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1080p - 7850 or 7870?

foxrocks

foxrocks

foxrocks

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16 Sep 2011
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134
Got a mate who's after a new card for 1080p. Not looking to max out anything majorly strenuous but will want to play stuff like Skyrim w/ mods and texture pack.

Just wondered if the 7870 would be worth the extra over the 7850? He's fine with overclocking though so I thought perhaps its lead might be lost somewhat when both are overclocked?

I don't think he can stretch to a 7950, sadly, before anyone suggests that!

Thanks.
 
I think there is only about 5% difference at the same clocks, so assuming you get a well cooled 7850, 1200mhz on the core is very realistic. I would stick with the 7850, just get a good branded, well cooled one.
 
It's down to how cheap you can find a 7850 comparing to a 7870. Personally if the price difference is less than £30, I'd pay the extra for the 7870 for the extra 5% speed on the same clock.
 
So clock-for-clock it's only about 5% difference, but won't the 7850 overclock higher than the 7870 in general? Or is that not the case?
 
foxrocks said:
So clock-for-clock it's only about 5% difference, but won't the 7850 overclock higher than the 7870 in general? Or is that not the case?
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No that's not the case. Both over clock to around d the same limits, depending on your luck in the silicon lottery.
 
Cool. Well in terms of price the MSI TFIII 7850 is £170, and the Sapphire 7870 is £192. So that's a 12% price increase for a 5-10% performance increase. Probably not really worth it then I guess.

edit: I suppose the 7870 is much better value if you don't want to overclock at all, with its higher base clock compared to the 7850
 
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foxrocks said:
So clock-for-clock it's only about 5% difference, but won't the 7850 overclock higher than the 7870 in general? Or is that not the case?
Click to expand...
If you are asking whether the 7850 "has a bigger overclocking headroom" than 7870 in terms of bigger overclock margin, then yes considering the 7850 has a lower stock clock. However in the context of max clock, both 7850 and 7870 is around the same, so the performance difference would be in the difference between the stream processers count.
 
7850 is the easy choice for people who overclock. 7870 only makes sense if you keep your cards at stock. Clock for clock the 7870 is just 5-10% faster, and I have testest plenty of 7800's to prove this. Both cards overclock to similar levels. My best 7850 could bench at 1350 core stable, my current 7870 hits 1325MHz. My worst card was an MSI TF4 7850 that could not make 1100MHz, but even this was as fast as a stoch 7870.
 
555BUK said:
7850 is the easy choice for people who overclock. 7870 only makes sense if you keep your cards at stock. Clock for clock the 7870 is just 5-10% faster, and I have testest plenty of 7800's to prove this. Both cards overclock to similar levels. My best 7850 could bench at 1350 core stable, my current 7870 hits 1325MHz. My worst card was an MSI TF4 7850 that could not make 1100MHz, but even this was as fast as a stoch 7870.
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Couldn't agree more with this post :)
 
MSI have a 7870 which they seem to be pricing the same as their Power Edition 7850... It's not the Twin Frozr, its a slightly different dual fan design. OcUK aren't stocking them atm.

But in that case, I can't see the reason to go for a 7850, when the 7870 is only an extra £10 or so.

555BUK, in your experience is an OC'd 7850 equal to an OC'd 7870 then? Seems like the 7870 should be faster...
 
I've seen the 7870 FoxEye is referring to, and currently it's only about a tenner more than the 7850. At that price I guess it's worth it.

@OCUK - any chance you will be getting it in?

Mind you, if the TFIII 7850 does go down to £150, that swings things back in its favour. Do OCUK do that price fairly often? It's a cracking deal.
 
There is a 7870 in the B grade for £162

Nearly went for it but I thought with the added games and warranty of a new one, then you might as well go for that. You'de almost recoup the money from selling the games.
 
Deaths_Calling said:
There is a 7870 in the B grade for £162

Nearly went for it but I thought with the added games and warranty of a new one, then you might as well go for that. You'de almost recoup the money from selling the games.
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The B-grade one says it comes with games?

ah nm I read the small print now :p No games or vouchers even if they're in the item description.
 
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5% performance increase is only the difference between 60 FPS and 63 FPS :S personally 3 FPS means nothing hence the 7850 would be better value/£
 
lemon2 said:
5% performance increase is only the difference between 60 FPS and 63 FPS :S personally 3 FPS means nothing hence the 7850 would be better value/£
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I'm not sure it's a hard and fast 5% to be honest. That's probably the worst case scenario.
 
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