Radeon HD 7850 or ati 5870?

[Mozer]

I currently have a gts 250 and am looking to get a new video card. I've narrowed it down to either a Radeon HD 7850, or an Radeon HD 5870. I'm not the most tech savvy so I am wondering if any of you all have any sort of input as to which card I would see a greater improvement with when gaming.

(Not sure if this is needed but, additional system information: 4GB ram, 650 watt power supply, i5 750@2.67)

Thank you,
Mozer

 

[Shephard]

7850 is faster.

5870 draws more power.

I would get a 7870 Myst like me. You didn't state budget.

7850 is a good card, but unless the 1GB version is very cheap I would not buy it. The 7850 2GB is not a huge price difference from 7870, so better to get that.

 

[Mozer]

Oh forgot that. I'm trying to stay around $100-$180ish
My friend has a 5870 that he is willing to sell me for about $150, where as the 7850 I'm looking at is the 1GB and looks to total up at about $175

And thanks for the input so far Shephard!

 

[Hubb1e]

That's easy, the 7850 stomps all over the 5870 and has high overclocking potential.

 

[daveybrat]

The HD 7850 hands down. Faster, cooler, and less power consumption.

This is probably the best card for the money:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202004

SAPPHIRE 100355-1GOCL Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC Version

$174.99 w/free shipping and only $159.00 after $15 mail in rebate.

Excellent reviews, awesome heatpipe dual fan cooling solution and it comes with 2 free great games, Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider (each valued at about $49 a piece).

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Oh forgot that. I'm trying to stay around $100-$180ish
My friend has a 5870 that he is willing to sell me for about $150, where as the 7850 I'm looking at is the 1GB and looks to total up at about $175

And thanks for the input so far Shephard!

Not much of a friend, that's a ~$100 card on the used market

 

[daveybrat]

Not much of a friend, that's a ~$100 card on the used market

^^ What he said, go with my recommendation above and get a fantastic card for only $10 more than what your 'friend' is trying to pawn off on you.

 

[Durvelle27]

GIGABYTE GV-R785OC-2GD Radeon HD 7850 2GB $179.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125419


PowerColor AX7850 2GBD5-DH Radeon HD 7850 2GB $164.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131473



Or You can pick up a used HD 7870 for around $180

 

[Red Hawk]

The 7850. It's faster and uses less power.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/549?vs=511

Though if you do get the 7850, I would spend the extra $10 or so and get the 2 GB version. It will help the card last in the long run as games start using more VRAM, especially with the next console generation.

 

[jamudin1]

Easily 7850

 

[Mozer]

Thanks guys. I appreciate all of your input and helpful suggests. I think I'm going to go with the 7850 that Gigabyte has, sounds like it's my best bet!

Also thanks Red Hawk for linking me to that bench tool that anandtech has here, very useful.