Sapphire HD 7790 Pro Reviews

Sadly for AMD, these new cards with the first GCN 2.0 GPUs aren't moving things forward enough. Simply dropping another 1GB of video memory onto this graphics card isn't going to help that new Bonnaire XT GPU's gaming chops.

After all the testing is done, the Sapphire HD 7790 2GB OC will offer up additional FPS performance when the settings are increased to take advantage of the larger frame buffer. Instances where running with a quartet of 4K monitors or when attempting to game at Eyefinity resolutions can provide some benefit over the 1GB-equipped cards. The most graphic example I saw in my testing of where the 2GB on this HD 7790 paid dividends was in the 3DMark Fire Extreme testing where this card proved without a doubt when the game settings are indeed high enough you do see a point of difference. Just looking at the Sapphire HD 7790 2GB gives you the impression that it is a mini-me version of the HD 7970 Vapor-X. From the shroud to the functional backplate it just has that aggressive look. By using a backplate that is there for more than just looks, Sapphire has provided added functionality in the form of an innovative way to improve the cooling effectiveness of the backplate. By attaching a heat sink to the backplate and sending it up through a knock out in the PCB, it uses the airflow generated by the aerofoil fan to keep the memory ICs on the back of the PCB cool for improved long term stability. Using a smaller cooling solution rarely pays off with improved or comparable cooling performance. At stock speeds the cooling is not as efficient as the Dual-X design used on Sapphire's 1GB model. However when the fan is ramped up to 100% it is right back in the game and falls only two degrees shy of the Dual-X results. This cooling performance helps the card stand out when overclocking with a final clock speed of 1240MHz over the baseline clock speed of 1050MHz; a 190MHz jump that provides additional FPS in game.

The HD7790 GPU has proven itself to be a very capable offering and now with 2GB available its even better. The choice to lower the clock speed puzzles us when we have seen every tested HD7790 hit the 1200Hz mark without even trying. We wonder why Sapphire would choose to lower the clock speed in comparison to the 1GB model, which in some tests, makes the card look like a lower performing card due to how the program works with the GPU in coordination with its GPU speed. The addition of the extra 1GB of framebuffer means that if you utilize multiple displays or even opt for a CrossFire configuration you will have much more memory to feed these hungry GPUs. Overall the ability to overclock means these cards can see up to 6-11% performance increases depending upon the game/app, but out of the box it is a bit slower. With the ability to CrossFire two cards together, 2GB framebuffer, and excellent overclockability, this is a very good option for any gamer looking to build a modest but powerful gaming rig. Add in the great design with the backplate and how it is built to help dissipate the thermal from the memory ICs, and this card is a winner.