Crossfire 6970 or single 7970

[ice429]

Hi Guys,

I already have a sinlge 6970 ATi card. Now do i purchase another 6970 or shout out double cost for a 7970?
I am using Stereoscopic 3D!
Cheers,

Chris

 

[Gordon Freeman]

Depends on how much you value gaming on your PC 7970 is more powerful and better way to go but the cost is large and that's the only thing that holds it back. That being said if the money is not holding you back get the 7970 and sell the 6970.

 

[DM186]

That is a tough choice to make. If it was me and since the 7970's just came out and they can't keep them on the shelves plus don't know if all the bugs are out of them.

I would go for the 6970 for now. Then later on when I have saved up enough and turn around and sell the two 6970's to offset the price and buy one or two of the 7970's later. But That is me. Good luck to ya and either way you go you can't loose.

 

[tipmen]

The best option is the most powerful single card solution. Crossfire is normally has more bugs such as driver issues, performance problems, and shuttering. Yes, crossfire pair for 6970 will be faster but not by much. However, it will leave you no more room to upgrade unless you want to set up tri-fire. A 7970 will hold its own and when it starts to show its age get another one by then the cost will be down. So i say go with the 7970 get another one down the road.

 

[larkspur]

Ok so if we assume that 2 x 6970 will perform close to the 6990, then you can compare benchmarks here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7970-benchmark-tahiti-gcn,3104-7.html

The 6990 simply beats the 7970. Tom's also lists the 6990 above the 7970 on the hierarchy chart: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

So if you want to pay more for a card that will perform about the same or worse than 2 x 6970s you go right ahead. No doubt, if you play games that don't work well with CrossFire, then a single 7970 will win. But 2 x 6970s benches better, and that's all I got for ya.

 

[larkspur]

A 7970 will hold its own and when it starts to show its age get another one by then the cost will be down. So i say go with the 7970 get another one down the road.

We could say this about every new generation launch of graphics cards. "A 5870 will hold its own, when it gets slow get another." "A 6970 will hold its own and when it gets slow get another." "A 7970 will hold its own and when it gets slow get another."

The difference in the OP's situation is that the 6970s have excellent (best AMD has had yet) CrossFire scaling. I haven't seen scaling tests yet on the 7970s, but since it's a cheaper upgrade that will give more performance (unless the game doesn't like XFire) it's hard not to recommend a 2nd 6970. Add in their great scaling and it becomes an even easier choice.

 

[Gordon Freeman]

We could say this about every new generation launch of graphics cards. "A 5870 will hold its own, when it gets slow get another." "A 6970 will hold its own and when it gets slow get another." "A 7970 will hold its own and when it gets slow get another."

The difference in the OP's situation is that the 6970s have excellent (best AMD has had yet) CrossFire scaling. I haven't seen scaling tests yet on the 7970s, but since it's a cheaper upgrade that will give more performance (unless the game doesn't like XFire) it's hard not to recommend a 2nd 6970. Add in their great scaling and it becomes an even easier choice.

Under your logic and you are entitled to it OP should sell his 6970 and get 6870CF because 6xxx CF is so great and he will have great performance.I say OP is best served to get a single 7970 its all overkill anyways and single 7970 is a better card.

 

[expensivecomputer]

As many have pointed, there are potential problems with crossfire
1. bug/driver issues
2. stuttering (not as apparent with more powerful cards such as 6970)
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html <-- micro stuttering insight.

I've attempted to research and get feedback from people with 6950/6970 CF setup, and according to "their" observations, there is no noticeable micro stuttering.

If you want the best performance right now, and trust the opinions of others regarding micro stuttering, then get a second 6970 to crossfire.

If your willing to spend a lot of money and still want fantastic performance (but less than 6970 crossfire), then purchase a 7970 and get a second down the track if need be.

 

[larkspur]

Under your logic and you are entitled to it OP should sell his 6970 and get 6870CF because 6xxx CF is so great and he will have great performance.I say OP is best served to get a single 7970 its all overkill anyways and single 7970 is a better card.

Um no, not at all. XFired 6870s will NOT beat a 7970. The OP already has a 6970 why would he sell it for some 6870s? My point is that in games in which XFire works 2 x 6970 will beat a 7970. I have qualified the statement with "in games in which XFire works". And I have given you the benches to prove it.

Not only that, it will be cheaper and easier to buy a used 6970 rather than sell his 6970 (in a buyer's market) and track down a good 7970 (in a seller's market). It's just my 2 cents.

 

[Gordon Freeman]

Um no, not at all. XFired 6870s will NOT beat a 7970. The OP already has a 6970 why would he sell it for some 6870s? My point is that in games in which XFire works 2 x 6970 will beat a 7970. I have qualified the statement with "in games in which XFire works". And I have given you the benches to prove it.

Not only that, it will be cheaper and easier to buy a used 6970 rather than sell his 6970 (in a buyer's market) and track down a good 7970 (in a seller's market). It's just my 2 cents.

It's all overkill !

 

[ice429]

Best answer selected by ice429.