yasamoka
Don't overkill and get that 1000W PSU. Wait for stock. As long as your rig's parts haven't been all ordered, why are you in such a hurry to get a PSU?
The efficiency is not related to how much the PSU can output from its rated power. The efficiency relates to how much power the PSU can give compared to the power it draws. The headroom considered for PSUs is one of lifespan and longevity, not of efficiency. People tend to get 1000W for, let's say, a 700W-800W to relieve the PSU of stress and promote lifespan. PSUs age over time, and this is a good way to increase lifespan.
MMM1999
yasamoka wroteDon't overkill and get that 1000W PSU. Wait for stock. As long as your rig's parts haven't been all ordered, why are you in such a hurry to get a PSU?
The efficiency is not related to how much the PSU can output from its rated power. The efficiency relates to how much power the PSU can give compared to the power it draws. The headroom considered for PSUs is one of lifespan and longevity, not of efficiency. People tend to get 1000W for, let's say, a 700W-800W to relieve the PSU of stress and promote lifespan. PSUs age over time, and this is a good way to increase lifespan.
Well, guess I'll have to wait.
bermudapineapple
Practically all PSUs today have an 80+ efficiency percentage rating. When buying a PSU today, look for how many watts it supports and how many amps you have on your 12V rails. A PSU tends to lose 30% of its power after the first year of usage.
MMM1999
Hey Guys,
So I was talking to the MEIT guy, and he told me he had the Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3 GB DDR5 at $475+ VAT, which is slightly more than the Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 which is $383 excluding VAT , which is app. $423.I read the reviews of the Gigabyte one and they were quite good. Is it worth the investment?
Thanks
yasamoka
It's voltage-locked. Don't know at what voltage, though. If it's high enough, then you could OC high on stock voltage. If it's low, then you won't be able to OC that much.
Recent revisions seem to have also removed some sensors from the board, according to one user. So I wouldn't be so sure of putting the money into a Gigabyte 7950 / 7970, it depends.
Does that 475 include VAT, or not?
Oh and if you want a 7970, ship from the US. Still ends up cheaper than 475 + VAT (if 475 excludes VAT).
We shipped a $440 7970 Vapor-X a few months back. Let me check how much it cost.
MMM1999
It's $475 + VAT. What's the best price for a 7970 that I can get? ( Shipped/ Not shipped)?
EDIT: Okay I read the last sentence in your post.
WAIT A SEC! 440+ Shipping?! Of course not!
yasamoka
Well, then, that $440 Vapor-X cost us a max of $30 or so in weight. No customs, and add VAT on top of that.
Currently 7970s go for $400 (non Vapor-X). The Sapphire ones hit $330 a while back, and the Vapor-X was $380. Don't have any idea why they aren't that price now, things are weird these days.
At this point in time, with AMD's new cards rumoured to be released in October, you might want to stick with a (relatively inexpensive) 7950. They have pretty close performance to 7970.
EDIT: Um yes. Read the first sentence in this reply...
MMM1999
But if a 7970 is very close at price to a 7950 , then why not? You have 7970s right? How's the noise? Performance?
yasamoka
Ahh, I remembered you sent me a PM a couple days ago. I'll reply fully about this subject when I finish exams, about Wednesday.
Single card noise is alright. I like to keep my cards below 70C so I jack up the fan profile. This is only temporary, though, I have waterblocks here ready to be installed as soon as I finish. Water-cooling is whisper quiet.
Two cards, you need at least a space or two between the two cards, else they'll sound like hairdryers when trying to maintain temps below 80C. Overclocked, of course, but even at stock they do heat up.
In general, I don't like to talk about noise and heat as that's variable with every single configuration, overclocks, voltages, case design and airflow, fan speed preferences (noise vs. temps), climate, and even different rooms in your house.
7970 vs 7950 is up to you, honestly. Part of why I said 7950 is because you can sell that without as much of a loss in case you decided to jump to the next gen cards when they're available at more logical price points.
MMM1999
AH okay. I'll discuss this matter more with you after the tests since I don't want to bug you.
Sorry to be nooby, but what is a waterblock? I know what a water cooler is, but I don't exactly know what a waterblock is
yasamoka
No problem.
Waterblock is basically an empty block with a copper base that makes contact with the CPU, GPU, RAM, Motherboard chipset, or even HDD (if you like overkill, watercool your HDD! *facepalm*).
