Verified answer

They're almost a toss-up. Depending upon the specific game title, the fps lead switches between them.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/09/13/nvidia...

Here are results with AMD's Catalyst version 12.11 drivers, which improves the performance of 7xxx cards over earlier driver versions.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12...

For example in BF3 they HD 7950 and GTX 660 Ti are basically a push- less than 1fps difference between them. The GTX 660 Ti is barely faster at 1680x1050 and the HD 7950 is barely faster at 1920x1200.

In Batman Arkham City, Crysis 2, Alan Wake, F1 2012, Stalker:Call of Pripyat and Sleeping Dogs, the Radeon HD 7950 performs better.

In Borderlands 2, Max Payne 3, Total War Shogun 2, Diablo III, WoW and Dragon Age II the GTX 660 Ti performs better.

Keep in mind, some game titles are optimized for a particular architecture and perform significantly better with it. For example, Skyrim runs much better with AMD cards while Starcraft 2 runs much better with Nvidia cards. But those titles are outliers which don't reflect average performance. Since you mentioned Blizzard modding, you'll have a decision to make.

Nvidia cards do have the advantage of hardware-level PhysX support, and better-coded drivers. For example, it's more common to encounter textures/shadows not displaying properly in some games like Minecraft and Crysis 2 (with the optional high-res texture pack) with AMD's drivers.

Overall those two cards are very close competitors, you'll want to check benchmarks for the specific game titles you play most often.

properly between the two strategies the i3/ 660ti mixture is the terrific. in spite of the undeniable fact that there are greater effectual options outdoors of those 2. the problem with the i3 is that that's a twin center with hyper threading. crysis 3 is great cpu in intensity. and could consequence your physique value greater so than the different activity on the industry. on max settings crysis 3 will kick the **** out of the i3 and positioned across your fps down. probable to unplayable stages. the amd has the choice problem. too many cores. and crysis 3 in all likelihood wont use greater effective than 4. yet i heard that it will use 6. so the amd cpu could in all likelihood be terrific in crysis 3 yet no longer in the different activity. in spite of the undeniable fact that, a 650 ti wont be waiting to max out crysis 3. no longer even close. you may circulate with a quad center amd cpu and the 660ti. 8 cores will do you no good in any activity. and a 650ti improve is in basic terms too low end for the form of gaming you desire to do.

I which games/what uses? In Physx enabled games, nVdia GPUs will do better as they have Physx technology. In ceraitn games (Far Cry 3, Hitman: Absolution) AMD GPUs will do better as AMD worked with the Devs to optimize it for AMD GPUs. In GPU work like Cryptography, nVdia GPUs will do better as they have CUDA core technology.

EDIT: From a quick Benchmark check for Skyrim, the 7950 is best.

The 7950 is generally stronger than the 660ti.