Sapphire Debuts the Radeon HD 7970 6 GB TOXIC Edition

[radrok]

A lot of people

The lot of people you say won't be buying premium cards like this if they care about power consumption.

I don't get this power consumption argument when the cards in question are well above high end.

 

[rpsgc]

The lot of people you say won't be buying premium cards like this if they care about power consumption.

Because people who care about lower power consumption and quiet computing aren't allowed to have fast video cards right?


Maybe Intel should go back to the Prescott days, and NVIDIA to Fermi. I mean, according to you, power consumption is irrelevant.

 

[radrok]

Because people who care about lower power consumption and quiet computing aren't allowed to have fast video cards right?


Maybe Intel should go back to the Prescott days, and NVIDIA to Fermi. I mean, according to you, power consumption is irrelevant.

Sure they are allowed, but this card isn't about power saving, it's a bloody overclock edition with everything on its PCB enhanced, you can't buy a supercharged car and then moan about fuel consumption, it just doesn't make sense.

 

[pantherx12]

so what's the benefit of 6gb memory ?>

As others have mentioned, super high resolution work.

Although I imagine it will be quite handy for GPGPU as well.

Can load all the data you need directly onto the GPU so no need for swapping back and forth from HDD or ram etc.

 

[Ravenas]

The lot of people you say won't be buying premium cards like this if they care about power consumption.

I don't get this power consumption argument when the cards in question are well above high end.

In my opinion, not "getting" or understanding why power consumption plays a role in reviews is ignorance. First and formost, when you buy a graphics card (or a processor, ect...), a smart consumer would like to know how much power the card is going to use at peak levels. If you know this information, you know what kind of power supply to buy. Otherwise, you are just wasting your money on a PSU that is either not doing the job it should do or you are buying overkill and jacking up your electric bill. Additionally, if you are comparing two different cards that have OC potential that is essentially the same, are you going to choose the card that uses more or less power (pretty obvious choice there)? Personally, I would love to know the power consumption of any electronic component that I will be buying a PSU for.

 

[SIGSEGV]

since when those peeps really do care about power consumption? i'm really curious, they do sli or xfire even quad sli or quad xfire for gaining super zomg high performance, they dont even care about power consumptions as long as their psu can handle it.

 

[Nordic]

In my opinion, not "getting" or understanding why power consumption plays a role in reviews is ignorance. First and formost, when you buy a graphics card (or a processor, ect...), a smart consumer would like to know how much power the card is going to use at peak levels. If you know this information, you know what kind of power supply to buy. Otherwise, you are just wasting your money on a PSU that is either not doing the job it should do or you are buying overkill and jacking up your electric bill. Additionally, if you are comparing two different cards that have OC potential that is essentially the same, are you going to choose the card that uses more or less power (pretty obvious choice there)? Personally, I would love to know the power consumption of any electronic component that I will be buying a PSU for.

You can buy a bigger power supply but that doesn't mean you will have higher power consumption

 

[pantherx12]

You can buy a bigger power supply but that doesn't mean you will have higher power consumption

But you probably will, power supplies are at their most efficiant under load so if you have something like a 1500w PSU and your system only draws 500w then it won't be as effciant as say getting a 650w of the same energy rating.

 

[N3M3515]

Anyone who buys a $500+ highend card gives a rat's ass about power consumption.
GTX 580 was insanely popular and consumed i guess the same as this one.

 

[Nordic]

But you probably will, power supplies are at their most efficiant under load so if you have something like a 1500w PSU and your system only draws 500w then it won't be as effciant as say getting a 650w of the same energy rating.

To my knowledge peek efficiency is at around 50% load. So it is best to get a psu with twice the amount of power you use.

My picture doesn't want to show correctly, but the highest point there is at 50%.

 

[pantherx12]

To my knowledge peek efficiency is at around 50% load. So it is best to get a psu with twice the amount of power you use.
http://www.cougar-world.com/uploads/pics/sx_effic.png
My picture doesn't want to show correctly, but the highest point there is at 50%.

Seems your right yeah ( 40-60% ) my mistake

 

[SIGSEGV]

Because people who care about lower power consumption and quiet computing aren't allowed to have fast video cards right?


Maybe Intel should go back to the Prescott days, and NVIDIA to Fermi. I mean, according to you, power consumption is irrelevant.

sure they are allowed to enhance prescott nor nvidia's fermi to gain highest performances even with sacrificing their power consumption, but for god sake, sciences and technology isnt stagnant, they can improve and make a better product with latest technologies. omg

 

[Ravenas]

You can buy a bigger power supply but that doesn't mean you will have higher power consumption

Thus you are spending your money on something you don't need.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Power consumption is relevant here because it's competition across the isle does the same work (or more) while using less power. AMD may be able to increase their competitiveness with overclocked cards but they have to sacrifice power efficiency to do it. Looking at the occ review it looks to be a 40-70w deficit.

