Concerns about Sapphire 6950 2GB...

[Tifosi248F1]

So Newegg has this Sapphire 6950 2GB for $200, down from $250.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102987

It seems almost too good, which makes me wonder if there's something wrong with it. I really don't want to spend more than $200 on a video card, so I was pretty much looking at the 6870 until I saw this card. I don't need ultra high graphics with/or ridiculous frame rates, mostly high with playable frame rates is sufficient. I'll be playing Skyrim, Minecraft, Civ IV/V.

Should I go with this 6950 or stick with an XFX 6870 which is only $15 less? It's going to be paired with a 3570k.

 

[Durvelle27]

i say go for the HD 6950 ? its a great card and very powerful ?

 

[joshhedge]

Get the HD 6950 and flash it to a 6970 and you're good to go!

 

[MTDEW]

The 6950 will get you a steady 60fps(v-sync on) in Skyrim at 1920x1200 or lower resolutions.
Its a good card, and as mentioned, you might be able to unlock the shaders and overclock it to 6970 speeds.

 

[p_monks33]

That card wont flash. It looks like a 6870 PCB only 1 crossfire connector. I had a 6950 that had the 6870 PCB. It was a nice overclocker, just no unlocked shakers. I would say for 189.00 you can't beat it. Sapphire makes a nice card too.

 

[MTDEW]

That card wont flash. It looks like a 6870 PCB only 1 crossfire connector. I had a 6950 that had the 6870 PCB. It was a nice overclocker, just no unlocked shakers. I would say for 189.00 you can't beat it. Sapphire makes a nice card too.

That sucks. :\
But is good info to know.

I have a pair of These Sapphire 6950's and they unlocked and OC'ed easily.
However i did buy mine at launch quite awhile ago and finding them now isnt easy .

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Since the price is so close, just get the 6950 and flash it to a 6970. Nothing wrong with pussying out like I did and flashing the 6970 @ 6950 clock BIOS onto it (ie. just unlock the shaders).

 

[Zargon]

Since the price is so close, just get the 6950 and flash it to a 6970. Nothing wrong with pussying out like I did and flashing the 6970 @ 6950 clock BIOS onto it (ie. just unlock the shaders).

you cant those wont flash AFAIK(see above too)

I have the same card, for sale, thanks newegg, now I have to lower my price!

 

[MTDEW]

Since the price is so close, just get the 6950 and flash it to a 6970. Nothing wrong with pussying out like I did and flashing the 6970 @ 6950 clock BIOS onto it (ie. just unlock the shaders).

According to p_monks33, the 6950 he linked to wont flash/unlock.

I still say its a good deal, the unlocked shaders don't really gain you much anyway.
And as i said, if Skyrim is his most intensive game, a "stock" 6950 will play it maxed out easily at 1920x1200 or below resolutions.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I don't see the deal. It's a generation and a half old tech and you can get a 7850 for $10 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...bles-_-na-_-na
OK, $20 more. Still seems like the 7850 is the better buy.

 

[MTDEW]

I don't see the deal. It's a generation and a half old tech and you can get a 7850 for $10 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...bles-_-na-_-na
OK, $20 more. Still seems like the 7850 is the better buy.

There is no debating that is great deal, but the OP stated he did not want to go over $200 and the card he listed is $190 after rebates.

The 7850 would be slightly faster and use less power and would be a better selection for the OP if it was within his budget.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

So Newegg has this Sapphire 6950 2GB for $200, down from $250.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102987

It seems almost too good, which makes me wonder if there's something wrong with it. I really don't want to spend more than $200 on a video card, so I was pretty much looking at the 6870 until I saw this card. I don't need ultra high graphics with/or ridiculous frame rates, mostly high with playable frame rates is sufficient. I'll be playing Skyrim, Minecraft, Civ IV/V.

Should I go with this 6950 or stick with an XFX 6870 which is only $15 less? It's going to be paired with a 3570k.

Wait look at this panty melter of a deal LOL -

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Do any 6950s actually flash to 6970s anymore?

 

[Gordon Freemen]

I don't see the deal. It's a generation and a half old tech and you can get a 7850 for $10 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...bles-_-na-_-na
OK, $20 more. Still seems like the 7850 is the better buy.