The base has two sides:
1) The side which makes contact with the component being cooled. It's machined to a very specific flatness.
2) The side which makes contact with the water that's passing through the block. That part is made of up of a fin / pin matrix structure to maximize surface area, ensuring better heat transfer.
Suffice to say, water-cooling is expensive, a bit tough to set up (you need tubes / barbs / fittings / distilled water, etc...), but very rewarding once done right. In the Winter, 20s C room temperature, I was getting (stress-testing with OCCT, one tough program):
38C full load, 100% fan speed, 1125MHz overclock, stock voltage
40C full load, 100% fan speed, 1240MHz overclock, 1.3V (max)
The rest I remember is 44C at 40% fan speed (almost silent) with the CPU at full load as well. CPU was in the 50s, 51-52C at 100% fan, 56-58C at 40% fan (AFAIK - CPU is i7 930 @ 3.61GHz stock volts).
MMM1999
Wow. These are pretty good results! But I don't need that for 1 7950 right? If I get a second one in the future, do I need it? Is there a way to cool GPUs other than water? I THINK my case is gonna be generally cool since the Cooler Master Trooper comes with 4 fans, and I'll make 2 intake and 2 exhaust, plus I'll get the Thermaltake SpinQ for CPU Cooling. I decided to go for this rather than the Frio Extreme because the FRio is just too big and takes the space of RAM slots. Plus, my core can't be overclocked since it isn't a K so I don't need EXTREME cooling, right?
yasamoka
It's an extra luxury. If you're fine with the noise, game with headphones, or whatever, air cooling will do. I generally discourage from going for water-cooling if there is no reason.
With a single card, it's not much of an issue. I'm not a fan of watercooling single cards except if you like to max out your overclocks and, let's say, upgrade your GPU every gen with the fastest card (aka Titan).
Air cooling itself is sufficient. Keeping temperatures under 70C-80C would do the job excellently.
Don't get the SpinQ for CPU. Go for Frio. The Frio Extreme covers the RAM slots, true, but that doesn't mean you can't get low-profile RMA in there. The Kingston HyperX RAM sticks are low-profile. Plus, you can use slots 2 and 4 for RAM sticks.
I generally discourage from going for 4 sticks all at once if there are higher density sticks that give the same RAM capacity, as that adds strain to the CPU memory controller and uses up more power. If you're adding in sticks of RAM, that might be more economical, yes, and I've heard Haswell's memory controller deals with the issue of more RAM sticks better than the previous CPUs and their memory controllers.
Best to send pcandparts an email and show them there is an interest for Haswell platforms. Particularly motherboards (B85, Z87). Another member here wants to build a rig and he's facing the same issue. This goes for anyone else building a rig at this time.
MMM1999
The 7950 is not in stock anymore! NOOOOO! And I was going to order it tomorow! Why?!!!!!!!!! What to do ?!What to do?!
Zahix
The Gigabyte 7950 is for 279 buck at amazon. I'm sure it is much cheaper to ship 2 from there.
MMM1999
Zahix wroteThe Gigabyte 7950 is for 279 buck at amazon. I'm sure it is much cheaper to ship 2 from there.
I'm a 13 year old, I don't know how to ship stuff and all that!!!!!
maulader
Why don't you just get a single 7970 at first? It will run anything you'd want it to run at high/ultra settings on a 1080p resolution.
You'll be saving a little money this way and you can start saving up for another card for an even better performance to get later on if you want, or upgrade to the next gen when it's out without the same amount of loss[it would be easier to sell 1 card then 2 if you go that route].
Always buy the best single card that you can afford when making a new build, that way you can buy another at a later stage for upgrade. Just make sure the PSU will be enough for future upgrades.
yasamoka
Don't recommend the Gigabyte. A Dual-X / Vapor-X would be nice. And yes it costs less to ship it. Even if you had trouble with the card, Amazon will pay for return shipping, and all you'd be losing is one shipping fee (from USA to Lebanon).
@Zahix: He is going single GPU.
Zahix
You can call UPS and ask them to buy the part for you. But make sure they tell you how much it will cost in total approximately. You just pay when its delivered to your doorstep.
MMM1999
Still guys, Ya missing the pt! I can't ship! Me is too petit to ship! LOL
@Zahix: What is UPS?
EDIT: Okay guys it's okay i worked it out and im gonna get it from newegg.
