MSI TF 7870 Ghz or XFX DD 7870 Ghz

MSI

This : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Same price than MSI, more performance since it's a Tahiti LE based 7870 instead of Pitcairn.

You can look at difference here : http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1639/pg4/powercol...

Of the two you list, I'd go with the XFX, even though the MSI is clocked higher (in fact, because of that). I have that card. It is well-made, and has no difficulty with any of my games. The only con it has, is the amount of radiant heat it emits into my case. The MSI, being clocked higher, will be worse in this regard. For that reason, if you have any doubts of the ability of your case to get rid of heat (or do it without sounding like a B-17 taxiing for takeoff), consider this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... because it exhausts its heat.

I wouldn't get the HIS card unless your case has poor airflow. It uses a blower design. MSI is notorious for there coolers and by the look of the xfx cards they don't over much vitalization over there shrouds.

I also decided on the Radeon 7870 ghz edition for my upcoming upgrade, excellent choice! I did alot of research on graphic card manufacturers, and I've heard great things about the quality of XFX so that's the exact card I'm personally going with. I don't have personal experience with either yet unfortuantely, so hopefully some people here one them?

Frequently, blowers are loud, especially on reference designs. HIS does blowers right though; they are very quiet and work well. As to the second remark, whichever one is best at getting heat away from the GPU, it's still a matter of getting it out of the case.


I do have the XFX. Like I said above, the construction quality is excellent. The card itself stays cool, and I don't hear the fans. I did have to add a top fan to my case though, to get rid of the extra heat it produces (would be true of ANY HD7870). ANY non-blower cooler will have that same issue, so it's not a ding against XFX when compared to MSI. Since the MSI is clocked a little higher, it will likely produce even more heat. Of course, a utility such as Afterburner should be able to adjust any of these cards to the same clocks.
Also, the HIS model is cheaper. They have a $240 version (still cheaper) which is clocked even higher, and with the blower cooler that won't be a problem.

Best answer selected by wabbit_season.

thanks for your input. frozr it is.

Good luck with the heat.