CF 6950 vs GTX580

D

Deluded

[H]ard|Gawd
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Dec 31, 2009
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As topic says... I wanted to know about CF 6950 vs GTX580.

I'd like to say for the record that I already have both graphic cards. My main system has CF 6950 (1GB) and I recently got a 580 for free (through some convoluted process that involve calling in favors owed and whats not -- I wont bore you with details).

My monitor is 1920x1200. Here are the list of games I play on a regular basis:

BF3, BL2, NFS:S2

I've had no obvious problems with CF 6950 -- most games ran maxed out, except for BF3. In small maps, I'd get tearing, and in bigger maps, I'd get stuttering when I used a sniper rifle with 12x scope and zoomed in. Note: stuttering only occurs when I started to zoom (scope gets closer), everything after that is fine. I've managed to get rid of tearing by enabling vsync, and somewhat reduced the stuttering when zooming by lowering AA, but I still haven't been able to eliminate it entirely.

So I guess, my question is, can I get away with using 580 and see no performance drop in BF3 (note: on CF 6950, everything is maxed out except for AA, which is at 2xAA), or would I be better off by selling the 580 and keep my CF system for a while longer?

Before you say "herp derp, there are tons of benchmarks, why didnja google em?" I did. A lot of results were conflicting. Many said microstutter and drivers ruined the game. Other said that the 580 was simply better because it's a single card and consumes less power, etcetc.

I'd like to have your guys opinion about this issue. Any advice is appreciated.

EDIT:
System spec:
i7 860 @ 3.6 Ghz
P55-UD4P
12GB DDR3
6950 1GB in CF
750W Antec
 
If you sell the HD 6950 cards for 150 bucks each you could get a Gigabyte HD 7950 OC for 300 bucks. overclock it to 1.1+ Ghz and you will match HD 7970 Ghz and be running faster than HD 6950 CF without any multi GPU issues like microstuttering or any CF scaling issues(in games which don't scale well) . lesser power and lesser heat/noise. sell the GTX 580 for 200 bucks and pocket the money. :)
 
Yup -- sell them.

In the end you will come out with better performance, lower power use, less heat generated, and have some extra cash left over in your pocket. It's quite literally win win all the way around.
 
I have to admit, the thought of upgrading to a better graphic card is appealing. however, I do have questions...

My video card progression history may be rusty, but how can a single 7950 trade blows with 6950 CF, which is one generation below?
 
It may be one generation below, but its 3 full performance tiers below the 7950. Further, the 7950 uses a more efficient process than the 6950, allowing it to run considerably faster without burning a hole through your machine. Plus, no microstutter, or any other issues associated with running multi-GPU's.

I would DEFINATELY sell those other cards and get the 7950 or 7970.
 
txsizzler said:
It may be one generation below, but its 3 full performance tiers below the 7950. Further, the 7950 uses a more efficient process than the 6950, allowing it to run considerably faster without burning a hole through your machine. Plus, no microstutter, or any other issues associated with running multi-GPU's.

I would DEFINATELY sell those other cards and get the 7950 or 7970.
Click to expand...
well a 7950 is only about 45-50% faster than a 6950 so technically 6950 cf would easily be faster overall.
 
cannondale06 said:
well a 7950 is only about 45-50% faster than a 6950 so technically 6950 cf would easily be faster overall.
Click to expand...

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

1920 x 1200

HD 6950 - 64
HD 7970 Ghz - 117

HD 7950(1.1 Ghz) matches HD 7970 Ghz. Get a card like Gigabyte HD 7950 OC and you can easily overclock it to 1.1 Ghz. In the most demanding games like BF3, Crysis 2, Metro 2033, Sleeping Dogs, MOH Warfighter, Witcher 2, Batman AC the gap is even more. HD 7950(1.1 Ghz) is more than 2x faster than HD 6950 CF. CF scaling even in best cases is 1.8x - 1.9x. plus you have microstuttering and CF scaling problems. always go for a single GPU if you can to get the most consistent and best performance.
 
