Time To Upgrade GPU

[crashtech]

System Specifications:

I. Processor/CPU:

Dual Xeon E5472 3.0GHz, essentially twin Core2 Quads


II. Current Graphics Card:

EVGA GTX 460 1GB


III. Display Resolution:

1920x1080


IV. Power Supply Unit Specification:

Delta DPS 1050CB 1050W Hard to find a good link to this but I feel it's plenty adequate, especially for a single card solution. It's an older unit but I think it is trustworthy enough for another year or so. It's a monster, really.


V. Case Specifications:

HP xw8600 Full Tower EATX


Purchase Details:

I. Budget? Please be sure to include currency (If not USD), retailer preferences & specify whether rebates are a viable option.

$400 MAX

II. Any particular preferences:

NO

III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such as Crossfire or SLI?

May consider SLI in the future, Crossfire seems somewhat more problematic? If I go AMD I will probably want to stay with one card...?


IV. Have you previously looked at a product(s) which you feel would fit your needs?

HD 7970, GTX 670


V. What are your needs for this GPU?

Getting back into gaming, so needs are rather non-specific at this point. I left off at Portal 2 which has pretty low requirements. Would like this to be able to play the next generation of games that will be coming out over the next several years, first example being rather obviously Crysis3, would like to see fairly high levels of detail.


VI. Do you plan on overclocking the card you intend to purchase?

Maybe a little.


Additional Notes:

My concern revolves around which modern card will play best with the older hardware. I will eventually replace the rest of the system, probably later this year or early next and keep the newer card.

 

[Jimzz]

Yea I like the 7970 since that is in your budget.

This one is triple fan and already running at 1Ghz, overcloked vs the default 7970.
Neg is the voltage is locked so you may not be able to overclock much more than what they have already overclocked it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125413


This one is voltage unlocked but is 950 default
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202008

 

[MeldarthX]

7970 GE edition; find a decent one and fire it up; raise the clocks a little and enjoy

 

[crashtech]

My knowledge is pretty outdated, but I remember that once Nvidia cards were preferred for systems with older CPUs. I don't know it this applies to me except in games that use very few threads though.

 

[Face2Face]

My knowledge is pretty outdated, but I remember that once Nvidia cards were preferred for systems with older CPUs. I don't know it this applies to me except in games that use very few threads though.

Nope, Nvidia or AMD doesn't matter.

If you want to spend $300-7950
If you want to spend $400 -7970.

The GTX 670 is an awesome card as well. But with the games that AMD is giving away now, it doesn't make as much sense. You could always sell the free game codes on here for $30 each. To bring your total cost down as well.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

With a core 2 quad I would upgrade the CPU before the gpu, and ideally both together.

 

[NTMBK]

With a core 2 quad I would upgrade the CPU before the gpu, and ideally both together.

It's not a Core 2 Quad he's got, it's a pair of them. Basically a Core 2 Octa Which should do well with modern games.

 

[crashtech]

I was considering doing the mobo-CPU-memory upgrade first, but to tell you the truth, I have to aim pretty high to beat the 8 cores I have now. I think with $400 available it's best spent on video. A new system with an old GTX 460 makes less sense to me.

 

[crashtech]

So it's unanimous, the HD7970. Is there an easy way to determine which models are voltage unlocked, and how big of a consideration is that?

@Jimzz, your first link is broken for me.

I see this one, I like the abundance of cooling:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125413

I also have a line on one of these, used, for $365:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127652

The GHz editions seem to be outside the budget, though that second one may technically qualify, as it's stock speed is 1010MHz, I think.

P.S. Admin, the link redirects through anandtech are working like sh*t, at least when linking to newegg...

 

[crashtech]

It looks like the only way to get a voltage unlocked card for sure is the GHz editions?

I'm kinda dying to pull the trigger on this now.

 

[Face2Face]

It looks like the only way to get a voltage unlocked card for sure is the GHz editions?

