PowerColor AMD Radeon HD 7970 + 3 Free games for $340.49 AC shipped

So the price on this card is great. I'm ready to buy it... But there is such a lack of reviews. Everyone just happy with it?

Quote from kirby145x : So the price on this card is great. I'm ready to buy it... But there is such a lack of reviews. Everyone just happy with it?

Can't find reviews on this card, but that cooler looks incredibly skimpy. Doesn't even cover all of the PCB.

Also the better version of this card with the Vertex II cooler from PCS has no VRM cooling, so I doubt a cheaper and lower clocked card has VRM cooling. I don't think the lack of VRM cooling is acceptable for a custom cooler.

Edit: Here is the previous version of the same card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6814131465

Anyways for AMD, Sapphire, Gigabyte, MSI are top brands.

I heard powercolor warranty is not good. (2 years vs many are 3 years). even 2 years not very good include poor CS.

Best: XFX, EVGA (lifetime).

Quote from noobcake : Can't find reviews on this card, but that cooler looks incredibly skimpy. Doesn't even cover all of the PCB. Also the better version of this card with the Vertex II cooler from PCS has no VRM cooling, so I doubt a cheaper and lower clocked card has VRM cooling. I don't think the lack of VRM cooling is acceptable for a custom cooler. Edit: Here is the previous version of the same card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6814131465 Anyways for AMD, Sapphire, Gigabyte, MSI are top brands.

I disagree with that list.

In fact, I don't really think there *is* really a list that is accurate. Some of the worst performing video cards i've ever used have come from MSI, meanwhile some of the best have come from MSI.

Keep in mind folks that all these "brands" are just rebranding AMD or Nvidia. AMD in this case creates a reference design and these guys buy the chips in bulk then sell them. The only difference between brands is Customer support, type of heatsink/fan and warranty length. I'm pretty sure that *ALL* designs have to be approved by AMD before they can go into production, too.

Quote from MeatCatalog : I disagree with that list. In fact, I don't really think there *is* really a list that is accurate. Some of the worst performing video cards i've ever used have come from MSI, meanwhile some of the best have come from MSI. Keep in mind folks that all these "brands" are just rebranding AMD or Nvidia. AMD in this case creates a reference design and these guys buy the chips in bulk then sell them. The only difference between brands is Customer support, type of heatsink/fan and warranty length. I'm pretty sure that *ALL* designs have to be approved by AMD before they can go into production, too.

Not true that initial cards are all reference cards meaning AMD designs the PCB, the cooler and the chips and then companies just build and sell those because the card is too new to have any custom things done. Then 1-2 months later manufacturers will start coming out with non reference cards with better coolers or better components (esp MSI who like to use better vrms and coolers for some insane ocing) and those should and usually do perform better. In fact the MSI 7950 tf3actually uses a 7970 PCB, etc. I'm sure amd doesn't approve each and every design either.

For and, I'd go with MSI or sapphire, for nvidia I'd go with MSI Asus or if u wanna have awesome cust service for a higher price go evga

great price on this AMD Radeon HD 7970

Seems like a good deal on a 7970 since you can almost buy two for what I just paid for my 4gb evga 680+. I have noticed for some strange reason alot of the AMD non ref mfg have had awful reviews and have already released a V2 of some of their cards, especially the 7870 on down. Don't know if this is one of those problems or not. Had it not been for those problems, I'd surely went with crossfire, but now that I have the 680 I never will.

Quote from Deals4Lyfe : Not true that initial cards are all reference cards meaning AMD designs the PCB, the cooler and the chips and then companies just build and sell those because the card is too new to have any custom things done. Then 1-2 months later manufacturers will start coming out with non reference cards with better coolers or better components (esp MSI who like to use better vrms and coolers for some insane ocing) and those should and usually do perform better. In fact the MSI 7950 tf3actually uses a 7970 PCB, etc. I'm sure amd doesn't approve each and every design either. For and, I'd go with MSI or sapphire, for nvidia I'd go with MSI Asus or if u wanna have awesome cust service for a higher price go evga

Agreed. This market is the equivalent to the aftermarket auto part industry, where parts are referenced to original design but are enhanced to make more power. Same concept would apply. Same would apply to the manufacturers. I would advise against creating a bias towards one manufacturer over another and base your buying decision on their track record. I for one, and maybe others, can vouch that PowerColor has sold me solid cards. I'm still running their 6950 with no problems (1.5 yrs). These cards are meant to run hot and take a beating. And drivers, be it Nvidia or ATI, will always be your primary concern.

http://www.overclock.net/t/129578...8c-7970-cf

This card has no VRM cooling. You need VRm cooling. You have been warned.

I'm still waiting for my powercolor 6870 from the defense grid 2 kickstarter project lol

Well, PowerColor is a decent company and from the reviews this is a decent card

Use BIGBIRD code for $10 off now. Bought it. I'll let you know how it works.

Quote from Deals4Lyfe : Not true that initial cards are all reference cards meaning AMD designs the PCB, the cooler and the chips and then companies just build and sell those because the card is too new to have any custom things done. Then 1-2 months later manufacturers will start coming out with non reference cards with better coolers or better components (esp MSI who like to use better vrms and coolers for some insane ocing) and those should and usually do perform better. In fact the MSI 7950 tf3actually uses a 7970 PCB, etc. I'm sure amd doesn't approve each and every design either. For and, I'd go with MSI or sapphire, for nvidia I'd go with MSI Asus or if u wanna have awesome cust service for a higher price go evga

Simply untrue. AMD owns trademarks for 7970, 7950, etc and any company that wants to put that on their box has to get amd approved. As I said in my original post, the only difference between brands is warranty length, customer support, chip binning choices, etc. There are differences but there are NO brands that are universally better than others in all these categories. Unfortunately for consumers in the video card business there is no ford vs. Toyota or Ferrari vs. Lamborghini.

Quote from MeatCatalog : Simply untrue. AMD owns trademarks for 7970, 7950, etc and any company that wants to put that on their box has to get amd approved. As I said in my original post, the only difference between brands is warranty length, customer support, chip binning choices, etc. There are differences but there are NO brands that are universally better than others in all these categories. Unfortunately for consumers in the video card business there is no ford vs. Toyota or Ferrari vs. Lamborghini.

That is not simply not true. If you do some research, you'll find significant differences between 7970 brands. Astronomical differences between temperature and noise. Significant differences between component quality, power phases, PCB design, all leading to potential OC headroom (of course silicon lottery plays a large part also).