Radeon HD 5870: Is it really that good? - Hardware & Software

[b][highlight]IF YOU KNOW OF A BETTER VIDEO CARD (Within my $500 budget, preferably <450), by all means tell me. I do not care about brand names, all I care about is performance and price.[/highlight][/b] I've been looking into upgrading my video card, and I've settled on the ATI Radeon HD 5870. It's priced within my range (between $375 and $425, depending on where you look [USD]), has support for Direct X 11 support, DDR5 memory, etc. ([url=http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/hd-5870/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5870-specifications.aspx]specs[/url] I've heard that it runs horribly un-optimized games, like crisis, at between 30 and 70 fps on their highest settings, which sounds pretty good to me. I just want to know if it is [i]really[/i] as good as it sounds, and how well it would work with my current system (and if it would be of any improvement at all) [release][b]System Specs[/b] [highlight][b]Budget: $500 USD[/b][/highlight] [b][highlight]Motherboard:[/highlight] Manufacturer PEGATRON CORPORATION Model TRUCKEE Chipset Vendor Intel Chipset Model X58 Chipset Revision 13 Southbridge Vendor Intel Southbridge Model 82801JR (ICH10R) Southbridge Revision 00 BIOS Brand American Megatrends Inc. Version 5.24 Date 10/29/2009[/b] [b][highlight]Processor:[/highlight] Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz[/b] [b][highlight]Memory: [/highlight] 9gb DDR3[/b] [b][highlight]Hard Drive:[/highlight] 733gb[/b] [b][highlight]Video Card:[/highlight] ATI Radeon HD 4600 Release Date Sep 10, 2008 DirectX Support 10.1 DirectX Shader Model 4.1 Memory Type DDR2 (1 gb) Bus Width 128 Bit Pixel Fillrate 1.3 GPixels/s Texture Fillrate 5.3 GTexels/s Bandwidth 8.0 GB/s[/b] [b][highlight]Operating System: [/highlight] MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit[/b] [b][highlight]Sound Card: [/highlight] Realtek High Definition Audio[/b] [b][highlight]Power Supply: [/highlight] It'll be sufficient for anything that is within my budget. I'm possitive it's over 650watts.[/b] [b][highlight]Cooling: [/highlight] Fan cooled[/b] [b][highlight]Monitor:[/highlight] Monitor Height 1080 Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel Monitor Frequency 60 Hz[/b] [b]Browser:[/b] [b]Computer Purpose: Gaming, work (web design for my fathers business), school, and some some developement things (Video rendering, models, etc.)[/b] [b]Brand Preference: None, I'm fine with whatever will work the best for the lowest price.[/b] [b]Miscellaneous:[/b][/release]

I have heard that the 470 is close to the same performance can anyone confirm or deny that?

AMD are going to release the 6 series in not too long and thus the 5 series can be expected to drop in price quite massivley. Seriously, wait a few months. Right now is NOT a good time to buy.

[QUOTE=Luuper;24484947]I have heard that the 470 is close to the same performance can anyone confirm or deny that?[/QUOTE] I can indeed confirm that, and the GTX 470 can outperform the 5870 in most DX11 games from my personal experiences.

[QUOTE=Luuper;24484947]I have heard that the 470 is close to the same performance can anyone confirm or deny that?[/QUOTE] I can confirm that the GTX 470 is somewhat close in performance for 100bux cheaper BUT, this is for the superclocked versions and let's remember, it's fermii. Your computer will become a jet turbine oven. As I said, just wait for the 5 series to drop. Edit: Just checked, if you're getting a 470 DON'T get the factory overclocked models, they offer next to no performance increase. If you're keen on getting something now, get like two 470s if your mobo can support SLI. Otherwise wait for the 5 series to drop in price because the fermii cards are REALLY loud and hot.

[QUOTE=Nilrus;24485000]AMD are going to release the 6 series in not too long and thus the 5 series can be expected to drop in price quite massivley. Seriously, wait a few months. Right now is NOT a good time to buy.[/QUOTE] Thanks, you have probably just saved me a lot of money. Depending on how much prices drop, I may be able to go all-out and get the ATI Radeon™ HD 5970 :dance:

[QUOTE=Nilrus;24485024]...and let's remember, it's fermii. Your computer will become a jet turbine oven. As I said, just wait for the 5 series to drop. ... fermii cards are REALLY loud and hot.[/QUOTE] Ughh don't even start on that bullcrap again

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485060]Ughh don't even start on that bullcrap again[/QUOTE] But it's true.

