Sapphire Radeon 6870 Vapor-X or 560 TI

[pulseheartbeat]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Wanting to max out Battlefield 3 and future proof it on new games

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: No current GPU as new build, 750W ZS PSU

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Gigabyte Z68AP-D3, Intel 2500K, 8GB Corsair Vengeance

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Any UK site

PARTS PREFERENCES: Would prefer ATI due to that I can only crossfire on this motherboard and not SLI

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe crossfire


So I'm currently torn between what to choose for my new system. I've narrowed it down to the 6870 Vapor X which can be found at £134. The 560 Ti is £150. The only reason I would go for the 6870 is due to the fact I can crossfire on this motherboard.

My question is, is the 6870 Vapor X the best version of the 6870 out there? should I instead go for the 560 Ti?

 

[ricardois]

If you wan't amd (for possible crossfire) i would go for 6950, good video card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127575

you will not be able to max out battlefield 3 at 1080p with 6870...

 

[pulseheartbeat]

Youtube tells me different if I google 6870 and Battlefield 3. Although can't find any real benchmarks.

 

[inanition02]

Seems like you would average ~30FPS or a bit under with a 6870 in BF3 on Ultra

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/battlefield-3-graphics-performance,3063-12.html (Note - this shows the 6950 and 5870, the 5870 is better than the 6870)

If you were good with High Quality and no MSAA or AA, you can get 51FPS with a 6870.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/battlefield-3-graphics-performance,3063-8.html (same article).

That article also looks at nVidia cards. The short of it is that you need a much bigger budget to max BF3.

 

[ricardois]

Many factors count in this, are the video at 1080p ? ok, are they really at maximum settings, Anti-Aliasing 4x MSAA, Motion Blur on, etc? on ultra you may be able to play, but what i mean is that on some levels/situations the fps will drop below 30. that is out of the playable field, specially while in multiplayer.

Edit: the post up here was not yet placed. good reviews.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

So what would you suggest? buy a 560 TI instead of going for a 6870 with the future crossfire option?

 

[ismaeljrp]

If you want to 100% max @1080p and future proof, then you're better off with something with more power than the 6950 or 560ti, unless you are crossfiring the 6950's which in that case sure why not. But I'd recommend a 6970 or 7950 instead, then maybe a year from now crossfire.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

They're both out of my budget, I don't mind playing on high settings instead of ultra if worse comes to worse.

 

[inanition02]

So what would you suggest? buy a 560 TI instead of going for a 6870 with the future crossfire option?

Neither one will ever max BF3 on it's own at 1080p. 560TI is slightly better (as it would be more comparable to a 6950)...but to max it you're going to have to go multiple GPUs. So if your board only supports Crossfire, I guess that means a 6870 is the right choice for you (I actually have one and love it).

Of course, the going price of the 560TI seems to be ~$200 after MiR...for about $25 more you can have this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150524

 

[ismaeljrp]

Remember also, anything under the " Cayman " GPU will not render optimum crossfire scaling, Cayman GPU is 6900 series, 6800 series uses Barts ( not as efficient ).

 

[ricardois]

So what would you suggest? buy a 560 TI instead of going for a 6870 with the future crossfire option?

no i would suggest you go for a 6950, and in future you can go for crossfire... but if the option was really just 6870/560ti, i would take 560ti...

EDIT: omg this thread size is increasing fast lol.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

Remember also, anything under the " Cayman " GPU will not render optimum crossfire scaling, Cayman GPU is 6900 series, 6800 series uses Barts ( not as efficient ).

Hmm, that has me leaning towards the 560 Ti to be honest now if that's the case. What's the best bang for buck reference 560 Ti?

Don't forget, I live in the UK so newegg prices don't mean anything to me. I appreciate the help so far!

 

[ismaeljrp]

If you can muster ~$240, then go 6950. That way you can crossfire later. If your goal is under 200 than sure go for the 6870, just lower the MSAA, which is what really kills frames in BF3.

 

[sunnk]

sapphire vapor x is good for keeping gpu cool and quite because of its technology and it overclocks very well but the gtx 560ti is one of the best overclocking gpu so no need to go for an hd 6870 go for an gtx 560ti it will be more future proof then that.

 

[ismaeljrp]

Well I'd say, Go with a Gygabyte, or EVGA. MSI if you can find decent pricings those are the shippers with best quality IMO.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/nvidiageforcegraphicscards/nvidiagtx560tifermiseries/nov-560.html

Found this one but it's branded by Novatech..

 

[ismaeljrp]

That Novatech is a 100% reference card. So there shouldn't be any issues. Just don't expect it to be an amazing overclocker.

 

[sunnk]

here is vapor x reviws

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_hd6870_vaporx/5.htm

http://techgage.com/article/sapphire_radeon_hd_6870_vapor-x/3

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/Sapphire_HD6870_Vapor_X/5.html

 

[sunnk]

oh sorry i have posted it later.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

Looking at the vapor X it is the same price in the UK as pretty much the 560 Ti..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004R7MTPQ/ref=asc_df_B004R7MTPQ6491850?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B004R7MTPQ

this is probably the cheapest so far.

 

[sunnk]

you should go with this card if u can afford.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/nvidiageforcegraphicscards/nvidiagtx560tifermiseries/gv-n560oc-1gi.html

 

[pulseheartbeat]

I had a look at that card.. price just keeps going up and up lol

 

[sunnk]

so whats your exact and final budget tell me i will suggest your the best card of that price.

 

[pulseheartbeat]

whoa the 5870 performs better on benchmarks than both cards?

 

[sunnk]

well it can perform well in some games better then hd 6870 but not gtx 560ti.