MSI Radeon HD 7870 HAWK review [Guru3D.com]

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We review the MSI Radeon HD 7870 HAWK edition a factory overclocked Radeon HD 7870 solution with room for even higher tweaks. The graphics card PCB will be utilizing an improved VRM that can take advantage...

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Rudlow · 05-02-2012, 01:53 | posts: 40 | Location: USA

Hands down- best non-reference 7870 card out there. Is it worth extra 20-30$ over other 7870 cards? Definitely! MSI did an outstanding job there, I just wish it was NVidia 660/660Ti... BTW does anyone have any info if MSI is planning to do lightning/hawk edition for GTX 680?

PhazeDelta1 · 05-02-2012, 02:04 | posts: 9,534 | Location: 90° N

I'm sure MSi will put out a 680 Lightning/Xtreme Edition

DarkKnightDude · 05-02-2012, 04:55 | posts: 583 | Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Damn, someone got it to 1400 core on air.

http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?p=170477

Elder III · 05-02-2012, 18:41 | posts: 1,982 | Location: Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudlow

Hands down- best non-reference 7870 card out there. Is it worth extra 20-30$ over other 7870 cards? Definitely! ?

Agreed, based on currently available models, this one takes the cake and eats it too.

The Edge · 05-02-2012, 21:15 | posts: 2

I have just one simple question. You have measured 303 Watts(?) of total power consuption of the whole system. So why do I need to use 550 Watt PSU ? Why not 350 or 400 Watt ? If I don't want to do any overclocking ?

BLEH! · **Memory**: 24GB @ 1600 @ 9-10-9-27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Edge

I have just one simple question. You have measured 303 Watts(?) of total power consuption of the whole system. So why do I need to use 550 Watt PSU ? Why not 350 or 400 Watt ? If I don't want to do any overclocking ?

Gotta consider CPU (100W) RAM (10W), HDDs (20W), DVD Drive (5) and fans, etc. etc. It soon adds up. I know for a fact my CPU will guzzle 200W with ease.

Exodite · 05-03-2012, 00:34 | posts: 1,628 | Location: Luleå, Sweden

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLEH!

I know for a fact my CPU will guzzle 200W with ease.

Yeah, but if you aren't going to push your components like you do there's no point in going all out on a PSU. In fact vast overprovisioning reduces efficiency.

I'm pulling about 160-180W from the socket while gaming, while extreme stress tests have been able to get to a bit past 300W.

If you're not a heavy overclocker/overvolter you really don't need such immense PSUs.

The Edge · 05-03-2012, 07:55 | posts: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLEH!

Gotta consider CPU (100W) RAM (10W), HDDs (20W), DVD Drive (5) and fans, etc. etc. It soon adds up. I know for a fact my CPU will guzzle 200W with ease.

Yeah, but that 303 Watts is according to review power consumption of the WHOLE system. That means it includes CPU, RAM, fans, etc...

EzioAs · 05-03-2012, 14:01 | posts: 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Edge

Yeah, but that 303 Watts is according to review power consumption of the WHOLE system. That means it includes CPU, RAM, fans, etc...

Not all 500W psu can deliver full wattage so recommending 500W and above leaves a bit of headroom. Capacitor degradation over time is also another reason why you want to have more headroom for the psu since they can never deliver full wattage after a few years of usage