6970 + 6950?

[elmarko]

I'm looking at upgrading to crossfire (as I've already got a 6970 @ 900hz)

Would I be losing much performance by getting a 6950 (as they are much cheaper currently) - instead of the 6970 for the crossfire - I've tried to find benchmarks but I've been unable too so far.

Does anybody have any experience of this?, I was looking at the MSI HD 6950 Twin Frozr III card - as it's clocked at 850 (higher than most 6950's).

I've also seen a 1GB Gigabyte HD 6950 (clocked at 870mhz) with much better cooling - but I'm unsure how much difference only have 1G on VRAM on the secondary graphics card would make.

 

[stulid]

Well it basically becomes 2 X 6950 performance as the 6970 will slow down to the same speed of the 6950 (effectively)

 

[Mr. May]

Needs to be a 2gb version other wise youe 6970 will down clock and lose 1gb of vram to match the lower spec card

 

[old gamer]

I had this setup myself, but the 6950 had unlocked shaders and i overclocked to 6970 speeds, worked fine

 

[elmarko]

Hmm, I guess I'll wait a short while - see if the 6970's come down in price a bit when nvid release the new range - if by then the 7970 has a good version out with an aftermarket cooler I'll have to plunge in.

Just the £280/£300 for the 6970 feels too pricey now they are a generation old.

 

[Surveyor]

£249.95 if that makes any difference:

PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 6970 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

 

[TheMorningStar]

get a second hand 6970 for under 200

 

[elmarko]

I can't bring myself to buy second hand electronics, I like to know I can take it back if something goes wrong a few months later - I don't trust my luck enough.

If I recall correctly, the card in the link is pretty darn loud - I'd have to fork out for another arctic accelero cooler + a pack of heatsinks (which adds about £50 onto the total cost) - that's the main reason now I'll only get cards with non-stock coolers (hate how noisy they are lol).

Tbh I'm would have thought the 6900 range would have dropped in price a bit by now - they ain't looking very appealing anymore.

 

[tommybhoy]

Well it basically becomes 2 X 6950 performance as the 6970 will slow down to the same speed of the 6950 (effectively)

No it won't, CrossFire can run on different clock speeds.

Some of the Sapphire Dual Fan Edition's are already pre-flashed with unlocked bios:

There are a few guys on here that have reported that some of the Sapphire Dual Fan edition cards already have the unlocked shaders bios factory flashed, you just simply flick the bios switch, oc to 6970 clocks and you have yourself a bargain 6970.

Personally I wouldn't be purchasing it on the assumption/expecting it would work but more of a bonus if it worked as it might not enable at all.

BUT as I said, it's not a given that it works.

 

[Surveyor]

Tbh I'm would have thought the 6900 range would have dropped in price a bit by now - they ain't looking very appealing anymore.

Unfortunately, given the price of the alternatives, there's no need to reduce the prices.