Need Advice - Radeon 6870 vs 7850 w/ details

[newb111]

As the title says, I'm deciding between a 1gb 6870 and a 2gb 7850 as an upgrade from my 512mb 4850. I'm not a huge gamer, but I like to play SC2, Diablo2, Skyrim (occasionally), and also my current card is hot/loud as hell.,

From what I've seen, the 7850 at stock is roughly 20% faster/better than the 6870

6870 for $136.49 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
7850 for $209.99 at Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150608)

My dilemma is that I don't really need the 7850 for the games I play, but it might be a good idea to pay a bit more now so I don't have to upgrade as soon. Not to mention the 7850 should be cooler/quieter. However, as you can see, my current card is >4 years old, so I would probably be ok with the 6870.

My order of preference would probably place Performance/Price/Temp/Noise as roughly equivalent.

Anyone have experience with these cards (both the model and specific cards) and want to comment and help me decide? Is the 7850 really worth the extra $70? Or I could even wait for the 7850 to drop in price if it's within the next couple months. If you think I should buy a completely different card, that works too.

Here are my other parts
Phenom II x3 720
8gb DDR3
PSU (to be upgraded no matter which card I pick)
1680x1050 resolution monitor

On a related note, the PSU I'm planning to get is OCZ ModXStream 700w (49.99 at amazon). I'm not going for top of the line, and it seems to be the best in the pricerange. Any other options you prefer?

Thanks for your time

 

[thilanliyan]

If you're going to keep your card for as long as you do, I would go with a 7850. They overclock like mad too.

And for a PSU, I would go with an Antec or Corsair PSU if you can afford to. Not that OCZ are bad, but Corsair for example make some really quality PSUs, and have very good customer service as well. At least, that has been my experience.

 

[funboy6942]

You can always buy a 6870 in the fs/ft forum for around $70-$85. Just a suggestion.

 

[Termie]

Well, if you want to look at it another way, the 6870 is twice as fast as a 4850 (100% faster), the 7850 at stock is about 15-20% faster than the 6870, or 120% faster than the 4850.

You'd be paying $137 for a 100% improvement or $210 for a 120% improvement. That's 50% more for a 20% improvement. Yes, the 7850 overclocks well, although the XFX models haven't been superstars in this regard.

The bigger issue is whether you'll be upgrading the CPU. For your particular system, a 6870 is a much better match.

Finally, as for the PSU, skip the OCZ 700w and get an Antec or Corsair model at a lower wattage. Newegg has a good deal on this 600w model right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

 

[newb111]

Well, if you want to look at it another way, the 6870 is twice as fast as a 4850 (100% faster), the 7850 at stock is about 15-20% faster than the 6870, or 120% faster than the 4850.

You'd be paying $137 for a 100% improvement or $210 for a 120% improvement. That's 50% more for a 20% improvement. Yes, the 7850 overclocks well, although the XFX models haven't been superstars in this regard.

The bigger issue is whether you'll be upgrading the CPU. For your particular system, a 6870 is a much better match.

Finally, as for the PSU, skip the OCZ 700w and get an Antec or Corsair model at a lower wattage. Newegg has a good deal on this 600w model right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

Yeah that was exactly my line of thinking. The jump from 4850 to 6870 is a lot more than from 6870 to 7850. Seems like most people recommend getting the 7850 so I thought I'd see what responses I got here. I tend to alternate upgrading the CPU/MOBO/RAM and the video card, so I'll probably be upgrading the rest within the next year or so.

I did look at that Corsair 600w PSU, but I saw quite a few reports of "coil whine". I hate that high pitched noise that PSU can make sometimes, so I took it off my list. Any idea if that is a common problem with them?

 

[newb111]

You can always buy a 6870 in the fs/ft forum for around $70-$85. Just a suggestion.

That might be a good way to go. I didn't see any 6870 listed on there now, but maybe I'll post a wanted thread and see what I can get. Also don't want to pick up someone else's problem card =)

 

[Termie]

Yeah that was exactly my line of thinking. The jump from 4850 to 6870 is a lot more than from 6870 to 7850. Seems like most people recommend getting the 7850 so I thought I'd see what responses I got here. I tend to alternate upgrading the CPU/MOBO/RAM and the video card, so I'll probably be upgrading the rest within the next year or so.

I did look at that Corsair 600w PSU, but I saw quite a few reports of "coil whine". I hate that high pitched noise that PSU can make sometimes, so I took it off my list. Any idea if that is a common problem with them?

I read some of those reviews too - hard to say if that's a common problem. Getting the higher-end Corsair or Antec power supplies will definitely cost you more than you were intending to spend. For your system, I'd actually say this Seasonic 430w PSU would be more than sufficient, and very high quality: http://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-ATX12...words=seasonic

That might be a good way to go. I didn't see any 6870 listed on there now, but maybe I'll post a wanted thread and see what I can get. Also don't want to pick up someone else's problem card =)

By the way, there are several HD5850 cards available in FS/FT, which are very close to the 6870 in performance. I see you posted your WTB thread, but the $80 price estimate is really kind of unrealistic. More like $95-$110. Here's a 5850 for $95:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2256302&highlight=5850

 

[Arkadrel]

The thing about the 6870, is even with a little extra voltage most of them cap out around 1000-1050mhz core.

