6850CF vs 6970 (1920x1080@120hz 2D ONLY)

[Morphine06]

Hello,

I'd like to poll the community on my future purchase. There is a similar thread, but the OP was targeting a different resolution, so I'd like to get some feedback that's a little more customized to my needs.

I just ordered a 120hz 1920x1080 23.6" LG monitor (not tv) to use in 2D only. (no interest in 3D, ever)
I'd like to get the most out of this new monitor and I'm building a new machine around it.

Specs of new machine:
Intel i5 2500K 3.3Ghz -> 4.6Ghz OC (approx)
ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155
4GB DDR3-1600
PC P&C 750W silencer

I play mostly Source games (L4D2, TF2) and BFBC2. I use the benches from BFBC2 since L4D2 is more CPU intensive.

My budget is flexible, but I prefer to not go over ~$350 (US).

I'm considering the 6850CF (~$350) vs 6950 2GB (unlocked to 6970 for ~$300)

This bench at Anand and this Firing Squad review show the 6850CF ~100fps in BFBC2 (as high as I'd get for this price point)

The $50 price bump for ~30fps seems like good value for a primary game and gets more out of that 120hz monitor.

Am I missing a competing single card or CF solution at that price point? I'm really targeting ~100fps (or better ) in BFBC2 more than anything. Also, please feel free to critique the rest of the build if you see fit.

footnote: I'm no fanboy for ATI, but I do take issue with my previous nVidia cards. I had nothing but trouble with my 8800GT SLI and I show my discontent with my wallet. So, for this build I prefer to go ATI out of principle.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Skurge]

6850s are actually closer to $300 than $350.

 

[jackstar7]

And the 6950 has come down as well...

I'm curious if other people have some opinions/experience here.

 

[Morphine06]

Amazon had the cheapest new 6850s I could find for $175 with free shipping and no sales tax. I'm open to direction if it means saving $50! Links? =o

 

[Skurge]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...06000%20series

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...on%20HD%206950

 

[Morphine06]

And the 6950 has come down as well...

I see $289-299 for the 6950s. I'm being approx. with my $300 estimation, but I think we are in the ballpark unless you have some links to something drastically cheaper.

@Jack =P I was hiding my interest in CF, but I was CAUGHT! -EB

 

[Morphine06]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...06000%20series

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...on%20HD%206950

I already have Windows 7 =P Might want to edit that first link.
The link to the 6950 (2GB) is about $330 on newegg (with tax). Amazon has them at $300 out the door. We are all speaking the same language I think. Any thoughts on the performance of the cards in question?

 

[Skurge]

Thats odd.

anyway

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...on%20HD%206850

 

[Morphine06]

Thats odd.

anyway

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...on%20HD%206850

I'm still getting W7 listing at newegg. Maybe a direct link to newegg might work better.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Just type "hd 6850" in newegg's search and you'll get all 6850s.

 

[SolMiester]

Hello,

I'd like to poll the community on my future purchase. There is a similar thread, but the OP was targeting a different resolution, so I'd like to get some feedback that's a little more customized to my needs.

I just ordered a 120hz 1920x1080 23.6" LG monitor (not tv) to use in 2D only. (no interest in 3D, ever)
I'd like to get the most out of this new monitor and I'm building a new machine around it.

Specs of new machine:
Intel i5 2500K 3.3Ghz -> 4.6Ghz OC (approx)
ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155
4GB DDR3-1600
PC P&C 750W silencer

I play mostly Source games (L4D2, TF2) and BFBC2. I use the benches from BFBC2 since L4D2 is more CPU intensive.

My budget is flexible, but I prefer to not go over ~$350 (US).

I'm considering the 6850CF (~$350) vs 6950 2GB (unlocked to 6970 for ~$300)

This bench at Anand and this Firing Squad review show the 6850CF ~100fps in BFBC2 (as high as I'd get for this price point)

The $50 price bump for ~30fps seems like good value for a primary game and gets more out of that 120hz monitor.

