GTX 670 or HD7950 for multimonitor gaming?

[QuinRiva]

I've just had my Gigabyte GTX 670 OC die on me, and I'm looking for a replacement (MSY was really great and they gave me a full refund no hassles, card was 8 weeks old).

I currently have the following setup (all IPS), but I'm looking to get a couple of Yamakasi 300 Leonidas (in the next 6 months or so), to sit either side of my Dell.

Click to view full size!

I'll probably end up getting either SLI or Crossfire at some point, but it comes down to cost efficiency and I don't want to blow money to have something right now (give it 3 months and second-hand 670's will be on the forums for $300). I have the money, but I don't game often enough to justify dropping a grand on video cards right now.

So my considerations are as follows:

• Galaxy GeForce GTX 670 2GB ($429)- Damn cheap for a 670
• Asus GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU II ($529) - Highly recommended, but I don't think that it is worth the extra $100, especially since I run a WC loop. I'd be better off slapping some waterblocks on the Galaxy.
• EVGA GeForce GTX 670 Superclocked+ 4GB ($599) - A good choice but insanely expensive in Australia ($460 at NewEgg)
• VTX3D Radeon HD7950 3Gb ($352) - More memory and cheap enough to buy two right of the bat.
• VTX3D Radeon HD7970 3Gb ($434) - is the 7970 worth the extra $80 (or $160 for 2), particularly when OC is considered?

The 2Gb limitation is a serious concern regarding the 670, according to GPU-Z I was using 1700Mb+ when running Civ V on one monitor. However on the Red side, the Radeon's only have a single DVI port (and apart from my U3011, all my monitors including my the yet-to-be purchased Yamakasis are DVI only.

Suggestions? Thought? Things I've haven't considered?

If it's relevant my motherboard is a EVGA X58 LE. I also run a basic watercooling loop on the Mobo and CPU, with an old style Thermochill PA120.3.

Please don't spam stupidly expensive parts, I work full-time, but a spare $200 towards a Bali holiday is preferable to an extra 3% in performance.

[bobbth]

I'll be honest, I'm not to sure how the 7950 sits with multi-monitor setups after the 12.7 drivers (awesome drivers, gave the 7970 a ~10% boost to just about match the 680 clock-for-clock ). I would imagine given the 7970's performance against the 680 at high resolutions that the 7950 would just about match the 670 at 4960x1600 (a small oc might be needed to match exactly but it would be close), thus being better value. For high resolutions I would definitely recommend the 7970 over the 670 but I think the smartest buy would be a 7950 (and/or a second one if you can afford it).

I'm not certain of this, given the lack of reviews/analysis after the 12.7 drivers especially of the 7950 it's hard to draw an exact conclusion without physically having a 7950 and a 670 to compare.

[QuinRiva]

That's kind of what I was thinking, but the need to purchase active DVI-MiniDisplayport adaptors, which at $50 a pop can significantly effect the price of the cards.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

i was able to buy this off amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-0...3549757&sr=1-2

but now they won't ship it overseas

[mrpiccolod]

You shouldn't need to buy any adaptors with the HD7970. The sapphire models I know come with minidp-dvi adaptors and hdmi-dvi adaptors so you will be able to run eyefinity out of the box with your current setup. Your U3011 will run the DP.

Just note that currently eyefinity does not support PLP display setups, though you can run it in windowed mode.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

Originally Posted by mrpiccolod

You shouldn't need to buy any adaptors with the HD7970. The sapphire models I know come with minidp-dvi adaptors and hdmi-dvi adaptors so you will be able to run eyefinity out of the box with your current setup.

Just note that currently eyefinity does not support PLP display setups, though you can run it in windowed mode.

no, eyefinity requires 1 monitor to be connected to the displayport and you need an active displayport to DVI adapter to make the card think there's a displayport monitor...you'll need one of the adapters linked earlier. if you don't by an adapter and try to connect 3 screens it will only display on 2 screens and not 3. I have been there and i have an active displayport adapter left over.

sapphire does release a flex version which doesn't require an active displayport adapter to do eyefinity but not models will have a flex version.

[bobbth]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

no, eyefinity requires 1 monitor to be connected to the displayport and you need an active displayport to DVI adapter to make the card think there's a displayport monitor...you'll need one of the adapters linked earlier. if you don't by an adapter and try to connect 3 screens it will only display on 2 screens and not 3. I have been there and i have an active displayport adapter left over.

sapphire does release a flex version which doesn't require an active displayport adapter to do eyefinity but not models will have a flex version.

not true, I am currently running 3 screens, one dvi, one dp->single link, and one dp->vga.

but as far as I know that's the only way to have 3 screens without an active dual dvi adapter

[QuinRiva]

Originally Posted by bobbth

not true, I am currently running 3 screens, one dvi, one dp->single link, and one dp->vga.

but as far as I know that's the only way to have 3 screens without an active dual dvi adapter

Yeah but I'm not running a 2560x1600 screen over VGA.

[bobbth]

Originally Posted by QuinRiva

Yeah but I'm not running a 2560x1600 screen over VGA.

Yeah, definitely a down side, you could run a ViewSonic over VGA if you are really keen but otherwise it's worth splashing out for the adapters.

[PiNoY]

get 2 x 670 4gb models. evga do them.

with a single 680 in bf3 with msaa x4 i max out vram around 1800-2000mb @ 2560x1440.

[QuinRiva]

Originally Posted by PiNoY

get 2 x 670 4gb models. evga do them.

with a single 680 in bf3 with msaa x4 i max out vram around 1800-2000mb @ 2560x1440.

I did point that out already in the OP PiNoY. But unless you know where I can get them for less than $600, they don't seem like a very good option.

[PiNoY]

Originally Posted by QuinRiva

I did point that out already in the OP PiNoY. But unless you know where I can get them for less than $600, they don't seem like a very good option.

pccg have them for $599 no?

you'll want the 4gb buffer for 3 screens.

[QuinRiva]

Originally Posted by PiNoY

pccg have them for $599 no?

you'll want the 4gb buffer for 3 screens.

It occured to me that I might check Amazon:

EVGA GTX 670 4GB Superclocked - $466 delivered.

That's a $50 saving on my recently returned Gigabyte board.

Any suggestions? I believe EVGA now have Global Warranty.

[mrpiccolod]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

no, eyefinity requires 1 monitor to be connected to the displayport and you need an active displayport to DVI adapter to make the card think there's a displayport monitor...you'll need one of the adapters linked earlier. if you don't by an adapter and try to connect 3 screens it will only display on 2 screens and not 3. I have been there and i have an active displayport adapter left over.

sapphire does release a flex version which doesn't require an active displayport adapter to do eyefinity but not models will have a flex version.

Which is why I said run the dp to u3011??

[Hobbo71]

I've noticed that the Sapphire HD7970_GHZ_VaporX 3G GDDR5 has 2 Dual-link DVI, 1 HDMI and 2 Mini-Displayport outputs. That being the case could I run an Eyefinity setup using the 2 DVI outputs and the HDMI output?? My monitors don't have a Displayport input.
Thanks