HD 6850 and HD 6870

[OnionKnight]

 

So the new ATI cards are already out and from what I can say, the currently released cards are the "budget cards"

 

• Radeon HD 6870 1GB - $239
• Radeon HD 6850 1GB - $179

I am unsure how the HD series is going to be numbered because, since these are the budget series. But to give you the graphical equivalent :

 

HD 6850 - slightly more powerful than a HD 5830 in games

HD 6870 - more powerful than an HD 5850 but slightly less powerful than a GTX 470 in games

 

Power Consumption:

No real improvements to be noted from the HD 5000 series

 

Temperature:

 

Both Cards are 5-8 C warmer than a HD 5850

Noise:

HD 6870 seems to be as loud as the HD 5870 series. HD 6850 as loud as a HD 5850

 

Conclusion:

 

Just a line up of mid ranged cards. Sorta like a slightly more powerful version of what is on the market. Upgrading from a HD 5830 or HD 5850 to one of these cards would be a waste of time (its almost like buying the same thing for just for a little bit of juice). The only good thing I can say about it is, at least it lowers the bar for the value of video cards.

 

For example the HD 6870's performance is very close to the GTX 470 but the GTX 470 is almost $70 more.

 

So is the HD 6000 series good? I wouldn't say it is good. What it brings to the table is it is just more of the same of what we saw in the HD 5000 series but with slight improvements (like 6 way eyefinity which will arrive in early 2011). I think the best way to end this is that "meh same stuff, but at least it is cheap".

[Term!n@tor]

6870 in some games is on par with 5870. But some games. AMD has also improved hardware tessellation and added support for 3d gaming and new interface for hdmi. and 460 and 470 have price drops in place. 470 is priced close to 6870.

[OnionKnight]

6870 in some games is on par with 5870. But some games. AMD has also improved hardware tessellation and added support for 3d gaming and new interface for hdmi. and 460 and 470 have price drops in place. 470 is priced close to 6870.

 

Only the Sparkle GTX 470 is the cheapest at $250. I don't know why though lol (i feel like i don't want to find out considering every other GTX 470 is $300. There must be a reason for the $50 price slash lol).

 

Tomshardware puts it below a GTX 470 in every benchmark and PC perspective says it is very similar to a HD 5850. Guru3d says its as good at a GTX 470 and might even be better. Shit who knows because everyone contradicts each other lol =D. But ya it is definitely on par with the HD 5870 when it comes to Crytek games (crysis and crysis warhead).

 

EDIT: 3dmark scores: 16991

[RoosterCogburn]

I was going to upgrade my 4870 to a 6870. So should I just get the 5870 instead? or just shell out for the 6870?

[-=Medic=-]

New gpu have a good performances if we put in mind that are made to be in front of GTX 460 1GB and 768MB, So now AMD made a new number for the high top and everything else was hit up 100, so careful when you talking about performances for 6850 & 6870 (Barts PRO and Barts XT) cuz in reality they are the ones that should be the replacement for 5750 & 5770 and not 5850 & 5870

 

Old HD5xxx series

5750 - 5770

5850 - 5870

New HD6xxx series

6850 - 6870: Barts PRO and XT

6950 - 6970: Cayman PRO and XT

 

now you'll have this to be more clear:

5750->6850

5770->6870

5850->6950

5870->6970

5970->6990 (x2 gpu)

 

wait for 10 november to see the high signle GPU HD6950 (5850) and HD6970 (5870) Cayman Pro and XT, even nvidia is waiting to see new performances before they release new fermi in the box (580) lol

[FiveMagic]

Geeze... I play on a cruddy laptop card and i am happy, middle class? if it can play 90% of games on higher settings on decent resolutions i don't see it as middle class considering it's $200-$300. I paid $500 for my Ati ALLINWONDER 8500 9 years ago and i could play CNC Generals maxed at 1024x800 and i thought that was good, Some people are just to fussy >_<

[OnionKnight]

Geeze... I play on a cruddy laptop card and i am happy, middle class? if it can play 90% of games on higher settings on decent resolutions i don't see it as middle class considering it's $200-$300. I paid $500 for my Ati ALLINWONDER 8500 9 years ago and i could play CNC Generals maxed at 1024x800 and i thought that was good, Some people are just to fussy >_<

 

Can't help it ^^. Always want to play the new games come out but unfortunately the specs go up so every 5 years ppl upgrade (just like every 5 years ppl buy a new console =P). Things has gotten a lot cheaper now though when i compare it to the days of the allinwonder 8500 (when video cards use to be like luxury class. Nowadays its pretty norm)

 

Just last month I saw a special for GT 240 for $36.99 (and right now you can get a HD 4850 for $70, which will play everything on highest settings at 1400 x 900 res). So even though the HD 6000 series is not necessary for most people, as long as it drives the prices of video cards even lower, I can dig it =P.

[gunsling3r]

Ive gotta get myself one of these.

[Pegasus™]

 

Just last month I saw a special for GT 240 for $36.99 (and right now you can get a HD 4850 for $70, which will play everything on highest settings at 1400 x 900 res). So even though the HD 6000 series is not necessary for most people, as long as it drives the prices of video cards even lower, I can dig it =P.

 

where at? is it the same one I got? if it is..I'm going to get a few of the m.

Edited November 6, 2010 by Pegasus