** SINGLE GTX 580 3GB VS SINGLE 7970 3GB REVIEW BY OcUK **

[DamoTourettes]

I agree with all the points in this paragraph apart from this one. Every review I have read, Anandtech, Hardwarecanucks, Techradar and HardOCP show the HD 7970 beating the GTX 580 at all resolutions over 1920x1080. HardOCP show it beating an overclocked GTX 580 by 20% at eyefinity resolutions in BF3. As the resolution increases, so does the performance delta. If you think 20% is only marginal then why did you purchase GTX 580s over the GTX 570 or HD 6970? The GTX 580 was only 15% faster than both but was 40-50% more expensive. Obviously you felt it was a worthy purchase, why isn't the HD 7970 worth it for the same reasons?

I am not sure what reviews you have read that show it being slower than a GTX 580 in BF3.

In a single card scenario, you're right - 7970's @ stock are quicker than GTX 580's. However, the real world application for these cards is at high resolution (2560 x 1600 @ Ultra textures in BF3), so right here on OCUK Gibbo and rjkoneil SLi'd and Crossfired 2 x 7970's and 2 x GTX580's and at stock the 580's beat the 7970's. For some reason I can't find the thread though - what the hell?

EDIT: Found the thread here. It's a bit of a slog, but decisively shows that at least in this title, and at high resolutions, SLi GTX 580's are basically on par with CF 7970's, at least at stock and at playable framerates. A shame, as I'd happily have bought 2 of these suckers on the 9th.

 

[Jono8]

It is just not a big enough leap for me i am afraid ( i have a GTX 480). It looks like a good card if you have a 5850 or below but i know i am waiting to see what Keplar can do.

 

[ICDP]

In a single card scenario, you're right - 7970's @ stock are quicker than GTX 580's. However, the real world application for these cards is at high resolution (2560 x 1600 @ Ultra textures in BF3), so right here on OCUK Gibbo and rjkoneil SLi'd and Crossfired 2 x 7970's and 2 x GTX580's and at stock the 580's beat the 7970's. For some reason I can't find the thread though - what the hell?

Hardwareheaven have a HD 7970 Crossfire vs GTX 580 SLI review but they only show crossfire resolutions for BF3, the HD 7970 is much faster than the GTX 580 but I suspect that is because the GTX 580s 1.5GB became VRAM limited. If you are using 3GB GTX 580s in SLI then I wouldn't see the HD 7970 as a substantial upgrade until we see more Crossfire reviews. On the otherhand if you have 1.5GB GTX 580s then HD 7970s in Crossfire would be a better option than upgrading to 3GB GTX 580s in SLI.

 

[Bobisuruncle54]

That review is cherry-picked as has been mentioned multiple times. Fact of the matter is that in certain games 7970 is *up to* 30% faster, however in some games it has a very marginal lead - as evidenced by Anandtech (and OCUK's very own review) of how it performs in BF3 - a real world test if ever there was one.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5261/amd-radeon-hd-7970-review/22

Bear in mind you are also just cherry-picking reviews to suit your views also. Unless you can actually qualify why the reviews you decry are wrong, then your opinion in no more valid.

Let's also not forget that these are immature drivers on a brand new architecture. If this was Nvidia's card everybody would be stating "just wait for the drivers to mature you'll get 10-20% more performance".

 

[Jakus]

Gibbo, any chance you can try Crysis 2 ?

 

[555BUK]

you call 25% lead a marginal lead?
what would you call a 10% 580 vs 6970 then?

The 580 had a minimun 10% lead over AMD's same gen cards. It (in the form of the original GTX480 Fermi) had close to a 100% lead over AMD's previous gen cards.

25% over a previous gen card is very disappointing for me. Past trends show 60%+ gains for new processes over old. I reckon Kepler will will be closer to 60% faster than the GTX580 than it is to a mere 25% faster.

The 7900's are obviously very good cards, but I think they are over priced and will come up short against NVidia's Kepler.

 

[DamoTourettes]

Bear in mind you are also just cherry-picking reviews to suit your views also. Unless you can actually qualify why the reviews you decry are wrong, then your opinion in no more valid.

Let's also not forget that these are immature drivers on a brand new architecture. If this was Nvidia's card everybody would be stating "just wait for the drivers to mature you'll get 10-20% more performance".

Both legitimate points, and on the first one I'm actually agnostic with regards to my leanings toward either camp, and I'm taking OCUK at face value as being the same way with their reviews.

On the second point you're right - brand new architecture, new drivers will increase performance etc.

My fundamental point is this however - I'd have expected the 7970 to boot the GTX 580 out of the park running 2560 x 1600 in BF3 at totally smooth, playable framerates (i.e. 60 FPS+). The GTX 580 requires SLi to achieve this, and I'd have expected a single 7970 to at least come close, as it's a new architecture, die shrink etc. Was expecting the 7970 to be half as fast as a GTX 580 again unreasonable? The simple fact is there's nothing much between new tech from AMD in Crossfire and last gen from Nvidia in SLi for this test instance (which is the real-world gaming end of things instead of benchmarks), which represents no performance increase (as I only play BF3) - and so unfortunately I see 7970 as a fail.

