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Dual GTX690 vs Quad Radeon HD 7970 (Whats up!?)

Post Date: 2012-06-06
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CarbonExtreme View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote CarbonExtreme Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Dual GTX690 vs Quad Radeon HD 7970 (Whats up!?)
    Posted: 06 Jun 2012 at 8:37pm
So getting DARN close to pulling the trigger on this big budget system. Had a system spec'd out with DS supporting Dual GTX 690s.   Saw a post over on Hardware heaven warning me about low FPS rates and to be careful not to just look at maximum and average FPS specs.
 
What I noticed was that the GTX 690s had some pretty low FPS ranges relatively speaking. Lower than some other cards like the 7970. Even though the top end was not quite up to par with the 690s, the low end range FPS was higher. I was told this is something to look for.
 
So I came back to my DS configuration and noticed there was no real triple or quad option for 7970's. Other high end companies (like Origin for example) offeres Quad HD 7970's which actually might be a better choice than dual 690's. I was surprised to not see them on DS's website as an option in my configuration.
 
Thoughts? Stressing over video cards.
 
 
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Posts: 13 		  Quote CarbonExtreme Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 5:58am
Nobody?
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 6:30am
Hi CarbonExtreme..    I d love to see the link.  Minmum testing is hard to find.i
You're right about bench testing.   Those that just look at max fps are being mislead.   Even an entry level card will post a decent max fps under ideal game conditions.  It's the average and better yet the minimum fps that tells of a cards power.  
But, minimum can also be misleading.   If the minimum is very random, when explosions and mega-bots populate the screen, and only appears for a few seconds, then it won't be noticed by most as long as fps stay in the 50's and above.
 
As far as 690 vs cf 7970, the testing I've seen show the cf 7970 doing better with Crysis warhead and some others and 690 better with BF3, Batman, etc.   It seems to be a toss up.
 
Why DS doesn't have the card config you mentioned you'd have to ask them.
 
In my opinion, the dual gtx 690 would be my pick.  Fitting a dual card as opposed to a four card setup onto a mobo and into a case is alot easier.  Four cards can be done no problem, just takes an Extreme mobo and the case and psu to handle it. 
 
If you're still going with the Aventum rig you posted last month, then it could take a 4x 7970, if DS will do it.  How about a 3x- gtx 690? Drooling
 
Not sure i answered anything, but my thoughts anyways.  Big%20Smile
 
 


Edited by bprat22 - 07 Jun 2012 at 6:50am
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CarbonExtreme View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote CarbonExtreme Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 7:02am
Here's an extensive link to the review I was talking about:
 
 
You can view several games and mark scores. Heck in BF3 this review shows the Radeon out performing the 690 at wide screen resolutions. Then you switch to a different game in the review and the numbers flip flop.
 
I struggle because I thought the GTX 690s (Dual) would be a slam dunk decision. I do plan on calling Digital Storm today to discuss.
 
Thx for the input.
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 7:08am
Thanks for the link.  I'm gonna check it out in a bit.  Running back and forth right now. 
 
Let me know how you make out with DS.   Can they do 4x 7970 or 3x 690?   This is what extreme gaming is all about.Big%20SmileBig%20Smile
 
 
 
EDIT....Well, after lots of reading and a slight headacheCry, it does seem the CF 7970 edges out the 690 in wide screen, high res situations, sometimes by a healthy margin.     But, it does jump around a bit and really nothing definite.  Other sites like Anandtech flip-flop between games, but they don't show alot of minimum fps.
 
Another thought just to confuse you....The HD 7990. which I think is 2x 7970 per card is close to release. Two of those would be 4 x 7970.   But, who knows and what the specs are.
 
Glad this is your choice and not mine.  I don't know what I would do.Big%20Smile


Edited by bprat22 - 07 Jun 2012 at 8:20am
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Posts: 16314 		  Quote Alex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 8:57am

Now that's extreme! We can do four 7970's in a 4-Way CrossFire X configuration, but we can only do two GTX 690's in a 2-Way setup (but it's still considered a 4 way as each card has two GPUs).
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Posts: 13000 		  Quote Tidgxor Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 9:02am
I remember all the issues people had running x4 295's, hopefully they fixed those issues!
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Posts: 168 		  Quote josephlee Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 12:53pm
Can't really go wrong. Do you want the Ferrari or the Lamborghini?
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Posts: 106 		  Quote Err0xx Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 5:22pm
Originally posted by CarbonExtreme

Here's an extensive link to the review I was talking about:
 


 

You can view several games and mark scores. Heck in BF3 this review shows the Radeon out performing the 690 at wide screen resolutions. Then you switch to a different game in the review and the numbers flip flop.

 

I struggle because I thought the GTX 690s (Dual) would be a slam dunk decision. I do plan on calling Digital Storm today to discuss.

 

Thx for the input.


Depends on your use man. If you ever do multi or single monitor 3D, go with the gtx 690s. I have a LOT of experience with 3d offered by both systems and the nvidia vision 2 blows AMD's solution out of the water. Also, if you ever decide to go with a multi-monitor setup, reviews I've seen show the 690's comfortably ahead of the AMD's with multi-monitor support.

Either way, most average fps I've seen posted by either setup is still higher than the human eye can perceive. You're not going to notice it. Maybe a jitter here and there from a random fps dropoff, but drivers will help that. Give the 690's time, they have some driver catching-up to do.

I'm hooked on 3d. I didn't think I would be, used to give me headaches, eyestrain, hated 3d movies....then I was introduced to 3d surround on multiple monitors. Oh boy. I got used to it. I can't go back. 690's were an easy choice for me. Gaming on 3 27" monitors with 3d vision 2 rocking is one of the most immersive things you'll ever experience. I have modded monitors that I overlapped to have a 2mm bezel. Can't even see it with the 3d going. If you haven't experienced that, I'd recommend it. 3d has come a long way with the new Asus monitor with lightboost- that's what I'm using. Can't wait for my Aventum to get here, still in stage 4, but I went with the two 690's in sli (friend has a similar GPU setup, and I love it.)

In that review man, I wouldn't pay any attention to that minimum. If one driver booboo makes the card hit 18 fps for a split second, thats recorded as the "minimum." single update can fix that. I'd watch the average fps, which the gtx690 blows the radeon out of the water. Ultimately the average determines playability.

Edited by Err0xx - 07 Jun 2012 at 5:27pm
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Posts: 106 		  Quote Err0xx Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 5:33pm
Originally posted by CarbonExtreme

Here's an extensive link to the review I was talking about:
 


 

You can view several games and mark scores. Heck in BF3 this review shows the Radeon out performing the 690 at wide screen resolutions. Then you switch to a different game in the review and the numbers flip flop.

 

I struggle because I thought the GTX 690s (Dual) would be a slam dunk decision. I do plan on calling Digital Storm today to discuss.

 

Thx for the input.


In this BF3 example, where does the radeon out perform the gtx 690? The 690 has min: 18, max 63, average 45 and the radeon has min:23, max: 36, and avg:28.

How is the radeon out performing the 690 with an average of 45 for the 690 and a mere 28 for the radeon? The radeon only has 5fps higher minimum but a 27fps lower max and a 17 lower average but it's outperforming the 690?

Are you comparing the crossfire 7970 to the single gtx690? Even then they are almost the same, except for that min, which would change if you SLI'd the 690's or wait for driver improvements.

At the end of the review:

"Summary
A great performer out of the box with excellent build quality and design. The fantastic overclocking potential irons out minor performance issues at 5760x1080 to ensure the GTX 690 is the best graphics card ever made."

Edited by Err0xx - 07 Jun 2012 at 5:36pm
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