

I should also point out I've not had an XFX card (for a while) so I've no first hand experience with the quality, it's just the impression I get. I'm pretty sure most will tell you the Tri-X is a good card though. It's what I'd get.

Thanks for all the advice bud, I'm sure I'll be hitting purchase on that 290 at somepoint over the weekend!

...I'll just toss a coin to decide which version

 

[jesus2nd]

Oh maaaan. Now I'm looking at 290s

Really liking the look of the vapour x sapphire. I have an Asus pz877 premium mobo so good colour match.

What's the main differences between the 970 and 290 ?

Think the 970 runs slightly cooler and is less power mad.

Thats as far as my knowledge goes though, I'm sure someone on here will fill you in more!