6950 2GB vs 6950 1GB

[FoldingZebra]

Hey all,

With the help of this kick-ass community I have decided to get 2x 6950s for my upcoming build. My question now is, is it worth the extra money to go for the 2GB version or will I be ok with the 1GB version? From what I gather higher memory on the card comes into play at higher resolution. I game at 1920 x 1080. Is this "high resolution"? I plan on playing a lot of Battlefield 3 when it releases, and don't mind spending the extra cash on the 2GB version if I need it to have a good gaming experience. Any thoughts?

 

[crewton]

1GB works at 1920 x 1080. The big difference between the 2GB and 1GB is that the 2GB reference design cards come with a dual bios allowing you to flash the 6970 bios onto the card thus turning into a 6970 with a lower memory clock.

 

[FoldingZebra]

Ok, it seems the reference model 2Gb versions are hard to find at the moment. If I can find them when I go to buy, I probably would get them. But I don't mind a plain old 6950

 

[crewton]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555

 

[FoldingZebra]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555

Nice. Thanks. I may just grab a set before they go out of stock again.

 

[ubercake]

Also, the 2GB would be better if you're running multiple monitors from this card. If you're not going to try to flash it to the 6970, the 6950 1GB actually performs the same or better on a single monitor in various reviews:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/02/24/amd_radeon_hd_6950_1gb_performance_review/2

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6950-1gb-vs-geforce-gtx-560-ti-review/15

 

[dhicks19]

Hey all,

With the help of this kick-ass community I have decided to get 2x 6950s for my upcoming build. My question now is, is it worth the extra money to go for the 2GB version or will I be ok with the 1GB version? From what I gather higher memory on the card comes into play at higher resolution. I game at 1920 x 1080. Is this "high resolution"? I plan on playing a lot of Battlefield 3 when it releases, and don't mind spending the extra cash on the 2GB version if I need it to have a good gaming experience. Any thoughts?

got 2 of them myself, the 2gb reference version, asus, they are great, flashed with the 6970 sapphire bios, running the same as 6970's

 

[FoldingZebra]

If I were to get 1 and flash it to the 6970 and later if the 6950s were not available, can I add a 6970 in xfire?

would this one be unlockable as well?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7092103&sku=D10-6950

 

[bystander]

At your current resolution, you may want to just buy one at first. One should give you great performance at 1080p and if it doesn't, you can always purchase a 2nd. However, you can't unbuy the card if you purchase both at once.

 

[FoldingZebra]

At your current resolution, you may want to just buy one at first. One should give you great performance at 1080p and if it doesn't, you can always purchase a 2nd. However, you can't unbuy the card if you purchase both at once.

That is true. Should I not be worried these cards will be completely gone by the end of the year?

 

[bystander]

That is true. Should I not be worried these cards will be completely gone by the end of the year?

It'll take several months after the next series of AMD cards are released, before they disappear. These are still AMD's top of the line cards, they won't discontinue them yet.

Now the dual bios cards may be gone, but not the 69xx models and you only need to get a feel on whether it's enough for a short while.

Unless your intentions are to buy the system now and hold onto it for a couple years and maybe even update your resolution in the near future, you should be ok with 1.

 

[FoldingZebra]

It'll take several months after the next series of AMD cards are released, before they disappear. These are still AMD's top of the line cards, they won't discontinue them yet.

Now the dual bios cards may be gone, but not the 69xx models and you only need to get a feel on whether it's enough for a short while.

Unless your intentions are to buy the system now and hold onto it for a couple years and maybe even update your resolution in the near future, you should be ok with 1.

Well, I plan on getting my PC by the end of October, possibly the end of November. I am just worried that the ref model 6950s will dry up in that time so I wanted to grab em now. I dunno, it makes more sense to wait until I am ready to get the rest of the system I suppose.

 

[bystander]

Well, I plan on getting my PC by the end of October, possibly the end of November. I am just worried that the ref model 6950s will dry up in that time so I wanted to grab em now. I dunno, it makes more sense to wait until I am ready to get the rest of the system I suppose.

Yes, I'd wait until you buy the rest of the system. There may be new cards out by then, and that would cause the 6950's to lower in cost. They are already lower in cost today than a few months ago. You might decide that you want something else by the time you put the system together.

 

[FoldingZebra]

Yes, I'd wait until you buy the rest of the system. There may be new cards out by then, and that would cause the 6950's to lower in cost. They are already lower in cost today than a few months ago. You might decide that you want something else by the time you put the system together.

Yeah, I think I will. Thanks for all the help from everyone