The 6870's come at 900mhz, so going from 900->1000mhz, doesnt give that much. Like 11% OC.
That means you ll endup around the 560Ti - 6950 range, which is shortly below the 7850's performance.

The 7850's come at 860mhz, so going from 860->1250mhz, gives like 45% OC.
(this makes it faster than a 580! faster even than the "stock" 7950)

------------

That said.... the 6870's cost like ~140$ is pretty sweet,
esp when OCed to ~1050mhz their matching a stock 560ti (which costs like 240$).

The 6870 is pretty good value.

The 7850's arnt bad value either though, if you consider once overclocked their beating (in performance) cards that cost ~350$.

 

[iiiankiii]

a used 6870 is not going to be as low as $80. It is going to be atleast $110. $100 will get you a used 6850.

 

[Madpacket]

If you have any interest in updating your CPU go with the 7850, else the 6870 is a better value.

 

[Rambusted]

I think at that resolution a 6870 should be fine, you have said your not an avid gamer anyway so I cant see dropping another 90 bucks on a 7850. I have been happy with the performance of mine, good bang for the buck card. Also someone mentioned coil whine from corsair psu's I have a 600 watt corsair and it doesnt make any noise, I am sure you could find isolated instances of coil whine from any brand I dont think that cosair is especially prone to it.

 

[Black Mesa]

First off about the PSU go with the [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OCZ ModXStream Pro[/FONT] 600watt instead because it is a better quality PSU with about the same amps of the 700watt. OCZ ModXStream Pro 700watt review right here http://www.hardocp.com/article/2008/11/12/ocz_700w_modxstream_pro_power_supply/9
I recomend this one -
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600 watt review right here http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-ModXStream-Pro-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/936/9

As far as your GPU choices I would have to say a 6870 should make you more than happy and it does after all offer a whole lot of value for you're buck if you are paying around $140 bucks for one. If you want 20% to 30% more power get the 7850 if that is worth $100 bucks more to you.

 

[Arkadrel]

As far as your GPU choices I would have to say a 6870 should make you more than happy and it does after all offer a whole lot of value for you're buck if you are paying around $140 bucks for one. If you want 20% to 30% more power get the 7850 if that is worth $100 bucks more to you.

At stock a 7850 is about 20% faster... (which isnt that much for its price)
once you overclock the 7850 up to 1250mhz...its around ~55-60% faster than a 6870 or so.

A 7850 @1250mhz is a completely differnt card, than one at 860mhz.
I think its crazy it can beat 580 (stock) or 7950(stock) once overclocked.

I think AMD did themselfs a dis-service, by clocking them so low.
If like 95% of them make it to 1250mhz, and you ship the refernce card at 860mhz thats just bad bussiness,
leaveing all that performance laying around.

Im guessing they where worried it wouldnt be power effecient enough, but this card should've been competeing at performance/price ratio instead and be clocked higher.

 

[Black Mesa]

At stock a 7850 is about 20% faster... (which isnt that much for its price)
once you overclock the 7850 up to 1250mhz...its around ~55-60% faster than a 6870 or so.

A 7850 @1250mhz is a completely differnt card, than one at 860mhz.
I think its crazy it can beat 580 (stock) or 7950(stock) once overclocked.

I think AMD did themselfs a dis-service, by clocking them so low.
If like 95% of them make it to 1250mhz, and you ship the refernce card at 860mhz thats just bad bussiness,
leaveing all that performance laying around.

Im guessing they where worried it wouldnt be power effecient enough, but this card should've been competeing at performance/price ratio instead and be clocked higher.

The 7850 OCed cannot beat a GTX 580 well maybe in one or two games but even then it will be very hard pressed. 7850 @ 1Ghz OCed is about on par more or less with a GTX 570.
Here is a review of the OCed Powercolor PCS+ GE http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7850_PCS_Plus/1.html
Max OCing will typically bring this card to matching the performance level of a 7870 almost GTX 580 levels but still a quite a way from a 7950 level of performance contrary to what many try and erroneously claim.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7850_PCS_Plus/31.html

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Overclocks are never guaranteed, and create considerably more wear on your card as well as more heat, and louder fan noise typically.

Chances you'll get 1250 out of that crummy XFX card are very low.

I agree with the other poster, just go used. It's a $85 used card, you can't beat that with a stick.

 

[Denithor]

6870 all the way, for your resolution + the rest of your system a much better fit (an X3 is not going to push a 7850 to its full potential).

Plus, it's better to spend $100 today on a new GPU and then another $100 in two years rather than $200 today. A $200 card today will lag behind a $100 card two years from now...

 

[newb111]

Thanks for all the comments. I think I'm definitely leaning towards the 6870 and if I can find a good used one that would be great.