Which HD6870 for my setup?

[nitric0]

Setup:
AMD Athlon II X4 635
4GB RAM
550W Antec PSU

I am pretty much set on HD6870 but which to get? (Anything <$200 including shipping/tax)

1. Sapphire http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100314-2SR/dp/B004E0KV3I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306094712&sr=8-1

2. XFX http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Radeon-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-HD687AZNFC/dp/B0047ZH7GE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306094712&sr=8-2

3. HIS http://www.amazon.com/HIS-Eyefinity-Mini-DisplayPort-Express-H687F1G2M/dp/B0047N0XBW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1306094712&sr=8-3

4. VisionTek http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-Radeon-Express-Graphics-900338/dp/B0048773MY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1306094712&sr=8-5

5. MSI Twin Frozr II http://www.amazon.com/MSI-CrossFireX-R6870-Twin-Frozr/dp/B004FPYL88/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1306094712&sr=8-9

I can only buy this from Amazon. Which to get?

 

[borisof007]

Kinda depends a little on you. Do you have adequate enough airflow to support a card that dumps the heat inside the case? Do you have plans to crossfire in the future? Do you plan on overclocking at all?

If you don't plan on Crossfire in the future, and you do have adequate airflow, get the MSI Twin Frozr II.

If you do plan on Crossfire, get the HIS. (These are my opinions).

 

[jjb8675309]

MSI Twin Frozr II hands down, but then again for not too much more money you can get a gtx 560ti or 6950 which would be better and really you are already spending 200 so Id spend the extra 20-30 bucks to bump up to a gtx 560ti or 6950 1 gig. Why not wait for an extra pay check then make your purchase bc depending on what your monitors resolution is? (what is it) you may be a but dissapointed by the speed of the 6870, also I would highly recommend oc'ing your cpu for added performance. BC at 2.9ghz per core you will be held back in games that only utilize dual cores, not to mention the fact that you cores on that chip are not that strong to begin with so you may as well try to oc the crap out of it to compensate for the level of gpu you will be purchasing

 

[nitric0]

Kinda depends a little on you. Do you have adequate enough airflow to support a card that dumps the heat inside the case? Do you have plans to crossfire in the future? Do you plan on overclocking at all?

If you don't plan on Crossfire in the future, and you do have adequate airflow, get the MSI Twin Frozr II.

If you do plan on Crossfire, get the HIS. (These are my opinions).

I do have enough airflow in the case. I will not be doing crossfire and I may overclock (without messing with the voltages)

 

[nitric0]

MSI Twin Frozr II hands down, but then again for not too much more money you can get a gtx 560ti or 6950 which would be better and really you are already spending 200 so Id spend the extra 20-30 bucks to bump up to a gtx 560ti or 6950 1 gig. Why not wait for an extra pay check then make your purchase bc depending on what your monitors resolution is? (what is it) you may be a but dissapointed by the speed of the 6870, also I would highly recommend oc'ing your cpu for added performance. BC at 2.9ghz per core you will be held back in games that only utilize dual cores, not to mention the fact that you cores on that chip are not that strong to begin with so you may as well try to oc the crap out of it to compensate for the level of gpu you will be purchasing

I was advised that my CPU would bottleneck the 560ti. I play on 1680x1050 FYI. I'm on a strict budget under 200

 

[jjb8675309]

not if you overclock it, then go for the msi

 

[nitric0]

not if you overclock it, then go for the msi

Any thoughts on the XFX version? It's the cheapest, that's why I ask

 

[jjb8675309]

Ive owned the XFX version and it worked just fine, its a reference design and pumps heat out of the case, the only complaint I have with the reference models is that they can get a bit loud when the fan is ramped up

 

[nitric0]

So would the XFX be a good choice? Trying to save money

I decided I will slightly overclock without messing with the voltages. I have good airflow in my case too.

and for what it's worth. How does this card compare to the GTX 560(non ti)?

 

[jjb8675309]

its about the same as a standard gtx 560, I would buy the XFX, it is a good buy

 

[nitric0]

Thank you. I think I will get the XFX 6870

 

[jjb8675309]

lets us know how it turns out, have fun