AMD 6970 vs 7870

[iMess]

Hey chaps, I'm a bit behind on GPUs these days. Since these card are selling at pretty much the same price (+/- £10), I've yet to find a nice comparison article. Other than the obvious 'new tech' stuff, what is the difference? I notice the 6970 has more stream processors but a lower GPU core speed. Could someone enlighten me as I'm in need of a GPU upgrade (running a single HIS HD4850 atm).

Cheers

 

[Surveyor]

HD 6970 v HD 7870

Guru3D review where you can compare the cards.

Or get a HD 7850, save some cash, and hopefully you can clock the nuts off it:

How to overclock a 7850 past 1050MHz?

 

[pieman109]

As surveyor says, 7850 and clock the nads off it. be aware though that theres quite disparity between what overclocks some people have been getting. A few go really high, 1200mhz and higher on the core, while others are struggling to get past 1150, even at fairly high voltages (still within safety limits though). My 7850 clocked to 1150core/ 5800 decimates my old unlocked 6950 in everything. You have to overclock 'em to get the performance outta them, but they can be monstr clockers, depends what you get, I'd go for MSI meself.

 

[adwol48]

or you could pick up one of these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-123-MS
I just purchased one to crossfire with my older 6970, and gotta say i'm impressed but it is HUGE compared to the reference cards. example A and B

and side on

 

[Surveyor]

or you could pick up one of these

It's an option but a HD 7850 already runs the HD 6970 pretty close.

Overclocked the HD 7850 will easily beat an overclocked HD 6970.

The HD 7850 can also be had for less money.

Edit:

Nice Ikea desk BTW.

 

[pieman109]

Its also smaller, cooler and quieter, only has one 6 pin socket and if you get a goodun, you're starting to get into 7950 / GTX580 territory. For the money, its a no brainer I reckon

 

[arc@css]

+1 7850, but as said, only overclocking will really do it full justice.

 

[iMess]

Ok thanks for the replies. Does the amount of stream processors make a noticable difference for stock speeds? I'm going for quiet rather than clocking.. for the moment

 

[pieman109]

The fan on the 7850 is extremely quiet, even when running about 50%. ignore how many shaders these cards have. the more efficient use of the shaders gives more peformance rather than the sheer number of them and these 7850 cards are very efficient, quiet, very cool running, overclock like mad if you get a goodun (I suggest MSI but its still a lottery) and only have 1x6 pin power connector. Its also very small, about the size of a 6850.
Even if its a bad clocker, say you only get a max of 1150mhz on the core, thats still an o/c of nearly 300mhz, and if you get a goodun, it should do 1200-1250, which is an insane o/c!