7970 Lightning, worth the premium?

Cleeecooo · 25 May 2012 at 19:33

>.<

So tempting! Being able to run all 3 monitors from DP would be nice

pgi947 · 25 May 2012 at 19:35

Dual link is needed for any monitors over 60hz that don't have display port.

I either try find someone that has a 120hz monitor with Displayport that fancies a swap with my Asus VG236H or buy the adaptor.

I'm not too fussed about the adaptor, as in my earlier post I pointed out you're essentially getting it for £4 now. It was just a little drastic at the old price considering £524 for the card + adaptor.

Edit: Buy it cleee, I know you want too.

PorkPieCat · 25 May 2012 at 19:35

and amd hd3d. if you have a 3d monitor with dl-dvi but not displayport, then you won't get nice 3d. stopped me from getting one

pgi947 · 25 May 2012 at 19:37

23/24" displayport equipped 120hz monitors, what are my options?

It may well be an idea to sell off my Asus monitor and get something different.

Cleeecooo · 25 May 2012 at 19:45

What does that stupid button at the back do?

Surveyor · 25 May 2012 at 19:52

Cleeecooo said:
What does that stupid button at the back do?

It's the "GPU Reactor".

- An add-on device on the back of R7970 Lightning (Behind GPU) for the overclocking stability
- Provide 88% higher power capacity and eliminate power noise (ripple)

It's supposed to assist with overclocking but it appears to make little difference.

Maybe it would if you were using sub zero cooling.

It's removable.

pgi947 · 25 May 2012 at 20:09

Pre-ordered

The Guru3D review of the Lightning is pretty good (27 pages!) it covers the 'GPU Reactor Core' and pretty much confirms what Surveyor said, it didn't make much odds in their overclocking tests.

masscrazy · 25 May 2012 at 20:42

Arghhh thought I convinced myself this was not a viable buy.

But considering I have two 1200p monitors and a 1440p display port monitor, it may actually be a good buy.

Hmm, also just received confirmation i got refund for the 7970WF which i picked up for £389 (+9.75 p&p to send back) so i got £389 back and could well get the lightning.

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 20:43

Why did you return the WF 7970?

masscrazy · 25 May 2012 at 21:05

Space Monkey said:
Why did you return the WF 7970?

I had issues with temperatures (when it wasnt hot at all out). I was getting decent temps at stock clocks it would reach around 60-65C overclocked it would go to 85C at 100% fan speed.

Decided this was not for me. Others reported vastly different temps with their WF's. I also didnt like that the bundle was barely anything. I guess the same can be said about lightning, barely anything but cheap for what it is, custom cooled and supposedly a "good overclocker".

How are retailers on honouring pre-order prices btw?

And anyone had experience with MSI in regards to warranty support.

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 21:08

Ah ok

If you pre order now (stock due Monday according to OCUK), you'll be debited now and card shipped when it arrives.

MSI have an RMA base in Holland IIRC, and I believe you can RMA straight back to the retailer for the whole 3yrs, an agreement between MSI and retailers, but double check in the customer service section

Mariusz · 25 May 2012 at 21:10

OMG

what to do :confused:

Been looking at these all lastnight but couldn't justify £450 each but at the new price the discount will go towards EK waterblocks

Hmm to try crossfire or not.....

pgi947 · 25 May 2012 at 21:13

Have my pre-order all accepted for £379.99

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 21:14

Mariusz said:
OMG what to do
Been looking at these all lastnight but couldn't justify £450 each but at the new price the discount will go towards EK waterblocks
Hmm to try crossfire or not.....

Send me your money and I'll tell you if crossfiring 2 lightnings is worth it

masscrazy · 25 May 2012 at 21:14

Space Monkey said:
Ah ok

If you pre order now (stock due Monday according to OCUK), you'll be debited now and card shipped when it arrives.

MSI have an RMA base in Holland IIRC, and I believe you can RMA straight back to the retailer for the whole 3yrs, an agreement between MSI and retailers, but double check in the customer service section

Yeh I'm getting confusing messages about warranty support whether its retailers or manufacturer. I personally sent an email to ocuk asking about MSI a while ago (when i considered the lightning at £450) and was told first year with ocuk remaining with MSI direct.

Also I'll add, i saw the 7970WF 'stock due 23 May' on the 23rd and not only did the stock not come, the listing has been removed from the page...

pgi947 said:
Have my pre-order all accepted for £379.99

I tried twice to place an order with the same Halifax debit card through ocuk payment system and paypal neither went through. HSBC debit card was fine. Pre-ordered

. Will believe it however, when i see it...

