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HIS 6850

I would take a 6850/6870 over an EOL 5xx series now.

The xfire scaling power and noise all play factors with the cooler running 6 series cards.

In benchies the 6870 is on par with the 5870 and they trade blows in many games.
 
easyrider said:
I would take a 6850/6870 over an EOL 5xx series now.

The xfire scaling power and noise all play factors with the cooler running 6 series cards.

In benchies the 6870 is on par with the 5870 and they trade blows in many games.
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Thank you! I just purchased two of these cards for them very reasons, and since reading this thread as it's developed have felt worse about my purchase!
I decided on my 300 max budget to buy two of these over a single 6970, as.. I doubt i'd ever buy another 6970 so bought two of these at once ( I always planned to crossfire my 4870 but.. never did, I think i'd end up doing the same with the 6970 as new cards will be around then )
 
easyrider said:
I would take a 6850/6870 over an EOL 5xx series now.

The xfire scaling power and noise all play factors with the cooler running 6 series cards.

In benchies the 6870 is on par with the 5870 and they trade blows in many games.
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Not really no, the 6870 is on par with the 5850, and can only match the 5870 when overclocked. Similarly the 6850 is a step down...

Sure it might scale better in crossfire but 2x5850 would have better raw performance each anyway that it would still outperform 2x6850.

And those are based on my own findings.
 
I thought the 6850 was only slightly better than the 5770 anyway? In my opinion the 5850 is way ahead of both. You would be mad to buy the 6850 when the 5850 is that price at the moment.
 
The 5850 is ahead of both. However from what I can gather the 6850 is ahead of the 5770 and not far off a 5850, but can clock to 6870 speeds?

In fact just looking at the benchies on guru3d the 6850 is almost as good stock as a stock 5850 and exceed a 460 and even mat6ch a 470 card. Now if I had a 58 series card already I probably wouldn't bother but for my mind, new tech over old for nigh on the same performance. And to be honest I would expect the gap to close furtehr as newer drivers become available.
 
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One thing people seem to get wrong is that...while the 6850's Crossfire does indeed scale better than 5850's Crossfire, the 6850 itself is around 10% slower than 5850...so even with better crossfire scaling, 6850 Crossfire would not really be faster than 5850 Crossfire...it is on par with it at best.
 
I wont be crossfiring and it is a single card replacement for my 5770. I think it is a fairly big step up from the 5770 for what I can afford and whilst not as fast as the 5850 it is almost there with it.
 
welshdragon said:
I wont be crossfiring and it is a single card replacement for my 5770. I think it is a fairly big step up from the 5770 for what I can afford and whilst not as fast as the 5850 it is almost there with it.
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But I don't see the logic of paying more for a slower card (well, unless you want the Modern Warfare 2 download voucher with the HIS 6850 at £135, instead of the MSI 5850 with a nice cooler plus Assassin Creed 2 game at £125), unless you want the new features such as 3-D support.
 
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IN fairness theres barely anything in it between a 6850 and a 5850. And the 6850 uses less power and is new tech. I imagine as the drivers mature performace will only grow and indeed the asus one overclocks by a massive amoutn easily bringing it in touching distance of the 6870.
 
welshdragon said:
IN fairness theres barely anything in it between a 6850 and a 5850. And the 6850 uses less power and is new tech. I imagine as the drivers mature performace will only grow and indeed the asus one overclocks by a massive amoutn easily bringing it in touching distance of the 6870.
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Barts's architecture (6850/6870) is barely any different from the Evergreen design of the 5000 series. The so-called 'new tech' only benefit in the areas of new features such as HD3D support, and have improved Crossfire scaling. But putting that aside, the fact remain that the 6850 is a card that's around 10% slower than a 5850...and there's no point going for the slower card for sake of features that you would not use. If you were comparing 6850 to a non-reference 5850 that has no voltage tweak support, then yes the 6850 would be a better choice as the 5850 overclock is limited with no voltage adjustment; but with the MSI 5850 Twin FrozeR (which has voltage tweak support) going for cheaper than a 6850, going for that 5850 should be a no-brainer.
 
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Helios1234 said:
I guess a few posts got deleted...
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haha yes they have I just noticed that. Odd they've deleted easyrider and sponge's little tet r tet without mention. They normally stick somethign in to say deleted.

Marine I get what your saying, I am not blind to the argument but the 6850 suits me better. What would happen say in 3 months time if I ahd to rma? etc anyway you have a valid point mate. I have however made my bed.

Any 6850 owners who can comment on their purchase?
 
welshdragon said:
Any 6850 owners who can comment on their purchase?
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I actually bought a Gigabyte 6850 (which has Gigabyte's signature Twin Fan Windforce custom cooler) for a friend (no MSI 5850 Twin FrozeR bargain back then :p). It is a great card and would overclock to 850MHz on stock voltage, however I haven't unlock the unofficial overclocking on the MSI Afterburner to remove the max overclock limit of 850MHz, and there was no voltage tweak available yet back then. If your mind is set on the 6850, I would definately recommend giving the Gigabyte 6850 a look.
 
Cheers dude. I've ordered the Asus 6850 that according to all the reviews can hit the 'golden' 1000 mhz with voltage tweak. Essentially putting it in grabbing distance of 6870 speeds. Though the proof will be in the pudding. Hopefully have it by Friday!
 
I would have got a 6870 over a 6850 considering the price :p

Mine did 975/1150 on stock vcore Never tried higher has there was no need @ 1080p

£150 for an Asus 6850 is pricey considering what you can get 6870's for ?
 
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