 

[cedrac18]

Thus you are spending your money on something you don't need.

Lol welcome to the world of enthusiasts where "need" is irrelevant.

 

[hellrazor]

They should get into the monitor business, we'd be running around with QFHD (3840×2160) resolution monitors in no time.

 

[radrok]

They should get into the monitor business, we'd be running around with QFHD (3840×2160) resolution monitors in no time.

Too bad the majority of people don't know the difference between resolutions and because of it the manufacturer do not focus themselves on increasing panels PPI.

Only Apple has step up with the new retina macbooks, if only they'd release a 2880x1800 Cinema Display I'd be purchasing one instantly, either one of that or a 4K television.

 

[purecain]

what a beautiful piece of kit... impressive tech...

i have to say that sapphire really has excelled here...

this would take an epeen and add at least a fat 4inches...

i want one...^^

 

[HumanSmoke]

Power consumption is relevant here because it's competition across the isle does the same work (or more) while using less power. AMD may be able to increase their competitiveness with overclocked cards but they have to sacrifice power efficiency to do it. Looking at the occ review it looks to be a 40-70w deficit.

If perf/watt is shaky then perf/$ is looking downright dicey. If the $680 price tag is correct, it's a little difficult to see where ~36% price hike over a HD 7970/GTX 680 translates into a sound investment. I'm pretty sure a strong OC reference card + Arctic cooler, or Crossfired HD 7950's for less outlay makes stronger appeal tbh.

As someone that had CF'ed Toxic HD 5850's (2GB version), I had my work cut out trying to recoup any decent portion of the retail price when I came to sell them, since the market was awash with 1GB cards - I think the owners of 4GB HD 5970's (XFX, Sapphire Toxic) and 3GB GTX 580's were/are probably in that same particular club.

Too bad the majority of people don't know the difference between resolutions and because of it the manufacturer do not focus themselves on increasing panels PPI.
Only Apple has step up with the new retina macbooks, if only they'd release a 2880x1800 Cinema Display I'd be purchasing one instantly, either one of that or a 4K television.

If ViewSonic are showing a 3840 x 2160 monitor then I doubt higher resolutions are that far away. 2560x1600/1440 IPS used to cost an arm and a leg- Now you have solid options in the ~$US300-400 bracket (noteably the Yamakasi Catleap et al)

 

[Nordic]

If perf/watt is shaky then perf/$ is looking downright dicey. If the $680 price tag is correct, it's a little difficult to see where ~36% price hike over a HD 7970/GTX 680 translates into a sound investment. I'm pretty sure a strong OC reference card + Arctic cooler, or Crossfired HD 7950's for less outlay makes stronger appeal tbh.

As someone that had CF'ed Toxic HD 5850's (2GB version), I had my work cut out trying to recoup any decent portion of the retail price when I came to sell them, since the market was awash with 1GB cards - I think the owners of 4GB HD 5970's (XFX, Sapphire Toxic) and 3GB GTX 580's were/are probably in that same particular club.

If ViewSonic are showing a 3840 x 2160 monitor then I doubt higher resolutions are that far away. 2560x1600/1440 IPS used to cost an arm and a leg- Now you have solid options in the ~$US300-400 bracket (noteably the Yamakasi Catleap et al)

I have a 7970 with an artic xtreme. I can't get it to clock that high myself, only because of vrm temps.

 

[radrok]

If ViewSonic are showing a 3840 x 2160 monitor then I doubt higher resolutions are that far away. 2560x1600/1440 IPS used to cost an arm and a leg- Now you have solid options in the ~$US300-400 bracket (noteably the Yamakasi Catleap et al)

I agree that they aren't too far from being at a reasonable price but for me the Yamakasi is not a good example being an early adopter of the Dell 3008WFP and then the refresh of it (U3011), If I can't get a zeropixel policy then I'm not satisfied.

 

[Nordic]

I agree that they aren't too far from being at a reasonable price but for me the Yamakasi is not a good example being an early adopter of the Dell 3008WFP and then the refresh of it (U3011), If I can't get a zeropixel policy then I'm not satisfied.

perfect pixel policy catleap

 

[dj-electric]

Im gonna guess a figure of power consummation at peak...
between 310 to 320 watts. (at lethal mode of course)

Oi....

 

[buggalugs]

I like

 

[Goodman]

Where is the 7990 X2??

Exactly!
Toke some time off the PC world ~2 months , came back & still no 7990 or 7970x2
i thought it be out already...