6850 vs 6870 vs gtx560 vs gtx460 vs 5850 vs 5870

[ee_engineer]

hey, so I am starting my build. The main uses for this build will be gaming/matlab/programming(mcu's, java/android, C etc). Most things in matlab will be signal processing. As far as gaming goes, I don't really play at enthusiast lvls, but i would like medium graphics at good FPSes. Also i would like to pay as little as possible.
Regualar games would probably be shooting games (Combat Arms, COD), action games (GTA series, Assassins Creed etc) and a lil racing and sports and ofc The Sims.

I already got the first part of my build in, which is a 2500k. Will probably get a 500W psu. So i am trying to figure out which GFX to buy:
HD6850, HD6870, HD5850, HD5830, GTX560 or GTX460. On newegg, the 6850 is about the same price as the gtx460 and hd5850, which are starting at 150USD, the 6870 is about the same price as the higher priced GTX460s, and the gtx 560s are about 60USD more than the rest.
Instead of upgrading my GPU later, i will probably do dual cards.

My build is:
intel i5 2500k
Asus P8P67 LE-R3 Mobo(only supports cfx, up to quad, but willing to change if you all recommend nvidia)
HD TBD (probably will be a seagate 7200rpm 500gb-1tb green drive)
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB)
generic 500W-600W psu


So, what GPU should i go with?

Thanks for the help!

edit: I also have a toshiba regza 47in which would be my primary monitor (HDMI connection), and i prefer to play at resolutions upwards of 1600x1050. 1080p preferred though.

IF you get all the way to the end of this post... CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

[gkay09]

^ If going with a lower powered PSU and might go Crossfire later on, then IMO the HD 6850 would be a very good option,... It can handle most of the games @1080p with Medium settings easy,...
Also consumes less power so say with a 600-650W PSU, you can go Crossfire without any issues.
As for the mobo, check the newer Z68 chipsets...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600093976%20600158412%204017&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-128-493^13-128-493-TS%2C13-128-502^13-128-502-TS%2C13-128-500^13-128-500-TS

 

[boiler1990]

If you want to game at 1080p and are considering a $250 GTX 560, I'd get the HD 6950 instead. It's about the same price as the 560, but it beats it at 1080p and higher resolution. I switched from 460s to 470s and then to a 6950 and have been extremely pleased.
A solid 650W PSU should be more than enough (Antec, Corsair, XFX).

I've never seen a "green" 7200RPM drive, but I'd go with a Samsung F3. They're the fastest platters out there, and soon they'll become part of Seagate's hard drive division (and not as reliable).

The Z68 chipset would be a waste because you'd need to do video encoding/decoding to really take advantage of the chipset. Stick with the P67.

 

[mdd1963]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=6850

The 6850 is reasonably priced, as is the GTX460(1GB)....

Once you add $125 to the gpu budget (to $250-$275), the next best candidate is the 6950(2gb)...

 

[Au_equus]

get the 1gb 6950 (if you're using one monitor). the xfx model (2x lifetime warranty) is 240usd on NE. 210usd after a 30usd mir. don't know why you would want four PCIe x16 slots, but that mobo you posted is not quad cf. its two 16x/4x slots. The x4 slot would bottleneck any high end gpu, such as a 6950.
get this msi mobo instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583
it supports 16x/8x CF for $25 less.
Please fill out the rest of the form to clarify your needs:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

 

[genghiskron]

yeah if you really want to make use of a lifetime warranty, buy the xfx 6950 1gb. that card is a LEMON. newegg reviews dont mean that much, but they do mean something. that card has serious problems. id take that unreviewed gigabyte over the xfx in a heartbeat.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125372&cm_re=6950-_-14-125-372-_-Product

 

[boiler1990]

get the 1gb 6950 (if you're using one monitor). the xfx model (2x lifetime warranty) is 240usd on NE. 210usd after a 30usd mir. don't know why you would want four PCIe x16 slots, but that mobo you posted is not quad cf. its two 16x/4x slots. The x4 slot would bottleneck any high end gpu, such as a 6950.
get this msi mobo instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583
it supports 16x/8x CF for $25 less.
Please fill out the rest of the form to clarify your needs:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

The x16/x4 configuration will still allow crossfire (quad-cf with dual GPU cards like the 6990); however, I agree that it would be slightly bottlenecked.

