Best value Graphics Card upgrade

[natmac]

I've reached the point where my head is sort of spinning comparing reviews and 'Bangs per Buck' charts for Graphics cards so all i'm looking for is some advice from a real world Tech savvy gamer!

I currently use a HD6850 running at stock speed on my tidy little rig which is i7 870
Gigabyte mobo
4gig ram
700watt PSU

I am just about to buy a full HD 1080p monitor and next, upgrade my graphics card.

I really cannot decide between a hd 7850 for £120 or a hd 7870 for £151. To make matters worse, a colleague of mine who has a monster rig and is a big nvidia fan is saying forget AMD, get yourself a 660ti or a 670gtx which is what he uses.

Before anyone answers with something about overclocking a 7850 so it runs like a 7950 or similar, I'm not really comfortable with all that thrashing a new device, like as not i'll run whatever I get at stock clock speeds.

Finally, regarding my gaming I'm a huge BETHESDA fan so Skyrim and NewVegas have been my last two games. Next up will probably be Borderlands 2, Deus Ex or maybe Dishonoured.

The monitor im looking at is 22inch 1080p.

Cheers guys and girls for your consideration!

 

[refillable]

Don't listen to your friend. AMD holds the bang for the buck in this generation. Although I am still recommending nvidia cards in specific situations.

That being said, I recommend this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-312-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

For Nvidia:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-199-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=

The first one will be faster though. Let me know if you have another option or if you feel uncomfortable to buy cards of my recommendation.

 

[tadej petric]

Get 7870! Better than nvidia in many things.

 

[razvan_mz]

Radeon HD 7870 LE with Tahiti-LE gpu

 

[natmac]

Don't listen to your friend. AMD holds the bang for the buck in this generation. Although I am still recommending nvidia cards in specific situations.

That being said, I recommend this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-312-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

For Nvidia:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-199-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=

The first one will be faster though. Let me know if you have another option or if you feel uncomfortable to buy cards of my recommendation.

Ok, im leaning towards the 7870 anyway, but that one you recommend is pushing £50 more than the standard model I fancied at £151.

Can you be more informative about all the bells and whistles i'll be getting for the extra cash?

Cheers!

 

[refillable]

That bad boy will perform nearly into a 660 Ti or a 7950, but named 7870. It's just a bad naming scheme from AMD, it should have been named 7930 or something.

 

[natmac]

That bad boy will perform nearly into a 660 Ti or a 7950, but named 7870. It's just a bad naming scheme from AMD, it should have been named 7930 or something.

So, in short I will be getting a beast of a card for the extra cash? As im not considering getting into eyefinity and multiple monitors etc just humour me and confirm this card you recommend is NOT overkill on a single 1080p panel?

Got to say it does look a temptingly chunky bit of kit!

 

[refillable]

No... It will not play crysis 3 maxed at 1080p :lol:.

This is a good performance illustration Of an overclocked (50 MHz) 7870 XT:
http://media.bestofmicro.com/E/U/371190/original/LargePerfIndex.png

 

[natmac]

No... It will not play crysis 3 maxed at 1080p :lol:.

This is a good performance illustration Of an overclocked (50 MHz) 7870 XT:
http://media.bestofmicro.com/E/U/371190/original/LargePerfIndex.png

Yah im aware that 3 is very intensive, something about the shadows on every blade of grass i believe. To be honest, i've not even played 1 although my bro is a big fan.

I do realise that to max out everything on every game you have to go really OTT on the card budget but Im not so hardcore a mega fraps gamer that im gonna crossfire two 680's!

So, notwithstanding Crysis3's demanding requirements, the XT is still pretty much a beast, just not the Lord of the Jungle?

 

[refillable]

Note:

Nvidia is SLI, AMD is CF

Yes, it is still a very good card. It's just a bad naming I believe.

 

[natmac]

Note:

Nvidia is SLI, AMD is CF

Yes, it is still a very good card. It's just a bad naming I believe.

SLI? CF? Can you expand these acronyms?

