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770 vs 7970 vs 780. Which one is the best for the price?

6K views 33 replies 18 participants last post by  onthemour 
#1 ·
Hey guys, I'm trying to choose what card I should get for my first rig, and I'm becoming very frustrated with trying to make this decision
rolleyes.gif


Here are the specs for the rest of the computer (I've already bought it all):

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($60.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($93.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Another 250GB HDD
Video Card: UNKNOWN
Case: Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.54 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)

I'm also playing on a single 1080p monitor.

So here's the deal.
I've been looking at all kinds of benchmarks between the 770 and the 7970, and they perform basically the same on average it seems, but they're also about the same price. I honestly have no idea which one I should get.
I also want to make sure I have an easy window for upgrading in the future, and I was thinking to upgrade in 2-3 years I would probably SLI or crossfire whichever card I get, which makes me lean toward NVIDIA since I've heard their cards perform better than AMD when it comes to having two work in tandem.
Maybe I should wait for the 4gb 770's to come out and get one of those? The things I've heard about those though is that it doesn't really use all 4gb, so maybe that's not worth it.

My other question is...should I just go for the 780? Is the 200 dollar price difference worth it in the long run? If I didn't have to upgrade nearly as soon and could play games at a better framerate in the meantime, then I might want to go for the 780.

TL;DR: Should I go for a 770 or a 7970, or is the extra 200 bucks worth it to get the 780? I'm thinking towards the future as well.

Thanks so much for the help guys, this has really been a very frustrating decision so I'm coming to the experts here to help me make it.

EDIT: I see I accidentally posted the same thread twice, not sure how that happened, sorry :/ I reported one of them as spam though.
 
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#2 ·
the 3770K is really a good deal in Microcenter. I'd sacrifice the ssd for now just to get the i7. don't need HT . . . turn it off. if in case you need it you can always turn it on. I guess you can't wait for haswell.

The other thing is get a 2 X 4GB ram for dual channel mode.

Last, even if you only play 1080, $400 for a 2GB card is kinda . . . you know what I mean?

2cents.gif
 
#3 ·
rdr09, why would you consider grabing the 3770K over the 3570K exactly ? For gaming, the 3570K is more than enough, I wouldn't sacrifice the SSD, on the contrary, you will notice a difference in performance more important than the one of the 3770K over the 3570K. Finally, the 770 is IMO the best bang for the buck right now, a 680 on steroids for the price of a 670. The 780 is way too expensive to consider for myself right now, I would rather buy 2 770 rather than one 780.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by stnz View Post

rdr09, why would you consider grabing the 3770K over the 3570K exactly ? For gaming, the 3570K is more than enough, I wouldn't sacrifice the SSD, on the contrary, you will notice a difference in performance more important than the one of the 3770K over the 3570K. Finally, the 770 is IMO the best bang for the buck right now, a 680 on steroids for the price of a 670. The 780 is way too expensive to consider for myself right now, I would rather buy 2 770 rather than one 780.
the i7 'cause op is getting the chip in microcenter were you can get it for $229. now if it was for like $350, then that is a different story. i did say sacrifice it atm. op can always get a ssd later.

about the 770, at $400 for a 2GB card. The 4GB is only like $50 more even if it does not use all of it . . . still.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by stnz View Post

Finally, the 770 is IMO the best bang for the buck right now, a 680 on steroids for the price of a 670. The 780 is way too expensive to consider for myself right now, I would rather buy 2 770 rather than one 780.
Do you think I should wait for the 4gb version? And does it not have a disadvantage against the 7970 with less ram and not being 384 bit?

And rdr, I already bought all the parts except the GPU, I got it from newegg not microcenter, it just gave me the cheapest places when I pasted it for some reason.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Traceroy View Post

Do you think I should wait for the 4gb version? And does it not have a disadvantage against the 7970 with less ram and not being 384 bit?

And rdr, I already bought all the parts except the GPU, I got it from newegg not microcenter, it just gave me the cheapest places when I pasted it for some reason.
oh, ok. now i got you. i'd still recommend the 4GB version. you'll never know you might upgrade your monitor or something or play a game that will require more vram. i don't know what nvidia was thinking.

edit: here Trace have a read . . .

http://www.overclock.net/newsearch?search=2+GB+vram+enough

this one in particular . . .

http://www.overclock.net/t/1272610/2gb-vram-with-heavily-modded-skyrim-has-anybody-had-issues/60
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by rdr09 View Post

oh, ok. now i got you. i'd still recommend the 4GB version. you'll never know you might upgrade your monitor or something or play a game that will require more vram. i don't know what nvidia was thinking.

edit: here Trace have a read . . .

http://www.overclock.net/newsearch?search=2+GB+vram+enough

this one in particular . . .

http://www.overclock.net/t/1272610/2gb-vram-with-heavily-modded-skyrim-has-anybody-had-issues/60
Hmmm ok. I think I'll wait for the 4gb 770 then, I think they're coming out next week? Thanks a lot
smile.gif
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Traceroy View Post

Hmmm ok. I think I'll wait for the 4gb 770 then, I think they're coming out next week? Thanks a lot
smile.gif
If u want that why not just get a 680 4gb used and over clock it.. it's the samething...
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hokies83 View Post

7950 is the best Gpu for the money.
correct. OP if you want the best value for money get the HD 7950 for USD 300. overclock it to 1100 - 1150 Mhz and match a HD 7970 Ghz.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202007

if you want to spend the extra money go with HD 7970 OC or HD 7970 Ghz for USD 400. 1GB extra VRAM is useful for 1080p with next gen consoles having 8GB RAM. higher bandwidth and compute perf. excellent game bundle .