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 21:18

masscrazy said:
Yeh I'm getting confusing messages about warranty support whether its retailers or manufacturer. I personally sent an email to ocuk asking about MSI a while ago (when i considered the lightning at £450) and was told first year with ocuk remaining with MSI direct.

Also I'll add, i saw the 7970WF 'stock due 23 May' on the 23rd and not only did the stock not come, the listing has been removed from the page...

Again, check in the CS section and they'll ask the gfx card buyer to confirm stock availability

I think you can choose either option for RMA with MSI, there's a thread on warranties in the first pages of this subsection of the forum, have a read, it details MSI's RMA.

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 21:19

If you've paid for it, OCUK will send it when it arrives, they are normally good like that

Surveyor · 25 May 2012 at 21:22

Space Monkey said:
MSI have an RMA base in Holland IIRC, and I believe you can RMA straight back to the retailer for the whole 3yrs, an agreement between MSI and retailers, but double check in the customer service section

masscrazy said:
Yeh I'm getting confusing messages about warranty support whether its retailers or manufacturer. I personally sent an email to ocuk asking about MSI a while ago (when i considered the lightning at £450) and was told first year with ocuk remaining with MSI direct.

Space Monkey said:
I think you can choose either option for RMA with MSI, there's a thread on warranties in the first pages of this subsection of the forum, have a read, it details MSI's RMA.

From the MSI Rep:

ScottiB said:
We offer a three year warranty, the terms provided to our major resellers provide special terms in exchange for their agreement to handle the full three years of that warranty. This is a new arrangement made at the time that we extended our warranty from two to three years. The terms of our RMA provide a maximum 14 day turnaround for resellers (typically half that) from the day they ship the fault card out to the day that they receive the replacement.

The simple answer why we operate the RMA system like this is that the reseller will test the board and return them in batches. We can then replace the product and get the replacement back to the end user much faster than having to receive, test and dispatch multiple RMA's from multiple different people. in general, this method provides much better service as it allows us to keep turnaround times to a minimum, it also allows the reseller more freedom to handle the RMA by their own methods.

I hope this helps

Also:

Gibbo said:
Just to clarify another point as well, if your read our support page carefully which is linked to in the OP of this thread you will see we clearly state:-

1. After the product is 28 days old you can either RMA with ourselves or the manufacturer.

To clarify this means you can either RMA back to ourselves or the manufacturer, the choice is yours.

So for instance it makes sense to RMA back to us, if the manufacturer does not have for say instance a UK RMA support facility, for example Sapphire. So with Sapphire you'd RMA the product with OcUK in the 2yr period, we will honour the warranty for the full 2yr period, or in the case of Asus 3yr etc. As we understand some manufacturers are not so easy to deal with and here at OcUK we want to ensure you get truly the best service and support.

However in some circumstances the manufacturer can offer a better service and quicker turn around time, for example KFA2, Gigabyte, Hard drive manufacturers and EVGA are famous for top level customer service and RMA support with quick turn around times. With these manufacturers we'd recommend you deal with them, simply as they can support and turn the product around quicker giving better service. Though again of course if the customer wishes we will deal with the product ourselves for them. What I would insist though is with printers, laptops and monitors after 28 days it is very advisable to deal with the manufacturer because many of them are actually on-site warranties which are the best and obviously like all other Etailors OcUK does not offer on-site warranties.

So just to clarify, after 28 days the choice is yours, you can deal with the manufacturer or OcUK, we will be happy to assist and do the best we can to offer the best service and attempt to get ourselves regarded as the best online etailor when it comes to RMA service.

Please remember though warranties, don't cover an end-user physically damaging a product due to in proper installation etc. or wear and tear, or in some cases modification. For example EVGA are fine with heatsinks being removed from VGA cards, as long as no damage is caused and they are re-fitted correctly if the card needs to be RMA'd, wheras other manufacturers removing the cooler voids warranty.

**14 DAYS SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!**

Space Monkey · 25 May 2012 at 21:25

Cool, so I was right then

pgi947 · 25 May 2012 at 21:42

masscrazy said:
I tried twice to place an order with the same Halifax debit card through ocuk payment system and paypal neither went through. HSBC debit card was fine. Pre-ordered . Will believe it however, when i see it...

Went through first time on a Natwest credit card (don't tell the mrs!).

Some good info thanks surveyor