HD6950 1GB review thread

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Jan 2011 at 14:42

There are comparisons of the GTX560TI in these reviews too.

Anandtech:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market/1

Hardware Canucks:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...iews/40165-amd-radeon-hd-6950-1gb-review.html

PC Perspective:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=1067&type=expert

The Tech Report:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/20293/1

zombiegenesis · 25 Jan 2011 at 14:51

"Also, don’t expect it to reach the absolutely stratospheric overclocks most will be able to attain with the GTX 560. "

Well that's sealed it for me. The 6950 1GB may have a 5% increase above 1920x but overclock potential weighs out for me.
Still, those are both VERY good cards... damn.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Jan 2011 at 14:54

zombiegenesis said:
"Also, don’t expect it to reach the absolutely stratospheric overclocks most will be able to attain with the GTX 560. "

Well that's sealed it for me. The 6950 1GB may have a 5% increase above 1920x but overclock potential weighs out for me.
Still, those are both VERY good cards... damn.

The Hardware Canucks reviewer used CCC to overclock which has artifical limits.

Most people with 3rd part software get much higher overclocks.

RavenXXX2 · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:01

Overclocking is much simpler with Nvidia, bump the sliders up hit apply and you're good to go, no using unofficial overclocking methods or flashing a new bios with higher default clocks.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:08

RavenXXX2 said:
Overclocking is much simpler with Nvidia, bump the sliders up hit apply and you're good to go, no using unofficial overclocking methods or flashing a new bios with higher default clocks.

I just use ATI Tray Tools and set automatic clocks. It is very simple.

zombiegenesis · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:10

I don't like the fact that many people seem to have adopted almost religious faith in their companies of choice...

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:16

I actually have had more Nvidia cards than AMD ones and Nvidia Linux drivers still have the edge IMHO.

However,as I use an SFF PC I tend to prefer the AMD cards under £150 ATM as they have lower power draw.

I suspect that the GTX550/GTS550 will probably have a GTX460 1GB performance but consume less power.

[timko] · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:24

zombiegenesis said:
I don't like the fact that many people seem to have adopted almost religious faith in their companies of choice...

If we're focussing just on graphics chips makers then welcome to the late 1990s, you've got a lot of catching up to do. Seriously

Ezyryder · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:29

Raven makes a fair point with overclocking. It is easier to overclock the nVidia parts. At least my 460 and 8800 GTS were.

It is not that it is really difficult though either, if you have ever overclocked a CPU, doing an AMD GPU is piece of cake.

My 6950 does overclock from 800 > 950 Mhz with stock 6970 volts.

I can push it further but it gets too hot IMO (80c+)

People forget that the pick of the draw is still the 6950 unlockable to 6970 for around £220 quid, probably cheaper this week.

zombiegenesis · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:31

[timko];18311349 said:
If we're focussing just on graphics chips makers then welcome to the late 1990s, you've got a lot of catching up to do. Seriously

All I know so far is that AMD had that one girlfriend and then Nvidia got in on it, then AMD said something about Nvidia's mum...

Phoenixdancer · 25 Jan 2011 at 15:41

Ezyryder said:
Raven makes a fair point with overclocking. It is easier to overclock the nVidia parts. At least my 460 and 8800 GTS were.

nvidia doesnt have Overclocking built into its driver software.. AMD does..

MSI afterburner was made for AMD hardware and is the BEST overclocking software out there.

Sorry but how is It easier to overclock nvidia hardware?

AMD = GPU clock and memory clock

nvidia = GPU, mem and shader...

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Jan 2011 at 20:12

The Tech Report review compares the 1GHZ version of the GTX560TI 1GB with an HD6950 1GB with the latest Catalyst 11.1a drivers.

Higadeb · 25 Jan 2011 at 21:14

RavenXXX2 said:
Overclocking is much simpler with Nvidia, bump the sliders up hit apply and you're good to go, no using unofficial overclocking methods or flashing a new bios with higher default clocks.

I don't wish to start a big AMD vs nVidia war. But this IMHO is rubbish. ATI has an auto-tune function built into it's drivers and is fully supported by Afterburner. I don't see how it could be made any easier...
The flashing of the BIOS is to unlock shader cores, there is no other way to do this and in some senses isn't really overclocking. Plus only applies to the 6950 AFAIK. You can't really compare overclocking to unlocking shaders in this regards.

Anyways, back on track. The 6950 1GB looks like pretty damn good value for money! I wonder if you can unlock the shaders on those too? :confused:

Andrei23 · 26 Jan 2011 at 02:03

RavenXXX2 said:
Overclocking is much simpler with Nvidia, bump the sliders up hit apply and you're good to go, no using unofficial overclocking methods or flashing a new bios with higher default clocks.

you need a mac

Garee · 26 Jan 2011 at 02:17

RavenXXX2 said:
bump the sliders

RavenXXX2 said:
hit apply

RavenXXX2 said:
no using unoffial overclocking methods

RavenXXX2 said:
Overclocking is much simpler

You make a good point.

zombiegenesis · 26 Jan 2011 at 02:19

So Garee, what would one use in order to shift the 6950 (2GB or 1GB) further than 840? I've seen them go up to 900 and possibly further, but since Overdrive locks this number, how would you do it?

Troezar · 26 Jan 2011 at 07:27

So as suspected there is very little in it just the usual loyalties surfacing

I think the best point here is about the 6950 2GB being only slightly more expensive, still seems the best choice to me...

muppet · 26 Jan 2011 at 08:08

i have to use third party software to push past 775 core , i didnt with my 8800gts so yes i agree with raven on this one

-=Vect0r=- · 1 Feb 2011 at 00:25

Sooo, can these puppies be flashed to 6970??

Andrei23 · 1 Feb 2011 at 00:27