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Radeon 7970 Crossfire Review

Looking good, I may have to pick up a pair when they become available.
 
Wow greater minimum fps than 580 SLI maximum fps in F1 2011. Crossfire scaling again great this generation.
 
TLDR Version -- Looks good. Fix Skyrim performance. Paper launches suck!

Longer version:
I hate buying a game that I can't play at the resolution and detail level I want, especially given the money I've put into my gaming system. Two 7970s in Xfire should eat Skyrim alive but, instead, the scores suck ass. Just like my two 6970s suck in Skyrim.

It's not "released" until it's available in mass quantity, so I don't consider this card to be launched yet (as if that matters to anyone) It's just like the Transformer Prime 64GB version...and nothing pisses me off more than when a company does something like that. They may as well have mailed out wooden blocks with stickers on them.(complete with wood screws for those who have a good memory)
 
notarat said:
TLDR Version -- Looks good. Fix Skyrim performance. Paper launches suck!

Longer version:
I hate buying a game that I can't play at the resolution and detail level I want, especially given the money I've put into my gaming system. Two 7970s in Xfire should eat Skyrim alive but, instead, the scores suck ass. Just like my two 6970s suck in Skyrim.

It's not "released" until it's available in mass quantity, so I don't consider this card to be launched yet (as if that matters to anyone) It's just like the Transformer Prime 64GB version...and nothing pisses me off more than when a company does something like that. They may as well have mailed out wooden blocks with stickers on them.(complete with wood screws for those who have a good memory)
Click to expand...


Why is it AMD's fault that software developed on Nvidia hardware and paid for by Nvidia doesn't run as well on AMD hardware? If Elder Scrolls and Fallout are the main games you play, don't buy AMD cards.
 
i didnt know that AMD released 7000 series to go against the gtx580.

why so much bragging about that in this thread?
 
That performance is too much awesome for me. I mean, WOOOOOOOOOW. It's in the 100% level of improvement. Factor in the improvements on computing and this is a big launch.

When the cards are finally out I'd like to see a tri-crossfire review vs tri-SLI.

Kepler won't be, if any, too much more powerful, it's expected to be near the same performance level as Radeon HD 7000. No big architecture changes since Fermi, only linear scaling at best and that won't happen, never happened.

Well, now I'm looking at AMD's drivers quality for computing.
 
Filiprino said:
That performance is too much awesome for me. I mean, WOOOOOOOOOW. It's in the 100% level of improvement. Factor in the improvements on computing and this is a big launch.

When the cards are finally out I'd like to see a tri-crossfire review vs tri-SLI.

Kepler won't be, if any, too much more powerful, it's expected to be near the same performance level as Radeon HD 7000. No big architecture changes since Fermi, only linear scaling at best and that won't happen, never happened.

Well, now I'm looking at AMD's drivers quality for computing.
Click to expand...

lay off the crack pipe.
 
Skakruk said:
Bad news buddy: Skyrim performance sucks regardless of Crossfire, AMD or anything to do with GPUs. Skyrim performance sucks because the Skyrim engine sucks. Everytime you go near a town the game gets impossibly CPU bound - no GPU setup in creation can fix that.

In fact, I don't know why anyone even bothers benching Skyrim to test hardware - it's suck a piece of shit engine, and so inconsistent from one area to the next...
Click to expand...

This has me wondering if I want to buy and AMD setup after all, I max skyrim at 1200p with HD texture mods and its locked at 60fps vsync with a single 580. I'm about to be moving to a 120hz screen so I was hoping more GPU power would allow me to run over 100fps most of the time, but it seems like that may not be the case with AMD. Maybe I'll have to grab a cheap 580 after the 7970 starts showing up and SLI until kepler.
 
DualOwn said:
it awaits to compete against Kepler.
Click to expand...


well it eventually will but its not going to wait for it.

It will be out whenever its out (maybe the 9th) and anyone considering it then will have to choose between the available options. The most obvious being the GTX 580

And from what I know of it, Kepler will be a whole line, not just a single card. I saw the rumor that says the high end version maybe out as late as Q1 of 2012. No idea if that is true but if it is that is a long time for the 7970 to be on top.

Nvidia could also lower prices on the 580 in the meantime. Maybe that will happen.
 
LigTasm said:
This has me wondering if I want to buy and AMD setup after all, I max skyrim at 1200p with HD texture mods and its locked at 60fps vsync with a single 580. I'm about to be moving to a 120hz screen so I was hoping more GPU power would allow me to run over 100fps most of the time, but it seems like that may not be the case with AMD. Maybe I'll have to grab a cheap 580 after the 7970 starts showing up and SLI until kepler.
Click to expand...


If you are worried about skyrim and other gamebryo games dont get AMD cards.
 
