New ATI card, what to get?

[mlee49]

So I'm wanting to get a nice AMD/ATI card to stay current and use for reviews but I dont know which one to get.

I really want a 5870 because it's a powerful card, it's just as good as the 6k series, and is very long(great for case reviews).

Lately I've been looking to find a 5970 because it's a single CF card, very long, and still powerful.


The problem is I want a long card that is on par, if not better than my GTX470, but not sure if I should look into multiple CF cards or what.

Should I find a 5870 or go with a 6k series card? Is the 5970 better than a 6970?

sorry for all the questions, last AMD card I had was a 4830. Thanks!

 

[JrRacinFan]

6950 2gb

 

[mlee49]

6950 2gb

How long is it?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

in a few minutes, ygpm

 

[BarbaricSoul]

PM sent

 

[MxPhenom 216]

SAPPHIRE 100312-3SR Radeon HD 6950 Dirt3 Edition 2...


Im very tempted to get this card. maybe youll be interested in it too

 

[BrooksyX]

I would get a 6950/6970. Love my 6870 but wish I had that little extra power that they offer.

 

[eidairaman1]

I would get a 6950/6970. Love my 6870 but wish I had that little extra power that they offer.

they are pretty good as a X2 Model, Atleast the TUL Made One

 

[PopcornMachine]

I have a 6950, but have been impressed with reviews of 6870 crossfire.

A single 6870 is more powerful than a 5850. If that is not enough for you, add another letter.

 

[mlee49]

I know this is cheesy, but Size Does Matter.


lol


edit, wanting to show of cases that handle long cards

 

[blu3flannel]

Get a Twin Frozr II 6950 2GB and unlock it. It's a great card, especially with the addition of the extra 128 shaders.

 

[_ALB_R3D X]

I would get a 6950/6970. Love my 6870 but wish I had that little extra power that they offer.

Instead of 6950/70 why don't you add another 6870...?I assure you'll never look back with your current system.
@OP if you want a "huge" card go for the 5970 if u can find one...6950 dirt3 is pretty long but mainly plastic cause PCB is way shorter than reference ones

 

[Grnfinger]

This should help

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-game-performance-radeon-hd-6670,2935-7.html

I have both CF 6870 and a 5970, the 5970 is a much better card imo
5970 gets my vote, buy one and you wont regret it

 

[eidairaman1]

This should help

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-game-performance-radeon-hd-6670,2935-7.html

I have both CF 6870 and a 5970, the 5970 is a much better card imo
5970 gets my vote, buy one and you wont regret it

course it is, ur taking a high end that is doubled in capability.

 

[blu3flannel]

This should help

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-game-performance-radeon-hd-6670,2935-7.html

I have both CF 6870 and a 5970, the 5970 is a much better card imo
5970 gets my vote, buy one and you wont regret it

I've heard of friends with 5970s having numerous issues with drivers, so keep that in mind when making your decision.

 

[Bow]

6950 2gb

got 2 in xfire, cant go wrong with this card

 

[LordJummy]

Reference 6950 2GB. They are identical to reference 6970. They are solid, long, heavy, and have a solid metal back plate. They are awesome. That or a 6970 straight up, which I think is the way to go. They outperform the 5870 by a good margin in a lot of games, handle dx11 10 times better, and scale much better also in crossfire.

 

[Lionheart]

2x HD 6950's hands down, chicky BOOM!

 

[billcat479]

I tried CF with the 6870's. What a pain. It's nice to hope it works and what it will work on and have the right case/power supply and the list goes on so I picked up a 6970 and am very impressed with it and it's simple. No CF will it work garbage and the rest. Now I have to get rid of at least one of the 6870 cards and use the other in my backup system. Make sure your case will handle either setup. You will want around 12in free to be comfortable and hope the motherboard is configured so you don't cover up SATA ports or have a chipset of some other neat thing in the way. You will also want to make sure you have a good power supply on the 12v line. A case with a bottom power supply if you want to CF or the lower card will overheat. Lots of fun.

 

[mlee49]

I tried CF with the 6870's. What a pain. It's nice to hope it works and what it will work on and have the right case/power supply and the list goes on so I picked up a 6970 and am very impressed with it and it's simple. No CF will it work garbage and the rest. Now I have to get rid of at least one of the 6870 cards and use the other in my backup system. Make sure your case will handle either setup. You will want around 12in free to be comfortable and hope the motherboard is configured so you don't cover up SATA ports or have a chipset of some other neat thing in the way. You will also want to make sure you have a good power supply on the 12v line. A case with a bottom power supply if you want to CF or the lower card will overheat. Lots of fun.

Yeah that's the point to use a very long graphics card for case reviews. Power supplies are no problem, got a Thermaltake Grandpower 850W and a Silverstone 750W Gold.

I just don't know if I should drop a pretty penny on a 5970 or just go with a 5870. I really want a good performing card and as long as possible without going insane on price.

 

[cadaveca]

Buy any card, install artic cooling accellero plus(3-fan), and you got a huge-butt card.

Personally, like others mentioned, I'd make it a 6950 2GB that the cooler went on.

 

[billcat479]

add on....

Yeah that's the point to use a very long graphics card for case reviews. Power supplies are no problem, got a Thermaltake Grandpower 850W and a Silverstone 750W Gold.

I just don't know if I should drop a pretty penny on a 5970 or just go with a 5870. I really want a good performing card and as long as possible without going insane on price.

I'm happy to give any useful feedback I can.
I always take a more long term look. While the 5000 line is fast it has some areas that are outdated. I looked at buying a more expensive 6970 (and look for the sales) as a long term use investment. It's a card that will be able to handle current and future software for quite a while so I look at it as buying one card now for a few years instead of buying a couple cheaper ones every year or so. I don't make it the correct choice for everyone but for me that is the way I prefer to do things. The brand I got now, Powercolor or something like that, has very good cooling and overclocks like crazy but I haven't had a need to overclock it yet though it comes stock overclocked I set it back to stock clock settings just to make sure I get more long term use out of it. And I just don't need the extra clk. settings at this time as it runs all my games at high res. max settings.
So this may not be your way of looking at things but I thought I'd give my reason for buying the way I did.
Good choice on power supplies, I got a Seasonic 850W Gold and still using a pretty old but bullet proof PC Power & Cooling 700W or is it 750w, can never remember but it's been one of my most reliable PS I've ever owned. Lasted through 2 major upgrades.
This is another area that buying right will pay off in the long run, power supplies are the most critical area to buy right and not good cheap. Power supply problems are always a real headache to work around and buying the best will also make all the rest work reliable and make them longer lasting. I def. give you high marks on your choices there, very smart.. Good Luck with your video card choice what ever it ends up being.... take care..
Anyway, good hunting and hope you find the best for your use.

 

[LordJummy]

Don't get a 5870/5970 bro. The 5970 has serious issues still to this day. 6950 or 6970 alone or in crossfire is the way to go. That or 6990 if you want one huge card.

 

[Shihab]

That or 6990 if you want one huge card.

Buy any card, install artic cooling accellero plus(3-fan), and you got a huge-butt card.

^Those 2.
+ if you want a card that's big (thick, not tall ) Get one of ASUS's directCU branded cards. I believe the 6970 had a DCII triple slot design version.


Why ATi specifically ? I see no point in using a specific brand in case reviews. a personal reason ?

 

[Syuzeren]

I believe the 6970 had a DCII triple slot design version.

true

I have always liked the Direct CU design, but i would really like a 6950/6970 MARS version would be bad ass. I love the MARS 2 design.