Need help deciding gamer gfx card

[Brutality]

So, it doesn't seem like AMD 7000 series or NVIDIA 600 Series are coming before 11/11/11, which is when S7LAN starts and the release date of TES V - Skyrim (Preordered it, oh yeah... steam ofc so I can start downloading at 0:00 11/11/11 lol =P)

 

Now, I've had my 5870 for 1½ year or so, and I'd say it's done its "conscription", so time to upgrade =)

 

So, in order to try to figure out which card to get, I went over to Anandtech.com and collected results of all graphics cards under DirectX 11 since this is what games are being developed with or in, or whatever you say. And only used 1920x1200 resolution results, since that's my monitor's resolution. This resulted in;

 

Card__________Average FPS in each test____Overall Avg FPS

6950 cf________120,2+46,3+121,3+60,5+99____89,46

6870 cf________111,5+50,7+120,5+48+78,2____81,78

5850 cf________97,3+50,9+103,8+43,5+66,6___72,42

6850 cf________93,8+50,3+106,6+41,5+66,3___71,70

580___________82,4+41,5+110,6+42+63,7_____68,04

460 (1GB) sli___76,6+43,3+116,6+40+57,8_____66,86

570___________70,8+41,5+96,3+36,5+55,1_____60,04

480___________68,9+41,8+91,9+36+55,7______58,86

6970__________68,7+34,9+77,2+39+59,7______55,90

6950(2GB) _____61,8+34,8+70,6+36+52,1______51,06

6950(1GB) _____62,4+34,6+71+35+52 _________51,00

5870__________64,1+35,6+71,1+33+46,2______50,00

 

Pardon the commas, I am Danish and we put commas where you put dots, and dots where u put commas lol

 

So, I bet these results are not super accurate, so that's why I ask you guys what you think

 

Also, I only selected the the solutions which were better than my 5870 alone (according to their tests ofc, hence I ask you guys), and with a price less than 3000kr (=$556,36 or 402,96€ or £352,58), since I do not plan on spending more than that.

 

The only requirement I have to the solution is that it must be able to run TES V - Skyrim in highest possible graphical settings at 1920x1200 without unplayable fps (= 23+)

Now, I know that's hard to answer, but I believe you guys can give a pretty good guess

 

But... I don't feel good about crossfire or sli, since I've heard it can cause tearing, so unless you can convince me, let's stick with single GPU solutions

EDIT: I mean microstuttering

 

Finally, don't take my 5870 in account, it's been behaving bad lately and is probably gonna die soon (feel free to read previous topics by me), so can't just buy 1 more 5870 and then woohoo crossfire - need 2 NEW for that

 

Cheers and thanks very much in advance guys! <33333 OCC

 

EDIT2: UPDATED LIST (removed cards I couldn't afford due to rapid price change in Denmark)

 

Also: since there are no results for sli 560Ti, maybe someone can tell me where it would fit in the list?

 

EDIT3: Updated list (can afford more)

Edited October 26, 2011 by Brutality

[Krieg1337]

2x HD 6950 2gbs would have you set for a long time and could smash anything you throw at them at 1920x1200. It is also pretty cheap, at least in the US.

[Brutality]

2x HD 6950 2gbs would have you set for a long time and could smash anything you throw at them at 1920x1200. It is also pretty cheap, at least in the US.

 

What about tearing is it rare? When does it actually occur?

EDIT: I mean microstuttering

Edited October 24, 2011 by Brutality

[Waco]

What about tearing is it rare? When does it actually occur?

Tearing? What do you mean? With vsync on you should never see tearing regardless of video card.

[Stonerboy779]

What about tearing is it rare? When does it actually occur?

6950s scale brilliantly.

Tearing is quickly solved by forcing triple buffering and v-sync. Cards should run cooler when like this because they wont be rendering unnecessary frames.

 

Tearing- graphical anomaly caused when 2 or more frames try and show on the same screen often seen in a panning shot in a movie or when quick movements are made in games.

 

Only time I have had bad tearing was rage a tweeks all fixed.

[Krieg1337]

Cards will run hotter......Common sense since two already hot graphic cards are now stuck together pulling the same air and one card will always be stuck pulling less as it is right up against the other card.

 

Never heard of tearing since Vsync has been used.

[Stonerboy779]

Tearing? What do you mean? With vsync on you should never see tearing regardless of video card.

Exception being rage I had fraps on telling me I had a unbudging 60fps I also had v-sync forced on from nividia control panel, from steam settings and from in game settings a few more tweeks of config file and forcing triple buffering and the tearing was gone.

 

There are always exceptions but they can always be worked around anyway.

[Brutality]

Sorry I meant microstuttering. I haven't quite looked into it since I am busy preparing for exams.

[Brutality]

bump

[Stonerboy779]

Still two 6950s microstuttering shouldnt be an issue.

 

If you ever experience it (rapid changes from high to low fps) you can always adjust things to get smooth running again. Screen tearing is something you are more likely to see than microstuttering but again both are really non issues.

 

Price and performance 2x 6950s also great if you have or are considering multi monitors

[VaporX]

graphics cards under DirectX 11 at 1920x1200, since this is what games are being developed with or in, or whatever you say,

 

This BTW is not accurate. The 1920 x1200 resolution is all but dying off due to the move to wide screens where 1920x1080 is now the norm. In fact I would go further and point out that most studies are showing that 1920x1080 resolution is quickly becoming the standard within the industry. If you are running at single monitor resoltuions there is little need for anything past a 6950 or 470 for video. The gain you will get with higher end cards or even dual cards is minimal in actual game play experience. If you are going to multi-monitor the setup for eyefinity style gaming then I would suggest this is the minimal starting point, but for single monitor I personal see no need to pay beyond those two cards.

[SkytTe]

Hi there.

 

I live in Denmark as well, and you should know, just as well as me, that you won't get 2x 6950 for less than 3000 DKK anywhere. The cheapest 2 GB 6950 i could find online is the XFX version for about 1900 DKK.

If I were you I would go for either a single 6950/6970 or a lower end card in cf/sli. (2x GTX 560 Ti or 2x 6870?)

The first option is prolly the best since it allows you to buy another one in the future and then get one of the best graphics solutions out there.