To get down to some nitty gritty, you have pretty much turned me on to upping my original planned spend. However, how big is the XT? I dont want to spaff my cash only to find the fiend wont fit!!!

Also, my 700watt PSU has only one 6pin connector. Will I be ok using a twin molex to 6pin adapter in order to power the XT.

 

[refillable]

SLI is multi card configuration for Nvidia cards (short for Scalable Link Interface(?))
CF is multi card configuration for AMD cards (short for Crossfire)

To see the detailed specs of the card hover around to this:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1160&pid=1790&psn=&lid=1&leg=0

Wait but what PSU do you exactly have?

 

[natmac]

SLI is multi card configuration for Nvidia cards (short for Scalable Link Interface(?))
CF is multi card configuration for AMD cards (short for Crossfire)

To see the detailed specs of the card hover around to this:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1160&pid=1790&psn=&lid=1&leg=0

Wait but what PSU do you exactly have?

my psu is Alpine 700W Black PC Power Supply With Red 120mm Fan

 

[refillable]

I'm sorry but I don't really trust those PSUs... I don't know what you should do but could you just get a 7870 instead and spend the rest for a decent PSU? The good news is any 500W of a trusted brand will be really good!

 

[natmac]

I'm sorry but I don't really trust those PSUs... I don't know what you should do but could you just get a 7870 instead and spend the rest for a decent PSU? The good news is any 500W of a trusted brand will be really good!

Well, i do trust these PSU's as ive had a couple of alpines and never had any bother with them. I bought this one to run my 6850 and its worked 100%fine. However it doesnt have 2 6pin connectors BUT it does have 2 spare molex which I know can be converted to 6 pin via adapter.

 

[Muks2386]

I'd recommend the HD 7870 XT (Tahiti LE) . Best performance/price GPU that's currently available .

 

[natmac]

I'd recommend the HD 7870 XT (Tahiti LE) . Best performance/price GPU that's currently available .

Yah, im leaning towards a club3d 7870Joker that looks the absolute cats pyjamas for only £171!!! Ridiculous benchmarks for that money.

 

[jessterman21]

You may consider saving for the next generation of cards - your HD 6850 should run those games you mentioned at 1080p on High with no issues. Maybe not 60fps, but definitely playable. But if you're dead-set on upgrading now, the best bfb card is the Tahiti LE.

 

[natmac]

You may consider saving for the next generation of cards - your HD 6850 should run those games you mentioned at 1080p on High with no issues. Maybe not 60fps, but definitely playable. But if you're dead-set on upgrading now, the best bfb card is the Tahiti LE.

Well, from what I have read the next gen ie 8xxx and 7xx may not really blow you away AND there is a quite conceivable chance that AMD could go to the wall leaving nvidia fat and complacent. Ive had good results with the 6850 but with the monitor upgrade I did fancy something better. But you really seem to be saying WOAH dont do it?

 

[jessterman21]

Well, from what I have read the next gen ie 8xxx and 7xx may not really blow you away AND there is a quite conceivable chance that AMD could go to the wall leaving nvidia fat and complacent. Ive had good results with the 6850 but with the monitor upgrade I did fancy something better. But you really seem to be saying WOAH dont do it?

No, just saying that the games you mentioned aren't really that hard to run full-tilt. Now if you're interested in playing Far Cry 3 or Crysis 3, you want as much GPU as you can afford. The HD 7870 XT is one of the best for the money, especially if you overclock it.

 

[natmac]

No, just saying that the games you mentioned aren't really that hard to run full-tilt. Now if you're interested in playing Far Cry 3 or Crysis 3, you want as much GPU as you can afford. The HD 7870 XT is one of the best for the money, especially if you overclock it.

Yah,i get your drift regarding a bang tidy GPU being overkill on certain games but not on others. I also cannot dismiss your assertion regarding the 6850 as I still think that was a boss card for £100.

What it is in truth, I sold an old system of mine for a decent sum. I also think I would get a fair bit for my 6850 on ebay. Then spend the lot+a few quid thrown in on some killer kit. Thats where my head is sort of at.