PowerColor HD 7970 Vortex Graphics Card Pictured

Current Best Graphics Cards For The Money on May 2011

This month we discuss AMD's Radeon HD 6570 and 6670, dish the truth on the company's Radeon HD 6750 and 6770, and point out an impressive online deal that might save you a significant amount of cash if you're buying a graphics card in the near future!
Despite the flood of graphics card launches we reported in last month's update, two more models were introduced on April 19th: the Radeon HD 6570 and 6670. Both of these cards use the new Turks GPU equipped with 480 ALUs, 24 texture units, and eight ROPs. You may notice that this is a slight upgrade compared to AMD's Radeon HD 5570/5670's 400 ALU, 20 texture unit, and eight ROP configuration. And, and since the new cards run at similar clock rates, game performance is only marginally improved over the older products.

AMD Radeon 6990

There are a handful of superficial additions, though. For instance, the UVD3 engine proves to be very effective, and the 6570/6670 cards provide the same high-definition video quality enhancements as higher-end Radeon cards, as demonstrated by the HQV 2.0 benchmark results we generated. In any case, gamers won't be impressed with the current price points of these new cards: at ~£59 the Radeon HD 6570 DDR3 performs far below the closely priced Radeon HD 5670 (between £60 and £70), and the ~£75 Radeon HD 6670 is priced far too close to the superior Radeon HD 5750 and GeForce GTS 450. The Radeon HD 6670 has one thing going for it, though: it is the most powerful reference card available that does not require a dedicated PCIe power cable, and as such it gains an honourable mention for upgraders who don't want to spend money on a power supply. To learn more, check out our Radeon HD 6570/6670 review.
There are two other new products that you might see at retail: The Radeon HD 6750 and 6770. Unfortunately, these aren't new at all. They're simply re-branded Radeon HD 5750 and 5770 cards. That's not to say they're bad buys at the right price, but it's important to note that they do not offer Radeon HD 6000-series features like UVD3 or the ability to accelerate Blu-ray 3D playback over HDMI. Re-badging a product for marketing purposes is something we're never happy to see because of the confusion it can create, so hopefully this is a one-off slip-up, and not the start of a trend at AMD.

Powercolor HD 6850 Silent

While we try to keep our recommendations generic, occasionally a specific deal comes to our attention that we feel needs mentioning: Sapphire's Radeon HD 5850 Xtreme can be had on Overclockers for £108 right now, and should perform on par with the ~£160 Radeon HD 6870. We're not sure how long this deal will last, but if you're considering a Radeon HD 6870 or GeForce GTX 560 Ti, this Sapphire card will save you a lot of money, assuming it's around when you go to look for it.
Aside from this there's not a lot to report except slight price increases across the field. Many products have gone up by five dollars or so over the past month. Check our specific recommendations to learn more!

EVGA GTX 580

Chris Angelini On High-End Cards

I have, for a while now, thought about taking retrospective looks at graphics card launches with the intention of keeping AMD and Nvidia more honest. Ahead of a big debut, both companies will scramble to slice their prices or devise new overclocked SKUs that better position one against the other.
There's all of this frenzied jockeying, and then nothing. Nobody follows up to make sure those aggressive tactics were really in the best interest of you, the gamer.
Well, the Radeon HD 6990 and GeForce GTX 590 launches were particularly heated (in more ways than one). So I thought I'd circle back to see how the two competitors are faring with regard to pricing and availability. Almost not surprisingly, there isn't a single GeForce GTX 590 for sale, though you can get in line for one if you're alright spending $750 on it. Radeon HD 6990s are a little more plentiful, which again, is hardly a surprise to me given how much noise they generate under load. But you won't find them for AMD's $700 launch price; expect to pay $730 or more.*
Given the current state of high-end graphics, I stick by the conclusions I made in both dual-GPU reviews: buy a pair of GeForce GTX 570s or two Radeon HD 6950s if you want a performance-oriented graphics subsystem. You'll get similar frame rates, you'll manage your thermals more effectively, and you'll save a boatload of money.

EVGA GTX 590 Hydro Copper II

Some Notes About Our Recommendations

A few simple guidelines to keep in mind when reading this list:

• This list is for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don’t play games, then the cards on this list are more expensive than what you really need. We've added a reference page at the end of the column covering integrated graphics processors, which is likely more apropos.
• The criteria to get on this list are strictly price/performance. We acknowledge that recommendations for multiple video cards, such as two Radeon cards in CrossFire mode or two GeForce cards in SLI, typically require a motherboard that supports CrossFire or SLI and a chassis with more space to install multiple graphics cards. They also require a beefier power supply compared to what a single card needs, and will almost certainly produce more heat than a single card. Keep these factors in mind when making your purchasing decision. In most cases, if we have recommended a multiple-card solution, we try to recommend a single-card honourable mention at a comparable price point for those who find multi-card setups undesirable.
• Prices and availability change on a daily basis. We can’t base our decisions on always-changing pricing information, but we can list some good cards that you probably won’t regret buying at the price ranges we suggest.
• The list is based on some of the best U.S. prices from online retailers and localised for the UK. In other countries or at retail stores, your mileage will most certainly vary.
• These are new card prices. No used or open-box cards are in the list; they might represent a good deal, but it’s outside the scope of what we’re trying to do.

