[azncookiecutter]

Quote:

Spec-wise, the 6xxx series doesn't seem worth it, IMO.
 
I went from an X1950 to a 5870, and that was worthwhile. It makes the most sense to buy a new card only when your old one no longer handles the games you want to run with it well, and then get the current mainstream card (yes, I realize that the 5870 is a luxury item compared to the much lower priced yet nearly as fast 5850).
 
I actually tried going Crossfire this generation, but that was too much of a pain. The increased framerates weren't worth the added heat/noise/driver issues.

Agreed on that one. I went from an 8800M GTS to HD5870 (although granted, it was because I sold the laptop for a full-blown desktop rig).

 

[Jodiuh]

So much fud in that Amd gpu link/forum. Now if it read 6750 and 6770 then I might buy it.

LOL @ the Mac.

 

[mattering]

i lol @ the mac too XD...meh only time will tell whether the performance gain would be big enough for us to buy it ....rumors says that its 2 times faster than the current HD5xxx .__.

 

[Somnambulist]

I doubt it'll be massively faster, after all these are just refreshes not a whole new architecture. The 6770 is rumoured to be about the same as a 5850, so work your way forward from there. As usual the most sensible option will be to get the best single performance card for your money (and probably overclock it like many people did with the 5850), although not as soon as they come out, since prices are always inflated for the first couple of months.
 
The only game I can think of that kicks a single 5870 at the moment is Metro 2033, so unless you're saving for a rig that can laugh in the face of Crysis 2 it may be more prudent to get a 5970 on the cheap or something once the Southern Islands cards come out.
 
I'm going to build a Windows 7 rig purely for gaming and want an iMac for everything else, as even with fairly mid-level graphics cards they can handle everything I'd want it to do easily. The iMacs design really isn't suited for high-end gaming anyway, it's just a (lovely) screen with a computer somehow stuffed behind it, on a stand. 

 

[mattering]

iMacs do have really really awesome screens i have to say...forgot what panel they were using XP...E-IPS Panel? idk i totally forgot abt monitors ....i might get another 5870 for crossfire...dont know...still wondering XD

 

[marvin]

Quote:

I doubt it'll be massively faster, after all these are just refreshes not a whole new architecture. The 6770 is rumoured to be about the same as a 5850, so work your way forward from there. As usual the most sensible option will be to get the best single performance card for your money (and probably overclock it like many people did with the 5850), although not as soon as they come out, since prices are always inflated for the first couple of months.

It's about the same as the jump from 4xxx to the 5xxx generation. Performance wise, the 5770 is about even with a 4870.
 
Quote:

TBH I'd wait for the 7xxx. With AMD dropping the "ATI" name they're also changing the naming scheme. Seems they're also dropping the stream processor count, which could be a sort of test for the 7xxx series. 
 
http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f62/upcoming-6850-6870-oct-18th-236804/#post1847689

The stream processor configuration underwent some major changes. The reason why 7xxx series cards will have less stream processors is because AMD changed the stream processor clusters from 4x low complexity + 1x high complexity units to 4x medium complexity units. Shader cluster performance ends up being somewhat faster to about the same, while die area per shader cluster shrinks by a bit.

 

[Somnambulist]

Quote:

iMacs do have really really awesome screens i have to say...forgot what panel they were using XP...E-IPS Panel? idk i totally forgot abt monitors ....i might get another 5870 for crossfire...dont know...still wondering XD

That's one of the reasons why iMacs aren't THAT bad value wise. You're getting a monitor that would usually cost a fair wad on it's own included. LED backlit IPS goodness, with the 27" one having that crazy high resolution. I may try and get one via the refurb store to save money, but then again if I want to get a Sandy Bridge iMac via that I'll be waiting a long time since the refurb store takes about a year to catch up with whatever they are selling new.
 
You'll probably be able to get another 5870 for a steal once the 6xxx cards come out. Whether you'll need that extra power depends on what you're actually playing, since a 5870 on it's own handles most things well at 1920x1080/1200 unless you're pushing maximum AA on everything. You've already got a DX11 card so it's not like you'll be missing out on much. A single card will always be better though, but most things support crossfire these days and I know loads of people with dual 5850s who haven't had too much trouble.

 

[flexium]

I vote for dell 2209wa for the best IPS monitor out there unless you want high resolution in which case you really need a top of the line GPU. 
 
Honestly, I don't know why anyone would need higher resolution than 1680x1050 or 1920x1200

 

[dirkpitt45]

^^ My samsung syncmaster 2343 is 2048x1152 and I love it. It's discontinued now though

 

[mattering]

haha i used to have 2 9800GT in SLI...had no problem with that ....i want a good monitor but i already have one...a 21.5" LG W2241T... [was restricted by space lastime XD]...i might sell it and get a good nice 30" monitor XP

 

[Nebby]

Any sort of graphics work, video work, or anything where screen real estate is useful. I enjoy the extra resolution on my U2711, it's a marked difference from the 20" I came from.
 
Quote:

I vote for dell 2209wa for the best IPS monitor out there unless you want high resolution in which case you really need a top of the line GPU. 
 
Honestly, I don't know why anyone would need higher resolution than 1680x1050 or 1920x1200

 
Here's my current setup
Display: Dell U2711, Dell 2007WFP (eventually 2, once I can upgrade to a motherboard with enough slots for a second gpu)
CPU: Intel q9550
RAM: 8gb OCZ
Mobo: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
Video: EVGA GTX280
Sound: Asus STX
Raid Card: Adaptec 31605
Hard drives:
Samsung F1 1TB x5 Raid6
Intel X25-E 64gb
Intel X25-M G1 80gb
Intel X25-V 40gb
Network card: Intel CT Desktop NIC
Disc drive: LG Blu-ray drive
Case:Cooler Master HAF 922 

 

[NomadicAce]

CPU: AMD X3 435 unlocked 4th core and the glob of L3 cache (3.7ghz)
RAM: 2gb...I do not need anymore than that
Graphics: 5770
Harddrive: 7200rpm 160gb 2.5" drive (I have a NAS system)
Multimedia Drive: Lite-on 124 (dirt cheap)
Case: Rosewill Challenger
Monitor: old 24" CRT...it does not lag like those silly LCDs
 
Oh and more fans than you can imagine!
 
To mattering: I would not spend the cash on another 5870 you cannot just look at the retail price of the card you also have to consider the impact on your electricity. Not to mention you really will not gain that much as far as games go, and the next generation of cards is coming your way.
 
I use to have an ultra high end setup back with the qx9770 and 4870x2 cards and I must say I could not be happier with my el cheapo system of today, bang for buck.

 

[mattering]

@ Nomid ace...dont you find that the RAM would be bottlenecking the 5770?  cause i think that it will but idk >__>. 5870 really doesnt take a lot of wattage under idle or load compared to other cards + i wanna play lots of my games with AA and AF so i decided on the 5870 [though the 5850 would be a good card too ]

 

[NomadicAce]

RAM has nothing to do with the system bottlenecking so long as i have available ram and the ram speed is adequate (which it is more than). 5870s use quite a bit of power under load. I will agree that it is not so bad while idle.
 
Nvidia scales quite a bit better than ATI in Xfire/SLI. Silly ati and their driver issues. Regardless a Xfire 5870 system will do very well and if you have the money for it be my guest I just do not find it really worth it: each to their own!
 
edit: yes the 5850 is a great card...I had thought of getting it instead of the 5770, but decided I could use a little less eye candy in my life.

 

[Nebby]

I wouldn't be able to work with 2gb RAM, my apps often cache more data than that alone...