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!

 

[dreigns]

Well with a 970 u would see a nice speed bump from the 7950 and it should be ok on the psu but I wouldn't go to the 290 as it eats power and might need a better psu you might have to check that.

Also does depends on what games u play

 

[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.

 

[almighty15]

Get a GTX970, I've just sold mt 290 to get one..... the new DSR on it is awesome.

 

[sprite1275]

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.

 

[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?

 

[cjph]

I have a Windforce 7950 (excellent piece of kit) and did buy a reference 290X just before the 9x0s were released, but returned it unopened as the smart money was on the 970 and it appeared that it would not need the watercooling I would probably need on AMD card. I game across three screens though, and while most games are ok at reduced settings I also know what you mean - you just feel there is a bit more visual quality and less stuttering (if I can call it that). Its the usual problem of there always being something new coming along but keep putting the 970 in my inbasket.

cj

 

[MasterOC]

Do it , do it haha , youll be seeing just under 2x the performance at same settings . These things are best bang for buck just as the 7950s were. Seems a very apt upgrade, More power more eye candy , will be able to supersample with that power as well

 

[sprite1275]

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?

I can't see 7950 going much less tbh. I know its the usual "keep waiting to see what the next tech is, you'll never upgrade" but I can't help but feel these 970's are priced to sell fast . wonder if that's because there's something big/better just on the horizon

 

[tommybhoy]

These things are best bang for buck just as the 7950s were.

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.

 

[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?

 

[tommybhoy]

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?

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.

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

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

 

[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?

 

[Steveocee]

Depresses me that I have 2 7950's that I am starting to grow an itch over.

 

[tommybhoy]

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?

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.

 

[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?

 

[tommybhoy]

Tri-X is the best all rounder but it's £20 more expensive than the better looking XFX DD.

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

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.

 

[ALXAndy]

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.

Yeah Metro is one hella pretty game. I played through Last Light on GTX 670 SLI and parts were stutter heaven. Just my luck they released a patch when I was about 90% through the game.. Doh !!

Redux is even better. Runs like butter, but then with Titan Black in SLI it ought to

 

[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)