Help me decide. 6970 vs 580

[Castiel]

You would rather have a single 570 at ~$350 then a 6950 at 300 and unlock to a 6970?

Only your 2nd time mentioning it in the thread

 

[hclarkjr]

remember guys he gave limited options due to his location so speculating on what he should buy outside those choices is wasting time.

 

[busydude]

The only thing i like about the 6970 is the 2GB of Memory. If only Amd could make drivers that are decent like fermi's.

You have been thread crapping everywhere about AMD's drivers. Atleast AMD releases updated drivers along with new card releases.. just look at when Nvidia released drivers for GTX 460, 570 and 580.

 

[RussianSensation]

Dude, forget the 580. Choose between a 570 and a 6970 and buy some games with the money you save.

:thumbsup: Agreed. If he is going to spend $500 on a GTX580, might as well try HD6950 in CF for $60 more. It will wipe the floor with the 580 at 1920x1080. HD6970/570 cards are much better values. The 797 mhz EVGA GTX570 should be very close to the GTX580 in performance for $370. Then if you want more performance down the line, just grab HD7000/Kepler closer towards the end of the year. You'll put $150 saved now towards those much faster cards.

 

[mnewsham]

Only your 2nd time mentioning it in the thread

Hence my question. I had already mentioned it once, better performance for less. If he didn't catch it the first time i figured a direct reply might get the point across eh?

 

[Castiel]

You have been thread crapping everywhere about AMD's drivers. Atleast AMD releases updated drivers along with new card releases.. just look at when Nvidia released drivers for GTX 460, 570 and 580.

I'm speaking from experience.

 

[Wreckage]

You would rather have a single 570 at ~$350 then a 6950 at 300 and unlock to a 6970?

Not guaranteed, could brick your card, not covered by warranty. No thanks.

 

[mnewsham]

I'm speaking from experience.

So am I, I have never had problems with ati/amd drivers in my year and a half of owning this card.

 

[mnewsham]

Not guaranteed, could brick your card, not covered by warranty. No thanks.

haven't seen many if any reports of bricking, worst is usually just an unsuccessful flash and you just flip the BIOS switch and you still have a 6950.

 

[busydude]

I'm speaking from experience.

So am I. I even have this Fankenfire setup from 4 months... other than GTA 4 all games ran fine..

 

[Skurge]

So am I. I even have this Fankenfire setup from 4 months... other than GTA 4 all games ran fine..

He has experience from trying to run Quadfire 4870x2s, which raises other questions. Like what he expected from such a setup. That guy doesn't even own an nVidia card, how would he know they are better.

 

[Vdubchaos]

What games do you play OP?

I think you are wasting your money.

5870 is a great card and honestly the performance difference will hardly be noticeable. CERTAINLY not difference worth anywhere NEAR $400-500.

I'm sorry

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

My GTX 480 runs UT3 better than my previous setup of 2 vanilla Sapphire 5870s.

I think what counts more is the minimum FPS. IMO get the GTX 580

btw im on a 120hz 1680x1050 jfyi (rig2)

 

[GaiaHunter]

My GTX 480 runs UT3 better than my previous setup of 2 vanilla Sapphire 5870s.

I think what counts more is the minimum FPS. IMO get the GTX 580

btw im on a 120hz 1680x1050 jfyi (rig2)

I've posted a couple of links before where it is show that currently, a 6950/6970CF setup will have minimums comparable to GTX570 SLI and GTX580 SLI.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I think but correct me if I am wrong, that minimum fps are not improved whether SLI or X-fire, no? I remember reading this somewhere.

 

[badb0y]

Dude, stop listening to random people.

IF money is no object your choice is simple, get the GTX 580 and enjoy.

IF money is an object than grab a 6950 unlock it and enjoy saving 70$.

/thread.

 

[Elfear]

Dude, stop listening to random people.

IF money is no object your choice is simple, get the GTX 580 and enjoy.

IF money is an object than grab a 6950 unlock it and enjoy saving 70$.

/thread.

You mean $210?

 

[badb0y]

You mean $210?

I meant over the 6970 since a 6950 unlocked matches a 6970 but okay

70$ saved vs 6970

210$ saved over a GTX 580

Got Money? GTX 580= Absolute performance.

DON'T bring up the HD 5970 because with performance being so close between the GTX 580 and 5970, it would be wiser to choose the GTX 580.

 

[GaiaHunter]

I think but correct me if I am wrong, that minimum fps are not improved whether SLI or X-fire, no? I remember reading this somewhere.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd6970_crossfire_review/6

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd6970_crossfire_review/7

In this the 580->580 SLi minimums do improve.

 

[3DVagabond]

Not guaranteed, could brick your card, not covered by warranty. No thanks.

Except for the "not guaranteed", the rest is pure assumption, at best, and more likely just FUD.


So far, looking at TPU (http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/159), out of Over 100 user attempts, all unlocked. 2 had rendering errors.

So, no (ZERO ZILCH) cards bricked. I call pure BS on that statement.

Since we know of no one who needed to RMA a card because they tried to unlock it, we don't know if the RMA would have been refused. You can say til you are blue in the face they wouldn't warranty it, but it hasn't happened. So, speculation.

While there are no guarantees that it will work, I'd say 136/2 are odds that anyone would accept in order to save $70.00 (about 20%). Those two that didn't successfully unlock, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some other fault with the cards, or maybe user error, that faulted the unlock attempt.

 

[badb0y]

Except for the "not guaranteed", the rest is pure assumption, at best, and more likely just FUD.


So far, looking at TPU (http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/159), out of Over 100 user attempts, all unlocked. 2 had rendering errors.

So, no (ZERO ZILCH) cards bricked. I call pure BS on that statement.

Since we know of no one who needed to RMA a card because they tried to unlock it, we don't know if the RMA would have been refused. You can say til you are blue in the face they wouldn't warranty it, but it hasn't happened. So, speculation.

While there are no guarantees that it will work, I'd say 136/2 are odds that anyone would accept in order to save $70.00 (about 20%). Those two that didn't successfully unlock, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some other fault with the cards, or maybe user error, that faulted the unlock attempt.

Also if there are errors, it's not like your done, you just flip the switch and your good to go.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd6970_crossfire_review/6

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd6970_crossfire_review/7

In this the 580->580 SLi minimums do improve.

Ahh, nice, thanks. I think at the time I was looking at the AMD side which in the graphs from pg 7 show little improvement.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Money is NO OBJECT, I don't think he's worried about games.

Jeeeeez.

Op orginal post . +- and than he ask for a debate what he should buy . Money no object. Every base has been covered . Yet you insist absolute performance is the ans, to the debate based on money is no object. If I were trying to sell the man something I would debate that the 6990 is due out shorty and buy that as money is no object. I think every possiable avenue was covered befor my post. The money is no object . Isn't the debate about the best value. SO to keep replying 580 is the ans. if money is no object. It needs besaid only once . As all relavent ans. have been adderessed. The op should have done a poll than buy what ever on members vote and ARGUMENTS.

 

[nOOky]

What would I do? If you have to buy soon, the GTX580. It's the fastest single gpu card and shows the most improvement over what you have. Truthfully even with that it won't be shockingly faster, so if you can wait for the newer dual gpu cards to appear as suggested above that's another option. If you can run dual cards, SLI or Crossfire, than that's a whole 'nuther range of options.

 

[MrK6]

5870 -> 6970 is an absolute waste, especially at 1920x1080. The GTX580 is a waste too from a price/performance perspective. I'd sit on the 5870 and overclock the hell out of it. Interested in hearing your thoughts and response on what's been posted, Ashkael, if the e-peen waving hasn't scared you off yet.