So are you getting a 7970 or waiting for Kepler?

[coupe69]

Like you I love my maximum eyecandy that's why I game on PC, and the AMD moaners that say it's rubbish, say so simply because they can't have it, if it was available most would use it and back it.

At last something we can agree on!

Just like you for me PC gaming is all about the eye candy, the more the better! This is the only issue I have with moving to AMD. Fair enough there's not a great deal of games that utilise it properly, but the ones that do are great. For example the Scarecrow sections in Batman AA with PhysX turned up to the max on a dedicated card were just 'Wow!'

 

[Andrei23]

I would be very curious to see what Kepler will bring and what prices will look like when it comes out. For the moment I don't need a 7970 as my overclocked gtx 480 is more than suitable for my gaming needs @1080p.

 

[Tute]

I'll be waiting as I have an absolute maximum of 10.25" to play with in my case so these reference cards aren't going to fit.

That and I can't justify £500 on one of these either.

 

[cainer]

staying with my 5870 untill i play a game that needs much more horsepower

 

[xsistor]

I don't need a crystal ball xisistor, there was no malice in the comment at all mate, I'm not suggesting your not getting Kepler either, I expect you to get one of those instead as you have said loads of times that you need Nvidia for work etc.

Coupe69, you won't get one either, as your not keen on the red team either.

There's nothing wrong with not getting AMD cards if your into Nvidia, that's just personal preference guys.

Me I don't care if it's red or green tbph, I only get the BBFB card that I can afford at the time.

Fair enough. I would like to try out ATI at some point because people say colours look nicer on ATI. And I haven't used one since my old three rigs with 7000/7500/9800 Pro.

 

[xsistor]

I don't know? never say never

I'm intrigued with AMDs new cards, although fortunately I've probably got a powerful enough card to last me until I see what Nvidia have to offer later in the year. I can then weigh up the odds.

I do think if I moved to the red team I'd miss PhysX, it works well in the games that it's implemented properly and also adds that extra bit of eye candy over the consoles.

I know what you mean. It's the sum of these things for me: CUDA, PhysX and 3D Vision. ATI has got 3D in some form now but I'm invested in NVIDIA 3D Vision hardware. Though I hear tri-def works with it, at least with NVIDIA cards. I'm trying to find out if it will work with ATI cards.

 

[tommybhoy]

@coupe69 and xsistor,

I woke up this morning and my face went , it's about the first thing we've agreed on!

Loved the effects in BAA, Mafia, and Dark Void's apex effects were fantastic, although the actual game was pretty poor, but the lovely guys at Nvidia gave me it for free for being in Club SLi, so I couldn't complain really.

I have BAA, but haven't played it yet due to having to rip out one of my 6950>70's, but once I'm bored of BF3 that'll happen because I want to see it run in all it's glory, and by that time, hopefully they will have patched it again to improve performance.

 

[dave_beast]

PowerColor 7970 ordered

 

[Steves1982]

Happy with my Xfire unlocked 6950's for now. No point changing yet, especially at these prices.

 

[Duff-Man]

I'll wait for now. I've had it with multi-GPU systems. I've had two high-end GPUs from just about every generation since the Nvidia 6800s, but they're just too much hassle. I hardly ever use my second GTX480, and when I do the performance is never as fluid as it should be - and that's IF the game is even profiled to take advantage of it.

I'm thinking a single GPU under water and heavily overclocked is the way forward, but the 7970 doesn't have the horsepower for me to open my wallet at these prices. I'll wait to see what Kepler brings.

 

[dave_beast]

the 7970 doesn't have the horsepower for me to open my wallet at these prices. I'll wait to see what Kepler brings.

The 7970 is the fastest single GPU on the market now

 

[TaKeN]

My Radeon 6950 @ 6970 Shaders running 900mhz core and 1400mhz memory is quick enough for now @ 1920x1200.

Very very dissapointed with Pricing on these cards, and it's not just ATi to blame.

 

[Duff-Man]

The 7970 is the fastest single GPU on the market now

Yet it's a comparatively small step forward (in terms of gaming performance) for such a large reduction in GPU process size (28nm). I'm expecting the high-end Kepler part to be significantly more powerful, which would suit me as I want maximum performance from a single GPU. If I'm going to watercool the card then I don't want to be switching and changing too often.

Either way, expect significant price drops once Kepler is released. I can see the 7970 going for well under £300 in three or four months time.

 

[straxusii]

Waiting for kepler or what AMD combat kepler with, my 480 runs at 580 speeds so I would have to be mad to upgrade to a 7970

 

[crinkleshoes]

The 7970 is the fastest single GPU on the market now

And yet you're replying to someone with 2x GTX480 - a combination that's faster than a 7970... the new "fastest" card would be a downgrade from his current setup - why pay so much for a downgrade? That's how it would feel...

Not worth the change unless there's a viable improvement in performance.

 

[TaKeN]

When is Kepler due for sale?

 

[J.D]

Yet it's a comparatively small step forward (in terms of gaming performance) for such a large reduction in GPU process size (28nm). I'm expecting the high-end Kepler part to be significantly more powerful, which would suit me as I want maximum performance from a single GPU. If I'm going to watercool the card then I don't want to be switching and changing too often.

Either way, expect significant price drops once Kepler is released. I can see the 7970 going for well under £300 in three or four months time.

Waiting for kepler or what AMD combat kepler with, my 480 runs at 580 speeds so I would have to be mad to upgrade to a 7970

You both are making me want to hold on too. I had the itch and was going to buy but I wanted the card from OCUK as I'm buying a case and better cooler also. But at £30-35 dearer than anywhere else I'm not going to entertain that at all.

Duff-Man, could you please look into your crystal-meth ball and give me a rough guesstimation to when you think Keplar will be released. I'll even accept Q1-Q4 as an answer . I would hold on if drops were going to happen like that but I don't seem so hopeful after buying this card (6950) for £200 and today it being the exact same price.

I could get a new PSU and another 6950 and still save nearly £200 .

 

[crinkleshoes]

When is Kepler due for sale?

Nothing confirmed Most rumours are speculating March release for later availability - but even that could be hopeful

It's always frustrating to wait... I'm itching to upgrade my 2x 5770s and was hoping for something special from the 7970... but now want to wait for the competition - only really playing iRacing at the minute

 

[inSilica]

After 2 x 7970 - waiting for waterblocks

 

[RavenXXX2]

Still on a 480 and it runs everything perfectly fine, I see no reason to upgrade just for the sake of it especially when the gains are not that impressive. If kepler can't offer amazing performance gains then that will be getting knocked on the head as well. For me upgrading on a yearly basis no matter how small the performance gains is no more, now I will only ever look to upgrade if games I am playing are struggling in the FPS department.