Last week AMD launched their new HD6970 and HD6950 graphics cards. Kitguru has reviewed several partner boards and found them to be high performing, great value for money products. Due to adverse weather conditions in the United Kingdom our review of the Sapphire cards has been a little delayed but at least we have something special in store for you today.
Sapphire have released three versions of the HD 6970. All of the cards are clocked at standard speeds and are supplied with reference coolers.
The standard, ‘Entry level’ HD 6970 (above left) will cost £290 inc vat. The ‘Gaming Edition’ card (above centre) will ship with the full Battlefield game and a code to download Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam – this is worth £49.99. This bundle only costs £10 more and the card comes supplied with a custom sticker featuring Battlefield artwork.
The last bundle is a ‘Special Edition’ of the HD6970 (above right) with the same Gaming Edition extras but in an aluminum carry case, priced at £330 inc vat. This is the one we are looking at today.
We also have their HD6950 on test today, which is clocked at reference speeds.
| Product | Sapphire HD6970 |
Sapphire HD6950
|
| Core Clock speed | 880mhz |
800mhz
|
| Primitive Rate |
2 prim/clk
|
2 prim/clk
|
| Shader Architecture |
VLIW4
|
VLIW4
|
| Stream Processors |
24 SIMD/1536 ALU
|
22 SIMD/1408 ALU
|
| Texture Units | 96 | 88 |
| ROPs/Z-Stencil | 32/128 | 32/128 |
| Frame Buffer | 2GB GDDR5 | 2GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Width/Speed | 256 bit, 5.5 Gbps | 256bit, 5.0 Gbps |
| Power Connectors | 8 pin & 6 pin | 6 pin & 6 pin |
| Display Outputs | 2xDVI + 2x mDP + HDMI | 2xDVI + 2x mDP + HDMI |
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December 20, 2010
#1
I gotta say man, I dont know how you continually produce reviews of this quality on an almost daily basis. fantastic article.
December 20, 2010
#2
Sapphire are the boards to get, either them or XFX, but I like that aluminum case, might be handy for my camera odds and ends
December 20, 2010
#3
Absolutely brilliant. I like this new range from AMd anyway, not sure why the negative vibes are being seen by some people. its all about the price.
December 20, 2010
#4
I think its a nice idea when you can’t release a card with a custom cooler due to AMD launch restrictions. Ship it in a cool aluminum box. Nice job Sapphire, well worth the extra. id use that for my collection of playing cards :p
December 20, 2010
#5
mega review. and more mega products from the best company on the planet
I still want a 1100T though, what first !?
December 20, 2010
#6
my plan for 2011 is this.
Get my credit card cleared. Get another 24 inch screen, then get a 6950 for 3 screen heaven. Might be May by the time it happens, but thats the plan.
December 20, 2010
#7
Ok, I have a question for all you AMD fanboys. Have the catalyst drivers improved any? last time I used these cards (few years ago) they were terrible.
December 20, 2010
#8
tempting, but im willing to spend £320 on a sapphire special cooler version without the aluminum box
fingers crossed the 6970 appears after christmas. I can wait until then, ill be drunk for two weeks anyways.
December 20, 2010
#9
Its pretty good value, one of those cases is around £50 to buy in a photography store. not sure about cutting holes into the padding however, that might be tricky
December 20, 2010
#10
We need a poll to find out the percentage of readers here who use a 3 screen setup. id be surprised if its more than 5%. even a poll asking how many people might be thinking of it next year. seems a lot of money to me still.
December 20, 2010
#11
The pricing on scan is very high http://www.scan.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=sapphire+HD6970
December 20, 2010
#12
The pricing went up earlier. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-255-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752
December 20, 2010
#13
I am all for the HD6970 at 280-300, but once it hits 340, its only 50 less than the GTX580 which is much more powerful.
December 20, 2010
#14
Mark it may be 340, but its extra for the case with this edition. The GTX580 is still around 420 inc vat in UK.
December 20, 2010
#15
Actually ive seen it for £400. same one they reviewed on Kitguru http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/item-detail.php?products_id=4370825
December 20, 2010
#16
The 6950 impresses me more as I have a 5850 and ive never seen the performance improvements broken down like that so clearly. It is a hell of a price. 220 is affordable, but 340 is a significant payment for a GFX. Might look into one once I sort out the missus and kids at xmas.
December 20, 2010
#17
This is the best deal ive seen right now for a 6970 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-148-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752
December 20, 2010
#18
I dig this concept from Sapphire, but for reference cooling? ill pass. surely their vapor or toxic cards are due in jan. before the 6990.
December 20, 2010
#19
When is the game out? (vietnam), due in a day or two isnt it ?
December 20, 2010
#20
3 in CFx looks awesome lol. bit expensive though. bit hot too !
December 20, 2010
#21
50 quids worth of game is very good. Means the metal box is free.
December 20, 2010
#22
I just orrdered this. Was going to buy the game at Christmas and the add-on. And I need a new card, I’ll pay it off in installments!
December 20, 2010
#23
Nice to see the improvements from the last gen. Quite big too
December 20, 2010
#24
6970 is Better value than 570, I only need one more screen then I will upgrade
December 20, 2010
#25
I’m already on 6970 cfx and it’s brilliant.
December 20, 2010
#26
Cant wait to get this game, my christmas is sorted
December 20, 2010
#27
Only thing that puts me off is the noise. I’m waiting on the heatpioe versions, like powercolors modded ones
December 20, 2010
#28
Very good review, found it educational too. Never knew just how much they have been improved. One site i read said the 6970 was slower than 580 so it basically sucked
March 21, 2011
#29
It’s almost April 2011, the 6990 series is out and still no 6970 TOXIC or VAPOR cards.
Close to losing all faith in Sapphire.