Radeon HD 6970 vs GeForce GTX 570

[Mir96TA]

I have a delima
I can setup from GeForce GTX 465 to GTX 570 (EVGA AR) at the price of $170
or I can upgrade my self to a XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 for 210 -30 Rebate $180
Then I can sell my EvGA GTX 465 and re coupe the Cost.
Now what I do not know, which card is better 6870 or 570 ?
I know XFX and EVGA are topnotch company period.
Any comments ?

 

[Nintendesert]

Tough question indeed. How much are 6850s? Apparently with some flashing it can operate as a 6870. I'm pretty sure others here have better information on that than I though. I'm still using my 5870.

 

[llee]

The 570 is better. Go with EVGA's step-up program. The flashing of the BIOS to make it think it's another card is for the 6950, not he 6850.

 

[Skurge]

Uh, 6870 or 6970?

If its the 6870, the 570 is faster. So I would get that.

 

[Mir96TA]

Tough question indeed. How much are 6850s? Apparently with some flashing it can operate as a 6870. I'm pretty sure others here have better information on that than I though. I'm still using my 5870.

Reflashing to 6970 h mmmm

 

[Nintendesert]

Sorry typo, meant 6950 not 68. Damn AMD naming schemes or my fat fingers!

 

[RussianSensation]

Well the 6870 is not much faster than a GTX465. So that in itself is hardly an upgrade. You can either sell the 465 and get an HD6950 that you may unlock into a 6970 OR just step up to the 570.

 

[Qbah]

Definitely GTX570! Beats the HD6870 without doubt and you'd pay less too.

 

[Mir96TA]

Well the 6870 is not much faster than a TX465. So that in itself is hardly an upgrade. You can either sell the 465 and get an HD6950 that you may unlock into a 6970 OR just step up to the 570.

Well so my Question is this
570 EvgA or XFX 6950 Possiably unlock to 6970

 

[littlezipp]

Well so my Question is this
570 EvgA or XFX 6950 Possiably unlock to 6970

Grab a 6950 and unlock it! You can grab an already unlocked one from the For Sale section usually. That or wait for me to sell one of mine!
You won't be disappointed with the 6950.

 

[RussianSensation]

Well so my Question is this
570 EvgA or XFX 6950 Possiably unlock to 6970

Depends on the price difference. If you can pick up a 6950 for $230-240 vs. $300 for a GTX570, I'd probably grab the 6950. However, if the price difference is $30-40, I would consider the 570 instead.

I bought my 6950 and unlocked it successfully. It overclocks to 910mhz at 6970 voltage but this overclock is meaningless since the card throttles clock speeds at 99% usage unless its running at 860mhz. I wonder how many 6950 users reported this (or maybe my card is a dud). Keep in mind my card is fully stable at this 910mhz in stress testing.

On the other hand, GTX570 still has a lot of overclocking room and with latest drivers is just as fast as a stock 6970 at 1920x1200.

 

[Zanovar]

Depends on the price difference. If you can pick up a 6950 for $230-240 vs. $300 for a GTX570, I'd probably grab the 6950. However, if the price difference is $30-40, I would consider the 570 instead.

I bought my 6950 and unlocked it successfully. It overclocks to 910mhz at 6970 voltage but this overclock is meaningless since the card throttles clock speeds at 99% usage unless its running at 860mhz. I wonder how many 6950 users reported this (or maybe my card is a dud). Keep in mind my card is fully stable at this 910mhz in stress testing.

On the other hand, GTX570 still has a lot of overclocking room and with latest drivers is just as fast as a stock 6970 at 1920x1200.

Hi, out of interest why did you upgrade your 470 to a 6950?

 

[RussianSensation]

Hi, out of interest why did you upgrade your 470 to a 6950?

1. Wanted a card that's much faster at crunching (Milkyway)
2. Much faster performance in Crysis 1/2 and F1 2010.
3. Quieter and cooler running card, even when overclocked.
4. Almost cost me nothing to upgrade; and I wanted to play with new hardware.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't upgrade from a 470 to a 6950 though unless you play specific games which run much faster on the 6970 (Dragon Age 2, F1 2010, Crysis, Metro 2033).

I generally think the HD69xx and GTX5xx generations are just "refreshes". So the time to get excited will be 28nm right around BF3.

 

[Zanovar]

1. Wanted a card that's much faster at crunching (Milkyway)
2. Much faster performance in Crysis 1/2 and F1 2010.
3. Quieter and cooler running card, even when overclocked.
4. Almost cost me nothing to upgrade; and I wanted to play with new hardware.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't upgrade from a 470 to a 6950 though unless you play specific games which run much faster on the 6970 (Dragon Age 2, F1 2010, Crysis, Metro 2033).

