Video card recommendation

[JulesMaximus]

Purchase Details:

1. Looking to spend no more than $250, interested in lower priced suggestions that will fit my needs as well.


2. Not really considering rebates


3. Brand Preference:

Had good luck with Sapphire ATI cards but am not really opposed to other brands-would like something quiet

4. Crossfire/SLI?

No

5. Have you previously looked at a product which you feel would fill your needs?

I have been looking at the 6xxx series cards with Eyefinity

6.Which games (If any)do you plan to play and @ which desired detail levels?

Starcraft II highest detail levels on everything.

7. Are there any other uses(Folding, Photoshop, Video editing or watching Blu-Ray) or features (DX11, CUDA, OpenGL, 3D, Eyefinity) you are looking for besides gaming?

Definitely Photoshop

8. Is the performance added by overclocking something you would take into consideration?

No, I am not going to overclock this card. I just want something fast, quiet and stable out of the box.

System Specs:

1. Pre-built(HP, Dell, etc)? Ordering(a new computer) or Upgrading?

Upgrading a home built rig

2.Monitor Resolution:

1900x1200

3.Processor:

i7 Quad Core 2.8GHz

4.Power Supply Unit:

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

5.Case Dimensions(Length, Low Profile, Cooling):

LIAN LI PC-7FN Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case-not sure what the interior dimensions are in the card slot area

 

[dpodblood]

3 Options:

HD 6950 ~$300
HD 6970 ~$350
GTX 470 ~$250

Or you can wait until the GTX 560 is released. I heard a rumor this will be on the 25th of this month.

 

[Patmage]

Evga 470 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130550 $259, also has a 20buck mail in rebate. Probably the best you can do for 250.

Though i definately agree with dpodblood about waiting for the 560 and see where it stacks up. Most seem to think it will also be in the $250 range.

The 6950 is a great card for 300, especially if you get one that can unlock to 6970, but you won't notice a huge improvement for the extra $50 that you don't want to spend as it is.

 

[dpodblood]

My expectation is that the GTX 560 will be priced at around $250, and will have equal or better performance than the GTX 470 with lower power consumption. If I were in your position, and needed to buy *right now* I would go with the 470. I actually just recommended the same to a friend of mine.

 

[calvin0416]

or the Radeon HD 6950 1 MB

 

[Jionix]

5850's are getting pretty damn cheap. They are hovering around ~$200.

 

[DaveSimmons]

For under $250 right now, the 6850 and 6870 are both good cards.

If you can wait, as mentioned above the 1 GB RAM 6950 will be released soon(?) and once the GTX 560 is released in 2 weeks prices on everything may drop.

 

[calvin0416]

5850's are getting pretty damn cheap. They are hovering around ~$200.

5850 went as low as 144 (if you cound the $15 newegg store credit)

6950 1GB will probably be the strongest card for that price range if it comes out today

 

[tviceman]

or the Radeon HD 6950 1 MB

That card might have some performance issues.

 

[dpodblood]

That card might have some performance issues.

Memory may be a slight bottleneck. D:

 

[-Slacker-]

hd 6870's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-913-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-357-_-Product

^the gigabyte version comes with 3 fans (but I doubt you'll need that many for a hd 6870), while the sapphire is slightly cheaper and you get a free flash usb drive.

Although, if I were you, I'd get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150518&cm_re=hd_6950-_-14-150-518-_-Product

And flash it into a 6970.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ flashing is even more of a gamble than overclocking though, especially for early in the lifetime when the chips being binned for 6950 use are more likely to have been binned for failing to work properly as a 6970. (vs. later in the lifetime when more good chips would be sold as 6950s because of 6970 oversupply.)

 

[calvin0416]

^ flashing is even more of a gamble than overclocking though, especially for early in the lifetime when the chips being binned for 6950 use are more likely to have been binned for failing to work properly as a 6970. (vs. later in the lifetime when more good chips would be sold as 6950s because of 6970 oversupply.)

I heard there's little risks involved as the 6950 has dual bios. Even if you screwed up, you can still recover with the other.

 

[calvin0416]

Memory may be a slight bottleneck. D:

I doubt it, all the current GPUs worked with 1GB including the 570/580. They probably put 2GB for Eyefinity. He's only running 1920x1200 and not doing multiple monitor; should be fine. We'll just have to wait.

 

[Daedalus685]

I heard there's little risks involved as the 6950 has dual bios. Even if you screwed up, you can still recover with the other.

Though there are reports of a few overzealous folks running right away at full 6970 clocks and borking the memory chips (some 6950s have inferior ram, not all). It is not fool proof (whats that about there always being a bigger fool?), but is quite safe if you are careful as with care the worst case is you are stuck with a 6950 if it just doesn't work as a 6970.

 

[badb0y]

^ flashing is even more of a gamble than overclocking though, especially for early in the lifetime when the chips being binned for 6950 use are more likely to have been binned for failing to work properly as a 6970. (vs. later in the lifetime when more good chips would be sold as 6950s because of 6970 oversupply.)

Nonsense, look at the statistics at techpowerup.
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159

Graph at the bottom. There were only 8 duds in over 200 cards.

 

[calvin0416]

Graph at the bottom. There were only 8 duds in over 200 cards.

It says unlocks but rendering error. I think if that happens you can still flash it back. Not like it bricks the card.

 

[Imp]

I just got me a 6850, but the 6870 should be pretty good at $~250.

If you can spare an extra $50, the 6950 should be the new 5850; that is, the next gen mainstream series should probably be comparable to the 6950, so you would be set for a while.

I just got my second Sapphire card (couple gens ago and my new 6850), and while I've never had issues, I hear some issues concerning their warranty service. They also charge you $15 (-ish) to "process" the RMA, so out of principle, I'd avoid them in the future. XFX has very good service, and their RMA facility is based in Ontario, CA. However, you pay a slight premium. Asus should be fine too.

 

[MentalIlness]

or the Radeon HD 6950 1 MB

That card might have some performance issues.

Memory may be a slight bottleneck. D:

I doubt it, all the current GPUs worked with 1GB including the 570/580. They probably put 2GB for Eyefinity. He's only running 1920x1200 and not doing multiple monitor; should be fine. We'll just have to wait.

LOL....do you realize the memory "will" be a bottleneck based off your own info ?