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Upgrade from 4870x2 to 6870 or 460/470?

HungryHippos

HungryHippos

HungryHippos

Soldato
Joined
25 Mar 2004
Posts
16,014
Location
Fareham
Hi guys,

First of all, I have a 4870x2 card with the Accelero cooler attached. The card itself performs just fine but it runs very hot and even with the Accelero cooler it still has 3 fans therefore makes some noise.

I am seriously considering going for something like a 6870 or one of the Nvidia offerings such as the 460/470.

For me low noise output with good performance are most important.

Which card should I go for?

How would these cards compare in performance against my 4870x2?

Budget is probably around £200, would be able to sell my current card as well for a bit but don't want to spend too much.

Cheers guys!
 
Get a 6870, job done.

Performance wise the 6870 is a single GPU so no multi-GPU scaling problems or other issues, the 6870 will be quicker in a good few titles and give a smoother gaming experience compared to the x2.
 
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For the 6870's it looks like my choices are between the Sapphire and the HIS ones below, are they basically the same card? any differences on the coolers used on them at all?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-021-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-252-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866

The HIS ones is £5 less and comes with a COD:MW2 voucher, not that I am that bothered about getting that as I already have it on the Xbox.
 
Both the 6870 and GTX470 would be more like a 'sidestep' than upgrade. But a single GPU would provide overall smoother experience, considering a single GPU at 25-30fps would feel smoother than a dual GPUs card or Crossfire/SLI at the same frame rate.

If it is cool and quiet you want, then the 6870 would be a better choice than the GTX470. In terms of overclock performance, GTX470 is better than the 6870, however the cards is higher power consumption and could be fair bit hotter and louder as well. So which one to go for depending on what you value more - cooler and quieter, or better overclock and faster but sacrifice lower power consumption and quietness.
 
@ Marine
It's an upgrade when you take into account he won't have any micro-stutter reducing perceived performance and will have better minimums also.

If Op has the budget he should wait for Cayman though...
 
Budget is probably around £200
Click to expand...

That's the 69** well out, no one read posts properly anymore...

Get the 6870, you want cool and quite this card gives it, latest shader intensive games the 6870 will own the x2.
 
RavenXXX2 said:
That's the 69** well out, no one read posts properly anymore...
Click to expand...

Eulogy said:
Budget is probably around £200, would be able to sell my current card as well for a bit but don't want to spend too much.
Click to expand...

Once the OP sells their HD4870X2 they will have at least £250 to spend on a new graphics card.

It is most likely that the HD6950 will be under £300.
 
Ejizz said:
@ Marine
It's an upgrade when you take into account he won't have any micro-stutter reducing perceived performance and will have better minimums also.

If Op has the budget he should wait for Cayman though...
Click to expand...
I stand corrected about on what I said 'more like' a sidestep than upgrade. The part I said he will feel the gaming smooth at 25-30fps on single GPU than two is basically addressing micro-stutter, but I didn't go technically about it because I'm not certain if OP know what micro-stutter is.

And yes I do agree he should go for a Cayman instead of a 6870 or GTX470 if he really want a worthwhile upgrade, but the problem is his budget...
 
Interesting one... 6870 looks like the logical step if hes buying now... but... the reason the 470 makes a worthwhile upgrade over 200 series SLI is because its so much more consistant performance wise with a much more stable performance making up the average fps - typically ATI have been more varied performance wise and until I've seen graphs of how well it performs over time it may not have the same consistancy to give it that better feel over older multi GPU setups.

Having said that if the early indications of 6 series crossfire scaling are to go by then its likely, tho by no means conclusive, that overall performance is quite stable as this is one of the things that contributes to multi GPU scaling.
 
Guys I could up the budget a bit if it will make a worthwhile upgrade over the 4870x2, do we have a release date for the 6950/6970?

Don't mind waiting a few weeks if that's best thing to do, been waiting a few months already do unless my card dies I don't absolutely need one right this second.
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Once the OP sells their HD4870X2 they will have at least £250 to spend on a new graphics card.

It is most likely that the HD6950 will be under £300.
Click to expand...

This. I think people should wait a few more weeks and see the 69xx series aswell. With that people will have more clear idea on what to get after comparing performance within the 6000 series aswell as with fermi series.
 
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