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Upgrading today

Uncle_Gravy

Uncle_Gravy

Uncle_Gravy

Soldato
Joined
11 Aug 2012
Posts
4,548
Location
S.E Wales
I've been paid today and would like some quick advice/opinions on what to get as I would really like to get a Card ordered before 12.

Right now i'm using a Asus 6850 1GB, which is a good card, but is now showing signs of strain with current games at 1080

As much as I would like to go the 780 route, £500+ is just too much for me to spend.

So It looks like its between a 7970 or a 770.

The 7970 I have in mind is the MSI Lightning which is on sale this week - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-181-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

Or if the 770 is the favourite, I do like the look of the MSI Gaming edition card - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-202-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1750

Love to hear some suggestions,

Thank you.
 
Currently I'm in to Arma 3, Borderlands 2, Grid 2, and any new games that arrise I'll probably get them.

Right now i'm using a 1080 24" monitor and thinking of getting another 2 for 3screen gaming.

Edit

I might overclock, I might not, the latter would make the lightning a bit pointless to some.

Thanks.
 
Thought about one of these? You can overclock this to 7970 speeds :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-203-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673


Or, if you want better cooling :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-066-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673


If you really want a 7970, then these are on special offer :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-007-VX&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-063-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938


In your shoes, I'd simply go for the 7970 due to the free games, though the performance of the 770 makes it a small favourite - and fairly similarly priced to the 7970.

I think this isn't voltage locked, so I'd probably be buying this if I was to go for a 7970 :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-063-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938
 
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Uncle_Gravy said:
Nice price on that Ghz Card, What's the performance difference between the 770 and a 7970 (Haven't kept up with the latest gossip)
Click to expand...

I've only read a couple of reviews, though it looks like they trade blows pretty evenly across the board. I forget which ones I've read, but the general consensus seems to be the 770 is a little quicker at 1080p, while the 7970 generally performs better at 1440p.
 
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I don't plan on upgrading to 1440 anytime soon, but I am considering 3screen gaming at 1080, how would the both compare? I would expect the 7970 would just have the edge right?
 
have a read here

That should give you an idea of performance in some of the latest games compared to the 7970. Are you thinking of going xfire / Sli in the future? If this was a consideration then I would pick the Nvidia card as I have found Sli to be a much smoother affair with my 780's than I did with my 7950's or 5870's. with you mentioning eyefinity or surround in the future it is something I guess that needs to be thought about.
 
Uncle_Gravy said:
I don't plan on upgrading to 1440 anytime soon, but I am considering 3screen gaming at 1080, how would the both compare? I would expect the 7970 would just have the edge right?
Click to expand...

Definitely.

Pcper noted that the 256bit memory bus caused stuttering on 680 cards at triple screen res. The 770 is just a redged 680 with a higher core speed and 50mhz faster memory.
 
Alz_D said:
have a read here

That should give you an idea of performance in some of the latest games compared to the 7970. Are you thinking of going xfire / Sli in the future? If this was a consideration then I would pick the Nvidia card as I have found Sli to be a much smoother affair with my 780's than I did with my 7950's or 5870's. with you mentioning eyefinity or surround in the future it is something I guess that needs to be thought about.
Click to expand...

Those benchmarks have left me confused, Looking at the games I have out of that List I would have thought the 770 would do worse then the boosted 7970 at higher res, would have thought the 2gb and smaller bus would have been a limited factor as you increased?

But saying that I didn't see if they were using the 2 or 4 gb version of the card.
 
OP if you are thinking about going to 3 screen gaming, I think getting a GTX 780 now and another later would be the best option. It's not the cheapest option but will give you plenty of GPU muscle if you go to 3 screens.
 
The 7970 Lightnings are great cards, generally regarded as being the fastest 7970s and clock like a beast. For about the same price you could get the 770 Lightning, although it's not voltage unlocked so it's probably best going to the Gamer Edition instead. TBH, it's splitting hairs between the 7970 and 770 at the moment. Just pick whichever tickles your pickle, as it were.
 
Kaapstad said:
OP if you are thinking about going to 3 screen gaming, I think getting a GTX 780 now and another later would be the best option. It's not the cheapest option but will give you plenty of GPU muscle if you go to 3 screens.
Click to expand...

As much as I would love to go 780, its just too much for me to spend, I wouldnt be left with much to get through the rest of the month (at least £250 a month to get me back and forth work)

Plus If a certain person found out I spent that much i'd probably be left with no teeth.

Also 770sli in the future wouldn't be a bad shout would it?
 
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daveash said:
The 7970 Lightnings are great cards, generally regarded as being the fastest 7970s and clock like a beast. For about the same price you could get the 770 Lightning, although it's not voltage unlocked so it's probably best going to the Gamer Edition instead. TBH, it's splitting hairs between the 7970 and 770 at the moment. Just pick whichever tickles your pickle, as it were.
Click to expand...

+1.

Though if you're going higher than 1080p it swings in favour of the 7970 more often than not.
 
what are the driver updates etc like on the 7970, bit of a random question but thought it was worth asking
 
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