Is clock or memory size more vital to a GPU

G

Gordon.C

Member
Hi,

I am wondering. If I was to buy a high-end GPU I would be stuck between two choices. Either get a Radeon HD7970 3GB clocked at 6600Mhz or Radeon HD7970 6GB clocked at 6000Mhz.

In this case what is more vital to the GPU? Is the memory size vital or is the clock?

I would naturally use such GPU for high end maxed out gaming experience.
 
What resolution are you going to be using. 3GB is overkill for pretty much anything except triple monitor setups (maybe double depending on the size).
 
Just comes down to price, but for the performance on a single monitor, the clock is more important as, like denther said, 3gb is overkill for one, really it's still probably for 2, and i'm sure 3gb would do fine for 3 1080p monitors, but 2 or 3 1440p monitors is another sotey
 
2GB is about the minimum you will want these days for 1920x1080 or above. Higher resolutions especially multiple monitors will require more memory. Faster memory always helps with performance (more bandwidth)
 
Denther & jonnyp11: I was never a fan of multiple screens so I guess I would stick with a single 1080p or might migrate to a single 1440p.

What I also like to take into consideration is future proofness which should still be met with both listed GPUs right?
 
Just get the 3GB card. By the time you need a 6GB card, the 7970 will be outdated anyway and something newer and more powerful will be available.

I game on a 1GB 5870 on a 1080p monitor and I have no problems. You definitely don't need the 6GB card at all.
 
Gordon.C said:
Interestingly the 6GB model is only $175 more expensive which at those prices is not that much
Click to expand...

Save your money and get the 3GB. Like I said earlier, by the time you need 6GB, a newer more powerful GPU will be here.
 
My hd7950 3gb plays battlefield 3 on 3 1080p screens just fine on high settings. (Not max settings, but an hd7970 3gb will do it with no problems, especially when clocked that high.)

6gb is overkill unless you want to play on a huge resolution.
For most people will engine and memory clock be more important then memory size.
You can also oc it yourself (or just not, you won't need it) to save yourself some money.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top