Big mistake to buy a 6950 or 6970 today?

Skidder · 13 Dec 2011 at 12:37

I am pushing the button on a parts for a new system later today. 2500k based, 16gb ram, SSD

Have HDDs, Enrermax 1000w PSU and optical drives.

I run three monitors but game on one at 1920x1200

Is it a horrible idea to pick up an AMD GPU today (in terms of the impending release of the 7000 series)? Realistically how long will it be before the new GPUs are out? And realistically will one of the cards I mention above allow me to max out games for a while anyway?

Intend to play BF3, star wars mmo in short term

I have the budget through work to buy the whole system today. I could hold off on the GPU and use some 8800gtx s I have sli for a bit but would end up buying new GPU myself that way. What you good people do?

I have a set budget so could delay the card and spend more on 2600k/2700k, better cooling or whatever so not a loss as such to delay.

goodl · 13 Dec 2011 at 12:43

if you can hang on and use what you have then you should, but personally I wouldn't go ATI, but that's just me and I have had crossfire in the past

DamoTourettes · 13 Dec 2011 at 12:43

Wait. We're literally talking just over 3 weeks until the 7000 series, which are going to be Nvidia slayers. You're mad to buy anything now. Know what it's like with money in the pocket, but you're buying COMPLETELY end of life if you do - a tremendous waste of cash.

DamoTourettes · 13 Dec 2011 at 12:44

Buy a 2700k - I've had 10 of them (for work) clock to at least 5.0Ghz - belter.

sypher365 · 13 Dec 2011 at 12:49

I'd wait and use your existing cards as a tempory measure as souldn't be to long now for the new cards and swtor doesn't need that much to be playable only bf3 would need a few settings turned down until the new cards arrive

Skidder · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:03

Thanks, I know it's what I should do and I am leaning towards that

Really tempting just to get a decent system within my budget with a 2500k and GPU though!

RanxZy · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:13

If you wanna go AMD it really can't be recommended to buy a 6900 now when a 7970 which might be released as soon as next month could give xfire 6950s a run for it's money on it's own.

Skidder · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:18

RanxZy said:
If you wanna go AMD it really can't be recommended to buy a 6900 now when a 7970 which might be released as soon as next month could give xfire 6950s a run for it's money on it's own.

is there a sensible Nvidia option? (was only thinking AMD as could go single card with 3 screens)

RanxZy · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:28

In my case I'm not willing to go AMD as I tried xfire recently with a 6990 and the driver support was terrible with scaling on new games so DSR'd it for a 580.

I had a little bit of an excuse to get a 580 as high end kepler could take a long time. But if you don't mind a AMD card there is no point in getting a nvidia card now either as the 7900 should smash any nvidia card.

If you can be patient just wait a month and see how they perform but take note they might be more expensive then expected at launch if the performance is as high as anticipated.

Ezyryder · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:53

Less than a month to go. Use the onboard graphics till January and be happy.

~>Dg<~ · 13 Dec 2011 at 14:45

RanxZy said:
If you wanna go AMD it really can't be recommended to buy a 6900 now when a 7970 which might be released as soon as next month could give xfire 6950s a run for it's money on it's own.

yeahh and how much is a 7970 its going to be 300 minimum :rolleyes:

at least compare cards that cost the same

6950 will be same or similar to the 7870 which is out end of jan and probably available in stock early feb and will be about 200 quid

jkb · 13 Dec 2011 at 14:50

I would wait...although I am the person who bought a 6990 three months ago because I just couldn't wait any longer!

tommybhoy · 13 Dec 2011 at 14:55

As Dg said, although the new cards are coming out, since Nvidia won't have any reply in performance, there could be a high chance that you will be looking at the same price/performance ratio as today's cards.

The prices at a guess from me: 7970 ~£380, 7950 ~£300, 7870 ~£250, 7850 ~£200.

Skidder · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:01

I play games pretty infrequently as I have a busy work life and two small kids and as such the coming christmas break gives me one of the few opportunities of the year to actually sit down and game which is one reason why waiting isn't very appealing!

I really am tempted to just get a 6950 as I reckon I would probably be perfectly satisfied with it (compared to trisli 8800 gtx) and I would have the pleasure of a fully new build now. I know it's a flawed plan though.

muppet · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:31

have you thought of a second hand gpu just to keep you gaming over xmas . you could get a 5850/70/gtx 460/70 and sell after xmas and not lose too much dosh and still have a reasonably good gaming experience over xmas .
cheers
edit: i like the word xmas lol

ALXAndy · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:34

Just get what you want when you want to mate.

Relying on parts that don't exist yet is kinda crazy.

Plus there are glaring warning signs about the new Radeons that are worrying to say the least.

Ed. As an example. I built my I7 950 machine a month before Sandybridge came along.

Sandybridge came out. It was broken.

By the time they fixed it four months had passed and yeah, so a SB I7 is faster than mine. Whoopee do. There isn't a single game on this earth that doesn't scream along with my I7, so maybe some benchmark scores would have pleased me? I doubt it. There's absolutely no reason for me to upgrade the 950 either, given that it's a stonking CPU in its own right. So it was much ado over nothing, only I could have gotten burned with a motherboard that would have had to go back and serious inconvenience.

Let new hardware settle before you take the plunge. A mate of mine learned that the very hard way by forking out $500 for a rev A 790i Ultra SLI and then came to find nine months later that he had a turkey. The bios refused to update (and it was bsodding all the while) and he came to find that the board was a rev A that was replaced within 6 weeks of being launched and he was stuck with it as EVGA refused to replace it.

rolypolyman · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:34

tommybhoy said:
As Dg said, although the new cards are coming out, since Nvidia won't have any reply in performance, there could be a high chance that you will be looking at the same price/performance ratio as today's cards.

The prices at a guess from me: 7970 ~£380, 7950 ~£300, 7870 ~£250, 7850 ~£200.

Well if you are right with those prices then I will not be buying any of those cards and I'm putting what money I've saved towards a 3D telly!

Xelene · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:37

If your are just gaming and not worrying about benchmarks then a £209 6950 2GB will give you good framerates at 1920x1200 with all eyecandy turned on for most games for the forseeable future. Prices will obviously drop when the new cards come out, but the 6950 wont suddenly stop being a great graphics card.

panyan · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:38

rolypolyman said:
Well if you are right with those prices then I will not be buying any of those cards and I'm putting what money I've saved towards a 3D telly!

thats an even bigger waste of money that buying a 6xxx series card now

ALXAndy · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:47

Prices at a guess?

What did the 5870 launch at? £350? which soon rose to £400?

What did the 6970 launch at? £400?

£300 no chance. At all. Since when has a high end fastest single GPU card in a range released at £300?

470 £350 480 £450.

570 £350 580 £450.

Repeat to fade.