question about playing Sliver on Guitar?

So I have been playing sliver over the last couple weeks. In the chorus part I play the A chord with an open A string and frets 2 on the D and G strings. But I have also seen covers with people playing the A power chord on the 5th fret E string, 7th fret, A and D strings. The sound very similar, but I was wondering if anyone knows how Kurt played it and what this subreddits opinion on it is? Thanks.