No one knows when Nvidia will release theirs..? Cause in some games the frame rate are close by like 10 frame from a gtx 580... Seams a bit low for a "new gen card"


Nothing against AMD but I can clearly see Nvidia being on top with their flagship again. And beside, what game need this much power when gaming in 1920*1200? I can't see many games actually push hardware (beside multiple monitor) Just hope they will drop the price with their 580 so I can sli
 
These cards would make an amaaaaazing upgrade to my unlocked and overclocked 6950s in my 3240x1920 Portrait eyefinity 120hz setup. I'm talking overclocked to around 1200mhz we're looking at maybe 80% performance boost in many games. It's a no brainer upgrade. I'm just waiting on the hope that 7950 can unlock and save me some money. I will pay $550 or so a pop for these cards if I have to for a 80% boost in performance as I need that boost now.
 
I wonder if 7970 in Xfire is faster than my 6990 + 6970 trifire. If it is just neck and neck, the power savings and heat would be my driving point. BF3 shows its slowdown when I scope in with a sniper on massive maps like wake island.
 
Lord_Exodia said:
I'm talking overclocked to around 1200mhz we're looking at maybe 80% performance boost in many games.
Click to expand...

guys are getting close to that on the stock cooler and stock voltage, too
imagine an aftermarket cooled and software voltage tweaked card; could be knocking on 1300mhz! (imagine those two puppies in crossfire, i bet they destroy even tri-SLI 580's)
 
XpediencY said:
I wonder if 7970 in Xfire is faster than my 6990 + 6970 trifire.
Click to expand...

I'd have to guess, maybe at stock frequencies, definitely, when overclocked.

That's_Corporate said:
guys are getting close to that on the stock cooler and stock voltage, too
imagine an aftermarket cooled and software voltage tweaked card; could be knocking on 1300mhz! (imagine those two puppies in crossfire, i bet they destroy even tri-SLI 580's)
Click to expand...

/Drool This is true, I've been debating on putting my 6950s under water for a year. Looks like I may just do that with 7970s or 7950s. At the 1300mhz ballpark we may be near 90% performance boost on many games. :D
 
Lord_Exodia said:
/Drool This is true, I've been debating on putting my 6950s under water for a year. Looks like I may just do that with 7970s or 7950s. At the 1300mhz ballpark we may be near 90% performance boost on many games. :D
Click to expand...

watercooled 7970's is almost too [H]
you might need to start your own forum
 
Yea, this GCN architecture is really showing its strength in its nearly linear scaling with respect to overclocking, and its improved tessellation performance.

I'd like to see a trio of 7970's at 1337mhz, just for kicks. That may break a few records.

BUT, what we're forgetting here (or failing to acknowledge) is that the GTX 580, and the Fermi architecture itself, is also impressive:

- GTX 580 seems to suffer slightly less of a performance drop (percentage) at high levels of tessellation. This remains to be proven definitively, but it seems to be true.
- GTX 580, while a 40nm power-sucking monster, overclocks like MAD as well. As long as you have the power, voltage, and cooling, the GTX 580 (especially the aftermarket PCBs) will take you to 1.2Ghz+ (and 1.5Ghz+ at subzero, not 24/7).

- GTX 580 also scales well when overclocked.
- The HD 7970 exhibits some of the same erratic framerate as seen in the HD 6000 and previous series. Less consistent FPS, more dips (in some titles). Perhaps overclocking the 7970 resolves this issue - dunno.

I think this shows the versatility and power of the Fermi architecture. Considering what AMD has done here, Nvidia should be able to cram a LOT more performance into the same power envelope at 28nm.

That said, GTX 580 is the current competition, and the 7970 is clearly better.
 
Archmage said:
Yea, this GCN architecture is really showing its strength in its nearly linear scaling with respect to overclocking, and its improved tessellation performance.

I'd like to see a trio of 7970's at 1337mhz, just for kicks. That may break a few records.

BUT, what we're forgetting here (or failing to acknowledge) is that the GTX 580, and the Fermi architecture itself, is also impressive:

- GTX 580 seems to suffer slightly less of a performance drop (percentage) at high levels of tessellation. This remains to be proven definitively, but it seems to be true.
- GTX 580, while a 40nm power-sucking monster, overclocks like MAD as well. As long as you have the power, voltage, and cooling, the GTX 580 (especially the aftermarket PCBs) will take you to 1.2Ghz+ (and 1.5Ghz+ at subzero, not 24/7).

- GTX 580 also scales well when overclocked.
- The HD 7970 exhibits some of the same erratic framerate as seen in the HD 6000 and previous series. Less consistent FPS, more dips (in some titles). Perhaps overclocking the 7970 resolves this issue - dunno.

I think this shows the versatility and power of the Fermi architecture. Considering what AMD has done here, Nvidia should be able to cram a LOT more performance into the same power envelope at 28nm.

That said, GTX 580 is the current competition, and the 7970 is clearly better.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.
 
The 7970 makes me sad, its the performance I'd like and the efficiency I'd like, but at a price well beyond what I intend to pay for a video card :p Looks like I'll be getting a cheaper stopgap until more cards for the new generation are released from either Nvidia or AMD or the price comes down a bit.
 
