Best GPU for around 300 pound

AMD: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/3gb-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-overclocked-5500mhz-gddr5-28nm-gpu-1000mhz-2048-cores-dvi-i-hdmi-2x-mdp- (gigabyte windforce hd 7970)

nvidia: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-evga-gtx-670-ftw-signature-ii-28nm-pcie-30-(x16)-6208mhz-gddr5-gpu-1006mhz-cores-1344-dp-dvi-hdm 

(EVGA gtx 670 FTW ed.)

preformance is about the same comes down more to brand preference and/or bundled bonuses

With that budget you are looking at GTX670 vs 7970 territory.

I have the GTX670 Windforce 3X which is currently available from Dabs for £309.99 +P&P which has been a great card for the 8ish months I've had it. It comes pre-overclocked and cooler is good, spreading the heat and not making much noise.

The 7970 seems to be competing at the same price point - I guess for comparison the windforce 3X 7970 is also on Dabs for £316.52 +P&P, so price-wise there is little to pick between them. The AMD card does come with more games, but I would rather pick a graphics card on the strength of the card than a bundle of games which can be picked up later.

Must admit since getting mine I've stopped looking at benchmarks to see which is better, though no doubt someone will be along shortly with some benchmark tables :)

The Gigabyte 7970 Windforce is most likely voltage locked.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-063-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

This one is a good one.

7970 is better, the 7950 is more in line with the 670 than the 7970 is.  But I thought you already had a 7970...what happened?

inb4 blazin says 7970 is jesus

Too late.

inb4 blazin says 7970 is jesus

Too late.

kraken2109

nothing wrong with my statement as its considered fact.

7970 is better, the 7950 is more in line with the 670 than the 7970 is.  But I thought you already had a 7970...what happened?

blaznwiipspman1

The Gigabyte 7970 Windforce is most likely voltage locked.Postmortem123

My 680 was voltage locked, didn't stop me from modding the BIOS and unlocking it.

[QUOTE="Postmortem123"]The Gigabyte 7970 Windforce is most likely voltage locked.FaustArp

My 680 was voltage locked, didn't stop me from modding the BIOS and unlocking it.

Which 680 do you have? I thought they were all hardware locked.

And the Gigabyte's voltage can't be unlocked as far as I'm aware. Lots of people have tried.

[QUOTE="FaustArp"]

[QUOTE="Postmortem123"]The Gigabyte 7970 Windforce is most likely voltage locked.Postmortem123

My 680 was voltage locked, didn't stop me from modding the BIOS and unlocking it.

Which 680 do you have? I thought they were all hardware locked.

The MSI Lightning could run at 1.212V before nVidia made them stop, and EVGA was planning to have a tool for over-volting the Classified cards, but again, nVidia made them stop.

Still, there is absolutely nothing that prevents you from unlocking it yourself with a quick BIOS hack.  Both of mine run at 1.212V.

At least I can unlock mine, which are both EVGA Superclocked.

The MSI Lightning could run at 1.212V before nVidia made them stop, and EVGA was planning to have a tool for over-volting the Classified cards, but again, nVidia made them stop.

Still, there is absolutely nothing that prevents you from unlocking it yourself with a quick BIOS hack.  Both of mine run at 1.212V.

At least I can unlock mine, which are both EVGA Superclocked.

FaustArp

Is 1.21 the max? That's not much above stock volts. Or is the cooling holding you back? 

Also I think the 670 Power Edition could overvolt too. I was going to get one but went for a 7970 instead ^.^

[QUOTE="Postmortem123"]

[QUOTE="FaustArp"]

My 680 was voltage locked, didn't stop me from modding the BIOS and unlocking it.

FaustArp

Which 680 do you have? I thought they were all hardware locked.

The MSI Lightning could run at 1.212V before nVidia made them stop, and EVGA was planning to have a tool for over-volting the Classified cards, but again, nVidia made them stop.

Still, there is absolutely nothing that prevents you from unlocking it yourself with a quick BIOS hack.  Both of mine run at 1.212V.

At least I can unlock mine, which are both EVGA Superclocked.

All you do is drag a slider or two, it's not difficult.