Top GPU for under 300?

[geeti]

I was looking into the 6950 and the 1gig and 2gig don't show any differences, also the 2950 1 gig is just as expensive as the 2 gig in some cases, like canadacomputers has the saphire edition of 2950 2gig for 270.00 thats like 10 bucks more than the cheapest 6950 1 gig iv seen. Does any one have links to show otherwise or is what iv researched seem right. Also the 1 gig cannot unlock the extra shaders right?>and what kind of gain is the unlocked shaders going to give, I read its only 2% bonus in performance.

[ccm001]

I've never heard of it being done with a 1g.

As for performance, once you unlock the shaders and everything is stable, then you start increasing the clock speeds to match those of a 6970. Then you get more of a performance increase.

I have this saved from another forum or site, I can't find where at the moment, so actual results may vary, but just to give an idea in this case it's a little over a 10% increase:

[_dangtx_]

techPowerUp! - The latest in hardware and gaming


wiz's work for the unlocks

[ccm001]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

techPowerUp! - The latest in hardware and gaming


wiz's work for the unlocks

Good finding, thanks! Yes the graphic is from this article on oc'ing 6950 to 6970:
AMD Radeon HD 6950 to HD 6970 Mod | techPowerUp

[geeti]

Allright im sold on the 6950 2gig. Now the question is witch one, preferably a reference card. Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6950 2GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon HD 6950 Chipset 2GB GDDR5 Memory Dual DVI /HDMI/Display Port PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card | Canada Computers
this is the cheapest and is by shapphire. I would appreciate it if any of you have a link to show how this card does because all the links I have found show the car with a old type heat sink.

[ccm001]

Originally Posted by geeti

Allright im sold on the 6950 2gig. Now the question is witch one, preferably a reference card. Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6950 2GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon HD 6950 Chipset 2GB GDDR5 Memory Dual DVI /HDMI/Display Port PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card | Canada Computers
this is the cheapest and is by shapphire. I would appreciate it if any of you have a link to show how this card does because all the links I have found show the car with a old type heat sink.

From what I can tell this does not unlock nor does it have dual bios. I'd try to find another card.

[wedge22]

I have the Sapphire 6950 2GB ref card with the switchable BIOS, it has been running as a 6970 since purchase, no issues. Due to my inability to resist new hardware it will be for sale very shortly on the forums, once I receive my MSi GTX 580.

[geeti]

I read that cards that show the AMD logo ontop of the male connectors are reference type cards. Is this true?

[geeti]

If I don;t want to flash the 4950 with full 4970 bios, instead unlock the locked shaders and manually up the clocks, is it possible with all 4950's 2 gig? I dont want the reference cards because of the shity and loud fan it comes with.

[lKashl]

Pretty unconventional suggestion but may i advise looking towards a 58 series card? Given that a 5870 lags behind a 6950 by only like 1% in performance but is often 33% cheaper I would say its a better solution. Also you might be able to pick up 2x5870's for a relatively similar price to one of the high tier 6950's, so you really cant go wrong, just check out Toms Hardware chart if you need to be convinced.
This generation of video cards was hardly a performance leap over the last, even eVGA are releasing a 2xGTX460 card (if i remember correctly) that squishes or comes close to a GTX580. I wouldN'T recommend purchasing a last gen nvidia card though since Fermi's first gen was notoriously hot and power consuming compared to the GTX5's ;)