I've decided to build a new computer and while I normally avoid Radeon cards for a host of reasons, three-way Crossfire seems to largely overcome them -- bar less than ideal driver support. Given that the 7970 is arguably a more powerful card than the 680 and this overcoming of issues, I'm tempted to pick up AMD cards for the first time in quite a while. But I'm not sure.
This is what I'll be picking up:
Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001
PSU: Corsair AX1200i - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139039
Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131802
CPU: Intel i7 3930K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning x 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127693
OR
GPU: MSI Radeon HD 7970 Lightning x 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127670
RAM: Corsair Domnator GT 16GB @ 2133Mhz CL9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233230
HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236243
SSD: Intel 520 Series 240GB x 2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167086
OS: Windows 8 64x
Obviously I chose the case so I could fit two radiators in -- a 360 up top for the CPU and a 240 down the bottom for the GPUs. Probably going to go with the Black Ice GTX's from Hardware Labs.
What would you go with - the three 680's or the three 7970's?
The 680's are the safe option, as Nvidia have been reliable driver wise for as long as I've used them and I've never had more than the rare and brief second of microstutter. The cards are solid and give smooth images. There's a lot to love.
The 7970's are perhaps more powerful in sheer grunt and can be overclocked to confirm that slight edge. But Radeon is less reliable for drivers and I've had seen their cards consistently inconsistent in their rendering -- the graphs I've spent a week or so searching for all show AMD GPUs much more prone to stutter. Then again, three-way Crossfire (like SLI) renders very smooth visuals, perhaps better than even a single card and miles better than dual cards.
I'm torn. Part of me wants to give the 7970's a go. The other half wants to go with the tried and true choice.
Any thoughts? Experiences? Things I've not thought of?
This is what I'll be picking up:
Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001
PSU: Corsair AX1200i - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139039
Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131802
CPU: Intel i7 3930K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning x 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127693
OR
GPU: MSI Radeon HD 7970 Lightning x 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127670
RAM: Corsair Domnator GT 16GB @ 2133Mhz CL9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233230
HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236243
SSD: Intel 520 Series 240GB x 2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167086
OS: Windows 8 64x
Obviously I chose the case so I could fit two radiators in -- a 360 up top for the CPU and a 240 down the bottom for the GPUs. Probably going to go with the Black Ice GTX's from Hardware Labs.
What would you go with - the three 680's or the three 7970's?
The 680's are the safe option, as Nvidia have been reliable driver wise for as long as I've used them and I've never had more than the rare and brief second of microstutter. The cards are solid and give smooth images. There's a lot to love.
The 7970's are perhaps more powerful in sheer grunt and can be overclocked to confirm that slight edge. But Radeon is less reliable for drivers and I've had seen their cards consistently inconsistent in their rendering -- the graphs I've spent a week or so searching for all show AMD GPUs much more prone to stutter. Then again, three-way Crossfire (like SLI) renders very smooth visuals, perhaps better than even a single card and miles better than dual cards.
I'm torn. Part of me wants to give the 7970's a go. The other half wants to go with the tried and true choice.
Any thoughts? Experiences? Things I've not thought of?