5770 or 5850

[Hansen]

Hey,

Need a upgrade for my 9800GSO. I need better graphics and It is also the most audible part in my system, by far.

I have a 24" screen with 1900x1200. I play games such as CS:source and RA3. I am going to play Mass Effect 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Bioshock 2 and Starcraft 2 when they come out.

I have the money to buy the 5850, but I do not want to pay the premium if I don't really need a better gpu than 5770.

Suggestions?

What would be more quiet, 5770 or 5850?

 

[Seraphic]

I have two 5770 V2s in crossfire with fan speeds set to 50% for both cards. Can't hear them over my Antec 900 case fans. Crossfire speeds are really nice too, haven't even overclocked them. Know that crossfire 5770 beat one 5850 in all cases and trades blows with one 5870. Prices are coming down too so get whatever is cheaper.

 

[SicKlown42012]

The 5770 should run those games at high settings, but probably with little or no AA(Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2). The 5850,on the other hand, will probably eat them for lunch with 8xAA/16xAF. If you can deal with some jaggies, then take the cheaper option. If not, the 5850 is a ideal choice. The coolers used on both the 5870/5850 area actually pretty quiet with the default fan profile, and do a pretty good job at keeping temps reasonable. If you really overclock them though, they will start to heat up and the fan will ramp up to a speed that is noticeable.

 

[evilsofa]

I can't speak for the audibility of 5770 vs 5850, but with the CPU you've got, the games you're going to play and the resolution of your monitor, I'd say you definitely want the 5850.

 

[otapnam]

if you dont need the card right away, would u be willing to wait for benches on the newer games?

I just ordered a 5770 vapor x myself, gonna OC it of course, but im only planning to game at 1280x1024 for awhile.

EDIT: wouldnt hurt to wait for the 5850 to drop a lil too haha

 

[Mr. Bluntman]

Go with a 5850. No crossfire hassles or lack of scaling. No waiting for updated game profiles, which I hear, take a while to come out on the red side. And you'll have room for another 5850 down the line.

 

[friend'scatdied]

At that resolution going forward you will need the 5850. The 5770 will not cut it.

The 5850 is also much quieter than the reference 5770. It's a little quieter than the egg 5770s as well.

<1280*1024: HD 5750
<1680*1050: HD 5770
1680*1050: HD 5770/HD 5850
1920*1xx0: HD 5850
>1920*1xx0: HD 5870/HD 5970

 

[Hansen]

Fantastic! Thanks for all your inputs.

I have now ordered a 5850.

 

[Ranulfo]

At that resolution going forward you will need the 5850. The 5770 will not cut it.

The 5850 is also much quieter than the reference 5770. It's a little quieter than the egg 5770s as well.

<1280*1024: HD 5750
1920*1xx0: HD 5850

Bah stop ruining my idea that a 5770 could run games decently at 1920x1080. Really not in the mood to pay 300 bucks for a vid card right now. May just have to put up with my 7950gt for a month or two, that or use the older 19'' monitor for gaming.

 

[x509]

Prices are coming down too so get whatever is cheaper.

How fast are prices coming down? Say I was willing to wait until March (or I was too busy with other stuff until March). Would prices drop 5%? 10% more%

 

[edifyingkarma]

5850 fo sho

 

[Kassem]

How fast are prices coming down? Say I was willing to wait until March (or I was too busy with other stuff until March). Would prices drop 5%? 10% more%

I think it depends on how many other cards are released in that time. Could be quite a bit. If I waited until mid-march i'd hope to find a 5850 for 200ish used?

 

[friend'scatdied]

Bah stop ruining my idea that a 5770 could run games decently at 1920x1080. Really not in the mood to pay 300 bucks for a vid card right now. May just have to put up with my 7950gt for a month or two, that or use the older 19'' monitor for gaming.

Well if it helps ease your decision, I notice noise is a concern. I went from a reference (v1 cooler) HD 5770 to a reference HD 5850 and the 5850 is much quieter all around. It has a larger fan that spins slower and pushes more air, and the $100 premium nets you a much better heatsink on the GPU (has heatpipes and all). Best reference cooler I've ever had the pleasure of using.

During load the 5770 fan really whines and screams..

 

[CmaN3]

I bit on a 5850 for $279 and I can say it was definately worth it. I was upgrading from a 8600GT(huge upgrade). The old 8600 could barely handle a source game at 1920x1080 lowest settings. The 5850 eats em for lunch, highest settings, and I think 4xAA with a solid 60fps. DOes crysis at highest settings(no aa).

 

[edifyingkarma]

I bit on a 5850 for $279 and I can say it was definately worth it. I was upgrading from a 8600GT(huge upgrade). The old 8600 could barely handle a source game at 1920x1080 lowest settings. The 5850 eats em for lunch, highest settings, and I think 4xAA with a solid 60fps. DOes crysis at highest settings(no aa).

Good Job

 

[Nenu]

Well if it helps ease your decision, I notice noise is a concern. I went from a reference (v1 cooler) HD 5770 to a reference HD 5850 and the 5850 is much quieter all around. It has a larger fan that spins slower and pushes more air, and the $100 premium nets you a much better heatsink on the GPU (has heatpipes and all). Best reference cooler I've ever had the pleasure of using.

During load the 5770 fan really whines and screams..

I'm running 5770 Xfire with the V2 coolers which must be much better as under load I never hear them at all.

 

[needmorecarnitine]

Bah stop ruining my idea that a 5770 could run games decently at 1920x1080.

It can. Really depends on how much you like/want AA. My 9600GT works fine at 1920x1080.

If I waited until mid-march i'd hope to find a 5850 for 200ish used?

Unlikely, I think. It is a good card with high demand. Though prices should drop sometime. I expect new 5850s to be on sale (eg. hot deal not an everyday price) for around $200 or less maybe by June. If Nvidia's cards are not out by then or a poor value, maybe longer for the ATi price drops.

 

[Ranulfo]

Well if it helps ease your decision, I notice noise is a concern. I went from a reference (v1 cooler) HD 5770 to a reference HD 5850 and the 5850 is much quieter all around. It has a larger fan that spins slower and pushes more air, and the $100 premium nets you a much better heatsink on the GPU (has heatpipes and all). Best reference cooler I've ever had the pleasure of using.

During load the 5770 fan really whines and screams..

Yeah, I'm leaning towards the 5850 now and noise is a concern. I've liked my silent 7950gt except in the summer where my lian-li pc65 really didn't have the air flow to keep things cool (kept side panel off usually). Heat isn't much of an issue now that I live in a place with A/C though. An apartment that hits 85-90F ambient temps 2-3 months of the year made the fanless 7950gt a somewhat foolish buy.

It can. Really depends on how much you like/want AA. My 9600GT works fine at 1920x1080.

Good to hear. I'm not too picky with AA but it may just be worth it to spend the cash for the 5850.

Thanks for the info all.

 

[Hansen]

I have now received my 5850. So far so good. Excellent graphics and quiet. A couple years ago I bought the 4870 and that card was just terribly loud for my taste. It is just nice to have a good gpu without having to hear an annoying fan.