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GeForce GTX 660Ti vs AMD Radeon HD 7950

Tags:
  • Graphics
  • Graphics Cards
  • Nvidia
  • AMD
  • Geforce
  • 7950
  • Gtx
  • 660ti
  • HD
  • Radeon
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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May 13, 2013 6:56:47 PM

So, I have a lame GeForce GT 640 with 2GB DDR3 RAM right now, and I'm looking to upgrade to either a GeForce GTX 660Ti or an AMD Radeon HD 7950. I have 14GB of RAM and an AMD Athlon II X4 640 Processor that runs at 3.0Ghz. I might be upgrading to an AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edtion at 3.4Ghz though if necessary. If for example, I was looking to play a game like Crysis 3, 1920x1080 with all settings set to Ultra with AA on, which card would do that better, the Nvidia card or the AMD card?

Nvidia Card:

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

AMD Card:

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

The two cards are so similarly priced I can't tell which one I should get. I'm also looking to upgrade my power supply, will this suffice?

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

I'm thinking this should be more than enough to run either card, but if not I'm open to suggestions.

Finally, the Phenom processor:

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

I don't think the Phenom is gonna be necessary though, I think the Athlon will work for me for now. Any suggestions on which I should get, the power supply, and if I should get the processor or not? Thanks a lot.

More about : geforce gtx 660ti amd radeon 7950

May 13, 2013 7:10:11 PM

At the moment, the 7950 outperforms the 660ti. The 7950 also has amazing overclocking headroom (and since you're buying a reference card you should liquid cool) and can outperform a 670 is many situations. Your processor might make some difference, but don't upgrade until absolutely necessary. That power supply should be more than enough and might last a couple upgrades.
Right now the 7950 is absolutely beast though compared to a lot of other more expensive cards.
a c 172 U Graphics card
a b Î Nvidia
a b À AMD
May 13, 2013 7:10:15 PM

How do you have 14GB of RAM? 8GB + 2GB + 2GB + 2GB?

The HD 7950 is better. I'd stick with the Phenom as well even though it'll bottleneck your HD 7950. But the Athlon would make it worse.
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May 13, 2013 7:13:58 PM

ksham said:
How do you have 14GB of RAM? 8GB + 2GB + 2GB + 2GB?

The HD 7950 is better. I'd stick with the Phenom as well even though it'll bottleneck your HD 7950. But the Athlon would make it worse.


I have three 4GB cards of RAM and one 2GB card. Four total RAM slots on my motherboard. Was thinking about getting another 4GB card to replace the 2.

a c 678 U Graphics card
a c 468 Î Nvidia
a c 181 À AMD
May 13, 2013 7:14:12 PM

At the moment, GTX 660 Ti outperforms the 7950 by an insignificant 1%. Choose by homing in on the games that you actually intend to play. Also decide if you want to be in or out of the PhysX club.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_650_Ti_Boost...
May 13, 2013 8:28:32 PM

I should also mention that my PC is an HP pre-built, so unfortunately I can't do any overclocking through BIOS. So would a non-OC'd Athlon or Phenom even be worth pairing with the GTX 660Ti or the Radeon 7950? I'd purchase a new motherboard, but I'm not really familiar with doing such a thing as replacing an entire motherboard.
May 13, 2013 8:32:44 PM

The graphics card can be overclocked through MSi Afterburner. As for the motherboard, it's really quite simple. Take out the RAM, all the headers, and any expansion cards. If you're scrapping the processor you can leave it in the motherboard. Then you unscrew all the standoffs and just take it out. As for installation, you can just follow the motherboard manual it's very helpful.
a c 172 U Graphics card
a b Î Nvidia
a b À AMD
May 13, 2013 8:59:03 PM

@matto17secs: how odd. Some GPU tier hierarchies (the one here, anandtech) place the GTX 660 Ti in the same tier as the HD 7870 while the HD 7870 XT and HD 7950 are in its own category that is one above. TPU does it differently though, by placing GTX 660 Ti ahead of the HD 7950, so a bit misleading.
May 13, 2013 9:04:07 PM

The Indomitable said:
The graphics card can be overclocked through MSi Afterburner. As for the motherboard, it's really quite simple. Take out the RAM, all the headers, and any expansion cards. If you're scrapping the processor you can leave it in the motherboard. Then you unscrew all the standoffs and just take it out. As for installation, you can just follow the motherboard manual it's very helpful.


I may end up scrapping the processor and the motherboard and buying a new case:

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

This processor:

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

This motherboard:

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

I'll probably just keep the fans and such that came with this pre-built PC. No use in spending extra money I don't need to spend. I also may be buying the 750W PSU I mentioned earlier.
a c 678 U Graphics card
a c 468 Î Nvidia
a c 181 À AMD
May 13, 2013 9:49:25 PM

ksham said:
@matto17secs: how odd. Some GPU tier hierarchies (the one here, anandtech) place the GTX 660 Ti in the same tier as the HD 7870 while the HD 7870 XT and HD 7950 are in its own category that is one above. TPU does it differently though, by placing GTX 660 Ti ahead of the HD 7950, so a bit misleading.

Instead of assuming that one or the other is misleading, your best strategy should be to actually look at the test setups and try to determine why you are perceiving a difference. To that end, there is no more dependable review site than TechPowerUp. TPU uses 18 benchmarks, including all the new games and uses the absolute latest drivers. It you had been following closely, then you would realize that on the latest games with the latest drivers, the Nvidia cards are doing better these days. Never assume that relative performance is static. It is dynamic and constantly changing, so be prepared to alter your viewpoint as the data changes.
May 14, 2013 4:17:16 AM

The 7950 has much more overclocking headroom than a 660Ti, because a lot of 7950 cards use 7970 PCB's. You can pretty much overclock the performance difference out of is and even more.
a b U Graphics card
May 14, 2013 11:06:59 AM

they are so close in performance get the one with the features you want. 7950 may include games and it overclocks really well. 660ti may include a game, has Physx, Txaa, and Nvidia shield. for me the 7950 free games won me over because it made the card the same price as a 660 since i was buying the games soon anyways. Physx, Txaa and project shield don't matter to me because shield costs too much for what it would give me and the others are more (to me) gimmicks, like Samsung smartphones :) 
also 660ti has sli which may be something good for the future. AMD Crossfire is completely broken from the benchmarks I have seen. WAY too high frame latency. AMD is working on a fix but its just words till it happens
as you can see both have good sides and not so good sides. I choose the one that made since for me. either way I think you will be happy

here is a cheaper price for the 660ti and 7950
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Overvoltage-N660TI-PE-2GD5/dp...

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-...
a b U Graphics card
a b Î Nvidia
May 14, 2013 12:18:35 PM

7950 all the way. I have two of these and they overclock like crazy and run nice and cool with some tweaking. http://amzn.to/17WJUuU If you get them and want the specs I use you are welcome to PM me and I'll give you my Afterburner settings.
!