GPU: GTW 670 vs 7970?

[redmosez]

Hey Guys


So I'm upgrading my GPU and I'm wondering what would be my best bet


My systems is


OS: Windows 7 (64)
CPU: i7 930 2.8 GHZ
Memory: 16GB
OS Drive: 120 GB SSD
Storage: 2 TB HDD


I'm in Australia and planning to buy from http://www.msy.com.au/default.jsp?category=18


Tossing up between these two cards:


Asus GTX670


Asus 7970


Also kinda considering the Asus 7950 as it's a ~$120 cheaper


No experience with overclocking so also wondering how hard that is




Also I have no experience overclocking and wondering if it's difficult to pick up?

[crowdx]

I have the 7970, meh, it runs a bit hot for my liking. Otherwise it is pretty fast but I think the GTX is faster.

[Ualaa]

I like my card: eVGA GTX670, 4GB Superclocked.
Haven't had an ATI in a long time, so cannot really compare it to a 7970.

[heyaz]

I thought 680 was the card the cool kids were using?

[Ualaa]

A 680 is better than a 670.
But a 670 is a very good card, and for the money a much better deal.

[moosejaw]

I switched from the 6970 to a 670 ftw 4gb (like many on here have) and I prefer the Nvidia now due to driver maturity. Nvidia seems to be much more responsive to bugs and it seems you actually get the "bang for your buck" out of the hardware. I had been buying Ati cards since the 8800gt was current tech. I don't regret my purchase at all.

BTW the evga 670 FTW is built on the full length 680 pcb with an updated reference 680 cooler, so 680 cooling solutions will work with the card. It does have a stacked power socket that must be taken into account for aftermarket coolers.

[Grondir]

But how do you get around using only 2 monitors with nVidia cards? Use a second GPU?

[MiRai]

But how do you get around using only 2 monitors with nVidia cards? Use a second GPU?

What do you mean 'get around'? As opposed to AMD's use of DisplayPort? If I'm not mistaken, all GTX 6xx cards can power 3 monitors.

[heyaz]

I hope so. Last nvidia I owned was a 4xx I believe, which I accidentally melted by running some CUDA code and disabling the temperature gauge... somewhere around 130C it was game over I went to buy another card and at the time there were 4xx cards but none would power more than two monitors. I went with a 5970 that could power three. Last card I bought actually.

[Ualaa]

I play with two monitors.

My left monitor, is the active region in the full monitor (27" widescreen, 720x1080).
My right monitor has the other regions, displayed in roughly the top left quarter... which makes them rather small, but I can visually check if they're following or what not... and with instant swap between regions, that's good enough.

I also run Xsplit broadcaster, iTunes, Firefox and often a DvD on the right monitor.