Tudz said:
The 7970 makes me sad, its the performance I'd like and the efficiency I'd like, but at a price well beyond what I intend to pay for a video card :p Looks like I'll be getting a cheaper stopgap until more cards for the new generation are released from either Nvidia or AMD or the price comes down a bit.
Click to expand...

AMD has no reason to price this card cheaper, since it handily beats the 580 and the 580 costs $500. Once Nvidia releases something better, then the price will have to go down.
 
Tudz said:
The 7970 makes me sad, its the performance I'd like and the efficiency I'd like, but at a price well beyond what I intend to pay for a video card :p Looks like I'll be getting a cheaper stopgap until more cards for the new generation are released from either Nvidia or AMD or the price comes down a bit.
Click to expand...
Same here. I think $550 is almost a bargain for this card especially with it's power efficiency and what looks to be very exciting compute performance. But, I'm also in the camp of people who feel a little weird putting $500+ into a single part especially when it's only really going to be utilized when i play games. I think I could stomach putting up $459 for GCN but absolutely no higher. Hopefully partners will go for quantity with lower prices on the 7950 instead of pricing it at the same price/performance ratio as the 7970.
 
needmorecarnitine said:
well it eventually will but its not going to wait for it.

It will be out whenever its out (maybe the 9th) and anyone considering it then will have to choose between the available options. The most obvious being the GTX 580

And from what I know of it, Kepler will be a whole line, not just a single card. I saw the rumor that says the high end version maybe out as late as Q1 of 2012. No idea if that is true but if it is that is a long time for the 7970 to be on top.

Nvidia could also lower prices on the 580 in the meantime. Maybe that will happen.
Click to expand...

the rumor mill is first half of 2012 and closer toward the end of that so about 6 months away.. basically the same crap that happened with the HD5000 and GTX 400 series. which worries me we will have a repeat of the 400 series again because they try to create another power hungry GPU to out perform AMD.


That's_Corporate said:
but it seems the gap gets wider in crossfire, in a non-linear fashion
Click to expand...

if you look at the HD6000 series scaling was between 90-98% in crossfire plus the 7970 has 3GB of ram vs the GTX 580 having 1.5GB. i think nvidia was some where around 80-90% depending on the game but either way this shows there won't be a repeat of the horrific crossfire scaling the 5800/5900 series had.
 
Last edited:
XpediencY said:
I wonder if 7970 in Xfire is faster than my 6990 + 6970 trifire. If it is just neck and neck, the power savings and heat would be my driving point. BF3 shows its slowdown when I scope in with a sniper on massive maps like wake island.
Click to expand...

Most likely about the same or just above.
we see 7970 scale well overclocked, so almost reaching 6990 so its speculative but seems to me that its faster and draw less power.
if the shfit to them is worth it is another matter tho since the difference might not be that huge
 
Archmage said:
- GTX 580, while a 40nm power-sucking monster, overclocks like MAD as well. As long as you have the power, voltage, and cooling, the GTX 580 (especially the aftermarket PCBs) will take you to 1.2Ghz+ (and 1.5Ghz+ at subzero, not 24/7).
Click to expand...

Those 1.2Ghz are achieved with crazy voltages. GTX 500 series maximum realistic OC is around 900 Mhz.
 
Filiprino said:
Those 1.2Ghz are achieved with crazy voltages. GTX 500 series maximum realistic OC is around 900 Mhz.
Click to expand...

correct.
1100mhz with stock voltage is just so much different.
I bet we see 7970 at 13-1500mhz for many with extreme cooling solutions 24/7.
 
Filiprino said:
Those 1.2Ghz are achieved with crazy voltages. GTX 500 series maximum realistic OC is around 900 Mhz.
Click to expand...

Heh, you're right - those voltages are unacceptably high and thus are much less relevant in this comparison.

Still... I thought it was amazing how well the card responded to voltage/cooling, and how the performance still managed to SCALE at those insane speeds.

I searched around, and the max 24/7 stable clocks I'm seeing are about 950-975mhz on air...a few people are getting 1Ghz+ on water at ~1.2v on the GPU. I guess those are the exceptional cases.
 
Maybe this will be the round when a couple of 7850's will be faster and cheaper than a 7970 and mostly work hassle free.
 
dook43 said:
Why is it AMD's fault that software developed on Nvidia hardware and paid for by Nvidia doesn't run as well on AMD hardware? If Elder Scrolls and Fallout are the main games you play, don't buy AMD cards.
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Do not put words in my mouth. I did not state it's AMD's fault it runs better on nVidia cards. I don't give a crap whether or not nVidia runs Skyrim faster. If you know one of the most anticipated games of the last decade is being released 6 months before it's released, and you make videocards capable of Crossfire, you better make damn sure your crossfire actually improves performance rather than decreases it.
 
MMAOmegaRED said:
Is Hardware Heaven the only site with Crossfire 7970 benches?
Click to expand...

They seem to be one of the few sites if not the only site that's really consistent about Crossfire / SLI numbers and CrossfireX / 3-Way / Quad-SLI numbers right around the release of new cards. Everyone else seems to get to it much later.
 
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