6850 CF vs gtx 470 sli

[vfgv4666tf]

Hi,Guys.Looking for an upgrade from 5850.I have 2 options gtx 470 sli(used) or 6850 CF (new).Which one should i go for if both cost the same?
Power consumption is not a big problem for me.
Resolution:-1600*900
PSU:-850 tx

 

[purple stain]

Looks at this review(at the bottom of page)..
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-crossfirex-review/7

Not much of a difference from a 5850cf compared to each a gtx470sli and a 6850cf.I would stay with your current 5850 and just buy a new one.But to answer your question the 470sli is faster than a 6850cf.
Even if you did go for a 6850 why not a 6870 for $30 more, imo.They are the highest scaling cards when it comes to crossfire.

What's your current CPU&speed?

 

[bystander]

I'd recommend a single card solution. Perhaps a 6970 or 570. I used 470's in SLI for a while. Even giving them an extra slot between them to breath, they were noisy cards, much noisier than 5870's in CF (which should be similar to the 6870's).

I'd recommend adding a 2nd 5850, but if you wanted to start over, then I'd look at a 570 or 6970. 470's in SLI will be less enjoyable than a 5850 CF, unless physX is important to you.

What is the purpose of improving your graphical performance. At your resolution, there isn't much a 5850 won't be able to max out. Is there a particular game you need performance in?

 

[vfgv4666tf]

I will probably be looking to max Shogun 2,Metro 2033,crysis 2(I know no one would be able to max it).I prefer 6850's to 5850 cf due to their better tessellation performance and also less haggle with crossfire with 6850's.
As for the 6870's they would cost me 140$(both) more approx cause i am not from US.
Cpu core i5 750 @ 3.2 ghz
max possible oc on my cpu:-4.2 ghz,stable.
By the way a new 5850 cost about 310$ here.

 

[clarkjd]

What motherboard do you have? Most MB support either SLI or Cf, but not both, Also do you know what the second PCI-e slot will run at? Some MBs only support X16X4 which would NOT be good for either SLI or Crossfire!

 

[jfem]

GTX 470 SLI will be better. 6850's are not in its league but the 6870's are.

 

[beltzy]

+1 to Purple Stank. Always check out the benchies for the setups you're looking at. As for Metro 2033, 470s in SLI get just about the exact same FPS as 5850s in Crossfire (though they may win out in min FPS). 1920x1200 (or 1080) is what Guru3d focuses it's comparison charts on. Most gamers that are invested in several hundred dollars of high end graphics cards are probably playing at that resolution if not 2560x1600 (which requires a $1,000+ flagship monitor).

At your resolution you don't need a lot of graphics muscle to max games. If you're looking to improve your experience you may want to think about upgrading your monitor first to something with higher resolution (or turn up the resolution on yours if you're able). You'll be surprised at the extra fidelity you'd get moving you to 1920x1200.

Since the pricing where you're located seems to be very high for a 5850, I would select the lowest cost of either 6850cf, 470 sli, or another single 5850. I would find it hard to believe that a 6850 or a 470 would be less expensive than a 5850 no matter the market. Adding another 5850 is most likely the best value upgrade path for you right now!

*6850 only requires 1 6-pin PCI-e connector each, though with your 850w PSU this isn't an issue.

 

[vfgv4666tf]

My motherboard is p55 GD65 so it supports crossfire as well as sli at 8x/8x.
The price of 5850 has not dropped here from it's launching price while the 6850 are pretty close to the US price.As for the gtx 470 they are costly than both 5850 or 6850 if i buy them new .But as i have mentioned initially that they are used 470's(second hand).

 

[jjb8675309]

after taking in all the posts I would say if a second 5850 is a ripoff then go for the gtx 470s they will be more powerful then dual 6850s but require more power and likely create more heat...

 

[purple stain]

I still think going with a 5850 is the best soultion.You already have 1 so i don't see the point in throwing it away for some other setup that will only give you a 5-10fps gain.
Wait a couple more weeks and see if the prices drop for the 5850.

 

[jjb8675309]

I still think going with a 5850 is the best soultion.You already have 1 so i don't see the point in throwing it away for some other setup that will only give you a 5-10fps gain.
Wait a couple more weeks and see if the prices drop for the 5850.

the op said the 5850 was overpriced wherever they are from, and I think mentioned they were getting a deal on sli 470s or crossfire 6850s thats the only reason I spoke against the 5850 which is still a good deal here in the US but if it is the same price as when it came out in the ops country then its def not a good deal imo. really there is not a huge difference imo but why pay 2009 prices for older tech.

 

[purple stain]

I know he said that prices are higher for the 5850.But what i'm trying to say is that if he already owns one it seems like a waste to go for a differnt setup if you already have one.
That is why i am saying to wait until the prices drop.Or he could sell his current 5850.I just figured he was was gonna put it in a box and let it sit somewhere,which is what i dread.

