What is the best 6950 2GB? [list inside, canada]

[daman40k]

My budget for an upgrade is $280-290. I live in Canada. Newegg apparently has the cheapest 6950 2GBs around so here's a list and my options

Edit: Here is the link:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007708%20600083901%20600095873%204018%20600007782&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB&Order=PRICE&Pagesize=20

Several manufacturers. Here in Ontario there is 13% tax so that kind of strictly limits my budget to $280-$285 and under. Highest total I can go to is $320 (including shipping, shipping is ~$10 on all cards).

So my options are:

$310 ($265, $290 after MIR) Sapphire 6950 2GB WITH $20 MIR

$326 ($280, $306 after MIR) Sapphire 6950 2GB Dirt3 Edition $20 MIR

$326 ($280) MSI Twin Frozr II 6950 2GB Dirt3

$326 ($280) HIS 6950 2GB Dirt3

$326 ($280, $306 after MIR) XFX 6950 2GB WITH $20 MIR

$337 ($290, $307 after MIR) XFX Dual Fan 6950 2GB WITH $20 MIR


I WILL be crossfiring down the road. I am hoping for unlock and will most likely be overclocking.

So what can you guys recommend? I'm hoping to make a decision very soon, thanks!

 

[nukemaster]

Cheapest i have seen is the visiontek(but never used anything from them) The 2 top ones are a limited time deal

Shipping is generally not bad over at ncix.

I have not had to deal with visiontek so can not comment on how good they are to deal with if you have a problem. 229.99CAD before tax + shipping
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=60080&vpn=900352&manufacture=VISIONTEK&promoid=1065

MSI dual fan - 259.99 - 30 dollar rebate
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64181&vpn=R6950%20Twin%20Frozr%20II%20OC&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar&promoid=1065

XFX- 284.99 - 20 dollar rebate. Cost more, I have had to get warranty service, they have been good.
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=59610&vpn=HD695XCNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1065

 

[daman40k]

Cheapest i have seen is the visiontek(but never used anything from them) The 2 top ones are a limited time deal

I have not had to deal with visiontek so can not comment on how good they are to deal with if you have a problem. 229.99CAD before tax + shipping
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=60080&vpn=900352&manufacture=VISIONTEK&promoid=1065

MSI dual fan - 259.99 - 30 dollar rebate
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64181&vpn=R6950%20Twin%20Frozr%20II%20OC&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar&promoid=1065

XFX- 284.99 - 20 dollar rebate. Cost more, I have had to get warranty service, they have been good.
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=59610&vpn=HD695XCNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1065

VisionTek has a bed rep for GPUs so I'd rather avoid them and go for a more well-known brand regardless.

I ordered the MSI card but after reading around, the card's fans die out 5-8 months after use so I'll be returning it.

Does the XFX have a bios switch?

 

[nukemaster]

Not 100 sure about the bios switch, but it seems to be one of the first things they cut to reduce cost.

for a bit more, they have a dual fan as well. Reviews do not seem to show a switch, but to be sure, contacting XFX may be best.
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=61903&vpn=HD695XCDFC&manufacture=XFX

From a Hexus review

"While it's an astonishing 430g lighter than reference - 611g vs. 1,041g - build quality is good, as there are no flexes in either the PCB or card-long heatsink. Those looking for the dual-BIOS of the original card will be disappointed to learn that it's not present here; XFX isn't enabling the opening of a Radeon HD 6970-like 1,536 shaders."

 

[daman40k]

Not 100 sure about the bios switch, but it seems to be one of the first things they cut to reduce cost.

for a bit more, they have a dual fan as well. Reviews do not seem to show a switch, but to be sure, contacting XFX may be best.
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=61903&vpn=HD695XCDFC&manufacture=XFX

From a Hexus review

"While it's an astonishing 430g lighter than reference - 611g vs. 1,041g - build quality is good, as there are no flexes in either the PCB or card-long heatsink. Those looking for the dual-BIOS of the original card will be disappointed to learn that it's not present here; XFX isn't enabling the opening of a Radeon HD 6970-like 1,536 shaders."

