Hardware PNY GeForce GTX 770 XLR8 OC 2GB Review

Does PNY's overclocked and custom cooled GTX 770 2GB do enough to justify its £25 price premium?
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2013/09/27/pny-770-oc-review/1

 

While the 770 is a great chip, the lack of VRAM is crucial for that matter. BF4 recommended spec is 3GB VRAM, and Rome 2 demanding 3GB+ VRAM also.

As for price, at £330, you can grab 2x7970 for that money on ebay, or 2x7950 brand new!!! and still having the benefits of Mantle API and 3GB VRAM.

 

Yep...2GB cards are now looking a little limited and a short sighted purchase, especially if you keep your GPU for at least 2 or 3 years as I do.

I'd definitely go for a 3GB or more card if I were buying new today...

 

I would love a survey of high end cards at different time points to see who owns them, after 1 year, after 2 years, after 3+ years to see if they bought them from new or waited and then bought them cheaper second hand. I have a feeling that many buyers of high end cards often sell them when the next gen comes out and those that have high end cards after the first year or so, bought them second hand. I am not saying everyone is like that but I would like to see the numbers...

 

Some data for you then.
I have a GTX570 1.2GB since 2011, that replaced an MSI GT9600, which in turn replaced a BFG GTS8800 640MB which I bought back in 2007. (all brand new)

And now on Tuesday going to receive a AMD Powercolor 7950 PCS+ @ £176.
Which means if I manage to sell the AMD Gold voucher and the GTX570, with bit extra funding going to get another 7950. So 2015-16 is next stop for upgrade

 

My last 3 cards have been a 8800 GT superclocked (new), 460ti oc about Aug 2010 (new), evga 660ti 2gb (2nd hand, Nov 2012). Now tempted by the 7970's but will see how bf4 copes

 

1,920 x 1,080 is a very low resolution for games.

 

Man I remember when that was an insane res. Now $100 can net you a 1080p monitor. I wouldn't call it "very low" though. Most PC gamers with mid range rigs are probably running 1080p. Now if you are still on 1280x1024, I'd say that is very low.

 

And with BF4 open tonight, you can read in the forums that 2GB VRAM it too low now, even for 1080p!!!