 

[bystander]

Frankly, at 1600x900, I'd recommend going with a single higher end card. 6950/70 or 570/80.

 

[jjb8675309]

yeah I mean either way he goes he will have rock solid performance at 1600X900 and really should just about have great 1600X900 with a single 5850 I would think so... this thread is getting boring... its like the same advice/argument over and over again

 

[jerreece]

470's in SLI will be less enjoyable than a 5850 CF, unless physX is important to you.

I agree with all you said but this. That's purely an opinion. And honestly one that makes no sense to me. GTX 470's in SLI (although hot and loud) perform better than 5850's. To me, performance is more enjoyable.

As it is, the OP should probably just buy a second 5850 and Crossfire it. It's cheaper and should perform darn well.

EDIT: Oh.. yeah and at 1600x900... why do you need more than a single ATI 5850? Metro 2033 does look pretty cool maxed out (at 1080p) but it's not that fun. I played it through once and haven't been able to get myself to play through the first mission again yet.

 

[jjb8675309]

I agree with all you said but this. That's purely an opinion. And honestly one that makes no sense to me. GTX 470's in SLI (although hot and loud) perform better than 5850's. To me, performance is more enjoyable.

As it is, the OP should probably just buy a second 5850 and Crossfire it. It's cheaper and should perform darn well.

EDIT: Oh.. yeah and at 1600x900... why do you need more than a single ATI 5850? Metro 2033 does look pretty cool maxed out (at 1080p) but it's not that fun. I played it through once and haven't been able to get myself to play through the first mission again yet.

agreed about the single 5850 and the sli 470s.... 2033 is crap to me, looks darn good but not really a good game by any means imo, graphics don't make everything.

 

[bystander]

The reason I don't like the 470's in SLI is due to noise levels. I even had them spaced 3 slots a part, so there was a full slot worth of space between them. When ever full load hit, bam it was like a lawnmower. I've used 5870's in CF before, with the extra space, and it never came anywhere near as loud.

Given that either would max out performance and then some. I'd rule out the 470's.

 

[jjb8675309]

^^ fair enough but to me noise level is not that bothersome, that being said a second 5850is the most logical decision bc 6850s in crossfire will be about the same, but the difference is you have to buy two of them....

 

[purple stain]

^agree
Thats what i've been saying the whole time.

 

[andy5174]

Metro2033 and Crysis 2? nVidia card FTW!! Sell your 5850 and grab a GTX570.

 

[vfgv4666tf]

Thank you all guys for replying.I think some of you guys are confused about the 5850 that i presently own.If i go with 6850 cf or 470 sli then i will sell this 5850 for the price of a new 6850.So i won't lose money on that.And some of you guys are right that 6850 cf vs 5850 cf only have a few frames difference but with 6850 cf is less haggle and they have better tessellation performance too.

 

[andy5174]

Both Metro2033 and Crysis2 favor nVidia cards. However, a single GTX470 runs immensely hot not mentioned to two in SLI. Hence, I suggest that you get a single GTX570 or two GTX560.

p.s. GTX560 should be released in a few days.

 

[bystander]

Both Metro2033 and Crysis2 favor nVidia cards. However, a single GTX470 runs immensely hot not mentioned to two in SLI. Hence, I suggest that you get a single GTX570 or two GTX560.

p.s. GTX560 should be released in a few days.

Where did you see info on Crysis 2 benchmarks comparing cards? Crysis 1, if anything, favors ATI.

 

[jerreece]

However, a single GTX470 runs immensely hot not mentioned to two in SLI.

That kind of depends on airflow and cooling ability. A single GTX 470 does indeed run pretty hot. But when I put in a second one I honestly didn't see much difference in my maximum operating temperatures. However, that's because my motherboard allows 3 slots between the cards (there's a single slot space open between them). And I have a pretty large case with good air flow through it.

But, it all comes down to what you consider hot, and what you consider too hot. I just live with the fact that the 470 operates at high temperatures. But Furmark tests haven't pushed my SLI setup any hotter than it did a single 470 (in my particular case & room).

 

[bystander]

That kind of depends on airflow and cooling ability. A single GTX 470 does indeed run pretty hot. But when I put in a second one I honestly didn't see much difference in my maximum operating temperatures. However, that's because my motherboard allows 3 slots between the cards (there's a single slot space open between them). And I have a pretty large case with good air flow through it.

But, it all comes down to what you consider hot, and what you consider too hot. I just live with the fact that the 470 operates at high temperatures. But Furmark tests haven't pushed my SLI setup any hotter than it did a single 470 (in my particular case & room).

It's not so much the heat issue, as the fan control will prevent it from going beyond it's operating temperature, but the noise levels ramp up pretty darn high as the fans have to maintain it's operating temperature.