is this sapphire 6870 reference pcb?

[megamindstorm101]

Hello I have this whole new computer system but I have 1 6870 (new computer consists of things like 2700k, 16gb kingston ram, new asus pro/gen3 mobo, 128gb ssd, xspc liquid cooled cpu, pretty high end stuff) but I was going to get new video cards, I am considering just sticking with this 6870 and buying a second one however I wanted to get cooling solutions from arctic cooling for it. From all the pictures this looks like the exact reference PCB with just a sapphire cooler on it, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102913 does anyone know if this is a reference pcb so that I could use arctic cooling? Also if I got a second one it would probably be this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948 and does anyone know if that is also reference PCB?

also what do you reccomend me doing, I generally only play sc2 and with 2 6870s im pretty sure i could play a game like crysis 2 or metro 2033 ultra no problem (even though I dont play those games) do you think i should get a couple 6950s and fork out a crapton of money for arctic cooling solutions for that? or should I just get a second 6870 and get some cooling for these 2 (yes i nkow they take 3 slots btw and it will fit on my mobo in my case) or should I wait for 7000 series and get one of those cards (though i found out i cant utilize pci-e 3.0 with sandybridge and I dont plan on getting ivybridge after I just spend 250$ (yeah a deal) on this 2700k).

I think I could just get a second 6870 but this cooling will be a pretty big problem,

I plan on overclocking these things as far as the cards can handle (if i stick with 6870s) I just want cooling so it wont go over 79 degrees under benchmark loads and cause installing an arctic cooler looks really fun

so yeah basically 3 options. I will make a poll..

please comment as well.

 

[megamindstorm101]

Also sorry if this is in the wrong topic, i didn't know weather to post it in graphics (cause its choosing graphics cards) or in air cooling (because its wondering if I can install an arctic cooler on this card).

 

[8bitbreed]

I don't think any of the 6870s are reference design, all are determined by the manufacture of the PCB/Brand. I would email Arctic for compatibility.

I hope this helps.

Please correct me if I'm wrong

members.

Edit: wait for 7xxx cards.

 

[megamindstorm101]

I don't think any of the 6870s are reference design, all are determined by the manufacture of the PCB/Brand. I would email Arctic for compatibility.

I hope this helps.

Please correct me if I'm wrong

members.

Edit: wait for 7xxx cards.

they had reference ones before but they dont sell them anymore that is one of the reasons I was wondering, I nkow the coolers arent reference but from pics it really looked like the card itself was reference though I could be mistaken.

as for wait for 7k cards, I am just curious why? Because if I am running pci-e 2.0 will they still be significantly better for price to buy 2 of those? Remember I am not looking at strictly a performance viewpoint I am also looking at a price viewpoint, I think really in my head its between wait for 7k or get second 6870 and for playing games 2 6870s _should_ work for the next 3 years or so I am just unsure about performance of the 7k series, I know all the specs and rumors say how much better the 7k will be but it also says it is pci-e 3.0 which i unfortunately will not be able to use for a while.

maybe a third option could be wait for 7k to come out, 6k will go on sale and I can get a second 6870 then.

also do you guys think it is a little weird to have such a boss rig with 2 6870s ? or would these video cards match? especially if I got coolers from arctic cooling. I think the coolers themself should make it look a little more higher end.

but also so far I ahve been pretty impressed with the performance of this card, I dont game _too_ much other than sc2 (which I am crazy hardcore starcraft 2 gamer) and it plays everything I want on highest settings fine (even crysis played on ultra with 40 fps or so). I am just bothered because I am afraid if I get 2 6870s it will feel like I have gotten too little, problem is recently (new boss at work) i havent been getting as much money as I used to so I need to cut back on some stuff.

 

[S_I_N]

the proper answer is not in ur poll

Go Green

Nvidia

 

[megamindstorm101]

Nvidia is expensive!

but Sin what do you think? should i save money and stick to 2 6870s or should I go a little higher and get 2 6950s or should I go crazy and get 7000 series?

 

[SieB]

6870s don't run hot anyway so I wouldn't worry about heat from them they will be fine with the stock cooler. Not 100% sure but I think that the Saphire is a reference PCB just with a non reference cooler, but as I said i'm not 100% sure.

Two 6950s would be the better option, you will get much more performance than two 6870s and they will last you longer. They also have 2gb Vram which is good if you are running more than one monitor, games that are coming out over next few years will require more Vram because of more detailed hi res textures. All future cards will come with 2gb of Vram minimum anyway so with the 6950s you are future proofing even more.

If you decide to go with a 7 series card they will still work in your motherboard but they will only run at PCI-E 2 bandwidth and as far as I know performance wont be affected by it. There are no reviews of the cards yet so we don't know for sure whether running them at PCI-E 2 bandwidth instead of PCI-E 3 will effect performance but I can't see why it would.

 

[megamindstorm101]

well this cooler isn't too bad but I still would prefer arctic cooling because it looks fun to install and will provide better cooling regardless. I am only planning on 2 monitors (I will only play games on 1 monitor).

Maybe the best option is to wait for 7000 series to come out and decide weather i want to spend a miniscule amount of money on the 6000 series (which for sure will be going on clearance then) or get the 7000 series, problem is I seriously am out of money now :-/ so if I go 7k i want it to be worth it, problem is I will feel that I am running too low with my 6870s.

 

[8bitbreed]

the proper answer is not in ur poll

Go Green

Nvidia

Green team is about to have it's ass handed to it

 

[megamindstorm101]

alright i found someone who will buy my 6870 for a good price so I guess I will do that and wait for 7k series. Thanks for your help guys, also dude I hope you are right about that bandwith thingy how I will still get much better performance regardless of pcie 2.1 or 3.0

 

[ambisingh]

good choice not too long before the 7k series is out