Face it man, if he lowers his cards both 20% with powertune (loss of performance) like you said, keeps his cpu stock, he will come close to what a new power supply , a overclocked cpu ,and a overclocked 6970 will do especially @1900x1080. Then he can upgrade to another 6970 when he buys his 30 inch monitor like he said he was, and be better off.
HOLY CRAP. Happy... this post is just pathetic and ignores everything we've already discussed. How can you still stand by. Just give it up, man, give it up.
The issue with keeping things at stock now is
not about performance. Duh. It's about
keeping power under control until he gets a new power supply. This is what the OP has said that makes everything you're suggesting just idiotic:
This is my "christmast gift", meaning with some agreeing with my parents, if i only get a single 6950 card that will be it, probrably wont see the money to upgrade again in near future either.
PSU will be a easy upgrade for me next year, so if my current can last two months with the cards ill be getting a 850 or something in january-february.
Like many peoples says, the premium of the 6970 doesnt seem to be justified
Notice the bolded parts; I shouldn't have to explain why they are important. If you can't figure it out on your own, then I am done with you. You are just WRONG. You completely ignore these things and
YOU AREN'T THINKING ABOUT HIS SITUATION AT ALL. Instead you are thinking about what YOU would do as him.
A system with a much higher overclocked cpu and a overclocked 6970 at only 1900x1080 will be dam close to a stock clocked cpu, and 2 underclocked 6950's on average.
I much rather have a system with the cpu at 3.9 rather then 2.9 @ 1900x1080 with a highend card, then a system with 2 underclocked cards, a psu thats at its limi,t and a stock cpu.
I would also bet on higher minimums also, because of the extra cpu overclock.
As I already stated performance isn't entirely the issue. He has the means to get a potentially faster setup now, and the potential will unlock once he upgrades the power supply, which he said he would do.
HOWEVER HE SAID HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO UPGRADE TO ANOTHER VIDEO CARD. So the choice is very obvious at this point in time. Two 6950s >>>>>> A single 6970, overclocked or not.
The processor argument is ridiculously overblown, and only matters in a handful of specific games. Regardless, he can overclock whatever he wants when he gets a new power supply. Oh yeah, you are forgetting the i7 HAS A TURBO MODE. I mean, how could you forget that? It will be running faster than 2.9 GHz; it will turbo up to
3.6 GHz. For dual threaded games - typically the games that need faster processor - it will turbo up to 3.46 GHz. For triple and quad threaded games, it will turbo up to 3.2 GHz.
You also have no data supporting your claim, either, about how an overclocked-single-gpu vs. stock-multi-gpu. Considering the OP is worried about longevity in terms of performance. Considering he can easily upgrade the power supply soon. Considering his current power supply is good and much better than you make it out to be; it can handle dual 6950s. Considering he could lower the TDP if he wanted, to ensure his current PSU makes it another two months. Considering he won't be able to "add" another 6970 later, or if he does it will be under his own expense rather than a gift. Considering he can get two 6950s
now as a gift. Considering dual 6950s are much, much, much, faster than even an overclocked 6970. Considering... everything. Why aren't you considering all of this? Instead, like I mentioned, you are NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS SITUATION. You are entirely thinking about what YOU would do, not what he should do.
another plus is no worries about his system frying.
You have to be joking, right? An overclocked Core i7 and overclocked HD 6970 is going to use more power. It would put similar or possibly more strain on his power supply and his system. What's just hilarious is that you earlier said this:
"a psu thats at its limi,t"
What a joke. What a big ****ing joke. Statements like these suggest you don't really have a clue about the things you're saying; it's like you're completely ignoring the data put right in front of your face. I already provided hard evidence that even at worst case scenario stock settings his power supply has more than enough power.