I generally think the HD69xx and GTX5xx generations are just "refreshes". So the time to get excited will be 28nm right around BF3.

ah ok fair enough,im feeling the same way as you about the hd69/gtx5,i have 5850 at 950/1250 but bored with it and need new hardware to play with too,think i will keep upgraditis at bay and hold off for 28nm.

 

[Skurge]

Depends on the price difference. If you can pick up a 6950 for $230-240 vs. $300 for a GTX570, I'd probably grab the 6950. However, if the price difference is $30-40, I would consider the 570 instead.

I bought my 6950 and unlocked it successfully. It overclocks to 910mhz at 6970 voltage but this overclock is meaningless since the card throttles clock speeds at 99% usage unless its running at 860mhz. I wonder how many 6950 users reported this (or maybe my card is a dud). Keep in mind my card is fully stable at this 910mhz in stress testing.

On the other hand, GTX570 still has a lot of overclocking room and with latest drivers is just as fast as a stock 6970 at 1920x1200.

Have you set powertune to +20%?

 

[RussianSensation]

ah ok fair enough,im feeling the same way as you about the hd69/gtx5,i have 5850 at 950/1250 but bored with it and need new hardware to play with too,think i will keep upgraditis at bay and hold off for 28nm.

In that case I wouldn't upgrade at all. There are a couple guys running HD6950s at 1000+ mhz. But they are using water/upgraded cooling. I would wait until next generation if you have a 5850 @ 950. :thumbsup:

Have you set powertune to +20%?

Yes I did. Didn't help. I can't figure out why it's doing that. The thing is the card is fully stable at 910mhz in MSI Kobmustor too. Maybe I need to flash to an HD6970 BIOS?

 

[OCGuy]

570

 

[MrK6]

6950 unlocked and overclocked is going to be your best bet, there's no competition in price/performance. Note that unlocking is NOT the same as flashing to a 6970 BIOS, unlocking simply modifies an existing 6950 BIOS. Flashing to a 6970 reportedly damages the RAM. However, all this depends on how much you're into tweaking and overclocking. It literally takes 5 minutes though. Also, since it hasn't been asked, what resolution are you playing at?

ah ok fair enough,im feeling the same way as you about the hd69/gtx5,i have 5850 at 950/1250 but bored with it and need new hardware to play with too,think i will keep upgraditis at bay and hold off for 28nm.

Lol, I had a choice 5850 that did up to 1080MHz on water and I upgraded to the 6950 because I wanted something new to play with . For $80 out-of-pocket, it wasn't a bad swap, check the link in my sig for the write-up of my experience. All that said, you're looking at a ~15-20% performance improvement clock-for-clock, especially in newer titles.

Yes I did. Didn't help. I can't figure out why it's doing that. The thing is the card is fully stable at 910mhz in MSI Kobmustor too. Maybe I need to flash to an HD6970 BIOS?

What version of MSI Afterburner are you using? Also, I wouldn't flash it to a 6970, that seems to fry them.

 

[Zanovar]

6950 unlocked and overclocked is going to be your best bet, there's no competition in price/performance. Note that unlocking is NOT the same as flashing to a 6970 BIOS, unlocking simply modifies an existing 6950 BIOS. Flashing to a 6970 reportedly damages the RAM. However, all this depends on how much you're into tweaking and overclocking. It literally takes 5 minutes though. Also, since it hasn't been asked, what resolution are you playing at?
Lol, I had a choice 5850 that did up to 1080MHz on water and I upgraded to the 6950 because I wanted something new to play with . For $80 out-of-pocket, it wasn't a bad swap, check the link in my sig for the write-up of my experience. All that said, you're looking at a ~15-20% performance improvement clock-for-clock, especially in newer titles.
What version of MSI Afterburner are you using? Also, I wouldn't flash it to a 6970, that seems to fry them.

i checked your write up :thumbsup:,didnt seem worth it,as for the shader unlock...wtf is the fuss all about,grab a direct cu2,(or something similar if not on water)and overclock it and forget the minor speed the unlock(shader) gets. you

 

[RussianSensation]

Have you set powertune to +20%?

MrK6 figured out my problem. Apparently even if your Powertune is enabled to +20%, every time you change your clocks, you have to re-apply it in CCC. Now the card no longer throttles at 900mhz+

 

[Zanovar]

MrK6 figured out my problem. Apparently even if your Powertune is enabled to +20%, every time you change your clocks, you have to re-apply it in CCC. Now the card no longer throttles at 900mhz+

:thumbsup: