3 ATI Cards, which is best?

[ThatMan19]

So I'm looking to get a video card but I've been getting mixed reviews. Which is better (2) Ati Radeon 5870, (1) Ati Radeon 5870 2GB or (1) Ati Radeon 5970?

 

[Twoboxer]

According to these results:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/163?vs=165

2z5870 most often outperforms 1x5970. If that's what you mean by "Which is best?"

 

[Maziar]

2 5870s perform about 10-15%(depending on the game) faster than 1 5970;however,they run hotter,noisier and have more power consumption.

 

[chunkymonster]

What resolution are you gaming at? Do you have more than one monitor?

If a single monitor with a max resolution of 1920x1200 or less then a single 5870 is more than enough to game with the eye candy. If gaming at 1680x1050 or less, then a 5850 is enough for gaming with eye candy.

If gaming at a resolution of 2560x1600 on a single monitor or with two or monitors then two 5870's or a single 5970 are worth the additional cost.

 

[microterf]

2x5870s

 

[ThatMan19]

So what about the (1) 5870 2GB card?

 

[Maziar]

1 5870 is significantly slower than either 2 5870s or 1 5970.

 

[jaguarskx]

I would only buy the HD 5870 2GB for an Eyefinity setup if you cannot afford to spend more money.

 

[microterf]

http://benchmarkextreme.com/Articles/Radeon%205870%202GB/P1.html

If the choice is between 2x (5870 1GB) or 1X(5870 2GB) or 1 x 5970. I would choose the 2 5870s.

But personally I woudl xfire 2 5870 2GB cards if I were you. What is your gaming resolution?

 

[jyjjy]

Forget the HD5000 series. The HD6000 series has significantly improved crossfire scaling so get 2 HD6870s. It will beat any of the options you mention.
Or wait a week or two until the HD6950/70 are supposed to be released.

 

[g00fysmiley]

^^ this!

2x 5870 2 gig > 2x5870 1 gig > 1 5970 > 1 5870 1 gig

the 5970 is basically two 5870's downclocked with 2 gigs 1 gig for each card. at higher resolutions the biggest factor is the card is memory starved vs a gtx480 or 580, xfired 2 gig cards would definatly be a force to be reckoned with... but would cost mroe so i understand if thats why you had as possible one 2 gig. i would probqbly if thats the case buy one 2 gig card now and maybe look to upgrade to a second 2 gig card down the line

*jyjyjy popped in so had to edit arrows

and yes if you can wait a few weeks i'd say the 6900 series will be worth it at least to compareand a probable price drop if you still

 

[ares1214]

Id wait for the GTX 570 and 6970/6950 coming momentarily. However, if not, id say buy 2 6850's in Xfire. 68xx scaling is beautiful, the best out there. 6850 Xfire at stock speeds should perfectly be even with a 5970:

Then, factor in the fact they can each easily OC 25-30%, for atleast a 20% performance boost each, and you have some sick performance at a fraction of the cost.

 

[microterf]

^ problem with that though, is that the 2 5870s will outperform the 2 6850s. 2 6870s should beat it though.

 

[ares1214]

^ problem with that though, is that the 2 5870s will outperform the 2 6850s. 2 6870s should beat it though.

I dont think you understand, when you OC the 6850's, they are just as fast as the 6870's.

 

[jyjjy]

^ problem with that though, is that the 2 5870s will outperform the 2 6850s.

Will beat it slightly while costing $150-200 more. Not much of a real option if you care at all about price.

 

[ares1214]

Will beat it slightly while costing $150-200 more. Not much of a real option if you care at all about price.

Not to mention 68xx scaling and performance will only get better, use less power, lower temps, and DX11, MLAA, all these are better on 6xxx.

 

[chunkymonster]

All these suggestions and debates about what card the OP should get are nice but the OP still hasn't stated what resolution he is gaming at or how many monitors he has. Heck for all we know he could have a 19" LCD with a mas res of 1440x900!

 

[g00fysmiley]

maybe he has a crt at 1600x1200 and needs the huge fps chuck, it is a good point though knowing resolution helps but he asked "which is better"which i think we've all interpreted as which would be better in general if the question was "which would be better for me" we'd be asking those questions, but it is a valid poitn if he's looking to buy the card vs trying to figure out which is theoredically better

 

[microterf]

exactly. If someone asks, what is better, I'm assuming that they are asking for the best performance from the group of cards (remember, he listed 3 scenarios, didn't mention anything about the 6xxx series)

If $$ was the issue, I would assume he would have stated "what is the best card I can get for $xxx?"

Honestly, if I was the OP, I would wait for the 69xx series, but that wasn't what was asked.

btw, I will die laughing if he is running 1440x900.

 

[ThatMan19]

Lol hell no I won't be using 1440x900...I'm looking at 1920x1080 and up. But yes I was just speaking in general of which is the better setup, price didn't matter. I wasn't much aware of the 6xxx series, so should I just wait for the 69xx? If so, when does it come out?

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, wait a bit. Supposedly the HD6950/70 should be out in about a week.