Official HD6990 Review Thread (*updated* with 21 reviews at this time)

[strikeblue]

I know. My p8p only has 2 slots and getting the 6950s would mean that's the best it's gonna get unless I replace it. I doubt I'm gonna buy it right away anyway; I don't have time for games for at least a couple more months.

I could get this card instead and pay $100 more as you say and use the auzentech x-meridian that I got at a $40 discount... OR I could do what you suggested but will have to future proof by paying like $100 more for the maximus extreme mobo and then another $40 for a xonar d2x instead (because xonar can do pci-e, meridian is only pci) of the meridian that was on sale.

 

[Castiel]

I know. My p8p only has 2 slots and getting the 6950s would mean that's the best it's gonna get unless I replace it. I doubt I'm gonna buy it right away anyway; I don't have time for games for at least a couple more months.

I could get this card instead and pay $100 more as you say and use the auzentech x-meridian that I got at a $40 discount... OR I could do what you suggested but will have to future proof by paying like $100 more for the maximus extreme mobo and then another $40 for a xonar d2x instead (because xonar can do pci-e, meridian is only pci) of the meridian that was on sale.

Don't need the maximus. Just get the WS revolution for 260. It has the NF200 as well and can do X8/X16/X16.

I only bought the Maximus because i'm a ROG Whore

 

[3DVagabond]

Don't waste your money on it. Order a pair of reference 6950's, unlock them and have the same performance for a hundred dollars less

More like $200 less, unless you're getting a killer deal on 6990's somewhere. Or getting boned big time on 6950's.

 

[RussianSensation]

I doubt I'm gonna buy it right away anyway; I don't have time for games for at least a couple more months.

Come back in a couple of months+. Hardware prices change all the time, new and faster parts get released. :thumbsup: By then who knows what the landscape will be. Maybe an 8-core Bulldozer chip in June will smack the 2600k? Anything can happen.

 

[badb0y]

Come back in a couple of months+. Hardware prices change all the time, new and faster parts get released. :thumbsup: By then who knows what the landscape will be. Maybe an 8-core Bulldozer chip in June will smack the 2600k? Anything can happen.

Good joke .

 

[Castiel]

Come back in a couple of months+. Hardware prices change all the time, new and faster parts get released. :thumbsup: By then who knows what the landscape will be. Maybe an 8-core Bulldozer chip in June will smack the 2600k? Anything can happen.

8 core vs 4 core Russian. It'll be sad if the 6 core can't beat the 2600K.

 

[RussianSensation]

8 core vs 4 core Russian. It'll be sad if the 6 core can't beat the 2600K.

You should have seen how disappointed I was when Phenom I was released after Athlon 64/X2 dominated Pentium 4/D. I am setting my expectations really low this time.

 

[Castiel]

You should have seen how disappointed I was when Phenom I was released after Athlon 64/X2 dominated Pentium 4/D. I am setting my expectations really low this time.

I want BD to do well but i'm not sure amd can duplicate IPC of SB's

 

[strikeblue]

Looks like newegg is having that mail in rebate thing for the 6950s, so I guess if I did go for 2 of these instead I could potentially pay less than the other setup overall. Are 2x flashed 6950s in xfire faster/equal performance with 6990 even if we are talking about all of them overclocked to full potential?

 

[MentalIlness]

Looks like newegg is having that mail in rebate thing for the 6950s, so I guess if I did go for 2 of these instead I could potentially pay less than the other setup overall. Are 2x flashed 6950s in xfire faster/equal performance with 6990 even if we are talking about all of them overclocked to full potential?

I would say "equal to" over "greater than" since the 6990 is 2 x 6970's.

EDIT: Full potential ? I see where you say overclocked...So Id say you would have 6970 Crossfire performance which is a bit faster than the 6990 sometimes.

 

[strikeblue]

I'll go with the 6950s then, but can anyone provide a link that sheds light on this just for reassurance? I haven't been able to find anything that addresses this in particular. The 6990 overclocks well, so I'm just wondering if 6970 (flashed 6950) in xfire will match the performance when we're talking past regular settings.

 

[MentalIlness]

I'll go with the 6950s then, but can anyone provide a link that sheds light on this just for reassurance? I haven't been able to find anything that addresses this in particular. The 6990 overclocks well, so I'm just wondering if 6970 (flashed 6950) in xfire will match the performance when we're talking past regular settings.

Here is a review of 6950 Crossfire and the 6990.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3924/sapphire_radeon_hd_6990_4gb_video_card_review/index10.html

 

[strikeblue]

Here is a review of 6950 Crossfire and the 6990.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3924/sapphire_radeon_hd_6990_4gb_video_card_review/index10.html

Thanks

 

[MentalIlness]

Thanks

This review is better.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...s/41404-amd-radeon-hd-6990-4gb-review-16.html

 

[MentalIlness]

 

[strikeblue]

These don't describe what happens if we overclock them though. Is it safe to assume we'll see the same increase in performance for xfire 6970 vs 6990?

