Which GPU for 3D ATI or Nvidia? Also a GPU question about Overclocking

[Philminator]

Thanks for all the help so far in my first thread about what was my biggest priority with Ram vs a new GPU. Now that I have gotten a few models out of the way I thought it would be the right thing to start a new thread rather than stretch out my first post.
A) 7970 ATI card for 3D gaming? or a Nvidia 670? By mid 2013 I'm 99% sure I'm going either 3D or Triple monitor gaming. Likely 3D because I tried it 2 years ago and I thought it was insanely fun. Anyhow is it dumb to go ATI for 3D? Must you go Nvidia? I ask this because the money isn't persay an issue but where I buy my card from is. I am using my credit card from Future Shop, so I will be limited as to the product I can get and there is only 2 Nvidia 670's to choose from 450$ http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/asus-asus-nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-2gb-gddr5-pci-e-video-card-gtx670-dc2-2gd5-gtx670-dc2-2gd5/10216422.aspx?path=e50e958169d78a071c6546921adee7c6en02
and it's not even OC. and this one for 500$ likely could get it priced matched from another store to knock off 40$ but can't find the 02G-P4-2676 <---- only 2678 2673 not the 2676 so because it's not exact same model number I may have no way to lower the price on it. Their Nvidia cards are expensive and the 7970 http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/gigabyte-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-gddr5-pci-e-video-card-gv-r797oc-3gd-gv-r797oc-3gd/10214787.aspx?path=bd804be8a3d1b22e8f10820d151e07a0en02 is only 450$ so it's the same price as the 670 and not even OC.

B) now onto the whole factory overclocked thingy. either card I choose to buy, how easily can I OC myself to get the same performance as from factory? is the non OC card binned? or whatever that term is people use where those cards aren't stable at OC therefore they're sold as normal cards? why would their be 2 Asus 670's one OC and one not? isn't the whole idea faster is better therefore why not OC all of them and not sell a non OC? I'm just paranoid im gonna blow half a grand on a card and find out 2 days later that for 100$ less I could of had a "faster" version of the card. I'm buying by Oct 1st. My dad's graphics card blew on him and i'm giving him my GTX 560 and since I have a future shop credit card I figured I'd treat myself to something nice wether I 3D / Triple monitor or not. sorry for all the babbling I figure the more precise I am the better.

PS: I wish I had 600$ cash and not on a credit card another store has a evga 670 4GB card for 500$ urggggg http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=049483
I really hope im not screwed and that I can make a wise purchase.

 

[maxh22]

Nvidia is better for 3D, AMD is better for tipple monitor gaming

 

[Philminator]

ahhh!!! there we go. so im better off for the same price maybe trying to convince my dad to lend me some $ since im giving him a GTX 560 to get an Nvidia GTX 670 4GB card, that way I can ensure it's an upgrade for one as well as it being better for 3D gaming.

 

[maxh22]

ahhh!!! there we go. so im better off for the same price maybe trying to convince my dad to lend me some $ since im giving him a GTX 560 to get an Nvidia GTX 670 4GB card, that way I can ensure it's an upgrade for one as well as it being better for 3D gaming.

Ye go for it

 

[ram1009]

I've tried many AMD/ATI cards over the years and found the drivers to be consistently buggy. Many on this board agree with me and others will tell you I'm crazy. I've had MUCH better service with Nvidia and I don't like being in the position of eliminating 50% of the competition. FWIW, I'm about to buy a GTX660ti.

 

[maxh22]

I've tried many AMD/ATI cards over the years and found the drivers to be consistently buggy. Many on this board agree with me and others will tell you I'm crazy. I've had MUCH better service with Nvidia and I don't like being in the position of eliminating 50% of the competition. FWIW, I'm about to buy a GTX660ti.

Iv'e had a radeon 5770 before and I had no driver problems!

Honestly i would go for the best performing card that performs best in the games I play.

Like the $300 gtx 660ti is better than the radeon 7970 in Bf3 because it was made for nvidia

 

[Philminator]

I've tried many AMD/ATI cards over the years and found the drivers to be consistently buggy. Many on this board agree with me and others will tell you I'm crazy. I've had MUCH better service with Nvidia and I don't like being in the position of eliminating 50% of the competition. FWIW, I'm about to buy a GTX660ti.

i've had 2 or 3 ATI cards in my life all of them burned out within less than a year. That said I still don't consider myself a fanboy of either company. I understand *** happens and that I had bad luck. so for 500$ you don't think it's crazy for me to get a 670 EVGA 4GB if 3D is gonna be my prefered type of gaming next year? over a 7970 which is 50$ cheaper and I can actually get it on my future shop card

 

[Philminator]

anyone know how easy it is to overclock a card that hasn't been overclocked from factory? That's pretty much all I need to know now as if I can do it myself and it's the same results and it's not a binned card that'd been deemed to be unstable then I might be able to get my card from Future Shop.

 

[bystander]

anyone know how easy it is to overclock a card that hasn't been overclocked from factory? That's pretty much all I need to know now as if I can do it myself and it's the same results and it's not a binned card that'd been deemed to be unstable then I might be able to get my card from Future Shop.

To get an equivalent OC from a stock card is as simple as downloading MSI Afterburner, and moving a slider, then click ok. Oh, and you have to save it, and apply it to the 3D settings.

There is no reason for a 4GB card for 3D Vision. Save money and get the 2GB card.

 

[obsama1]

The 660Ti is not better than the 7970 in BF3. It's better than the 7950 by a few FPS, but the 7970 smokes it. I've never had a problem with AMD drivers. Just uninstall the previous, and install the new version.

 

[bystander]

The 660Ti is not better than the 7970 in BF3. It's better than the 7950 by a few FPS, but the 7970 smokes it. I've never had a problem with AMD drivers. Just uninstall the previous, and install the new version.

Remember, we are talking about 3D, as in 3D vision versus HD3D. With HD3D not only are the drivers fairly new with AMD, they do not support crossfire, unless changed recently (I think they said they were going to, just not sure they have yet). You also have to use 3rd party software, such as Iz3d or tridef, run run 3D.

 

[Philminator]

To get an equivalent OC from a stock card is as simple as downloading MSI Afterburner, and moving a slider, then click ok. Oh, and you have to save it, and apply it to the 3D settings.

There is no reason for a 4GB card for 3D Vision. Save money and get the 2GB card.

ok was only thinking of getting the 4GB to future proof so that I'd hopefully have my next card for 2 years before having to upgrade at the end of next year for the extra 50$, now that I know this I will have to now consider asus or acer for 3D monitors staring in march-april 2013, thanks for all the feedback much appreciated
as for the overclocking im assuming any brand wether evga, msi all have some sort of software for OC? im just hoping the non oc ones aren't binned as in weren't fit for OC from factory, then again if all goes well im going to be able to purchase my card from another store other than just future shop.