Go Back   Hardware Canucks > HARDWARE > Video Cards
Reload this Page 680 Lightning or 7970 Matrix?
Mark Forums Read
Media Gallery Register Members List LAN Calendar Search Today's Posts

       
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 07:35 PM
BobbyLou's Avatar
Allstar
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 968
Default 680 Lightning or 7970 Matrix?
I'm usually an NVIDIA guy, but I am really debating. Will be running a Samsung 2560x1440 panel.

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 08:08 PM
BeaverBender's Avatar
MVP
F@H
  
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 260

My System Specs

Default
What will you be running on this box? (Games, apps, etc.)
__________________
Creationists make it sound like a ‘theory’ is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night — Isaac Asimov
All thinking men are atheists — Ernest Hemingway
Faith means not wanting to know what is true — Friedrich Nietzsche
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 08:16 PM
BobbyLou's Avatar
Allstar
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 968
Default
Far Cry 3, Dota 2 and I don't know, that's probably it. I'm only getting a new card because of Far Cry 3. Far Cry was my favorite game of all time so... Other then that I really only play Dota.
Last edited by BobbyLou; November 20, 2012 at 08:22 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 09:09 PM
great_big_abyss's Avatar
Hall Of Fame
F@H
  
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,659

My System Specs

Default
If you buy the Matrix, you'll get Far Cry 3 for free, along with two other games (Sleeping Dogs and Hitman: Absolution).

Also, with AMD's new drivers, the 7970 should outperform the 680, especially on a 'Gaming Evolved' title like Far Cry 3.

AMD 12.11 "Never Settle" Driver Performance
__________________



My Rig: Z77A-G45; 3570K; H80i; 2x4GB Kingston HyperX 1600Mhz; ASUS GTX660 SLI; 2x 128GB Crucial M4 SSD; 500GB WD Black; PC&C 750W PS; CM 690II Advanced;
Son's Rig: M5A97; 1055T; CNPS20LQ; 2x4GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz; Sapphire HD5870; 80GB Intel 520 SSD; 320GB WD Black HDD; SPI 700W; Bitfenix Shinobi;
HTPC: F1A75-M PRO; A6 3670K; Hyper 212+; 2x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1866Mhz; ASUS GTX650Ti Boost; Corsair 60GB SSD; 1TB WD Green; 2x 2TB WD Green; SPI 450W;
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 09:18 PM
BobbyLou's Avatar
Allstar
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 968
Default
I heard Nvidia's new driver that was just realized on the 13th also greatly improves performance.

I can't seem to find the Matrix in stock anywhere though... Hmm.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old November 20, 2012, 09:30 PM
AkG's Avatar
AkG AkG is offline
Hardware Canucks Reviewer
  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,009
Default
As a diehard fan of best bang for the buck deals...I would go for the 7970. Free game, better price....great performance....really easy decision IMHO.
__________________
"If you ever start taking things too seriously, just remember that we are talking monkeys on an organic spaceship flying through the universe." -JR

“if your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi. But if you enemy has no conscience, like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer.” - Dr. MLK jr
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old November 21, 2012, 06:37 AM
Allstar
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 535

My System Specs

Default
7970, since MSI neutered the Lightning cards because of nVidia's ask, you can't overvolt the Lightning any more officially.
Yes, there's a built in hack for it, but Unwinder said he won't be developing the functionality any more and it's still a bit buggy.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old November 21, 2012, 03:20 PM
IRQ Conflict's Avatar
Allstar
  
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Drayton Valley, AB
Posts: 868

My System Specs

Default
Yup this Matrix card sold like hotcakes upon release and both NCIX and Newegg are out of stock without word of when they might be stocked again. Looks like AMD may be a victim of their own success. The only other option now is nVidia.

Edit: Used shopbot and found an etailer that claims to have 5 in stock.
__________________
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandpa. Not like the passengers in his car, screaming and crying.
Last edited by IRQ Conflict; November 21, 2012 at 03:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old November 21, 2012, 06:01 PM
Allstar
  
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 508

My System Specs

Default
Nvidia.I'm a Nvidia guy for several reasons, that i think you all know... and the lighting is beast.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old November 21, 2012, 06:07 PM
Hall Of Fame
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,042

My System Specs

Default
Matrix.
__________________
Desktop: X3 710, 4GB DDR2 1066, MSI Cyclone GTX 460, Seasonic S12II 500W
Away from home light Gamer: Acer Aspire 15.6", A8-3500m, 4GB 1333
Internet/General Use: Lenovo B570 15.6", i3 2330m, 4gb 1066mhz
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >


« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Review Units FS. GTX 650 Ti Boosts Galore! All UNDER $130!! SKYMTL Buy/Sell & Trade 710 May 10, 2013 09:57 AM
EK 7970 lightning waterblock NiteOwl Water Cooling 8 August 2, 2012 01:51 PM
MSI HD 7970 Lightning 3GB Review Comment Thread SKYMTL Video Cards 12 April 22, 2012 01:59 PM