Am I missing a competing single card or CF solution at that price point? I'm really targeting ~100fps (or better ) in BFBC2 more than anything. Also, please feel free to critique the rest of the build if you see fit.

footnote: I'm no fanboy for ATI, but I do take issue with my previous nVidia cards. I had nothing but trouble with my 8800GT SLI and I show my discontent with my wallet. So, for this build I prefer to go ATI out of principle.

Thanks for your input.

I dont understand this post?, on one hand you say you have no interest in 3D, then the next you are querying which gaming card\s to get?......

The way I see it, a 120hz LCD is very expensive and really only has little advantage over other in that it can be used for 3D vision when gaming. You mention you had issues with SLI that are none the less apparent with CF and still you ask which to get 6870 CF or 6950?...

I would always suggest a single GPU setup, especially since IMO, multi GPU is really only necessary for 25x16+ res...

What am I missing mate?

 

[Morphine06]

I'm able to work neweggs website. >.>

We've made it into forum hell because some people suggested my prices were high and I only asked for links to these lower prices. No such links have been submitted, only links to the same prices (or more expensive >.>). My prices are more or less correct and I'm not concerned with quibbling over $15. Back to the purpose of the post.

I'm curious about suggestions of other cards I might be missing or experiences/horrors using the configuration(s) in the OP.

Anyone? @.@

 

[Morphine06]

What am I missing mate?

Quite a bit really.

I have no interest in 3D. I've purchased a "3D ready" monitor because when used in 2D it has incredible gains over current 60hz LCD for gaming and even desktop use. The reason I want to be in the ballpark of 100fps is, unlike a 60hz, I'm able to see those frames.

I mention I had issues with nvidia 8800GT SLI as an explanation why I wanted ATI.

Also, the benches I linked for CF offer ~30fps increase for my target resolution of 1920x1080 compared to a single GPU at the same price point.

Isn't there someone that can offer some experience on this setup or has input on a different card at a similar price/performance? EDIT: the answer can be "no", in fact that's what I'm hoping for. >.>

 

[SolMiester]

Quite a bit really.

I have no interest in 3D. I've purchased a "3D ready" monitor because when used in 2D it has incredible gains over current 60hz LCD for gaming and even desktop use. The reason I want to be in the ballpark of 100fps is, unlike a 60hz, I'm able to see those frames.

I mention I had issues with nvidia 8800GT SLI as an explanation why I wanted ATI.

Also, the benches I linked for CF offer ~30fps increase for my target resolution of 1920x1080 compared to a single GPU at the same price point.

Isn't there someone that can offer some experience on this setup or has input on a different card at a similar price/performance? EDIT: the answer can be "no", in fact that's what I'm hoping for. >.>

Ah, I mistook your 3D as gaming...not 3D vision!! As for multi-GPU solutions, its the same for both camps period, although it has to be said, AMD has got better if the profile app now and the scaling in their current gen is nothing short of fantastic....All the same though, I would always go for the more powerful single solution over dual GPU even at the price premium.

 

[jackstar7]

On the whole, bang/buck looks like 6850 CF is really solid solution. I think I'd try to squeak out 6870s if I could find 'em at ~$200, but that doesn't seem too likely at this point.

If this isn't immediate, I'd hold off buying until the last second given that with the 560 and 6950-1GB just hitting the market, there might be some more downward movement coming across the line.

 

[alm4rr]

Amazon had the cheapest new 6850s I could find for $175 with free shipping and no sales tax. I'm open to direction if it means saving $50! Links? =o

http://www.buy.com/prod/asus-eah6850...217602411.html

 

[jackstar7]

Sadly, buy.com taxes CA residents.

 

[deimos3428]

I have 6850 CF and for TF2/L4D2 it's massive overkill at 1080p. (Sorry, I don't remember the actual fps as I turned on v-sync and haven't looked back...but it was a lot for TF2, well into the 100s. I can look into it tonight.) For more graphically intensive games, you'll still be in good shape. Can't comment on the 6970.

 

[Powermoloch]

I'm a 6850 CF owner, right now i'm really satisfied how it handle the current games. At the time these series of cards were released, it was the best bang for my buck and it's still is ;P