 

[MentalIlness]

That shouldnt be that important. Just know that if you have two unlocked 6950's overclocked, then you will have 6970 crossfire overclocked. Which "will" outrun the 6990. But I think, 6990 / 6970 CF / 6950 CF, unlocked, overclocked all equal the same speed.

Or is your question more in line with, will 6950 Crossfire "scale" as good as the 6990 ?

 

[RussianSensation]

These don't describe what happens if we overclock them though. Is it safe to assume we'll see the same increase in performance for xfire 6970 vs 6990?

Fair enough but you get 3 fps more in Metro 2033 and 4 fps more in BF:BC2. You want to pay $200 more for that and get a card louder than a CF setup? Even at stock, HD6950 CF blows the doors off HD6990's "value" proposition. Once you unlock a 6950 into a 6970, you are basically going to get HD6970 CF performance.

 

[happy medium]

Fair enough but you get 3 fps more in Metro 2033 and 4 fps more in BF:BC2. You want to pay $200 more for that and get a card louder than a CF setup? Even at stock, HD6950 CF blows the doors off HD6990's "value" proposition. Once you unlock a 6950 into a 6970, you are basically going to get HD6970 CF performance.

Thats a very good point.:thumbsup:

 

[Skurge]

http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/amd-hd6990-will-not-be-warranted-in-oc-mode/

:thumbsdown:

Hoping AIBs will have warranty coverage.

 

[Castiel]

http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/amd-hd6990-will-not-be-warranted-in-oc-mode/

:thumbsdown:

Hoping AIBs will have warranty coverage.

That's pretty sad. Wonder how many people will just peel off that sticker without reading the manual first

 

[apoppin]

http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/amd-hd6990-will-not-be-warranted-in-oc-mode/

:thumbsdown:

Hoping AIBs will have warranty coverage.

This isn't true. i was at the product launch meeting and this possible warranty issue came up. Removing the sticker does NOT automatically void the warranty. It is taken on a case by case basis. The end user is expected to read the disclaimers and provide the proper platform for the HD 6990 (PSU, case, airflow) and also they are expected to overclock "responsibly" - i.e. no volt modding will be covered.

UPDATE: i asked AMD for clarification and just got it; evidently you *are screwed* if you remove your sticker. Frankly, if i knew that was said at the meeting was PR bullsh!t, i would have tested HD 6990 in the non-overclocked setting - and Power Tune is then disabled.
:thumbsdown:

i still can update my article and clarify this and add another negative to my conclusion.

 

[happy medium]

This isn't true. i was at the product launch meeting and this possible warranty issue came up. Removing the sticker does NOT automatically void the warranty. It is taken on a case by case basis. The end user is expected to read the disclaimers and provide the proper platform for the HD 6990 (PSU, case, airflow) and also they are expected to overclock "responsibly" - i.e. no volt modding will be covered.

Are you sure? Evey web site I read said differently, including this one.:hmm:

"Quote from Anandtech article............

". The switch on the 6990 is slightly recessed, not by enough to make it hard to hit but enough that you’ll never accidentally hit it. Flipping the switch would need to be a conscientious action, which makes sense given the fact that doing so would void the card’s warranty"

 

[strikeblue]

Fair enough but you get 3 fps more in Metro 2033 and 4 fps more in BF:BC2. You want to pay $200 more for that and get a card louder than a CF setup? Even at stock, HD6950 CF blows the doors off HD6990's "value" proposition. Once you unlock a 6950 into a 6970, you are basically going to get HD6970 CF performance.

If the difference after overclocking is still marginal like that, then of course twin 6950s would be better, I just wanted to make sure before I make the purchase.

 

[notty22]

Are you sure? Evey web site I read said differently, including this one.:hmm:

"Quote from Anandtech article............

". The switch on the 6990 is slightly recessed, not by enough to make it hard to hit but enough that you’ll never accidentally hit it. Flipping the switch would need to be a conscientious action, which makes sense given the fact that doing so would void the card’s warranty"

I read it in at least 2 other reviews also, so if someone actually buys one, I'd email the vendor, before blowing it up and using a guy in the forum said it was 'ok'. We just had a thread where many posters insisted software overclocking voided warranty and chastised anyone who would seek warranty. Can't say I agreed with them .

Here is the comment from Ryan earlier in this thread :
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=31357309&postcount=191

Hi guys, I just wanted to make a quick note on this. There was one detail that didn't make it in to the initial publication of the article:
Quote:
After publication of this article there's been some slight confusion on the matter of the AWSUM switch and the warranty. AMD's official guidance is that overclocking the card voids the warranty, which means that AWSUM/uber mode it warranty breaking. Technically speaking just flipping the switch doesn't break the warranty - it's operating the card that does - but retail cards will come with a sticker over the switch warning users of the potential danger of overclocking and that it violates the warranty. So breaking the sticker to flip the switch will for all practical purposes violate the warranty. Specific policies may differ by partner, however.