I'm kinda dying to pull the trigger on this now.

Splurge for another $10 and get this one --

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...FQo3nAodp0oAPw

Sapphire Models have excellent coolers and this one is not voltage locked.

The Gigabyte one you linked has a great cooler and just because the voltage is locked doesn't mean it will overclock poorly. But with the Sapphire model you will have more options when overclocking or underclocking and the fan is nearly as good.

 

[FalseChristian]

Even though I'm an NVidia owner and lover I, too, would also recommend the 7970. It blows the socks off my 2 GTX 460 1GB SLI even though they're overclocked to 827/1654/4200. I wouldn't get the GHZ one. Save some money and get a normal one and overclock to a GHz.

 

[crashtech]

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to tell if they are locked or not. I see the one for 409 in Face2Face's link, but wanted to be able to explore other options as well.

How DO you tell if one is voltage unlocked or not?

BTW, thanks to all who have responded so far!

 

[dagamer34]

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to tell if they are locked or not. I see the one for 409 in Face2Face's link, but wanted to be able to explore other options as well.

How DO you tell if one is voltage unlocked or not?

BTW, thanks to all who have responded so far!

I think the best way to tell is in the comments from recent buyers on Newegg. They'll tell you if the card is voltage locked or not. I personally bought the card Face2Face linked to and think it's great. Extremely quiet. Haven't really tried overclocking it though as it runs Crysis 3 at 1080p on Very High pretty well.

 

[Face2Face]

I think the best way to tell is in the comments from recent buyers on Newegg. They'll tell you if the card is voltage locked or not.

+1 Same thing I did

 

[crashtech]

Well the 7970GHz editions seem to really be blowing the budget, I have room for a standard 7970, but I see (used) 680s out there for well under $400, might just have to jump on one of those.

 

[Face2Face]

Well the 7970GHz editions seem to really be blowing the budget, I have room for a standard 7970, but I see (used) 680s out there for well under $400, might just have to jump on one of those.

680 or 7970 - Both are great GPU's.

Do keep in mind you do get free games and get a warranty when you buy new.

 

[crashtech]

Yeah, now I'm back to being undecided. I haven't had such a hard time picking something out in a long time.

 

[sublime420ec]

ATI 7970 hands down =D

 

[Midwayman]

It's not a Core 2 Quad he's got, it's a pair of them. Basically a Core 2 Octa Which should do well with modern games.

Not all of them. Some are still heavily single threaded dependent which really beats up AMD on occasion. I suspect the same would be the case here.

 

[crashtech]

Not all of them. Some are still heavily single threaded dependent which really beats up AMD on occasion. I suspect the same would be the case here.

I agree, but I still need to do this one step at a time. I don't think a new 3770K with an old GTX 460 will beat my dual quads and a 7970 GHz, do you?

 

[crashtech]

I finally got off the pot.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202008

Should be here early next week.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Neurotic_X]

Well the 7970GHz editions seem to really be blowing the budget, I have room for a standard 7970, but I see (used) 680s out there for well under $400, might just have to jump on one of those.

I might be stepping on some toes here, but isn't the 7950 better for your budget? There's almost a sure-fire way to overclock the 7950 to 7970 speeds and save yourself $100.

Careful with some 7970's as they are voltage locked.

Edit: Looks I'm a little late. Congrats on your buy, TC. Cheers.

 

[crashtech]

The one I got is not locked. Maybe I did spend too much, but that is the name of the game when you go up the performance curve. I know I'm reaching past the sweet spot in price/performance with my selection, and I will likely do the same with my other upgrades. The xw8600 case will fit an EATX replacement board which just begs for excess.

 

[djnsmith7]

Here's another vote for the 7970. The card is a beast. I ran TriFire for a year & once the improved drivers were released, the cards just begged to be pushed hard.

I now run a single 7970 & play BF3 on High @ 1080p & have no issues whatsoever with FPS dips. The card is butter.