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To test today we are using our long standing Core i7 970 system, which is overclocked. We have a variety of hardware benchmarked on this system this year which will make for an interesting market comparison.
Processor: Core i7 970 @ 4.6ghz
Cooling: Coolit Vantage
Motherboard: MSI X58A-GD65
Chassis: Thermaltake Level 10
Power Supply: Corsair AX1200
Memory: 6GB ADATA @ 2133mhz 9-10-9-32
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V+ 512GB Gen 2 SSD (Storage) / Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB (OS boot)
Monitor: Dell U3011.
Comparison Cards:
KFA2 GTX680 LTD OC
Asus GTX680
Asus GTX670 Direct CU II TOP
Asus GTX660Ti Direct CU II TOP
Sapphire HD7970 6GB Toxic Edition
HD7970 GHZ Edition
HD7970
Sapphire HD7950 Vapor-X Edition (@950mhz core clock)
HD7950
Sapphire HD7870 Overclock Edition
HD7870
HD7850
HD6990 (880 core)
HD6970
HD6950
HD6870
Sapphire HD7770 Vapor X Overclock Edition
XFX HD7770 Black Edition S CFx
HD7770 CFx
HD7770
Sapphire HD7750 Ultimate Edition
HD6790
HD6770
HD6670
GTX590
GTX580
GTX570
All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform generally under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests games across five closely matched runs and then average out the results to get an accurate median figure. If we use scripted benchmarks, they are mentioned on the relevant page.
Some game descriptions are edited from Wikipedia.
Wow, that Sapphire card is really good. I had imagined I would get a prodigy case later this year and get a small video card for it ,just for video acceleration and image quality.
This looks the card to get.
I admit, you got me there.
i was expecting the HIS or XFX to win this, but you focused on EXACTLY the right points. power consumption, noise, size, lack of power connector etc.
Great job from sapphire, exactly what i need for my system, im using onboard and it sucks so badly for HD video. people dont understand the IQ differences between Intel on a CPU and a dedicated AMD card like this. its night and day. especially for colours and noise reduction options in the panel.
A HD7770 or GTX460 is more than enough, even today, for 1080p gaming. people get a false idea that a 7970 or 690 is ‘needed’. those are three screen solutions now. save the money, pick up one of these cards, classic little cost effective beasts.
Not sure im a big fan of these cards, but the sapphire model makes sense. im still wanting the 660, just trying to make sure I dont cripple myself for next month as I need to eat too.
Some good overclocks, but I agree, why did they reduce the shaders from 800? typical fing stupid AMD at times. they could be doing so much better if they had people making decisions who understood the gamers.
I like the HIS card best im afraid, if they hit £99.99 count me in for my second system.
These aren’t good enough for 1080p gaming, I want 60 fps, sorry. but good pricing now for people without the cash for a £200 card,. thats the sweet spot.
Am I missing something?
They are releasing ‘new’ 7750’s at 900mhz+? havent they been out for months already? you guys reviewed many.
bonkers AMD move. just drop the price, dont re-release them with bios updates. seems XFX were left out of the loop. Nice black reference edition :p
I bought a Sapphire flex 6770 flex from the last generation and its still good. I dont use AA and I have my system into a 37 inch tv. runs well.
Dont get sucked into the hype of needing 120fps for gaming, its bollocks.