*Editor's Note: Though Chris reports that the GeForce GTX 590 is tough to find across the pond, we actually found the GTX 590 easy enough to locate here in the UK -- it's available through Scan and Overclockers. However, it seems not all retailers have the card in stock. Dabs, for example, has it listed as "Ordered upon request." Across all three of these retailers, the average cost for this card seems to be just under £600. Similarly, the Radeon HD 6990s are readily available from online retailers, and unlike the U.S. market, are selling for (and below!) the launch price (£540).

 

source:www.tomshardware.com

Best Graphics Card For Gaming

Every gamer needs more power and with a new wave of demanding games, including the highly anticipated Crysis 2 coming out soon, which graphics cards should you think about buying? AMD and NVIDIA both brought out new lines of DirectX 11 graphics cards aimed at high-end gaming in autumn 2010; let's see how they compare.
AMD dropped the new line of Radeon HD 6000 series cards onto the market in October 2010, starting with the 6870 and 6850 and followed with the more powerful 6970 and 6950. The series offers several new features that should appeal to gamers.

EVGA gtx 590

Firstly, Eyefinity multi-display technology, which combined with a Displayport 1.2 connection, allows you to run up to six high resolution monitors at different settings with high definition stereoscopic 3D support.
Secondly, Eye-definition, which provides new forms of anti-aliasing technology to prevent jagged lines appearing in images combined with EyeSpeed visual acceleration, giving hardware acceleration for the latest video codec formats. Finally, Dual-stream HD (1080p) playback support makes up the package. The AMD cards are also the most power efficient for their performance.
NVIDIA brought out the GTX400 series in March, 2010 and followed up with the new GTX570 and GTX580 cards in November. The NVIDIA card features include Physx graphics card accelerated physics; CUDA programmable parallel processing and 3D Vision technology, giving stereoscopic 3D. GTX cards can drive up to three monitors when used in parallel with SLI technology.

AMD Radeon HD 6990

There are two price points to choose between when considering a high-end gaming graphics card. The GTX460 and GTX470 and Radeon 6800 series cards come in at between £150 and £230 pounds and offer comparable performance and features with the cheaper GTX460 being the slowest of the four and the GTX470 and Radeon 6870 achieving similar 3D mark and FPS scores. NVIDIA's cards run hotter and use more power giving the Radeon cards the edge. For the cash conscious but power-hungry gamer the Radeon HD 6870 combines the price, performance and features to make it the best choice.

EVGA GTX 580 Hydrocopper II

At the higher price point, ranging from £250 to £500 we have the GTX480, GTX570 and 580 and the two Radeon cards; 6950 and 6970. Again the feature set is very similar with AMD able to drive more displays and NVIDIA offering Physx and CUDA. The older GTX480 card is still expensive in the region of £300 to £450 pounds and while fast, its heat, cost and power issues make it lag behind the rest. NVIDIA wins in 3DMark and FPS measures with the GTX580 but you pay a premium for this level of power. Unless you must have every last frame the Radeon 6970 gives the best performance at the price. Both top end cards perform at least ten percent better in 3DMark and FPS measures over their lesser brethren making skimping at this level a bad idea.

Powercolor HD 6850 Silent

Both companies continue to push the boundaries with an aggressive release of faster cards but AMD's Radeon series maintain the edge in price for performance. Of course once you have your perfect graphics card a real gamer needs to get everything else just right including the right monitor, speakers and surround sound for the ultimate gaming experience.

Source: http://www.computerlover.com/computer-hardware/graphics-card/best-gaming-graphics-cards.php

Best Graphics Card For Gaming: A look at the best graphics cards on the market which are suited to gamers

PowerColor HD 6850 PCS+ Overclocked

The first Radeon HD 6800 series graphics card we're looking at today is from Taiwan based video card manufacturer, PowerColor. We have seen a steady stream of reference and overclocked video cards featuring AMD GPUs from PowerColor. Here we get our hands on the latest release in the PCS+ product line.

