Replace 3870X2

[KillerDr3w]

Hi Folks,

I bought a PowerColor 3870X2 a few years ago and it's been great card. I play at either 1280x1024 on a small LCD, or at 1920x1080 on a TV - to be honest, its on the small LCD most of the time. Everything I've played so far has been with all the settings turned up max.

Final Fantasy XIV is the first game I've had to reduce the settings on, so I think its time to upgrade the graphics card. Can someone recommend a nice card that will replace my 3870X2, use less power, and make less noise but give me better performance please?

I'm hoping something in the region of £150 will give me noticeably more graphics processing. Something like a 6850 or 6870 possibly?

The rest of my rig is: 8Gb RAM PC-8500 1066MHz, AMD Phenom II X4 (its either 3.2GHz or 3.0GHz, I can't remember). I have a 700W Cooler Master PSU, I don't think the rest matters.

Thanks!

kD

 

[schumi84]

Personally that is what i would go for . I have just swapped out my 3870x2 for a 5870 and noticed a massive increase in performance, so i would imagine you woukd fine the same (only running a Q6600 @ 3.42GHz so you may find bigger gains).

Hope this helps

 

[opethdisciple]

I'v done exactly the same, upgraded from a 3870x2 to a 5870.

However at £150 I think your looking at 460's and 6850's.

I would defo choose a 460 over a 6850!

This looks pretty good: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-092-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1830


Can you stretch any more than £150? Or is that final?

Hmm I think you need to look at some benchmarks, before you buy anything.

In all honesty, I think you would be better of stretching to a GTX 470. Simply becuase it will have morel life in it as more and more Dx11 games start coming out.

Review on the 460: http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-geforce-gtx-460-cyclone-oc-1024-review/


This is just a plain vanilla hot, potentially loud card, but for £16 more it definetly gives you more than £16 of performance:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-135-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1810

However if you comfortable with overclocking then the 460 maybe be the better buy for you.

 

[Mr. May]

what about a 470gtx for £165 ? overclock it and get near 480gtx performance ?

 

[opethdisciple]

The cheap £165 470 will get HOT and LOUD with a cheap stock fan if overclocked.

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The HD6850 requires less power at peak than even a GTX460 768MB:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6850/26.html

 

[opethdisciple]

However a few months back when I was looking at buying a gpu, according to the internet the 3870x2 consumes more power and is louder than a stock 470 anyway!

 

[opethdisciple]

The HD6850 requires less power at peak than even a GTX460 768MB:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6850/26.html

Hmm yea both the 460 and the 6850 are pretty close performance wise, based on these benchmarks it look likethe 6850 is better. But im not sure if thats for stock 460 speeds.