Radeon 850/70 vs 6950/70 vs GF 570/580

[NewbieOneKenobi]

I'm once again buying a used card for an old Core2Duo rig that in all likelihood is not going to be upgraded for about two years. If at all.

Specs: Asus P5Q-E (P45 chipset); Core2Duo e8600 3.33 GHz (can do 4); DDR2 8(4x2)GB 800 MHz (can do more if need be); x-fi Titanium PCIE; Samsung F1 SATA 2 HDD, DVDRW, keyboard, mouse, a couple of fans, OCZ ZS 650 CPU.

So:

On the one hand, overpaying makes no economic sense if I would be keeping the unnecessarily modern and powerful card in an old PC when it was new and in a new PC only when it was already old.

On the other hand, I don't want to artificially buy a card that makes less sense, e.g. if you can get something noticeably better for a small difference or avoid/delay a future bottleneck.

I don't want patch SLI, so Crossfire is the only multi-GPU option unless newer nVidia cards don't need chipset support any more. From what I understand my PSU should be strong enough to power two 7850s or 950/960s. Obviously, I could also remain with a single nVidia card on this computer and only buy another when I eventually upgrade. But with this config I could start with one 7850 now and add another if/when they become even cheaper, if I even need it.

Relative prices in my neck of the woods look like this:

For around 300–350 you can have any of: GF570 (280 is realistic), GF580 (330 is achievable), HD7850 (also 330, 370 for the better Sapphires; rarely but sometimes it does show under 300 in the 1GB version), HD6950, or, if you're lucky, HD6970. If you're lucky, you can get a GF570 already for 250–260. Anything weaker than these (such as 560ti/650ti) just wouldn't really be an upgrade. Also R260X is available in this range but wouldn't be an upgrade.

Around 430 starts HD7870. GF750ti is a bit more expensive than this (450–470), but it's too weak for 1080p, which I want to have (native res on 24'' and all). Also GF660 starts around 430 and GF660ti around 450. R270X costs about the same as GF750ti. My understanding is that the R270X is better.

At around 540, you have GF670. For a bit more (e.g. 560), and you can have the cheapest of GF760, if you value newer tech more than beefier architecture. Sometimes you can find a 280X in this range if you're really lucky.

At about 630 you have: R280X (often barely unboxed by the previous owner), GF680, GF590 (a bit cheaper), GF950 (a bit more expensive).

At about 700: GF770, GF960 if you're lucky.

I'm not including 7950 and higher because they're more expensive than 280X, so they make no sense. Not really tracking 5850 and up due to their age and low distance from my current 4850. For the same price I could swap my box for a larger one and go Crossfire with the spare 4850 I already own. So nope. I regarded 6900 series as an exception because they have very good benchmark results in both DirectX9 and DirectX11.

DirectX is my huge priority. Can't neglect DX10, either. Probably not much hope for DX11 fun, but why not make sure the card can hold its own there if the price difference is not large.

Opinions?

So far I've purchased the a Sapphire R280X with free shipment and 14-day warranty for 520. It's the lowest version, Dual-X, but the difference in price between it and the better-clocked 280x's is as large as between 1 or 2 cards up. I really hope it isn't going to be weak in DirectX 9 like some of those newer cards.

[tp4tissue]

Is this your "main" computer.

What do you do on this computer..

[Leslieann]

Beware, putting too new/high end of a card on an older system can actually degrade performance, not always, but sometimes.
Even if it doesn't, it's a waste to put such a big dollar card into an old system because it can't take full advantage of it in most instances.


Personally, I wouldn't spend more than $150-$200 on a card for that old of a system, and would even consider upgrading it first, that processor is probably 10 years old, or more.

[tp4tissue]

8 years old..

I don't think it's worth upgrading anything that's around 7 years old..

But, that ultimately depends on what you'll be doing with it,  and how long before you get a NEW pc..

Because if all you're ever going to do is watch some 4k videos on it.. well, then getting a gtx950 somewhat make sense..

But if you want to do something like solidworks, battlefield, starcraft 2,     You're gonna need a completely new pc.



Also, if you don't have an SSD..  you need that more than any other upgrade..

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Is this your "main" computer.

What do you do on this computer..

Main and only. Work and gaming. The card is for gaming only, unless App Accelaration in Radeons (6900 series already has it) is going to make a difference in text processing. The reason this computer is not being upgraded is that it's sufficient for work, I have more urgent expenses, and the OEM licence on Windows prevents me from replacing just the mobo, CPU and RAM (which I ideally wouldn't replace all at once with used components due to problems at work if the computer isn't available). ETA for a full upgrade is 2 years or so, but I do play some games, hence the card.

Beware, putting too new/high end of a card on an older system can actually degrade performance, not always, but sometimes.

Yes, I know, and I'm afraid. In this instance, however, I think the previous owner would take it back under the 14-day warranty and if not, then I'd probably net a higher price for it on the same auction site anyway. If I see test results merely on par with my HD4850 or especially below, I'm going to return it and get a card that has confirmed good scores in DX9 etc.

Even if it doesn't, it's a waste to put such a big dollar card into an old system because it can't take full advantage of it in most instances. Personally, I wouldn't spend more than $150-$200 on a card for that old of a system, and would even consider upgrading it first, that processor is probably 10 years old, or more.

Yes, I wouldn't have bought one NIB ex shop. But in this case the cost was basically my budget for a weaker card +33%. It was like $15 more expensive than a new-ish GF 750ti. The entire cost with shipment included was $131, where a nice used 7850 would have cost me $100 with shipment, so I didn't want to overeconomize. But I worry I may have ended up with a card that imposes too high requirements on the other hardware and causes degradation eventually, yes, especially in DX9 games. The 6950 may have been a better choice taken calmly, but I had to choose fast.

[tp4tissue]

Do you have kids ?

If not,  just buy a whole new computer.. jesus..   Everything in your life will be better,, assuming you're a computer-warrior like the rest of us..

Also, SSD,   DO YOU have an SSD ?

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Do you have kids ?

No, I just have some overdue expenses to the tune of half my annual income that are even more urgent.

[tp4tissue]

Do you have kids ?

No, I just have some overdue expenses to the tune of half my annual income that are even more urgent.

I suppose that's kinda like having kids no? hahahaha

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Do you have kids ?

No, I just have some overdue expenses to the tune of half my annual income that are even more urgent.

I suppose that's kinda like having kids no? hahahaha

Possibly almost as bad. Part of it is the university's fee for processing my overdue Ph.D., and part of it is playing big brother, which is nowhere near as expensive as being a father, but it's expensive all right. At least I've climbed out of debt. Probably shouldn't have bought the Novatouch — would've been enough money for a Skylake mobo.

I might still be tempted if I spot a good  used mobo+CPU+DDR3 deal somewhere at the same time as a good deal on box Windows (or a used PC with OEM papers in order). Haven't even checked the prices for a while, but it would make sense. I don't really believe in buying low-end modern tech, rather prefer something aged but originally from the top shelf or high middle. Except for CPUs.

Probably won't actually take a longer look at all because I realized some time ago that I lose a lot of time sorting through all that stuff, while it pays more to take a corresponding amount of overtime for more money to spend.