Upgrading from 512MB 4850s, Where to go?

[AlienIsGOD]

Hey all, im going to be upgrading my GFX at Christmas and im wondering what AMD card would be a proper upgrade. My budget isnt to big, say $200 taxes in. Currently im looking at a HD6790 with another to follow around Feb. Or do I get a 6850 and just ride that out for several months?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, and im not in the market for a Nvidia card so AMD suggestions only plz

 

[John Doe]

Those aren't really an upgrade over 4850 CF. 4850 CF performs like a 460, so yeah. Hard to find something that's worthwhile under $200. You can shoot for that 5870 though.

 

[Feänor]

If you wanna buy new and considering you're an AMD only guy, i would say you've got your GPU: the 6850. Grab one now, then wait for the 7xxx series to be launched, then grab a second one for a lot less, then be happy for quite a lot months.

The used option could get you a 5870 or something as powerful.

 

[Dent1]

Hey all, im going to be upgrading my GFX at Christmas and im wondering what AMD card would be a proper upgrade. My budget isnt to big, say $200 taxes in. Currently im looking at a HD6790 with another to follow around Feb. Or do I get a 6850 and just ride that out for several months?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, and im not in the market for a Nvidia card so AMD suggestions only plz

Without bottlenecking your CPU, the 6790 and 6850 are your only choices. Both are fast enough for today's gaming.

What John Doe said is right, and wrong. Coming from running the 4850 CF, and recently upgraded to a 5850 (on par with 6850) I can say when CF is scaling well its almost as fast as the 6850, but the reality is most games scaling isnt as it's cracked up to be so it'll be a big jump still.

Look online you can probably find two 6790s for CF for just over $200.

 

[John Doe]

Without bottlenecking your CPU, the 6790 and 6850 are your only choices. Both are fast enough for today's gaming.

What John Doe said is right, and wrong. Coming from running the 4850 CF I can say when CF is scaling its almost as fast as the 6850 but the reality is most games scaling isnt as it's cracked up to be so it'll be a big jump still.

That's not related to CF scaling. That's mininum frames, which the newer card would have an advantage at. At average (FPS), 4850 CF is up there with a 6850. So it's not a "big" jump. Still an upgrade though, more of a switch.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

The used option could get you a 5870 or something as powerful.

Not too many ppl that i kno with cards to sell, and if i were to buy one from a fellow TPU member, i would have to go the PayPal route and it takes up to 7 business days for CAN funds to transfer. I did talk to the wife though and she thinks that the extra $35 towards a 6850 would be a much wiser decision.

Prolly saving for an XFX unless someone has a better AIB partner to rave about. I really like the 2x lifetime warranty as I usually sell my cards to a good friend when im done with them.

To add, the only games I regularly play atm are BF3 and WoW.

Also as Feanor said, grabbing another 6850 after HD7000 release will make it a more viable option too

 

[Am*]

Without bottlenecking your CPU, the 6790 and 6850 are your only choices.

You can't possibly say he's "bottlenecked" in anything without knowing what he plays first. OP, what game or set of games are you upgrading for? BF3? Crysis?

 

[AlienIsGOD]

i did edit above post, but for arguemnts sake a new post will do.

I currently play BF3, WoW, and a lil Shogun Total War 2. I know Warcraft does not factor into any gfx decisions as it has a pretty low req for good frames (even in Dx10/11). So we will just say that for the most part its going to be BF3 for the foreseeable future.

Also, my Q9450 can't go too much higher as i got a bum core that is always 5-8 degrees hotter than the rest.

 

[H82LUZ73]

Dude 6850 in crossfire will be enough for Bf3 needs.Try looking here One location in your town.http://www.canadacomputers.com/ I would wait Till the morning and see what Black Friday deals they have,Or wait out till Boxing Day week madness sell.Hope that helps ya out Eh!?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=042852

 

[AlienIsGOD]

im quite a reg at Canada Computers, although at Xmas i like to go Newegg.ca. But ya its going to have to be Boxing Day sales as the wife is after a 40-42" LCD for Black Friday.

