Quick GFX card query

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Bobbin

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Recently been looking at the Radeon cards.

Over here http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html the Radeon HD6950 card scores very high on the benchmark and for the price seems to be very good. I can get the Gigabyte HD6950 one for roughly just under R2800 (or the MSI O/C 2gig version @ R3000-00).

Alternatively though the HD6850 seems to be the ultimate value for money @ only just under R1800.

I intend playing BF3 when it comes out. I hear though that people may struggle with the HD6850 and will have to use medium settings.

I was initally not wanting to spend more than R2000-00 on a card but now I wonder if I will be wasting my time, what to do what to do. :D

Although my MB only supports crossfire I doubt I will ever do that as I would have to upgrade the Power Supply too. (500Watt at the moment and wonder how I will ever fit 2 cards in there anyway)
 
I have a 6870 and run bf3 fine on high, what you can do is get yourself a 6850 and then get another one later. That's what I would do if I was you.

Alternativly you can look at getting one of the following also:

Club 3D ATI Radeon HD6870 Graphics Card (CGAX-68724FO) - Overclocked Edition
1024MB GDDR5 Memory, PCI Express 2.1, 2 x DVI, HDMI, Active Fansink - ATI Eyefinity Technology, ATI PowerPlay, DirextX 11, HDCP & OpenGL
R2,069.00 (incl. VAT)
https://www.nivo.co.za/#buy~club.3d....card.cgax.68724fo.overclocked.edition~p23521

or

MSI R6870 Twin Frozr II OC 1GB PCI-E Desktop Graphics Card
R1,996.00 (incl. VAT)
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-r6870-twin-frozr-ii-oc-1gb-pci-e-desktop-graphics-card.html
 
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BF2 scaled close to 100% in xfire with HD6850's, I would think BF3 will as well

500W will be tight though
CPU 100
GPU 120 x 2
Mobo 75
Other 50
Total 465W
 
NomNom said:
I have a 6870 and run bf3 fine on high, what you can do is get yourself a 6850 and then get another one later. That's what I would do if I was you.
Click to expand...

You reckon?

Hmmm, so crossfire may be the ultimate way to go then...

My MB says only one PCI-E slot runs at x16 although it supports crossfire. It is the Gigabyte H55-USB3. Is this normal or will it impact a crossfire setup performance?
 
The main issues, which you correctly identified, is your budget (1) and the hidden costs in CF upgrades (2).

The two cards you mentioned are effectively best-bang-for-your-buck and in that value sweetspot. Personally, I would either look at the 6870 or the 6950.
 
If its the H55M then you have 2 x16 slots, one runs at full x16, the other is limited to x4. So you will be able to run two cards then.

However, there are conflicing views on the effects of running a GPU in slower slots. I'd take a wild guess and say you might get 0 - 10% less performance than what you would if both slots were x16, or even x8.
 
If you interest i am selling my sapphire 6970 for 2.5k, postman just pointed out my monitor cannot really pump out the 6990 and 6970 power :D.
 
Archer said:
If its the H55M then you have 2 x16 slots, one runs at full x16, the other is limited to x4. So you will be able to run two cards then.

However, there are conflicing views on the effects of running a GPU in slower slots. I'd take a wild guess and say you might get 0 - 10% less performance than what you would if both slots were x16, or even x8.
Click to expand...

Yes I think this is what I read in the Mobo manual. Something about only one slot being x16.

Will read up on it but if drop in performance only marginal on second slot it may still be worth while I suppose.

At the moment I only have a GT220 overclocked to its max, so you can imagine my frustration with graphics :D
 
A 6870 crossfire setup is very good. I get over 60fps in Crysis 2 on Ultra with the DX11 and high res patches, so it should run BF3 fine. Everyone says to watch out for micro-stuttering, but its not been an issue for me.

Just be aware that sometimes you might need to wait a bit for AMD to release newer drivers and profiles to get the most out of your setup with new games
 
Bobbin said:
Recently been looking at the Radeon cards.

Over here http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html the Radeon HD6950 card scores very high on the benchmark and for the price seems to be very good. I can get the Gigabyte HD6950 one for roughly just under R2800 (or the MSI O/C 2gig version @ R3000-00).

Alternatively though the HD6850 seems to be the ultimate value for money @ only just under R1800.

I intend playing BF3 when it comes out. I hear though that people may struggle with the HD6850 and will have to use medium settings.

I was initally not wanting to spend more than R2000-00 on a card but now I wonder if I will be wasting my time, what to do what to do. :D

Although my MB only supports crossfire I doubt I will ever do that as I would have to upgrade the Power Supply too. (500Watt at the moment and wonder how I will ever fit 2 cards in there anyway)
Click to expand...

Don't bother with x-fire. If you are really budget conscious get a 6870. If not get a 6950. Simple as that.
 
Qwikslver said:
Don't bother with x-fire. If you are really budget conscious get a 6870. If not get a 6950. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

According to benchmark though it says the 6850 is getting higher score than the 6870. What am I missing?
 
Bobbin said:
According to benchmark though it says the 6850 is getting higher score than the 6870. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

Probably driver issue with that specific application. The 6870 is definitely better than the 6850.
 
i had the 6870 for a while before upgrading to 6970. It was a brilliant card for the price - definitely worth the money.
6970 just wins though, got my one for R2800 :D
 
Incredible Connection, believe or not, has the Asus factory overclocked HD6870 for R2295. Which is cheaper than 3 reputable online stores.

Good deal? And is the extra R300 worth it for an overclocked model or rather go for the Gigabyte @ R2000?
 
Bobbin said:
Incredible Connection, believe or not, has the Asus factory overclocked HD6870 for R2295. Which is cheaper than 3 reputable online stores.

Good deal? And is the extra R300 worth it for an overclocked model or rather go for the Gigabyte @ R2000?
Click to expand...

My colleague had to pick me up off the floor after reading this.
 
yeti said:
My colleague had to pick me up off the floor after reading this.
Click to expand...

lol why. From disbelief or from laughing because it is still bad?

Hope I read it right now :o gonna go back this afternoon if it is a good deal.
 
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