Gigabyte

Gigabyte HD 7970 OC Graphics Card, 3GB GDDR5, PCI-E 3.0

3.6 (83 reviews)
550WDisplayport

Unleash Graphics Power: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7970 OC The Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7970 OC graphics card delivers exceptional gaming performance. Powered by the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GPU and featuring 3GB of GDDR5 memory, this card offers smooth and immersive visuals. The WINDFORCE 3X cooling technol...

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Overview

Unleash Graphics Power: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7970 OC

The Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7970 OC graphics card delivers exceptional gaming performance. Powered by the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GPU and featuring 3GB of GDDR5 memory, this card offers smooth and immersive visuals. The WINDFORCE 3X cooling technology ensures optimal thermal management, even under heavy loads.

Key Specifications:

  • GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7970
  • Memory: 3GB GDDR5
  • Memory Interface: 384-bit
  • Interface: PCI-E 3.0
  • Cooling: WINDFORCE 3X with "Triangle Cool" Technology
  • Core Clock: 1000MHz (Factory Overclocked)
  • Outputs: DVI-I, HDMI, 2x Mini-Displayport
  • Power Requirement: 550W Power Supply
  • Features: AMD CrossFire, Avivo HD, Eyefinity 2.0, EyeSpeed technologies

Key Features

Ultra Durable VGA materials - GPU Temperature 5%-10% down - Overclocking Capability 10%-30% Up - Power Switching Loss 10%-30% down.

WINDFORCE 3X with "Triangle Cool" Technology for the absolute best cooling performance at whisper silent operation.

Factory Overclocked Edition: Core Clock: 1000MHz (Std 925MHz)

Supports PCI-Express 3.0 Interface; Supports AMD CrossFire, Avivo HD, Eyefinity 2.0, and EyeSpeed technologies.

Features DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-Displayport outputs with HDCP protection.

Minimum Recommended Power System Power Supply unit 550W.

Specifications

GPU Model
HD 7970 OC
Video Memory
3GB GDDR5
Core Clock (Overclocked)
1000MHz
Cooling System
WINDFORCE 3X with "Triangle Cool" Technology
Interface
PCI-Express 3.0
Outputs
DVI-I, HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort
Recommended PSU
550W

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Features a factory overclocked Core Clock of 1000MHz, providing enhanced performance right out of the box compared to standard models.
  • Equipped with WINDFORCE 3X with "Triangle Cool" Technology, ensuring excellent cooling performance while maintaining quiet operation.
  • Boasts 3GB of GDDR5 memory, offering ample framebuffer for high-resolution textures and complex game environments.
  • Built with Ultra Durable VGA materials, designed for improved GPU temperature, overclocking capability, and reduced power switching loss.
  • Supports PCI-Express 3.0 interface, ensuring compatibility with modern motherboards and faster data transfer rates.

👎 Cons

  • The 3GB GDDR5 memory, while good, may be limiting for very high resolutions or future ultra-detail texture packs in demanding games.
  • Requires a minimum recommended power supply unit of 550W, which may necessitate a PSU upgrade for some systems.
  • Based on the AMD HD 7970 architecture, it is an older generation graphics card, which may not support the latest graphical APIs or features found in newer cards.
  • The factory overclocking, while beneficial, might lead to slightly higher power consumption and heat output compared to stock speeds.
  • The output configuration of DVI-I/HDMI/2x mini-DisplayPort may require specific adapters for modern displays that primarily use DisplayPort or HDMI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ultra Durable VGA materials are designed to enhance the graphics card's durability and performance by improving GPU temperature by 5-10%, increasing overclocking capability by 10-30%, and reducing power switching loss by 10-30%.
Yes, this graphics card features DVI-I, HDMI, and two mini-DisplayPort outputs, allowing it to support multiple monitor setups and technologies like AMD Eyefinity 2.0.
While it was a high-performance card in its generation, the Gigabyte HD 7970 OC is an older model. It can still run many modern games at moderate settings, but it may struggle with the very latest titles at high resolutions or ultra settings compared to current-generation cards.
"Triangle Cool" Technology is a specific design element within the WINDFORCE 3X cooler, aimed at optimizing airflow and heat dissipation more efficiently to provide superior cooling performance at quieter noise levels.
For optimal performance and stability, a minimum recommended power system power supply unit of 550W is suggested for use with the Gigabyte HD 7970 OC Graphics Card.