Which graphic card should I get for $300!!!

[Geeksire]

Hello everybody! I have been wondering on which graphic card I should get and took a great interest in ATI. Would the 6950 ATI be better than Nvidia graphic cards, and would there be that much of a difference in fps with the 6970 or any of the latest Nvidia graphic cards?

P.S: Leaning forward on getting the 6950.

 

[omnisome]

Post your system specifications please. (Motherboard, CPU, PSU most importantly).

Thank you

 

[Geeksire]

Oh I have to do that? I just want to know which one is better. I really do not have a build yet. : /

 

[Tamz_msc]

The HD 6950, priced around 300$ performs like the HD 5870, while the HD 6970 priced at 370$ trades lows with the GTX 570( the MSI one is priced at 330$ on Newegg) at resolutions upto 1920x1200, above which the HD 6970 pulls ahead due to its 2 GB framebuffer.

However the 6950 can be unlocked to a HD 6970 through a BIOS flash.This seems a nice option and has indeed worked for many, but you can't say that it'll unlock all the time.

The HD 6xxx series has got improved tessellation performance, but the GTX 570 is still better in tessellation intensive games.

If you want to spend the entire 300$, get the HD 6950, otherwise if you want something for less, I suggest that you wait for the GTX 560, which should be able to match the HD 6950 in terms of performance and is arriving on January 25th.

 

[Geeksire]

That is what I wanted : D
Will the GTX 560 be the same price as the 6950, and unlocking a 6950 to a 6970 would include overclocking right because if it does I really do not want to rick it.

 

[Tamz_msc]

That is what I wanted : D
Will the GTX 560 be the same price as the 6950, and unlocking a 6950 to a 6970 would include overclocking right because if it does I really do not want to rick it.

The GTX 560 should cost less than 250$ and perform close to the HD 6950.

Unlocking the HD 6950 wont damage it as it has a backup BIOS, but you can never be sure that it would actually work as intended after unlocking.

 

[Geeksire]

Do not really have that much experience in overclocking so really do not want to do it even if it has a backup.

So in your opinion, would you go with the 6xxx or 5xxx series?

 

[Tamz_msc]

The choice between the Radeon 6000 and 5000 series is simple, go for the former, unless you get a very good deal on a good 5000 series card like the HD 5870 or HD 5850.

 

[Geeksire]

I still recommended the Twin Frozr II 5850 on newegg for 189.99. It's a steal

I am not sure what to do but I will look into this buy.

What I really want to buy is something that will last me a long time until it is obsolete in the future. I really want the new ATI 6950, or better yet. I will will wait for the GTX 560 to see which will be a good buy.

Oh and I never did answer the resolution. It should be 1920X1200. The best resolution as-a-matter-of-fact.

 

[Geeksire]

I I will wait until the GTX 560. I should have mentioned I wanted an Intel i3 CPU and motherboard that can support SLI or Crossfire (one of the other). I will wait

Will look for prices on the 6xxx or 5xxx, and the GTX 560 when it comes out.

Thanks for help.

 

[jjb8675309]

I vote for the gtx 560, that makes the most sense to me, then sli them down the road with your future mobo....