CF 5850 to 7950 3GB

[ChrisD.]

Specifically this one:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-291-SP

Running at 1920*1200, with a view of going to 2560x1440.

So, what can I expect from the card compared to my trusty 5850's? Will it use less power, put out less heat, be quieter and more powerful?

Will I finally be able to crank BF3 to the max?

And is it worth doing a rebuild? Or just driver clean and download the new driver?

Rest of the rig is an i7-2600k @ 4.5, 16 GB RAM, Crucial M4 etc.

 

[ChrisD.]

And at 2560x1440?

 

[ChrisD.]

Well I'm not sure when I'd get a new monitor, just trying to futureproof myself. I felt a 7970 is overkill for my current setup and I couldn't justify the extra outlay, so the 7950 OC 3GB seemed the ideal middle ground. I'm also happy about not having the reference cooler, I've never been a fan and after reading reviews, I think I've made the right choice.

Now the anticipation for its delivery!

 

[ChrisD.]

Of course not.

 

[ChrisD.]

How does the dual BIOS on the card work?

 

[ChrisD.]

Card is arriving today, what sort of OC figures should I be looking at?

Case is the Silverstone Fortress 2.

 

[ChrisD.]

Hmm, 7669 3D Mark 11 before, now it's 7470.

1000/1350.

I expected better?

 

[ChrisD.]

Hmm true I guess.

I can't notice a performance difference in SWTOR, not tried BF3 yet.

I do think thought that the colours and lighting seem better, but that could be my imagination.

 

[ChrisD.]

The new card owns BF3. 1920*1200, everything on max, didn't drop below 40 fps on Caspian 64 player. No noise from the fans on the card, max temp 64 degrees C and it uses less power than the previous two 5850's. Plus now my room isn't a sauna.

Happy days.