Also i almost NEVER deal with rebates

 

[Am*]

i did edit above post, but for arguemnts sake a new post will do.

I currently play BF3, WoW, and a lil Shogun Total War 2. I know Warcraft does not factor into any gfx decisions as it has a pretty low req for good frames (even in Dx10/11). So we will just say that for the most part its going to be BF3 for the foreseeable future.

Also, my Q9450 can't go too much higher as i got a bum core that is always 5-8 degrees hotter than the rest.

In that case, I suggest you get the 6870, it's a few frames slower than the 5870, but adding another should make the playable difference in BF3 later on.

 

[John Doe]

Also, my Q9450 can't go too much higher as i got a bum core that is always 5-8 degrees hotter than the rest.

Still a capable chip that beats Phenom 2's per-clock.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/charts/index.php?pid=62,76&tid=3

And I agree with the above post. If I was getting an under $200 GPU right now, this would be it.

MSI R6870 Twin Frozr II Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit...

 

[H82LUZ73]

im quite a reg at Canada Computers, although at Xmas i like to go Newegg.ca. But ya its going to have to be Boxing Day sales as the wife is after a 40-42" LCD for Black Friday.

Also i almost NEVER deal with rebates

At Canada Computers a lot too ,Yeah there rebate at CC I never have to worry about them ,They just sell you at the lower retail(with rebate) =savings,Keep an eye on the xfx 6850-6870 or the Gigabyte ones. Last year they held out selling some of the stock and on Boxing Day wham they had like 40 at each store ,Ajax was crazy when I got my 6970.... had to wait nearly an hour to check out lol.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

So i have decided on a 6850 with another to follow in Feb or March. Going with a reference XFX, unless the Gigabyte Windforce 2x version comes back in stock.

Also to beat teh boxing day rush, im going to get it next tuesday on the 13th to enjoy BTK for BF3

 

[JrRacinFan]

Just mentioning, if you wanted to switch over to the Green camp, get a GTX560 non Ti and overclock it. Will just say this as well, if those were 1GB 4850's I would have said you will want to look at a 6950 2GB. Anything less wouldn't give "the feeling" of being an upgrade.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

im not a rich man and the 6950 1GB or 2GB is out of the question. Also, at my local store the 560 is $199 w/o tax which is out of my range. I did my research and 2 6850s should last me another year or 2

 

[JrRacinFan]

2 6850s

Which is also out of your range "??"

 

[AlienIsGOD]

one now and one in Mar/April.

 

[JrRacinFan]

one now and one in Mar/April.

Oh! Well, may want to buy 2nd hand when that time comes. I have a feeling the new stuff from both camps will be out by then. Make it even more worth your money. Just give it a little bit more time and see if you can get a better deal. Even if it means a 6950 for like $30 more.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

Ok i ran into a few extra dollars, 1 or 2 6870s are in my range. How are Sapphire's 6870s? specifically these 2:

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=043593 and
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=042024

Im leaning towards the 1st one with dual fans.

 

[John Doe]

Nah, those with blue PCB aren't worth it. Cheaped out, downscaled non-ref. There's a great deal running on the Gigabyte WindForce right now.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=043114

 

[AlienIsGOD]

im stretching out my $$ as it is >_< its either one of those 6870s or a lesser priced 6850

 

[John Doe]

You can do better from Newegg? (options are limited there)

 

[AlienIsGOD]

I dont have time for the Egg atm, im grabbing it tomorrow morning while doing errands and am itching to get a card.

 

[John Doe]

I dont have time for the Egg atm, im grabbing it tomorrow morning while doing errands and am itching to get a card.

I'd get the Gigabyte UD. Best cooler, most robust PCB (out of those selections). And it has a solid deal running on right now.