Difference between 6950's

[Sir Shfvingle]

I've looked at potential graphics card upgrades and I think the 6950 would fit in my budget. I've never overclocked before but would like to give it a try on this card, therefore I'd like a good cooler. On newegg I've seen a few cards that I've liked, specifically from msi. Could anyone tell me the difference between these cards(other than the fact that one is overclocked more, so does that one have a better fan)?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127575

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127562

Also, how do the warranties affect overclocking?

Does overclocking/bigger card coolers require a bigger psu?
Thanks.

[Jaketh]

id buy XFX over MSI

[Sir Shfvingle]

Is that just due to a better warranty or better cards?

[Jaketh]

both, MSI is good to but XFX is better

[Sir Shfvingle]

So then this would be better, at a lower cost. I see. Thanks!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150527

[mrcrusty]

If you are okay with a 1GB product, then just go for this.

As for warranties affecting overclocking, it doesn't support overclocking. But if the card fries, then how are they supposed to know you overclocked?

Just don't mess around with the BIOS and it should be okay. The coolers themselves don't require a bigger or better PSU, but overclocking does increase power consumption.

[Sir Shfvingle]

Oh, i didn't realize I had posted a 1 gb card. I was actually looking for a 2 gb. So those first two Msi cards seemed the best as far as 2gb with coolers go. However, If I did go with an xfx, there doesn't seem to be a 2gb with a really good cooler. Will that really make a huge difference in a well cooled case?

[Jaketh]

Oh, i didn't realize I had posted a 1 gb card. I was actually looking for a 2 gb. So those first two Msi cards seemed the best as far as 2gb with coolers go. However, If I did go with an xfx, there doesn't seem to be a 2gb with a really good cooler. Will that really make a huge difference in a well cooled case?

cooling is rarely a issue with new cards, (the 480 being the exception) you should be fine with the XFX

[mrcrusty]

Not really.

For the 2GB cards, pickup the Twin Frozr II card. The difference between the TF III PE and the TF II is minimal. The cooler is slightly better, but the TF II can handle anything.

Don't expect either to unlock though. I believe they use a non reference PCB with no dual BIOS switch, making it unlikely for them to support shader unlocking.

XFX non references are a mixed bag. They look fine with this generation of cards, but there was a heap of issues with 5xxx and 4xxx XFX non reference cards.

[Sir Shfvingle]

Got it.

[Jaketh]

buy EVGA oh wait...

[mrcrusty]

EVGA doesn't know how to make non reference cards.

Only stock and overpriced ones.



Also, you could just buy a reference 2GB card, unlock the shaders and find a new cooler for it.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

EVGA doesn't know how to make non reference cards.

Only stock and overpriced ones.

No...


Anywayz I vote XFX 6950.

[mrcrusty]

Twas a joke. But here in Australia, it's true enough. We don't get all the fancy warranty and after sales service that Americans do but we still get the price premium.

Center fan XFX coolers suck. It's literally this tiny circle around the GPU chip, like HIS.

It's the same as this, just a little bigger.

If the OP wants a non reference 2GB card, it goes something like HIS > XFX > PowerColor = Diamond > Sapphire > MSI.

[Sir Shfvingle]

If the OP wants a non reference 2GB card, it goes something like HIS > XFX > PowerColor = Diamond > Sapphire > MSI.

Is that saying MSI is equal to Powercolor in quality??

[mrcrusty]

Oops. Silly me. I meant the opposite.

From worst to best, HIS to MSI.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

HIS is not the best in the US, perhaps in Australia...

[mrcrusty]

HIS is not the best in the US, perhaps in Australia...

Now you're just trolling man.

Oops. Silly me. I meant the opposite.

From worst to best, HIS to MSI.

Means HIS = best?

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Now you're just trolling man.



Means HIS = best?

Wow. I Assumed you meant HIS was best simply because MSI is not even close to the best card maker. You used the ">" sign backwards in post #14 then as it clearly says you are saying HIS is best.

As a US citizen based on prices, features such as cooling options, and things I've heard as well as warranty support and such... if I were going AMD my brand choice would be XFX > Sapphire > Asus

[mrcrusty]

XFX is average at best. It's good because of double lifetime warranty but the cards themselves aren't that good. The XFX 4890 had plenty of issues. The XFX 5830/50/70 had plenty of issues and XFX were caught trying to pawn off an inferior 5770 as a reference model (same cooler, lower quality PCB).

The single fan HD 6950 2GB has cooling. It's a tiny circle of metal around the contact plate like the HIS cooler.

It's this but a little bigger.

In terms of cooling and card quality (not including warranty), for 2GB non reference cards, it goes MSI > Sapphire > PowerColor = Diamond >= XFX > HIS.

The Asus non reference HD 6950 2GB is the best, but it's also a 3 slot card, like $40 more expensive and out of stock on newegg.

MSI make motherboards of varying quality, but the graphics cards they make are top notch.