The only thing that is great about the 7850 is the OC that is needed to justify it as a better buy over the 6950. By the way thats not saying much for the 7850 defense.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

Do any 6950s actually flash to 6970s anymore?

I far as I have read no none of them can be flashed to the 6970.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

Do any 6950s actually flash to 6970s anymore?

As far as I have read no none of them can be flashed to the 6970.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

There is no debating that is great deal, but the OP stated he did not want to go over $200 and the card he listed is $190 after rebates.

The 7850 would be slightly faster and use less power and would be a better selection for the OP if it was within his budget.

It's more than slightly faster once you OC, way more than the ~5% price difference. Plus like you said, lower power consumption and newer gen hardware. I think it would be well worth it to the OP to stretch his budget the extra $10.

 

[Tifosi248F1]

It's more than slightly faster once you OC, way more than the ~5% price difference. Plus like you said, lower power consumption and newer gen hardware. I think it would be well worth it to the OP to stretch his budget the extra $10.

I'm not messing with rebates. Most of the time I see comments in reviews about them being denied for who knows what reason. That puts the 7850 $30 more than the 6950. I'm not planning on OCing the video at all. Even with A/C, the room the computer is in gets warmer than other rooms in the house. I'd sooner OC a twin fan card over a single fan card if I did OC at all.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

It's more than slightly faster once you OC, way more than the ~5% price difference. Plus like you said, lower power consumption and newer gen hardware. I think it would be well worth it to the OP to stretch his budget the extra $10.

Oced the 7850 reaches speeds of GTX 570 more or less depending on the game there are a limited few in were is can just kiss the performance of a stock GTX 580 but that is only a couple of games really. That being said the 7850 is only just competitive with the 6950 at stock sometimes it beats the 6950 and sometime the 6950 actually wins against the 7850. Largly the capabilities of the 7850 have been blown out of proportion more so the OCing abilities of the card have been exaggerated quiet a lot.

 

[Endymion FRS]

Did they change anything? I have that exact card, bought a year ago and it unlocked just fine.

 

[MTDEW]

It's more than slightly faster once you OC, way more than the ~5% price difference. Plus like you said, lower power consumption and newer gen hardware. I think it would be well worth it to the OP to stretch his budget the extra $10.

Well, that is up to the OP if he wants to stretch his budget.
It was assumed he was already stretching his budget since he was looking at the 6870 originally.

Did they change anything? I have that exact card, bought a year ago and it unlocked just fine.

Interesting, good to know.

I'm not messing with rebates. Most of the time I see comments in reviews about them being denied for who knows what reason. That puts the 7850 $30 more than the 6950. I'm not planning on OCing the video at all. Even with A/C, the room the computer is in gets warmer than other rooms in the house. I'd sooner OC a twin fan card over a single fan card if I did OC at all.

Since your not OC'ing then you'd need not worry about stretching your budget to a 7850, both cards are directx 11 and trade blows pretty close when not overclocked.
But of course that is your decision to make, it is your $$$.
Anandtech bench 6950 vs 7850 comparison.
And HERE is the comparison for the 6870 vs the 6950.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I'm not messing with rebates. Most of the time I see comments in reviews about them being denied for who knows what reason. That puts the 7850 $30 more than the 6950. I'm not planning on OCing the video at all. Even with A/C, the room the computer is in gets warmer than other rooms in the house. I'd sooner OC a twin fan card over a single fan card if I did OC at all.

No rebates and no OC'ing then go with the 6950. But it's going to be pumping an extra 40W of heat into that room over the 7850.

 

[MTDEW]

Endymion FRS, Since yours unlocks, could you check the pics in the Newegg Link for the 6950 and see if it is the same PCB as your card.
It doesnt matter to me, but the info may be useful to others doing a search later.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

No rebates and no OC'ing then go with the 6950. But it's going to be pumping an extra 40W of heat into that room over the 7850.

Or you could just convert to an energy efficient light bulb to offset the menial 40watts of heat output difference between 6950 and 7850 LOL.

 

[Zargon]

No rebates and no OC'ing then go with the 6950. But it's going to be pumping an extra 40W of heat into that room over the 7850.

only when its going full tilt

my sapphire OCs to the 'full' 840 allowed in CCC at -15% powertune.....