GPU for new Build - Powercolor 5850? 460?

[pctx]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: for GPU: 150-175

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, movies, internet

Overclocking: I've never done it so probably not

SLI or Crossfire: Nope

Monitor Resolution: prob 1920x1080



I've gotten most of the components for my new build (CPU: 955 BE, PSU: 650W Corsair, Monitor: 23" ASUS VH236H, Mobo: ASRock 870 EXTREME3), but now I'm looking for a video card.

I had my eye on a 5850 and the cheapest is a non-reference Powercolor on newegg for 169.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131386). No reviews... do you guys think it's an okay buy? Or should I wait for another 5850 to go on sale or get something else, e.g. 460 and attempt to OC even though I've never done it? What about a 6850? I've seen a lot about how it's better with tessellation.

Thanks!!

 

[batuchka]

HD 6850 with view to CF on that Asrock 870


HD6K Barts: single/CF review
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market/8

 

[sadams04]

The 460 is at a good price. Maybe...

MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit ($170 after rebates)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127518
Core Clock 780MHz
Shader Clock 1560MHz
Stream Processors 336 Processor Cores Memory
Effective Memory Clock 3600MHz
Memory Size 1GB
Memory Interface 256-bit

 

[calguyhunk]

Here's the benchmark - Raden HD 5850 vs GTX 460 1GB

If you wanna go with the 6xxx series though, at 1080p and higher, the 6870 will prolly make better sense.

P.S.- I'm only talking 'bout the 6870 'coz it's pricing is not too dissimilar to that of the 5850. Not in your stated price range though.

 

[pctx]

No recommendations for the 5850? I thought that would have been the most common answer, haha.

How about the card sadams04 linked to: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127518. Is there a reason not to buy a factory OC'd card? It looks to be on par with and at times, better than the 5850, according to some reviews and benchmarks. It's got a pretty good price too.

No votes for the newer 6850 despite its poorer overall performance?

 

[calguyhunk]

Your link leads somewhere else.

And I actually gave you the benchmark for the 5850 and the 460 for you to decide between the 2 (I mistakenly typed 5750, but since have edited my post). But the link remains the same.

The actual choice between the 5850 and the 460 1GB (stock) will depend on your preference (if any) for AMD or Nvidia and what specific games you might wanna play.

But all these are really academic if you're not on at least 1080p.

As far as factory OC goes, why pay more for something that you can do yourself? A bit more hassle I suppose, but if you enjoy fiddling with stuff, it should be a welcome option and if you like things to work straight out of the box and don't mind paying 20 odd bucks extra, just go for it. Higher clocks never hurt any one

Getting a 460 is a valid option only if you're not looking at adding a 2nd GPU sometime in the future.

And as far as the 5850 vs the 6850 debate goes, the 5850 in your link is just better value in pure fps terms.

For single cards - 6870 > 5850 > 6850. For xfire - 6870 > 6850 > 5850.

 

[geekapproved]

HD5850. It's faster and cheaper (or as cheap as) the GTX460. It is a hell of an overclocker too, some people clock way past 5870 speeds.

 

[batuchka]

ATI Radeon 6870 6850 - Featured Review - Widescreen Gaming Forum

Conclusions

The Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 are both excellent cards, and offer an amazing price/performance ratio. In my testing, the Radeon HD 6870 offered approximately 95% of the performance of the Radeon HD 5870, for 64% of the price - all with lower heat, noise and power.

The Radeon HD 6850 performed offered approximately 85% of the performance of the Radeon HD 5870, for 48% of ther price. The HD 6850 vs. HD 5850 comparison held ot that of the 6870/5870 - 95% of the power for 64% of the price.

 

[geekapproved]

.....But the 5850 offers 95% the performance of the 6970 for a lot less money and uses the same amount of power. Killer overclocker too.

 

[game474]

Get the HD 7850. May go upto $190 but it destroys 460 in every benchmark.. If you want to stick to your budget I suggest the very new $150 HD7790 (not 7970), Its like 15percent faster than a 650Ti...
Go for new gen cards.. They have longer support and much lower power consumption!