Are we expecting anything new before, say, July 8? >_>

Starion15

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So, fairly self explanatory title. I'm currently running an 8800gt (along with my i7 860, ddr3, blah blah blah); I've been holding out to see if anything new is coming out from ati (I was waiting for the fermi release :cry: but anyway), I've got a big lanparty thing coming up in July, so that was my artificial deadline in order to avoid the "well, lets just wait a little longer and see what comes out next", and then I never upgrade. :p

So anyway, are there any rumours of anything coming out from either camp before then (but especially ati) before then, or should I just hop on the next 5850/5870 deal that I come across and enjoy?

In particular, I've been eyeballing the HIS 5870 (if anyone has any experience).
 
Solution
The HD5870 and HD5850 do actually use the same processor. The only differences between the cards is that they lowered the clocks of the HD5850 to 725 from 850 mhz and they disabled 10% of the stream processors(1600 vs 1440)
Basically if you are going to overclock then the difference in stock clocks ceases to matter. Both of the cards tend to max out in the 1000-1050mhz area when you bump up the core voltage. So when overclocking is taken into account the only difference is the number of stream processors. This advantage tends to give the HD5870 about 5-10% extra performance when clocks are the same. That really isn't worth the money compared to the HD5850 IMO, $320 vs $390 or not.
At 850 mhz the HD5850 should use slightly less...
I think Nvidia is planning some new cards for the mid-range but I don't know about before July 8th. They've already released their high end cards for the current generation as has ATI. The HD6xxx shouldn't be expected for another 6 months+.
I would recommend an HD5850 over an HD5870 if you are going to overclock. They both overclock to basically the same speeds and when you do so the HD5870 only tends to beat the HD5850 by 5-10% which isn't worth $100 imo.
 

Starion15

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Nothing new will be coming out in the next month

Well, simply put! Settles that then, thanks! :)



Yea, I've been going back and forth. My first choice had been the Asus 5850, but getting some stock on the "Top" version has been hard, and it's $340 at that (compared to about $380 on a descent sale for a 5870). Plus I don't plan to upgrade until DX12 gets around to existing, so I was kinda planning on just "going big" and then holding out (though not gtx 480 or 5970 big :whistle: ).

Thanks guys!
 

Trueno07

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I would go with the 5850 because you can find them for around 290 online, which is a fantastic price. Also, if you're mobo is crossfire capable, 2 5850's are a pretty spectacular combination.
 

Starion15

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Ah, I see. I thought that the Top version was cut from a different stock, so to speak, able to get a bit higher. Though most of the OC reviews seemed to have the top/non-top at the same level, so I guess it's like the "superclocked" 8800.

With regards to the 5850/5870, they basically use the same core, right (just different quality)? I'm not a noise fanatic, but it is something that I've been careful of in this build; would a 5850 OC'd to say, 850mhz like the 5870 produce more, less, or the same amount of heat? I figure if I need to increase the voltage to reach the higher speeds, it would likely mean more heat/more noise to dissipate it (although this idea doesn't exactly take into account the "performance" cooler on the Asus model 5850 which should be quieter than average, but if I'm really going to go money saving mode, I'd probably want some $290 5850 variant anyway, otherwise the difference isn't so major [$320 for the asus 5850 versus $388 for the HIS 5870 I linked earlier]). Then again the Asus might be worthwhile just for the quieter solution. Uggg decisions.
 
The HD5870 and HD5850 do actually use the same processor. The only differences between the cards is that they lowered the clocks of the HD5850 to 725 from 850 mhz and they disabled 10% of the stream processors(1600 vs 1440)
Basically if you are going to overclock then the difference in stock clocks ceases to matter. Both of the cards tend to max out in the 1000-1050mhz area when you bump up the core voltage. So when overclocking is taken into account the only difference is the number of stream processors. This advantage tends to give the HD5870 about 5-10% extra performance when clocks are the same. That really isn't worth the money compared to the HD5850 IMO, $320 vs $390 or not.
At 850 mhz the HD5850 should use slightly less power/give off slightly less heat than the stock HD5870 because it has fewer stream processors. That Asus card is supposed to be very quiet but the reference fan is actually supposed to be quite quiet as well.
Keep in mind not all of these cards can OC the same. The reference design of both cards allows for voltage modification (for an OC generally up to or slightly past 1ghz like I said earlier.) Most of the current HD5850/70s are no longer on the reference PCB and no longer allow for voltmodding. There are a few excepts like that Asus card and the MSI Twin Frozr. On stock voltage(the HD5870s stock voltage is slightly higher) the HD5850 will get in the 850-900mhz area and the HD5870 around 900-950mhz.
 
Solution