Best (non-bottlenecked) video card for Q6600 @ 3.6 / X48 mobo?

[VirtualLarry]

Thinking of perhaps a 1GB or 2GB HD6870. But the 1GB GTX460 cards are $20 cheaper than the 1GB HD6870. Is the HD6870 faster than the GTX460?

The thing is, this motherboard is only crossfire capable (ignoring hacked SLI drivers), so if my potential client wanted more graphics horsepower, he could always add another HD6870 a year or two down the road.

Also wondering about future-proofness of a 2GB card. After reading about how BF3 eats up VRAM like no tomorrow, it seems like a 2GB card is a necessity these days.

One option is to crossfire two 512MB HD4850 cards, which I already have and could sell to him, but if he ever wants to play BF3, I don't think that those cards would cut it, due to lack of VRAM.

I think that 6950/6970 might be too expensive for him. Would a Q6600 @ 3.6 bottleneck one of these faster cards?

Edit: Darn it, knew I forgot something. Client has a 1280x1024 19" LCD currently, but might upgrade to a 1920x1080.

 

[Shmee]

what resolution does this rig game at? I would go with one of the 2GB 6950 cards if possible, depends on res though.

 

[7earitup]

I am going to pick up a XFX 6950 2GB in the next week or so for my Q6600 rig. Gotta get some better frames on BF3.

 

[Spikesoldier]

6950 2GB seconded

 

[lavaheadache]

I don't think that CPU will be a bottleneck for any current gen card as long as you are playing at a decent resolution. Even for that matter would it really be a big deal if you were bottlenecked @1024x768?

 

[Majcric]

all the the 4 and 5 series from NVidia will bottleneck it some. I don't know much about AMD.

 

[Red Hawk]

^^ All? Even budget cards like the 430 and the 520?

 

[MiataNC]

I upgraded from a 4890 to a 6950 2Gb, and it works great with my Q6600.

I know I will upgrade the rest of my system in the next 6 months, so I didn't want to buy a lower end video card that tops out on a Q6600.

 

[Majcric]

^^ All? Even budget cards like the 430 and the 520?

my bad, i was mostly refering to any card that would give him significant gains.

in other words, without blowing money for just a little performance.