What's the real difference between video card brands?

[Raswan]

In preparing for an upgrade, I was planning on picking up a 6870, but with the Black Friday deals going on, I pounced on a 5870 this morning:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ess%20XT)%201G

With the MiR and instant rebates, it ends up at $215, whereas the 6870 I've been keeping an eye on remains strong (and sold out) at $254:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ess%20XT)%201G

When I saw the deal at newegg, I thought it would be stupid not to get a 5870--even if it is the cheapest one regular priced--at forty bucks less than a 6870. But after buying it, that little nagging feeling is asking why this card (despite its good reviews) is regularly at $299.99 while other 5870 cards like the MSI, the XFX, and the HIS run $399.99 or more. I know some companies overclock their cards a bit and that can drive up the price, and double lifetime warranties can do the same, but that is the extent of my knowledge concerning different gpu prices for the same model. Is there any rational reason to be worried about the one I bought? Can anyone tell me why it is significantly cheaper? Should I return it and wait for a 6870 to come in stock, as counter-intuitive as that sounds even as I type it?

 

[happy medium]

But after buying it, that little nagging feeling is asking why this card (despite its good reviews) is regularly at $299.99 while other 5870 cards like the MSI, the XFX, and the HIS run $399.99 or more.

They have too many of that brand and they want to get rid of them, so they sell them at cost. Thats my guess.

 

[Raswan]

Best explanation I've seen so far. Anyone else?

 

[dust]

If one is all you'll ever use, I'd stick with the 5870, it's still faster than the 6870. If you plan to go crossfire at some point, I'd get the 6870 however for better scaling.

Happy, do you know for a fact that 215$ is the cost for the 5870?

 

[happy medium]

Happy, do you know for a fact that 215$ is the cost for the 5870?

No, but I bet I'm dam close.

 

[Raswan]

Don't plan on crossfire at any point--just trying to figure out if "brand" makes any difference in 5870s if core clock, mem clock, and interface are all the same.

 

[Gillbot]

The sticker?

 

[happy medium]

@Raswan
It doesent really make a difference.

 

[Concillian]

They're just dumping the 58xx inventory before the 69xx cards are out. They'll be cheap for a bit, but unlike the 4xxx series, I don't think they'll continue making them. The 68xx cards are smaller dies and they want these to be the cards that exist at these price points.

If in the market for a card, look for deals on the 58xx series cards, I predict they won't be around much longer.

 

[Skurge]

Its sapphire, AMD's number 1 AIB, the build most of the reference cards so you'll be fine with that brand. Happy is probably right sapphire always have the most cards in stores. So they probably have more than they want.

 

[Ben90]

The difference is the quality of parts used. Capacitors, RAM, mosfets, the cooler, and even the PCB itself can vary between models.

 

[Stoneburner]

This may be an attempt to start clearing stock for the 6900 series. If true, we should see more deals like this.

And the "brand" stuff has never worked well for me. I've had good luck with lesser brands like power color and HIS and crappy luck with XFX.

 

[dust]

No, but I bet I'm dam close.

I'm hoping they'll reach as low as 150$ over there, maybe I'll have a chance of snatching two for 200ish each over here.

 

[Arkadrel]

249$ after MIR is good price for a 5870.

The card is like 15-20% slower than a 480, but cheapests 480 currently on newegg is like 369$ after MIR (most are closer to 400$).

So pay ~50% more than 249$, get 15-20% faster card with a 480.


I think amd are trying to sell stock of their 58xx cards... before a 69xx release.

 

[Raswan]

Actually, Ark, there was a promo code that brought it down to $244.99 before the $30 MIR, so end cost is going to be $215 for the card.

I don't know if the promo is still going on, but check the hot deals forum for the code, or if you want I can probably dig it back up and post it here.

Seems like the consensus is that there is no real difference. That's good to know, and definitely something to file away for future builds.

 

[bryanW1995]

for amd there are several ok brands. xfx is probably the best b/c of their double lifetime warranty, but they're usually more expensive b/c of that. sapphire is the biggest for amd so they're pretty safe as well. I've owned his and sapphire, both cards had no problems over several years. EVGA is the king for nvidia buyers (at least in north america and europe).

 

[taltamir]

The difference is the quality of parts used. Capacitors, RAM, mosfets, the cooler, and even the PCB itself can vary between models.

this is only rarely the case, when you have a custom design / build.
All "manufacturers" buy a preassembled card from ATI/nVidia (called, a reference card) and put a sticker on it, thats it.
A few of them will ALSO, for very specific models, buy a GPU and manufacture their own (in which case what Ben90 said applies), this will almost always be IN ADDITION to their reference card (so you will have several very similar cards from the same maker).

The only differences when buying reference cards from different manufacturers are:
1. they put a different sticker on it after getting it from the real manufacturer.
2. they package it with different cables / instruction manual / box.
3. they provide different warranty terms and customer support.

 

[Skurge]

this is only rarely the case, when you have a custom design / build.
All "manufacturers" buy a preassembled card from ATI/nVidia (called, a reference card) and put a sticker on it, thats it.
A few of them will ALSO, for very specific models, buy a GPU and manufacture their own (in which case what Ben90 said applies), this will almost always be IN ADDITION to their reference card (so you will have several very similar cards from the same maker).

The only differences when buying reference cards from different manufacturers are:
1. they put a different sticker on it after getting it from the real manufacturer.
2. they package it with different cables / instruction manual / box.
3. they provide different warranty terms and customer support.

Had a sapphire 9600XT, 2900XT and 4770. All worked well. I had to RMA a 4770 for a friend. Their customer support seemed ok, didn't have any difficulties.

 

[Dark Shroud]

I had a Sapphire x300 SE, x1950, & an HD 4670. All still run fine without problems other than being old.

 

[jacktesterson]

The difference is the quality of parts used. Capacitors, RAM, mosfets, the cooler, and even the PCB itself can vary between models.

This is not really the case at all....

 

[tweakboy]

Some have cheaper PCB then others.

Like XFX , BFG PNY, MSI all have cheap PCB's that are blue or red

Green PCB is what you want,, from ASUS or GIGABYTE or EVGA

 

[Barfo]

Some have cheaper PCB then others.

Like XFX , BFG PNY, MSI all have cheap PCB's that are blue or red

Green PCB is what you want,, from ASUS or GIGABYTE or EVGA

Isn't spreading such misinformation, when you've already been told it's false, grounds for an infraction?

 

[Ben90]

This is not really the case at all....

That is the exact case on non-reference cards. Believe it or not, even the GPU can be different. You used to be able to buy a 5970 that used two 5870 GPUs. I don't remember which vendor because I never cared about the 5970, but it was out there.

*edit*
That's a negatory actually. The Asus Ares, the card that uses two 5870s, is marketed as a 5870x2 and NOT a 5970 like I thought it was.

 

[taltamir]

Some have cheaper PCB then others.

Like XFX , BFG PNY, MSI all have cheap PCB's that are blue or red

Green PCB is what you want,, from ASUS or GIGABYTE or EVGA

the color is purely cosmetic and has no impact on the quality of the board.

 

[Teizo]

Green PCB is what you want,, from ASUS or GIGABYTE or EVGA

Gigabyte = Blue PCB on every peice of hardware they make. It is one of their trademarks.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Brand.as...&name=GIGABYTE

Guess you need to modify your approved vendor list.