Best card to replace my HD5750 in my Phenom II X4 965 build?

[zack_of_steel]

I've just started upgrading my computer after having done so last summer and this will be my rig once my shipments from newegg get here.

OS: Windows 7 64 bit
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATI Full Tower
Motherboard: ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
CPU Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
GPU: XFX Raedon HD5750
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
PSU: Rosewill BRONZE Series RBR1000-M 1000W
HDD: 500 GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec) 7200 rpm



I'm still learning about hardware and such, so bare with me. I have my 5750 that I got last year and I am looking to upgrade. I'd like to spend under $250 before rebate. I don't play many graphics-intensive games like Crysis, but I do do a lot of computer graphics, watch a lot of videos, and play games such as Starcraft II and a few MMORPGs.


Here are a couple cards I was looking at:


XFX HD-685X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150505&cm_re=HD6850-_-14-150-505-_-Product

GIGABYTE GV-R587UD-1GD Radeon HD 5870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125316&cm_re=hd5870_eyefinity-_-14-125-316-_-Product


If it comes down to it, I wouldn't necessarily mind spending more than $250 and buying a pair of cards to run SLI/Crossfire as I am also building my dad a computer out of my older parts.


Thanks for any help in advance, guys.

 

[4ktv]

You can't crossfire a 6xxx and 5xxx. You can look up the cards that can crossfire with your card. The 5870 is a good card and may be able to crossfire it with your card.

 

[zack_of_steel]

You can't crossfire a 6xxx and 5xxx. You can look up the cards that can crossfire with your card. The 5870 is a good card and may be able to crossfire it with your card.

Derp. I didn't know that. Probably should have checked. Thanks, lol.

Well, I feel stupid, lmao. Okay, so being that the only two compatible cards are the 5750 or the 5770, my question becomes, what card should I buy to replace my current one? Or should I just buy a 5770 and Crossfire with it?

 

[wolfram23]

The best card to CF with a 5750 is another 5750. Nothing else, because any other card (actually 5770 is the only other choice) would only run at 5750 speeds.

A 5870 alone is faster than CF 5770s even so just buying that would be a great upgrade.

CF6850 or SLI GTX460 are great combos depending on what your motherboard supports.

 

[4ktv]

Both are good ideas, If you don't want to pay much then get a 5770 for sure. It's about on par with my 4870 and it's been a good card. If you want to buy a replace ment card then get a gtx 560 or 6950. Both are good card's, but the 6950 is a bit faster.

 

[zack_of_steel]

Both are good ideas, If you don't want to pay much then get a 5770 for sure. It's about on par with my 4870 and it's been a good card. If you want to buy a replace ment card then get a gtx 560 or 6950. Both are good card's, but the 6950 is a bit faster.

So would it be best to Crossfire a pair of 6850 cards or should I just settle with one of either of these two 6950 models?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121437

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150530

 

[jay2tall]

I'd sell off the 5750 and get a single GTX 560 Ti. Nvidia cards tend to do better with MMORPG games. Single card setups are less hassle than dual card setups. ATI tends to get those drivers that all of a sudden have issues with CF in certain games.

 

[shrkbay]

CF of 6850s would beat every single GPU, but having SLI/CF in your system usually is a bunch of issues, so i'd recommend that XFX 2GB 6950, it can be unlocked so it'll perform like a more expensive 6970, but the ASUS DCuII 1GB can be OCed very high so it'll perform more or less like a 6970, idk if the HIS model has the switch*to unlock shaders*, but it could save you some money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161355&cm_re=HD6950-_-14-161-355-_-Product

 

[zack_of_steel]

I'd sell off the 5750 and get a single GTX 560 Ti. Nvidia cards tend to do better with MMORPG games. Single card setups are less hassle than dual card setups. ATI tends to get those drivers that all of a sudden have issues with CF in certain games.

So if I go with the GTX 560 Ti, does it matter what brand I buy or do I just go for aesthetics?

 

[zack_of_steel]

CF of 6850s would beat every single GPU, but having SLI/CF in your system usually is a bunch of issues, so i'd recommend that XFX 2GB 6950, it can be unlocked so it'll perform like a more expensive 6970, but the ASUS DCuII 1GB can be OCed very high so it'll perform more or less like a 6970, idk if the HIS model has the switch*to unlock shaders*, but it could save you some money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161355&cm_re=HD6950-_-14-161-355-_-Product

So basically I'll want either the XFX 6950 2GB or the GTX 560 Ti 1 GB, which are about equal on price. Will there be any drop-off in performance on the GTX?

 

[shrkbay]

^ if you go with GTX 560Ti then you should go with one of the SOC's otherwise you will be under the performance of HD6950, which you can get for the same price*means you'll waste your money*, by a quite big margin*10-15%*...

these are the only GTX560Ti's, which in my opinion are worth buying:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125369&cm_re=GTX560-_-14-125-369-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425&cm_re=GTX560-_-14-121-425-_-Product

- they usually beat the 6950, but when compared to 6950 OC or unlocked to 6970 the GTX 560Ti has no chance to win..

 

[shrkbay]

it's up to you, 6950 is more future-proof, because it has 2GB of VRAM, it also scales better in CF, performs better on bigger screens/ multiple monitors, can be unlocked and overclocked pretty well, while GTX 560Ti has PhysX and OCs really well and has a bit less issues in SLI than 6950 in CF... btw, GTX 560Ti has higher power consumption, so getting HD6950 will save you some money *10$ yearly 4H daily 5 days per week*

 

[zack_of_steel]

Well, taking all that into account, I'll probably go with the XFX 6950 2 GB. I know and like ATI so far and the 2 GB of VRAM sounds like the better option.

Thanks for all your help, guys.

 

[jay2tall]

I would research the performance of each card with the games you play at the resolution you play at. You will also want to pay attention to the test systems as some cards perform better on an Intel system as opposed to an AMD system.

Doing a quick search the 6950 and gtx560 trade punches depending on game and what test system you are using. Either will probably do you well. And seem to be on par with each other. I think Nvidia is still usually on top with the MMORPG games from what I understand. Just check reviews yourself and don't count on people's suggestions so much. If you do look for links.

 

[shrkbay]

usually Blizzard games and MMORPGs perform much better on nVidia cards, but SC2 is a lot better on 6950, AMD cards perform better on AMD system *correct me if i am wrong*

check this out:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-gf114,2845-12.html

on WoW Cataclysm 560 is better, but 6950 runs almost the same when AA enabled