 

[Deception]

how many play metro , how many play bf3 this is the game that matter for the new cards . nothing else. nothing else on horizon. it is the test games wise.

if you game at 1080p or under no point with this card as cards half the price can match upto that res or 95 percent for 50 percent of cost.

if you over 1080p then yeah good option. still priced to high or will be on release. should be around 350 max. theyll probably be 500 on release day

How about they do a benchmark of metro map ON BF3

Ive yet to see my good 'ol 470 struggle yet (Im the margin under 1080p).

Have you got anymore benchmarks on the horizon to show us Gibbo?

 

[Besty]

I too only play BF3 (1080p - No AA), this is also one benchmark that really matters to me in terms of what i do on my PC.

It's a pretty big performance gap.

 

[Gibbo]

How about they do a benchmark of metro map ON BF3

Ive yet to see my good 'ol 470 struggle yet (Im the margin under 1080p).

Have you got anymore benchmarks on the horizon to show us Gibbo?

No more benchmarks sorry, very very busy now with well work.

RJK may get some time on Saturday to have a play, but launch is Monday so within a week we shall be hearing end-user feedback.

 

[Locky]

How do we know, have any reviews posted gaming results yet at speeds of 1225MHz and 7800MHz?

I suspect gaming at 2560x1600 with one of these at such speeds is going to be very very impressive, the amount of memory bandwidth on offer is simply unreal and I suspect it will translate into gaming performance.

I mean come on if Quake 3 which is now seeing 900fps with one card at those speeds can see a gain from the overclocks, I am sure 10yr newer more modern games will see even greater gains.

I like both NV & ATI, but if I was buying a new high-end card now, ATI is the clear victor at this high-end price point.

If I already had a 3GB GTX 580 then I'd keep that.

If I had a 30" Monitor or Eye-Infity setup and was on a 1.5GB GTX 580 or 6970 then yes I'd upgrade as the new card will give a decent gain even at stock speeds and upto a further a 20% additional performance can be gained by overclocking.

What ATI have here is a card which performs well at stock, but its real secret is its overclocking ability, I've never known a card like it.

In perfecentage terms were talking:-

Core 925MHz upto 1225MHz (300MHz increase / 32% increase)
Memory 5500MHz upto 7800MHz (3300MHz increase / 42% increase)

Thats 37% boost clock speeds wise from overclocking, that is simply amazing and with custom PCB's from board partners, better coolers and more mature drivers the 7970 is and I repeat going to be a great card.

Lol Gibbo a voodoo 3 and a Pentium 2 plays quake 3 fine

Current games that matter is what people are bothered about

There is no doubt about it they are great clockers and scale well

 

[Gibbo]

Lol Gibbo a voodoo 3 and a Pentium 2 plays quake 3 fine

Current games that matter is what people are bothered about

There is no doubt about it they are great clockers and scale well

One problem though as mentioned previously, games I don't have to hand and now I am out of time.

Like I say next week we shall get real feedback from end users.

 

[steve1873]

When will these be available to actually order Gibbo? Monday morning, evening etc.

And how limited is your initial stock?

 

[Locky]

One problem though as mentioned previously, games I don't have to hand and now I am out of time.

Like I say next week we shall get real feedback from end users.

Send them to me I'll bench them in all games : D I'm passing ocuk in an hour and not in work tomoz.

 

[Gibbo]

When will these be available to actually order Gibbo? Monday morning, evening etc.

And how limited is your initial stock?

Monday morning!

About 150pc in total, so very limited!

 

[d4ns]

Just after midnight or 9am?

 

[steve1873]

Just after midnight or 9am?

Saves me from asking I guess!

I am imagining 9am, so I shall have to nip home from work to hopefully see some still in stock. If not, hopefully they will receive some new stock fairly soon.

Guaranteed as soon as I buy it I will be met with buyers guilt anyway for a day or two.

 

[lukext]

From a well know tech web site:

"UP NEXT: Retail Radeon HD 7970 FOB Price Cut to $475, From $525"

Standard retail practice. Hype up the product at a higher than expected price, get every one annoyed. Announce a price cut before release and everyone thinks, ahhh that's more reasonable despite the still reasonably high price.

 

[rubin1961]

What psu is needed to run 2 of these safe

 

[steve1873]

From a well know tech web site:

"UP NEXT: Retail Radeon HD 7970 FOB Price Cut to $475, From $525"

Standard retail practice. Hype up the product at a higher than expected price, get every one annoyed. Announce a price cut before release and everyone thinks, ahhh that's more reasonable despite the still reasonably high price.

Hmmm interesting!

$475 is fairly close to £300 which would still be presumably minus VAT, but even then you'd still be looking at what, £370 give or take. Certainly a whole lot more palatable than £450+ if there is indeed any truth to that.