[QUOTE=Nilrus;24485024]Just checked, if you're getting a 470 DON'T get the factory overclocked models, they offer next to no performance increase. If you're keen on getting something now, get like two 470s if your mobo can support SLI. Otherwise wait for the 5 series to drop in price [b]because the fermii cards are REALLY loud and hot.[/b][/QUOTE] Yeah... I don't think my cooling system could handle that, and I just got used to having a computer that doesn't sound like a diesel engine.

[QUOTE='[LOA] SonofBrim;24485056']Depending on how much prices drop[/QUOTE] The price drop won't be too sudden, since the 6XXX series was said to be a refresh line. The drop will most likely be gradual over a long period of time. [editline]12:31AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Nilrus;24485065]But it's true.[/QUOTE] I have used every single Fermi cards, they're not THAT much hotter than their counterparts (especially if you use manual fan control, and by that I don't mean cranking up the fan to 100%). Plus, the fans are not as loud as you think either. [editline]12:32AM[/editline] [img]http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/nvidiageforcegtx480launch_032610115215/22206.png[/img] 6 degrees between the 5870 and 480 can be considered "REALLY hot" right :rolleyes:

Alright, I took a look at the Nvidia GTX 470, and it looks nice (it also has a great price!). How would [I]a single[/I] GTX 470 compare to my current Radeon HD 4600? Also, I guess I should warn you that I may make a complete and utter ass out of myself in this thread of mine. I haven't taken a look at video cards in quite some time (my 4600 came with my PC).

I can tell you right now that the GTX 470 will perform A LOT better than the 4600

4600 is mid range card upgrade

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485132]I can tell you right now that the GTX 470 will perform A LOT better than the 4600[/QUOTE] Thank you all very much for the help. Have some hearts. So far I'm sold on the 470. How well can it be expected to run source games (FPS wise)? Lately I've been having to record a lot of video in Garry's Mod, for my sweps and whatnot, and I can barely get 15-25fps.

[QUOTE='[LOA] SonofBrim;24485197']How well can it be expected to run source games (FPS wise)?[/QUOTE] Let's put it this way, on a fresh map of gm_construct with maxed out graphics (Without V-sync), you'll get a constant 300FPS if you do not spawn anything, but just walking around and such.

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485060]Ughh don't even start on that bullcrap again[/QUOTE] Ignoring the fact that Fermi was originally supposed to have 512 SP but had such shitty yields they couldn't do it?

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485223]Let's put it this way, on a fresh map of gm_construct with maxed out graphics (Without V-sync), you'll get a constant 300FPS if you do not spawn anything, but just walking around and such.[/QUOTE] That's excellent. And games like crisis?

[QUOTE='[LOA] SonofBrim;24485242']That's excellent. And games like crisis?[/QUOTE] 25-40FPS, with an average of 30FPS on maxed out graphics setting in Crysis Warhead

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485254]25-40FPS, with an average of 30FPS on maxed out graphics setting in Crysis Warhead[/QUOTE] Awesome. Well, my questions have been answered. Thanks for helping my out.

No problem. Spend a few dollars and get a card from a better manufacturer, such as eVGA. Those cards can generally overclock better.

err... one more question: Would it be worth it to spend the extra $200 and jump up to the GTX 480?

I have a GTX 480 at the moment, and I absolutly love this card. But I don't think the performance gain is worth $200

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485311]I have a GTX 480 at the moment, and I absolutly love this card. But I don't think the performance gain is worth $200[/QUOTE] Ok, Thanks :smile: Moderators, feel free to lock this thread.

B1NARY, was it you that ncix shipped a 480 by accident?

I was indeed the guy who got the GTX 480 for ~$30, but it wasn't from NCIX.

List of all graphics cards performance: [url]http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2010-gaming-graphics-charts-high-quality/Sum-of-FPS-Benchmarks-1680x1050,2396.html[/url]

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485254]25-40FPS, with an average of 30FPS on maxed out graphics setting in Crysis Warhead[/QUOTE] I get better FPS with a HD5780 on basically the same system as OP.

[QUOTE=Within;24486064]I get better FPS with a HD5780 on basically the same system as OP.[/QUOTE] I know that, 5870 generally performs better in DX10 games

[QUOTE=B1N4RY!;24485254]25-40FPS, with an average of 30FPS on maxed out graphics setting in Crysis Warhead[/QUOTE] pff i had 45 maxed on warhead with my 4850, though it was on a much smaller res than i am now :[ according to this benchmark i should have had 18 fps. wat

[url=http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-470-480-review/24]Everyone's milage differs depending on their own unique system and software configurations[/url]