6970?? Or wait until q4 for new generation? £250 budget.

Fiocca · 8 Jun 2011 at 21:46

As title really. Got the bug to upgrade my whole system and currently running a 4870. Want to upgrade mainly for bf3 but im not sure if its worth upgrading now or waiting. My budget is 250 tops.

Cheers

Fiocca · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:04

anyone??

Dem2k · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:13

If It were me I would hold out if possible since it will be a while till BF3 is out and its expected that AMD/ATI will announce or release new info on 7xxx series at the AMD Fusion Development Summit which starts next monday.

Nothing solid on this though, but im hopeful that we get at least some more news at the timeline and details of southern islands.

Rroff · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:14

Don't buy a 6970.

6950, GTX570 or GTX480 would be better use of the cash, tho it is getting rather close to waiting and seeing what the next generation will bring IMO, we'll start seeing snippets of info on the next generation cards within a couple of months time tops.

chaotic_uk · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:23

Rroff said:
Don't buy a 6970.

6950, GTX570 or GTX480 would be better use of the cash, tho it is getting rather close to waiting and seeing what the next generation will bring IMO, we'll start seeing snippets of info on the next generation cards within a couple of months time tops.

why dont buy the 6970 ? , it's faster than the gtx480 in most things (i have both)

Rroff · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:28

Overclocked 6950, 570, 480 and 6970 all pretty much max out with the same performance give or take a small margin. For the most part unless theres nothing in it price wise might as well buy a 6950 and clock it.

jinxpad · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:33

If what you are currently using is running the games you are playing now just fine, then wait. If you are waiting for BF3, then upgrade when BF3 comes out to the card which will provide you the best performance for your £250 budget.

I'm sure there will be some announcements on the next series of ATI/nVidia cards around that time, might as well see what will be on offer then

Fiocca · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:33

Hmm im really torn as what to do!! I have the cash to upgrade to sandybridge + ssd so im def doing that. If i stuck with my 4870 + the upgraded system until nearer autumn would i still get a nice little increase in fps? currently have a q6600 at stock btw.

chaotic_uk · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:34

most the later 6950's do not unlock though do they ?

Fiocca · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:36

chaotic_uk said:
most the later 6950's do not unlock though do they ?

Thats why i haven't considered one as they are like goldust im assuming.

tommybhoy · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:38

chaotic_uk said:
most the later 6950's do not unlock though do they ?

Probably not.

Fiocca said:
Thats why i haven't considered one as they are like goldust im assuming.

OC still have the msi 6950 revision 1's that are unlockable at £225.

If you look hard enough you might still get 1 for £200 else where (someone has 1 in stock).

Jasonst888 · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:45

Rroff said:
Overclocked 6950, 570, 480 and 6970 all pretty much max out with the same performance give or take a small margin. For the most part unless theres nothing in it price wise might as well buy a 6950 and clock it.

Agreed plus you can flash the bios on the hd 6950's (revision 1) making them 6970's....so y waste the money...

Depends what the card is for? Heavy gamer? luv all the new stuff? what size screen/res?

Yes new cards are coming, but then again new cards are always coming!

See a gd deal on a HD 6950 buy it i say, you prefer one of the newer cards later...sell the 6950 use the money u saved in not getting the 6970 and buy one of the new ones....

xfx hd 6950 is what i got not that long ago, flashed fine, generally someone has asked in the comments so check?

Fiocca · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:50

Play on a 40" hd tv @1920x1080. Heavy gamer, just not had cash till now to upgrade.

tommybhoy · 8 Jun 2011 at 23:54

Fiocca said:
not had cash till now to upgrade.

Jasonst888 said:
Yes new cards are coming, but then again new cards are always coming! See a gd deal on a HD 6950 buy it i say, you prefer one of the newer cards later...sell the 6950

^This.

Fiocca · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:11

cheers guys

chaotic_uk · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:16

but remeber if you brick the card with modding the bios and they find out say bye bye to the warrenty

old gamer · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:50

Buy a second hand unlocked 6950 like me

tommybhoy · 9 Jun 2011 at 00:59

chaotic_uk said:
but remeber if you brick the card with modding the bios and they find out say bye bye to the warrenty

Not with revision 1's, for starters, if the flash goes bad and you brick it, then you flick the switch to the read only bios, reboot, flick the switch back and flash the original bios back in.

OC have stated that they will honour the warranty if you have flashed it anyway.

chaotic_uk · 9 Jun 2011 at 01:11

they wont if it is user error , some people have bricked their cards memory cause the volts are higher on the 6970's memory . any ways i give up as some think they know it all

drifting · 9 Jun 2011 at 09:31

tommybhoy said:
Not with revision 1's, for starters, if the flash goes bad and you brick it, then you flick the switch to the read only bios, reboot, flick the switch back and flash the original bios back in.

OC have stated that they will honour the warranty if you have flashed it anyway.

Are you sure about this? I spoke to customer service, and even regarding a fan noise issue, flashing the BIOS only to unlock the shaders (without changing anything else) could void the warranty.