Same old same old

[spirit]

Well I can tell you that a 5870 is a good choice and so is all the other stuff you've picked. I think if you go for the 2600K + 16Gig of RAM + 5870 you'll be good for a while. You can always get another 5870 or even a 5970 if you like later on if you think your rig is under-performing.

 

[wolfeking]

I really think that it will work well. Whats worrying me is that it may be bad for the price. Well the 2600k and 24GB of RAM will be fine at the prices, they won't come down for years. But the 5870, I am not sure. 150 seems good, right about a 460 or 560, but performance is better yes? I don't know. I really don't know what the performance is, and I really dislike AMD, but I guess it will be fine for the price. Better than a 480 at least as I will be able to use my current PSU.

 

[spirit]

OK the 5870 is faster than a GTX 460 (reference: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/162?vs=180) and usually faster than a GTX 560 (reference: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/511?vs=543).

However it's about equal to the 560 Ti, sometimes the Radeon is faster, sometimes the GeForce is faster (reference: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/511?vs=547) but it's not as fast as a 480 (reference: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/294?vs=309), however the 5870 is usually quieter and cooler than a 480, so... :/

It's a tough decision, but it's a good card. I got mine for 100 quid. For the money I couldn't have done better I don't think.

 

[wolfeking]

Well, the 480 is an epic card, about a 570 or so. But I am not sure it would be worth it to get one as I would need a bigger PSU, which would be another ~ 150, meaning ~320 in just getting the graphics to a level I like with a Nvidia card. even then, I don't think it would be all that great over the 5870, but it would support FAH and Linux. And I could do 3 way SLI with the Fatality board I was looking at. So there is that. But I think I am over thinking this.

 

[spirit]

If you want Linux support, I'd definitely go for an NVIDIA card over an ATI. Yes, I love my 5870 and all, but when it comes to Linux, NVIDIA has a clear lead over ATI as far as drivers are concerned.

You said you didn't like ATI cards earlier, why? Driver support?

 

[wolfeking]

I don't like them because of just support overall. Pretty much as far as it goes Nvidia can do pretty much everything other than bitcoin better than AMD. However, AMD can game just fine and is cheaper. Really I can use linux on either laptop. I am really not sure.

Personally, I have never had a driver issue on the 4870, but that is not to say that they don't exist.

 

[spirit]

ATI drivers can be pretty bad, but like you I've not had a problem. (with my 5870). I was starting to have problems with some of NVIDIA's drivers when I had my GTS 450 towards the beginning of the year.

 

[wolfeking]

I have actually only ever had one driver issue with graphics, and it has been driver crashes resulting in a BSOD on my D630 recently. But it may be temp. related. Really I think that there are a lot of issues out there than can be brought up, but the likelihood of actually having an issue is like 1 in a thousand.

 

[spirit]

I agree with you.

I think you can I'd go for a 480 if possible if you want to use Linux. If not, get a 5870 and use Linux in a VM or on another machine.

You know that the 5870 and 6870 perform pretty close? The 5870 is usually faster but the 6870 is still only a tiny bit slower - may be worth looking into?

 

[wolfeking]

I still do not see how that is possible. The core count is so far off, and I do not think, and I may be wrong, that the 6000 was a big step up. The 5870 has 1600 cores, and should be around a 6970, yes? Or was there really a really big step up between the two?

either way I am getting the 5870 as I don't want to replace my PSU at this point.

 

[spirit]

Not entirely sure as to why the performance is so close, but it is http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/511?vs=540 the 6970 is definitely faster than a 5870 though, sometimes by quite a large margin http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/511?vs=509

Anyway, yeah, a 5870 would be a good choice. It's a good card. I think it'll serve you well.

 

[wolfeking]

This is another reason why AMD is not great in my eyes. They are entirely illogical. At least the Nvidia cards are more or less about the same performance as the core count. a 680 is double a 580 is a bit better than a 480 that about matches a 570 with the same cores.

