While most of our counterparts released AMD Radeon HD 6870 and 6850 reviews at 10 p.m. EST this evening, one website just could not wait a second longer and published earlier today. Now that the official release date has arrived, reviews are cropping up all over the internet. Unfortunately, Overclockers.com’s sample is still in the mail, but stay tuned for our review coming soon. To tide you over, I.M.O.G. shared what he learned about the new architecture at AMD’s release party in Los Angeles last week: Official AMD Radeon HD 6850/6870 Performance Specs Released.
After reading several reviews, it appears as though the 6800 series does not provide a major performance boost over its 5800 series predecessors. The consensus seems to be a more efficient, cost-effective option providing a moderate increase in performance in some applications/games.
How do these cards perform? Are their significant enhancements in image quality? How do these stack up to NVIDIA offerings? Once Overclockers.com gets our hands on a review sample, we will have more concrete answers to these questions. For now, check out some reviews from around the internet:
PC Perspectives:
“The Radeon HD 6800-series didn’t bring a drastic change to the GPU market like the HD 5800 series did; the architectures are just too similar for anything like that to have happened. AMD should be proud of the release though and now that they finally have a solid answer to the $200 question, I am sure product managers there will sleep better at night.”
Legit Reviews:
“The AMD Radeon HD 6800 series of video cards retains Radeon HD 5800-class performance, but brings new features and better efficiency to the table.”
Hot Hardware:
“One word aptly describes AMD’s latest Radeon HD 6800 series GPUs: Refinement. AMD’s goal was to drive cost and power consumption out of their architecture, along with enhancing its capabilities, features and image quality in next-generation DX11 gaming engines. To that end we’d say the company has succeeded masterfully.”
TweakTown:
“While not as strong as the HD 6850 when it comes to overall value, the HD 6870 hits the spot by performing in between the HD 5850 and HD 5870 at that mid $200 pricce point. AMD are no doubt working hard to lay the smack down on NVIDIA.”
More reviews will be published over the next few days, including one right here at Overclockers.com.
Update 10/22/10 9AM: JMKE from madshrimps.be has a more complete roundup prepared this morning. If looking for more, refer to his links in the comments below or head over to their madshrimps.be roundup article.
Discussion
Of course, it does remind me of other stuff I've read in the past few months which I wouldn't expect a site of their status and history to do:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11003&Itemid=47
Of course, it does remind me of other stuff I've read in the past few months which I wouldn't expect a site of their status and history to do:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11003&Itemid=47
I can wait a few days to get my info from a source I trust. Of all the forums and websites out there this is one that truly lacks "fanboism" when it comes to hardware. There are roughly the same amount of people who love/hate Intel/AMD & Nvidia/ATi around here. Franky it's refreshing.
I think it was an error, nothing more, nothing less.
here are a few more reviews:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/video-cards/6515-amd-radeon-hd-6870-hd-6850-video-card-review
http://www.pureoverclock.com/article1107.html
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/sapphire-radeon-hd-6850-1gb-video-card-review/
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=627&Itemid=72
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Roundups/amd_radeon_6870_6850/
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=627&Itemid=72
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/video-cards/6514-sapphire-radeon-hd-6850-video-card-review
http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=234
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/asus_hd6870_crossfire_exclusive_review/1
http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/video-cards/4482-diamond-multimedia-hd-6870
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/his_radeon_6850_6870_review/1
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6850_CrossFire
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6870_CrossFire
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6850
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3601/amd_radeon_hd_6870_1gb_video_card/index.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/Radeon_HD_6850_Direct_Cu
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1944
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6870
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1942
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1941
http://mailbot.tweaktown.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/TweakTown_News/h/20101021220250/www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3600/sapphire_radeon_hd_6850_1gb_video_card/index.html/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/37286-amd-radeon-hd-6870-hd-6850-review.html
http://techgage.com/article/amd_radeon_hd_6870_hd_6850/
http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Graphics-cards/Radeon-HD-6850-Grinding-Diamonds.html
Thanks for the linkage!
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6870_CrossFire/
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6870/
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/xfx_radeon_hd_6870_review
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=27053
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/10/22/ati-radeon-hd-6870-review/1
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/amd-radeon-hd-6870-902549/review?src=rss&attr=all
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-review/
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-crossfirex-review/
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1445/1/
I'm sure there is more but thats should be enough. So tell me are you guys happy with the results and what the 6970 could be when the 6870 is mid-ranged. I'm impressed because remember it only has 1120 stream processors and it's almost better then the 5870. Imagine the 6970 with 1600 or even more. To the cost, it kicks the GTX 460's ass and a little of the 5850 so hopefully prices will come down.
6xxx cards are scaling much better then previous generations. I am considering two 6870 in CF to replace my gx295.
6870 imo.
Define "better".
Though at that price nice. Might have to see how the new top of the line branch sits guessing with x970 / x950 numbers but the 6870 looks like a very nice card I could enjoy, low power consumption, nice speeds, and probably can OC very nicely.
The 25% smaller die of course.
and because its only a mid range to replace the 57xx not the 58xx