surag :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150550&cm_re=hd_6950-_-14-150-550-_-Product
Is this a good card? I really want the 2GB-I've learned higher mem allows me to play better on higher res monitors.
Do you think something like this can play battlefield 3 (i know system specs arent out yet) on full settings on a 1920x1080? or oblivion etc?
If you go with a 6950 get this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127588&cm_re=6950-_-14-127-588-_-Product
It has two fans so it stays cooler and is more quiet at the same time. That will also let you overclock it higher.
A 6950 will play most games out right now at full or very close to full settings. Again a 580 is a very powerfull card. So dont think that im telling you that a 6950 is the same as a 580 its not. BUT with the cpu you have you wont see the full potential of the 580 because when you turn up thesettings all the way and are at a very high res it starts to get CPU intensive as well. So basicly by getting a $550 580 with that CPU it would most likely not be woth the extra $250 as you will be able to play games just fine with the 6950.
Then when another card comes out you can plan on upgradding your CPU. Lets say you decide to get a sandybride CPU so you buy a new mobo and CPU. You could go 2 ways at that time, 1) You could plan for a 2 card setup and get another 6950 as 2 6950's will be more powerfull than 1 580 and cost about the same. 2) By the time you upgrade your CPU there might be a new graphcs card out that is alot more powerful and you can just get that one, at least that way you would be replacing a $280 card and not a $550 card.
If money is not an object would you consider upgrading your mobo and CPU as well?