But it will last at least a month for me. maybe more. I don't know.

 

[wolfeking]

okay, I have said this a bunch before, but final list unless there is something majorly wrong with it.

Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166035
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
and Next day shipping for a total of $361.86

Staples:
http://www.staples.com/Altra-Chadwick-Collection-Small-Office-Home-Office/product_SS1057501
I don't know if that link will work. Its $139.99 and an undetermined amount of shipping.

Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Radeon-HD-5870-/221061585094?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item33784c18c6
$162.85

MF:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/marching-band/bach-1815-clamp-on-trumpet-cornet-lyre/467468 x2
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/marching-band/bach-1815-clamp-on-trumpet-cornet-lyre x1
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/brass-instruments/selmer-tuning-slide-and-cork-grease x1
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/brass-instruments/blue-juice-valve-oil x3
plus free standard shipping. $ 63.93

total $728.63. Can save money by reducing shipping if need be, but I think I am all right. All I will need is 2 or maybe more 3 foot Ethernet cables. Can probably get them on Ebay.

 

[spirit]

All the stuff looks fine. The Staples link isn't working though, it's asking me for a ZIP code. Was it just a bunch of ethernet cables?

 

[wolfeking]

Its a L shaped desk. I think it was the "Altra™ Chadwick Collection L Desk, Nightingale Black" desk. Ethernet I am getting through walmart, they have the 3 foot cables for like $2 or something like that. They have them in black too!.

Should be all I need this month.

 

[jonnyp11]

5870 is stupid, costs about the same as a 6870 new does for barely more performance but with no warranty and unknown quality since he used a pic from google

 

[spirit]

I'm using a corner desk right now and it's pretty nice (considering I got mine second hand for £10!) so I'd say that desk should be nice.

I'd say it's pretty much ready to be ordered!

Jonny, the 5870 is faster than a 6870.

 

[jonnyp11]

I'm using a corner desk right now and it's pretty nice (considering I got mine second hand for £10!) so I'd say that desk should be nice.

I'd say it's pretty much ready to be ordered!

Jonny, the 5870 is faster than a 6870.

read it again, says it costs almost the same for barely more performance, and a 6870 would be new with a rebate and a free game or something, and the 5870 you dont know if it's damaged any since he didn't post pics, just a google image.

 

[wolfeking]

Johnny, rebates are not guarenteed. They really do not matter in the long run. and if it is damaged, then you file a report against them. Geez. And why would I pay more for a less powerful card that may or may not have a rebate that works. Heck, my case did not even come with the forms to retrive the rebate. that was an extra $10 down the drain.

I want a older card. 5870 will do what I want and I will get it. If I were to get a 6870, then I might as well go for a 7870 as the 6870 is old too. 7870 might as well go to a 670. Over budget. Goes quick. In case you did not notice (and no offense intended), but we spent 2 pages determining what GPU I wanted, and the 5870 wins.

As for vista, I think so too. might have to rearrange my room, but it will fit I think.

 

[jonnyp11]

Johnny, rebates are not guarenteed. They really do not matter in the long run. and if it is damaged, then you file a report against them. Geez. And why would I pay more for a less powerful card that may or may not have a rebate that works. Heck, my case did not even come with the forms to retrive the rebate. that was an extra $10 down the drain.

I want a older card. 5870 will do what I want and I will get it. If I were to get a 6870, then I might as well go for a 7870 as the 6870 is old too. 7870 might as well go to a 670. Over budget. Goes quick. In case you did not notice (and no offense intended), but we spent 2 pages determining what GPU I wanted, and the 5870 wins.

As for vista, I think so too. might have to rearrange my room, but it will fit I think.

U just like new things more and so far i'v had good luck with rebates (four for four).

Know you like the 5870 but looked around anyways

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XFX-AMD-Rad...eo_TV_Cards&hash=item3f192c206d#ht_500wt_1156

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-AMD-Rad...eo_TV_Cards&hash=item4167996379#ht_698wt_1139