I'd recommend the ASRock P67 Extreme4; it's a great board and has a x16/x8 config.

 

[Au_equus]

my bad, this card looks like one of the worst cards xfx has put out recently. just trying to keep within the OP's budget. it sucks that msi doesn't make the 1gb model, but, yeah, the gigabyte (love the three fans) or the sapphire models would work well or even the HIS iceq turbo.

 

[boiler1990]

I have a reference model MSI 2GB and it stays plenty cool. There's really no need for the MSI Twin Frozer or similar coolers. Plus, those bring hot air into the case, not out of it.

 

[Au_equus]

The x16/x4 configuration will still allow crossfire (quad-cf with dual GPU cards like the 6990); however, I agree that it would be slightly bottlenecked.

I'd recommend the ASRock P67 Extreme4; it's a great board and has a x16/x8 config.

^+1 touche, but in regards to the title, I don't think the 6990 is in the OP's budget, lol (who needs to fill out that form so we can figure out his/her intentions). btw, this 6950 discussion may be a mute point. The OP did not specify whether it's gtx 560 or a gtx 560ti, a 40usd price difference. gtx 560 (sans-ti), is more in line price-wise with the gpus in the title, but if you can stretch the budget $30-40, get the 1gb 6950, go for it, ee you won't be disappointed. Got two, CF'd, oc'd, and happily gaming. cheers

 

[boiler1990]

I was just explaining where the Quad-CFX certification came from. I'd love dual 6990s...

That is true; I hate that there's a new 560. There's literally a card for every single amount of money you have to spend on one. IMO they'll lose money on a lot of better cards (i.e. people will buy the 560 more than the 560Ti due to the lower price).

 

[crewton]

If you plan on putting 2 cards in your system down the road I'd get more than a 500W power supply.

For your budget I'd go with 6870. Price per performance it wins out in that category.

 

[cronos177]

^Agree. I'd go with the HD6870 or get the HD 6850 and upgrade PSU.

 

[ee_engineer]

thanks for all the replies,decided on a xfx 6870. btw, i was talking about the non-ti gtx560, very very tight budget. system came just over $600
Final specs:

xfx hd6870

intel i5 2500k

ASUS P8P67 LE-R3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131705

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) 1600MHz: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145285

Rosewill Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147120&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS052111&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS052111-_-EMC-052111-Index-_-index-_-11147120

Seagate Barracuda 500GB

Logisys PSU (CHEAP and nice reviews): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170017

think i might also get samsung f3 1tb

I already bought the 2500k, thinking of returning it for a 2400

this is not a GPU question, but i hope you can still help. if i go for the 2400, a p67 doesnt seem to be needed, so would an h61 suffice?
also would i notice much of a difference if i get 8gb @ 1333Mhz instead of 4gb @ 1600MHz?
and assuming i do not plan on OCing, would a 2400 with an H61 be a smarter choice (this could come to $100 less, which could go to a 6950)

Thanks so much for all the help

 

[boiler1990]

If you don't plan on OCing, then yes the 2500K + P67 is a frivolous purchase and you wouldn't see any decrease in performance with the H61/67 chipset.

You wouldn't see anything really noticeable at 1333MHz vs. 1600MHz.

I'd spend the extra money on a real PSU. Get something like the XFX Core series or Antec Earthwatts. They're still really good power supplies, but aren't over $100.

 

[ee_engineer]

Thank you so much boiler, any chance you are a boilermaker? an would $40 extra for a 560 (not ti) be worth it?

 

[boiler1990]

Yeah I just finished my 3rd year a Purdue.

I've looked at some of the benchmarks and it doesn't seem like the 560 and 560Ti are that different in terms of performance. If you could afford a 560Ti though, I'd say go with the 6950 1 or 2 GB, because they outperform the 560Ti for the same price.

 

[ee_engineer]

Best answer selected by ee_engineer.