2 HD7970 vs 2 GTX670 vs 2 HD7950 vs 2GTX660Ti vs GTX680

balteran

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Apr 9, 2009
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Hi guys,

I'm building a new gamming pc, my 2009 one gave what he could. I need some helping deciding on the GPU. I'm going for the best cost/performance option, with some room to spare, after all I want this gig to last 3+ years.

======================= General Info and Specs ========================

PPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: march 29

BUDGET RANGE: USD $1000-1400 (not interested in rebates since I live abroad - can go a little over budget)

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming and watching movies

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Brazil (going to Orlando-FL on vacation on march 29)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe (probably no OC on cpu, to avoid the need of a big cooler on the baggage)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Indifferent

MONITOR RESOLUTION: standard 1920x1080 (Dell uh2312hm)

----------------- SYSTEM SPECS (can be changed if needed, not bought yet) ---------------------

-MB (125): AS Rock LGA1155 DDR3 SATA3 USB3.0 Quad CrossFireX and Quad SLI A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 EXTREME4
http://www.amazon.com/LGA1155-CrossFireX-Motherboard-Z77-EXTREME4/dp/B007KTY4A6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=I3L48H738CJ3D6

-CPU (180): Intel Core-i5 3350P Quad-Core Processor 3.1 Ghz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637i53350P
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-3350P-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B0093H8NBY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=I1QLASYJ66H8W9

-RAM > 2 options at the same price (100):
-- Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1866 MHz (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory (CMZ16GX3M2A1866C9)
<>Frequency: 1866MHz
<>Timing: 9-10-9-27
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Desktop-Memory-CMZ16GX3M2A1866C9/dp/B007R1SN36/ref=sr_1_9?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1361905475&sr=1-9
-- Patriot Memory Intel Extreme Masters 16 GB (4 x 4GB) PC3-12800 CL9 Memory Kit - PVI316G160C9QK
<>Frequency: 1600MHz
<>Timings: 9-9-9-24
http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Memory-Extreme-Masters-PC3-12800/dp/B008MF3QDI/ref=sr_1_4?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1361904578&sr=1-4

-HD (138): Seagate Barracuda 7200 3 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST3000DM001
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST3000DM001/dp/B005T3GRLY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=I3OYQJSKNK7TEU

-Power supply (160): Corsair Professional Series HX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Gold (HX850)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-Series-Modular-HX750/dp/B0090I9VZI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=I2I05QGC91J76Q

Subtotal: 543,00

================== NOW, TO THE GPUs!!! ==================

Arragend by price

Option 1) 2 x HD 7970 = USD 820
Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC with Boost 3GB
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-11197-03-40G/dp/B009B6Y01Y/ref=zg_bs_284822_24

Option 2) 2 x GTX 670 = USD 740
EVGA GeForce GTX670 FTW 2048MB
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-DisplayPort-Graphics-02G-P4-2678-KR/dp/B0083Y6MV6/ref=zg_bs_284822_2

Option 3) 2 x HD 7950 = US 640,00
- 2 x Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11196-16-20G/dp/B0098HW1HG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=I391UOI5KY5166

Option 4) 2 x GTX 660Ti = USD 593,76
-2 x EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti SUPERCLOCKED 2048MB
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-SUPERCLOCKED-Graphics-02G-P4-3662-KR/dp/B008S15XA0/ref=zg_bs_284822_53

Option 5) GTX 680 = USD 465,29
EVGA GeForce GTX680 SC SIGNATURE 2048 MB
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SIGNATURE-DisplayPort-Graphics-02G-P4-2683-KR/dp/B007VBFDUS/ref=sr_1_105?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1361906613&sr=1-105&keywords=GTX+670


Other options, are they viable?
3 x GTX 660 = 680
3 x GTX 660Ti = 890
2 x GTX 680 = 930
3 x HD 7950 = 960

Thanks a lot in advance! These doubts are kililng me =P
 
Personally I would get a single GTX 670 for 1080p resolution. Then in 2 years you can get a second GTX 670 or sell off the GTX 670 for a GTX 870 or something(Selling and buying the newer gen card is imo the best way to go about it).
 

balteran

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Apr 9, 2009
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Yeah, I'll get one gpu then.

After further research the 7950 is out, the GTX 680 too (is too expensive).

I'm also shaving of $20 from the power supply. 750w is more than enough.

That leaves me with HD 7970 vs GTX 670. The best one available on Amazon is a 670 FTW (overclocked and inside a 680 case + fan) for 370,00.

The winner: EVGA GTX 670 FTW! :bounce:

Thanks

 

whyso

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Jan 15, 2012
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Why 670? 7970 is significantly more powerful when overclocked at a similar price.

If you are going to eventually crossfire or SLI the processor may be a bottleneck unless you overclock it which is impossible with that model. And its a lower clocked i5
 

balteran

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Apr 9, 2009
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On Amazon the best (value) 7970 available is the XFX black edition for 400,00 (30+). Better choice than the 670 (ftw)?

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-FX797ATDBC-Double-Edition-Graphics/dp/B006W3ZU4U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361922594&sr=8-1&keywords=xfx+black+edition

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-DisplayPort-Graphics-02G-P4-2678-KR/dp/B0083Y6MV6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2MZYFLZ4PUNGI&coliid=IZ85ZVQ8IJXSM

About the CPU, what about a i5-3570K (USD 224)? Or should i go with a i7-3770K (USD 325) already?

 

ikes9711

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Unless you changed your mind about overclocking a 3570K is not going to be practical for you... Also a 3770K is not going to perform as well in gaming because hyper-threading slows it down.
 

balteran

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Apr 9, 2009
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I did =) Gonna OC both GPU and CPU. What CPU would you recommend? Is that mobo good of oc?
 

balteran

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Apr 9, 2009
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Great, thanks! Also, I found the Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC with Boost 3GB a good choice. It's at 410 but reviews point to good OC potential plus I'll get "Crysis 3" and "Bioshock Infinite" with It =)

So, that's the build:

MB (125): AS Rock Z77 EXTREME4
CPU (224): Intel Core i5-3570K
GPU (410): Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC with Boost 3GB DDR5
RAM: (90): G.Skill Ares Low Profile F3-1600C9D-16GAR DDR3-1600 16GB (2 x 8GB) Desktop Memory
Power (160): Corsair Professional Series HX 850 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Gold (HX850)
Cooler (33): Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R​2)
HD (138): Seagate Barracuda 7200 3 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST3000DM001
BD (70): ASUS BW-12B1ST/BLK/G​/AS 12X Blu-ray Internal Burner Drive with Disc Encryption - Black - Retail Box

*Gonna use olde case (HAF 922)

Total: 1250,00