How does this card compare to the Sapphire card?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-131-393&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=4#scrollFullInfo

 

[nukemaster]

its out of stock

Same clocks, looks like a similar cooler, but the sapphire one has more heatpipes, so it may well pull away heat faster.

The Powercolor one seems to use something similar to the stock board(reference even seems to have the bios switch) while the sapphire looks to have a custom board.

 

[daman40k]

its out of stock

Same clocks, looks like a similar cooler, but the sapphire one has more heatpipes, so it may well pull away heat faster.

The Powercolor one seems to use something similar to the stock board(reference even seems to have the bios switch) while the sapphire looks to have a custom board.

Which one would you say would be a better buy? Price wouldn't be an issue as the margin is ~$30. Especially comparing reviews of the cards:

Sapphire reviews:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102954
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=64448&vpn=11188-05-20G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE

Powercolor reviews:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-131-393&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=4#scrollFullInfo

http://ncix.ca/products/?mode=productreviewread&product_id=60103

From what I read, Powercolor seems to be more reliable in terms of OC and unlock. But why is it $30 cheaper? Are there any build issues with it?

 

[nukemaster]

Some users may not know that you can not flash one of the bios chips, it is read only(this may be why people have issues flashing).

On that topic, the PowerColor is cheaper because they did not need a special board design.

Comes down to user preference, they should perform about the same.

 

[amuffin]

6950 twinfrozr iii

 

[daman40k]

Some users may not know that you can not flash one of the bios chips, it is read only(this may be why people have issues flashing).

On that topic, the PowerColor is cheaper because they did not need a special board design.

Comes down to user preference, they should perform about the same.

I was hoping it wouldn't come down to that as I have little experience with GPUs so I can't really assess anything based off of user preference, but regardless, thank you for putting up with my questions and for all the extremely helpful replies!

 

[nukemaster]

6950 twinfrozr iii

Best price you can find on the 2GB version? Seems to be 320 before tax and shipping at newegg.ca

I was hoping it wouldn't come down to that as I have little experience with GPUs so I can't really assess anything based off of user preference, but regardless, thank you for putting up with my questions and for all the extremely helpful replies!

They both offer the 2 year warranty, so that is the same

The Sapphire having a custom board may be better deigned.

The power color has 2 mini display port plugs and comes with one adapter. If you do not use or know what mini display port or display port in general is about, this is not a plus for you.

That is honestly about it. The reviews on newegg mention(how much do your trust a review? guess is they both have the switch ) them both having the bios switch(one is write protected and the other will let you flash it with a custom bios file.).

Sorry to say, I have not had a card from either of those companies, so I do not have a idea of what it is like to deal with them.

 

[spentshells]

Visiontek has been around forever really as long as I can think of GPU's visiontek has been putting them out you don't stay in business if you sell crap.

BUT...that fan setup looks crumby though it would make a great slave card.

 

[daman40k]

Visiontek has been around forever really as long as I can think of GPU's visiontek has been putting them out you don't stay in business if you sell crap.

BUT...that fan setup looks crumby though it would make a great slave card.

Yeah, people have had hang ups on the Visiontek's cooling according to reviews. I'm assuming you mean slave as in second card in a CF set up?

 

[nukemaster]

Visiontek has been around forever really as long as I can think of GPU's visiontek has been putting them out you don't stay in business if you sell crap.

Well carp, I have used Visiontek after all. Geforce 2 days

That just reminded me.

 

[daman40k]

Also, would it be better to order for $310 from newegg or buy locally $320 from NCIX? How is newegg's customer service, rma process etc.?

 

[subrata4web]

Go For Sapphire 6950 2GB

 

[nukemaster]

Also, would it be better to order for $310 from newegg or buy locally $320 from NCIX? How is newegg's customer service, rma process etc.?

Never had to deal with newegg customer service(only picked up a handful of items from them. Most say it is very good as well), but it NCIX has as good of service locally as they do online(they have been great so far), that would be my first option.