Specs and Features

Model AX6850 1GBD5-PPDHGJ Core Clock 820 MHz     Memory Clock / Size 1100 MHz / 1 GB Ports Two DVI (1 single link, 1 dual link) One HDMI One DisplayPort

Accessories User Manual CrossFire Bridge DVI to VGA Adapter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Warranty 3 years Price $209

 

PowerColor offers four different models based on the HD 6850. There are two PCS+ versions available, one with Call of Duty included and one without. Both sport core clocks at 820 MHz and memory set to 1100 MHz. The HD 6850 PCS+ features a dual slot cooler with one fan in the middle of the customized heatsink. Air is drawn to the middle of card and transferred out the front and rear. It will be interesting to see how well this cooler dissipates heat compared to the reference design.

This card comes with a few accessories to help get you started. PowerColor includes a CrossFire bridge, a DVI to VGA adapter, installation guide, and driver disk. This particular model also comes with a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as part of the bundle. 

sorce:hothardware.com

AMD Radeon HD 6870 and 6850 Overclocked Round-up

As enthusiasts, one of the things we can always count on is the never-ending progression of computer hardware. Year after year, video cards get faster, processors offer more cores and / or performance, and motherboards provide additional features. That top of the line, $500 GPU you bought a few years ago can't touch the performance of a $200 graphics card available today. Yes, it's tough to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. But by shopping smarter, you minimize the chance of feeling buyer's remorse a few months down the road. 

Right on cue, a new year brings a new series of cards from both AMD and NVIDIA. The trio of video cards we're looking at today are designed to provide the best bang for your buck. These factory overclocked Radeon HD 6800 series graphics cards from PowerColor and HIS have made their way into our testing lab, and it's time once again for another round up. 

Some might glance over these products and wonder what the hook is. Any time a new series of graphics cards are launched by ATI or NVIDIA, it is common for add in board (AIB) partners to tweak various features so that consumers have even more attractive options to choose from, beyond the original reference design. Well, each one of the cards here has taken the basic blueprint from AMD, and gone a step further. In addition to higher GPU speeds, they also provide improved cooling solutions. The heatsinks have been redesigned to provide improved cooling in order to handle the increased frequencies that are set for their graphics engines, while also reducing noise output. Read on to find out if one of them has what it takes to be your next upgrade.

Prize

	PowerColor HD 6870 PCS+ 940 MHz Core / 1100 MHz Memory	$274*
	HIS HD 6870 Fan Turbo 920 MHz Core / 1120 MHz Memory	$259*
	PowerColor HD 6850 PCS+ 820 MHz Core / 1100 MHz Memory	$209*

 * Current street pricing

 
When compared to reference design models, these cards command higher prices due to their improved features and performance. The PowerColor HD 6870 PCS+ sells for $274 at the moment, considerably more than a stock HD 6870, which we've seen as low as $229. In addition, the HIS HD 6870 Fan Turbo can be purchased for $259. The PowerColor HD 6850 PCS+ goes for $209, a $50 price premium over the most affordable HD 6850 we spotted ($169). Now let's take a closer look at each one to see how they differ and how much of a boost you can expect to see from them in various benchmarks.
source: hothardware.com

PowerColor to Challenge ASUS MARS II with Monstrous Dual-HD 6970 Graphics Card

While between the GeForce GTX 580 and Radeon HD 6970, the former is clearly the faster graphics card, the two share a disputed lead over each other in their dual-GPU avatars, GeForce GTX 590 and Radeon HD 6990, attributed to the HD 6990 sustaining clock speeds closer to those on its single-GPU implementation, and a better electrical design. While NVIDIA is fixing the electricals on a revised PCB design scheduled for release in the weeks to come, companies like ASUS are wasting no time in designing their own PCBs that can let the two NVIDIA GF110 GPUs sustain clock speeds identical to those on the single-GPU GTX 580. This would pose serious competition to the HD 6990. To ward that off, PowerColor is working on a new Radeon HD 6970 X2 graphics card, which has two AMD Cayman GPUs clocked on par with single-GPU HD 6970, and having the same overclocking headroom.

The new card from PowerColor is not just an overclocked HD 6990, but also has the overclocking headroom of the HD 6970. Further, unlike the HD 6990, it uses Lucid Hydra technology. The PLX-made, AMD-branded PCI-Express bridge chip is replaced by a LucidLogix-made bridge chip that gives each GPU PCI-Express 2.0 x16 bandwidth. Users can run the two GPUs in either AMD CrossFire (with Hydra features disabled), or enable Lucid Hydra Engine features, and let the two GPUs work in tandem with any other graphics card installed in the system, that uses GPUs of any make and generation. 

The card draws power from three 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, power is conditioned by two sets of 6+2 phase VRM. Each GPU has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit wide memory interface. The GPUs are said to have clock speeds equal to, or higher than those of the HD 6790, that's 880 MHz core, 5.50 GHz memory. The beast is cooled by a humongous triple-slot cooler that uses a 120 mm and a 140 mm fan, to cool dense aluminum fin array heatsinks. Display outputs are the same as HD 6970, that's two DVI, two mini-DP, and a HDMI.
source: www.techpowerup.com