raghu78 said:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

1920 x 1200

HD 6950 - 64
HD 7970 Ghz - 117

HD 7950(1.1 Ghz) matches HD 7970 Ghz. Get a card like Gigabyte HD 7950 OC and you can easily overclock it to 1.1 Ghz. In the most demanding games like BF3, Crysis 2, Metro 2033, Sleeping Dogs, MOH Warfighter, Witcher 2, Batman AC the gap is even more. HD 7950(1.1 Ghz) is more than 2x faster than HD 6950 CF. CF scaling even in best cases is 1.8x - 1.9x. plus you have microstuttering and CF scaling problems. always go for a single GPU if you can to get the most consistent and best performance.
Click to expand...
that review shows the 6950 is at 65% and the 7970 ghz is at 117% which is 80% faster. the stock 7950 is only 31% faster than a 6950 which is WAY less than I even gave it credit for.

and why do people only talk about ocing new cards verses stock old cards? plenty of 6950 cards unlock and can oc too so please dont try and compare a 7950 with a 35% oc to a stock 6950.
 
i'm still voting 7XXX series card.

I had two 6950's and I was able to get SOME overclocking action out of them, but nowhere near as good as what my 7970's will do now.

Factoring out the performance difference - it's still a win, lower power, lower heat, no micro stutter AND the ability to go crossfire a year down the road if he needs to.
 
cannondale06 said:
that review shows the 6950 is at 65% and the 7970 ghz is at 117% which is 80% faster. the stock 7950 is only 31% faster than a 6950 which is WAY less than I even gave it credit for.

and why do people only talk about ocing new cards verses stock old cards? plenty of 6950 cards unlock and can oc too so please dont try and compare a 7950 with a 35% oc to a stock 6950.
Click to expand...

The overclocking headroom and performance scaling on HD 6900 cards is nowhere as good as HD 7900 cards. The techpowerup review shows a HD 7950 at 800 mhz. clock for clock HD 7950 is 3 - 5% slower than HD 7970. thats a fact.

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/34761-amd-hd-7950-vs-hd-7970-clocks/?page=5

get yourself a HD 7950 OC at 900 Mhz and overclock with voltage tweaking. HD 7950 at 1.1 Ghz is a conservative overclock and matches HD 7970 Ghz in performance. most cards are doing 1.15 - 1.2 Ghz. the average can be made to look better than what it is by testing less demanding games and at lesser settings. Look at DX11 games like BF3, Crysis 2, Max Payne 3. The HD 7970 Ghz is 1.8x - 2x the perf of HD 6970.
 
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cannondale06 said:
that review shows the 6950 is at 65% and the 7970 ghz is at 117% which is 80% faster. the stock 7950 is only 31% faster than a 6950 which is WAY less than I even gave it credit for.

and why do people only talk about ocing new cards verses stock old cards? plenty of 6950 cards unlock and can oc too so please dont try and compare a 7950 with a 35% oc to a stock 6950.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but 50% overclocks on a 7950 aren't exactly uncommon. I can tell you this, I never had my 6950 anywhere near 1200mhz. Still, I agree that 6950 deserves more credit than some people want to give it.

Yes, 6950 crossfire may technically be faster but thats only when crossfire scales well. Even when it does there are games where you'll run into microstutter.
 
Yeah, but 50% overclocks on a 7950 aren't exactly uncommon. I can tell you this, I never had my 6950 anywhere near 1200mhz. Still, I agree that 6950 deserves more credit than some people want to give it.

Yes, 6950 crossfire may technically be faster but thats only when crossfire scales well. Even when it does there are games where you'll run into microstutter.
Click to expand...

Microstutter is easily fixed using Radeon Pro.

And yes a single 7950/7970 will be faster than your 6950 (1gb) crossfire. However for 1080p Your current cards are still fine. Any of the GCN Gpu's overclock like little devils. My 7950 runs at 1100mhz core, and 1460mhz mem. With a small bump in the stock voltage (.993) to (1.130) I can push higher if I want but there is simply no need.

Upgrade if you like. If not Do yourself a favor and download Radeon Pro. Fix those micro stutters!
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I've decided to sell all graphic cards and go for the 7950 once I've sold everything.

CF is great and all, but the heat output is astonishing... I can actually turn off the heater and my computer will warm up my room to a comfortable temperature after a nice gaming session.

Another reason why I've decided to sell is because a single 6950 isn't really enough to max out BF3, whereas 2x 6950 are overkill, but they bring their own set of problems (stuttering when zooming... that wasn't present in 1x 6950) and the heat output.
 
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