Looking for a New GPU

hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
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I am looking for a single gpu solution so no sli or crossfire. I don't want added heat if there is no performance advantages coming from it. I have been looking at the 5870, 5970 and gtx 480. I was wondering if you can help me pick the right one. The newest game I currently play is BC2. I would like to play it on max settings. I appreciate any and all input.
 

hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
1,901
5
91
No money is not an issue. Just looking for the best performance.

Only issue I see with the 5970 even though it is the fastest single card out there is I attribute the heat from the 7950x2 to the 5970 and is the main reason I have stayed away from dual gpus on a single card. Please correct me if any of my concerns are wrong here.
 
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toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
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No money is not an issue. Just looking for the best performance.

Only issue I see with the 5970 even though it is the fastest single card out there is I attribute the heat from the 7950x2 to the 5970 and is the main reason I have stayed away from dual gpus on a single card. Please correct me if any of my concerns are wrong here.
well what does the rest of your system look like and what res do you play at?

btw a 5970 is crossfire on a single card.
 

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
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The fastest single GPU is the GTX480. It wins in most games. However, there are times when it is beat by the Radeon HD5870 - BC2 being one of those games where the red card is slightly faster. However, both cards provide plenty of speed in it anyway. So if you want the fastest single GPU get the GTX480.

HD5970 is two GPUs on one card (internal CrossFire) so based on your needs, it's out.
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
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For overall performance, GTX 480 is the fastest single GPU by about 15% over 5870. However, this is not true for BC2: http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/18682/12

If you are concerned about heat, at idle and load GTX480 consumes more power than even the dual gpu 5970: http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/18682/13

Therefore, if you don't want dual GPU/card setup (i.e., 5850s, 5970), then 5870 is your best option given what you specified. It also costs $100 less than GTX480 (so you lose 15% performance on average but save $100 :))
 

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
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So the 480 is faster then the 5870 but the 5870 runs cooler then the 480?

Yes.

GTX480 - faster, hotter, takes more power, more expensive
HD5870 - slower, cooler, takes less power, cheaper

So you pay more for the nVidia card, but it's also faster (by 10-15%). And it is the fastest single GPU without a doubt, most of the time. Sometimes the cheaper Radeon can catch up or beat it though. Both cards are very fast - the GTX480 is faster on average though.
 

hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
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Has ATI resolved the bc2 issues it had?

So basically both cards will be fast enough to run bc2 at max settings? Even though the 480 shows a slight dip in performance in that particular game?
 
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Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
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Has ATI resolved the bc2 issues it had?

So basically both cards will be fast enough to run bc2 at max settings? Even though the 480 shows a slight dip in performance in that particular game?

I don't have one. But according to the reports, the 10.4 betas address the long loading times in DX11 with Radeons. Don't know about other issues.

EDIT: As to your question: yes. Check the link RussianSensation gave you. Or the one here at Anandtech.
 
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hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
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If any of you were in my situation which would you be more likely to go with here? Taking into account all three of the gpus i listed.
 

digitaldurandal

Golden Member
Dec 3, 2009
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If any of you were in my situation which would you be more likely to go with here? Taking into account all three of the gpus i listed.

I bought a 5870. First ATi card ever. I also do not like dual gpu solutions. They have issues in some games. Some people experience microstutter. I am sticking with single gpu solutions from now on, 5870 and no regrets.
 

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
81
No money concerns - GTX480 together with some fancy 3rd party cooling. The stock one wouldn't pass my sound requirements. It is the fastest single GPU so it gets my vote.
 

hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
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Ya the heat from the 480 is almost a deal breaker for me. I am just torn on the performance portion of it. The 480 does excel in the current game I have now though.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
30,049
95
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well what does the rest of your system look like and what res do you play at?

btw a 5970 is crossfire on a single card.

Since the 5970 is crossfire does this mean you cant run it on a non ATI motherboard?
 

Attic

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2010
4,282
2
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If I were you i'd pick up the 5870 and not look back, it's a wicked fast card and it runs BFBC2 better than the 480.

The 480 is wicked fast as well, most games slightly ahead of the 5870, but the heat and noise it puts out is a deal breaker for a lot of people, myself included.
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
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Since the 5970 is crossfire does this mean you cant run it on a non ATI motherboard?

People here are full of nonsense. The 5970 behaves exactly like any other video card. You can put it in any machine that has sufficient room and power supply. It uses less power and produces less heat than the GTX 480 and is much faster.
 

badb0y

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2010
4,015
30
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People keep spinning the information:

GTX 480 is the Fastest single GPU

5970 is the fastest SINGLE card

This basically means that while the GTX 480 sports the fastest GPU, it's not the fastest card because the 5970 sports (2) underclocked 5870s on a single cars making it the fastest card on the market.

For me personally, the 5850 is the best bang for the buck.
 

Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
4,345
1
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In your shoes, I'd get the 5870 as well. Even if money isn't a concern, it's dumb to just give it away. I don't think the $100 extra bucks can be justified for the small performance increase with a gtx480. Also the cooler 5870 will be able to overclock, taking you even closer to 480 performance.
 
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Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
81
People here are full of nonsense. The 5970 behaves exactly like any other video card. You can put it in any machine that has sufficient room and power supply. It uses less power and produces less heat than the GTX 480 and is much faster.

1. No it does not. A HD5970 suffers the same drawbacks as a regular CrossFire setup. Scaling is not always great and a game needs CrossFire profiles. The last part has been somewhat improved - AMD has a separate profile file to download, it's updated more often and not once a month.

2. You are right here. It's much faster, takes less power but is also more expensive.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
30,049
95
91
People here are full of nonsense. The 5970 behaves exactly like any other video card. You can put it in any machine that has sufficient room and power supply. It uses less power and produces less heat than the GTX 480 and is much faster.

Ah thanks
 

hennessy1

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2007
1,901
5
91
Thank you for all your input. I decided to get the 5870. One last question will the 2GB eyefinity version without using eyefinity help over the 1GB version?
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
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Thank you for all your input. I decided to get the 5870. One last question will the 2GB eyefinity version without using eyefinity help over the 1GB version?
well you never replied when I asked you what the rest of your system looks like and what res you play. at 1920 theres is no real need for more than 1gb.
 
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