Sapphire HD 7970 OC (1 ghz) - USD 400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202008
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-H7970CB ( $10 off AT-H7970CB w/code: IRENA1310 (ends 06/03/2013))

Sapphire HD 7970 Ghz (1.05 ghz) - USD 408
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001
 
#12 ·
With an unlocked 7950, it's stupidly easy to get them to 7970 and 7970GHz levels. It might take a bit of hunting around to find the voltage unlocked ones though. It's a lot of card for often less than $300 (my Rev 1 Gigabyte Windforce was $295 shipped in January).

Also keep your eyes peeled for GTX680 deals in the Market and other forums. A lot of people are dumping them for < $400 to upgrade to 780s. I've seen no less than five being sold for $400 each with included water blocks, making them pretty tremendous values.
 
#13 ·
Agreed with BBEG, the price of the 680 could even drop to 350 once the price onsite will drop due to the 770.
 
#15 ·
Yes but the price for an used part is right now the same as a brand new 7970
 
#16 ·
just as the GTX 670/680 and now the GTX 770 I'm still not sure it can push out 4GB of VRAM.
yes the higher clocked memory helps the GTX 770 but is it enough and at 1080p do you need 4GB of VRAM
if you already know the card can't push all 4GB's..?

I say this and I have a GTX 680 that matches the GTX 770 and I also have GTX 670's all 2GB models.
also my GTX 680 is one of the ones that will flash to the GTX 770 but I'm not sure I will do it, not yet.

so it's hard to call me biased in what I'm saying.
I'd love more 3GB offers cheaper then the GTX 780 and I'd be set.

so out of the three options you have listed I would look for an overclocked GTX 770 first, the cheapest.
then go brand loyalty if any between the GTX 680 or HD 7970 if the 680 is in same price range.

my opinions.
cheers.
 
#17 ·
Skip the i5-3570K and grab an i5-4670K. Newer, faster, and upgradable.

The Antec Nine Hundred is a terrible case if you are planning on getting a super-cooler as the window fan clips will have to be cut off. Antec also completely ignored cable management with this outdated case. Go with the Eleven Hundred or P280 if you fancy Antec. At this price point there are literally hundreds of superior options than the 900.

(Former owner of an Antec Nine Hundred)

I would personally pay the premium for a 780 as it is vastly superior to the other two -- but that's just me. How you spend your money is up to you. At 1080p the 770 is faster than the 7970GHz. Both overclocked? Flip a coin. I'd go with the 7970 for greater memory and wider bus. Also important to note is that SLI is smoother than Crossfire.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruennis View Post

Skip the i5-3570K and grab an i5-4670K. Newer, faster, and upgradable.

The Antec Nine Hundred is a terrible case if you are planning on getting a super-cooler as the window fan clips will have to be cut off. Antec also completely ignored cable management with this outdated case. Go with the Eleven Hundred or P280 if you fancy Antec. At this price point there are literally hundreds of superior options than the 900.

(Former owner of an Antec Nine Hundred)

I would personally pay the premium for a 780 as it is vastly superior to the other two -- but that's just me. How you spend your money is up to you. At 1080p the 770 is faster than the 7970GHz. Both overclocked? Flip a coin. I'd go with the 7970 for greater memory and wider bus. Also important to note is that SLI is smoother than Crossfire.
+1
 
#19 ·
For 1080p? Thats small chips, I'd get a 770.
For 1440p/1600p and below a 256bit GPU is fine.
 
#21 ·
GTX 770 is a GTX 680 with some tweaks, so with that being said, coin flip. 7970 and 680 are both beasts of a card. Personally, nvidia because of smoother FPS in SLI.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

GTX 770 is a GTX 680 with some tweaks, so with that being said, coin flip. 7970 and 680 are both beasts of a card. Personally, nvidia because of smoother FPS in SLI.
this ! waiting for tech is futile!

770 is hard to pass atm the price/performance is crazy good...no sli problems and better drivers currently!

that being said the 7970 is also a beast of a card...i had 3 and if it wasnt for the no DVI-HDMI audio and coil whine they had i would have kept them!
 
#23 ·
Coin flip as said, can't go wrong with either, but don't waste your money on a 4GB model 770 or 680.
You won't need that much VRAM even at 1440p, let alone 1080p, plus with the 256-bit bus on those cards it can't fully utilize it anyway.

If you have plans to move to a higher res I'd say stick with a 7970 if you want to spend less, or 780 if you want to sacrifice nothing and don't mind burning a hole in your wallet.
Mentions of the 7950 here are also noteworthy, clock-for-clock to a 7970 it's the best bang for your buck since you can get them at/under $300 now.
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerbacio View Post

this ! waiting for tech is futile!

770 is hard to pass atm the price/performance is crazy good...no sli problems and better drivers currently!

that being said the 7970 is also a beast of a card...i had 3 and if it wasnt for the no DVI-HDMI audio and coil whine they had i would have kept them!
refreshes are minor performance boosts compared to die shrinks and if one is planning keep a card for awhile it is worth waiting for the HUGE PERFORMANCE INCREASE next generation cards. Considering AMD said screw wasting time on a refresh and instead release the next cards shortly after nvidias refresh that means they are getting way ahead of nvidias maxwel.
 
#26 ·
For a single 1080p monitor a 7950 will suffice, and as a bonus they OC like mad PLUS you can get a second used for dirt cheap and kill a single 7970,770, or 780.

Still hard to beat a 7950 for the price...
 
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