2 6850s or a 6950?

[hughski]

Going to upgrade and don't need the top of the line, even though I mentioned the 6950.

Looking at getting either 2 6850s (one at a time for now) or a 6950.

These: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161363

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

Which way to go?

 

[disaster101]

just from what people have told me it might be a good idea to get the 6950 mainly because you can unlock the shaders and clock it to roughly the same as a 6970 but make sure you got enough power for the card i got the 6970 the other day its huge and needed a bigger power supply and 6 pin cables stupid of me not to notice that first so yeah just in-case

 

[jednx01]

The 6950 is a great card. I just got two of them and have found them to be very good cards. I've experienced a few more issues than I had with my nvidia cards though (sli gtx 260s). Mostly just driver conflict stuff with a couple of games. Overall, great cards though.

 

[hughski]

d101,
I probably wouldn't worry about reclocking the 6950 if I got it. PS is a Corsair TX650 so I've got the juice.

I only play BF-BC2 right now, but am looking to be prepared for BF3. From what I've read on THs April video card guide, the two 6850s are quite good, though I'd just use one right now to play BC2 better (current card is an 8800 GTS OC 320MB - stutters when there is action).
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-radeon-hd-6990-geforce-gtx-590,2912-5.html

See the comparison of 2 6850s vs a 6950 in this chart: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950-cayman,2818-12.html They blow away everything.