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Throughout the year 2010 yesterday, we were treated with the thrill of competition between ATI and Nvidia graphics card market. Each serving whiz-whiz best in each class to compete and fight for the throne ofpower strength.
Maybe you still remember how cool graphics card market when launching a series ATI Radeon HD 5870 and HD 5850. The launch of the graphics card is capable of shaking the surviving Nvidia GeForce GTX 200 series. Then replies presented from Nvidia with the launch of the series Fermi, who actually has prepared for a long time (but had been delayed). Finally, the GeForce GTX 480 and GTX 470 were launched after the first attack ATI market. After that, “war” still continues. This time, the terrain began to shift into mainstream classes and
entry-level. Each vendor launched a series of graphics cards that became the best variant in its class. Various variants popping up, call it like the Radeon HD 5770, Radeon HD 5670, GeForce GTX 460, and the latter is present, GeForce GTS 450.
Well, now, in 2011 these two vendor competition resumed. But of course no longer with their whiz-whiz who has appeared in the last year. A number of series graphics card must have been prepared to storm the
graphics card market during the year 2011 this. Take the example of ATI. In early 2011, vendors are now fully use the name AMD has been preparing new whiz-whiz to join the war on the graphics card market.
For the first launch, AMD has prepared two series of graphics cards, the Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850.
Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 are built from the base of AMD’s latest graphics chip. Graphic chip is known by the code name “Barts”.
Although using the same base graphics chip, the specifications are different. Radeon HD 6870 series which has higher speed of 900 MHz accelerator with GDDR5 memory speed 4200 MHz. While the Radeon HD 6850
has a speed accelerator a little lower, amounting to 775 MHz and 4000 MHz memory speed. In terms of the number of its shaders, the Radeon HD 6870 will be equipped with the shaders as much as 1120 pieces, while
the HD 6850 just as much as 960. Without the necessary long-winded again, this is the range of products of the latest graphics card (based AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850) which had come to the table our test. How does its performance compared with its competitors? What about the second chance this series graphics card graphics card on the market today? Everything we review this time.
Sapphire HD 6870
One of the biggest graphics card manufacturer for AMD has had several product variants that use graphics chip “Barts”. Variants that come to the table our test is the Radeon HD 6870.
Sapphire graphics card pack is very minimalist and simple. His appearance was exactly the same as the Radeon HD 6870 reference design released by AMD. Great shape and thickness to the size of a very large
cooler.
Sapphire HD 6870 graphics card is equipped with HD 6870 standard specifications as mentioned previously, the accelerator “Barts” with a speed of 900 MHz and 4200 MHz memory speed. The performance of this
graphics card at high resolution was no doubt due to the graphics card is equipped with 1 GB of memory capacity. A number of technologies that have been present in previous series graphics cards still present
on this graphics card (even more improved). Call it the support for DirectX 11, and feature AMD’s flagship multi-display solutions, Eyefinity. Yes, one fruit of this graphics card capable of displaying images up to three screens at once by selecting three of the five output options provided on this graphics card.
Sapphire HD 6870 Specifications
Core speed 900MHz
Memory speed 4200MHz
Memory capacity 1GB GDDR5
Price range US$280
Asus EAH6850 DirectCU
Asus EAH6850 graphics card appearance DirectCU is arguably very interesting. All parts of this graphics card, ranging from card until the coolant is a unique design that is different from the reference design. This graphics card PCB board look fierce with large size and wrapped in shades of matte black color.
Cooler mounted on a graphics card is also very cool. This cooler uses a technology called DirectCU. This cooler has a special design so that two of its large heatpipe direct touch with the core graphics chip.
Heat generated by the core graphics chip will be directly channeled to the heatpipe and quicker release. Besides heatpipes, this cooler is also aided by aluminum fins and a large fan. For sweeteners, the cooler covered with a plastic cover. If you set a speed accelerator AMD Radeon HD 6850 at a speed of 775 MHz, Asus EAH6850 DirectCU has a slightly higher speed (with speed accelerator 790 MHz). While the memory speed remains pegged to the number 4000 MHz. Higher speed accelerator provides little advantage for this graphics card on the performance side.
Asus EAH6850 DirectCU Specifications
Core speed 790 MHz
Memory speed 4000 MHz
Memory capacity 1 GB GDDR5
Price range US$245
PowerColor AX6850 Premium Edition
If Asus EAH6850 DirectCU have accelerators that speed 790 MHz graphics card PowerColor AX6850 accelerator Premium Edition has the same fast, even a little faster. Yes, the PowerColor graphics card accelerators speed fixes this in number 800 MHz.
Do not stop there. Memory speed has also been driven even further. If the Radeon HD 6850 memory speed 4000 MHz speed standard, this graphics card has a higher speed, that is equal to 4200 MHz. Graphics card
which has a capacity of 1 GB of GDDR5 memory has quite a variety of output options. A total of four output options present in this graphics card, each with two DVI, one HDMI, and one Display Port.
Looking into the performance, cool graphics card is equipped with a unique cooling of the cooling renowned manufacturer, ZEROtherm.
ZEROtherm cooler than they appear slim, but still look fierce with aluminum fins. It also is equipped with four copper heatpipes fruit.
High specification and look cool, interesting right?
PowerColor AX6850 Premium Edition Specifications
Core speed 800 MHz
Memory speed 4200 MHz
Memory capacity 1 GB GDDR5
Price range US$225
Test Results :
3DMark Vantage (1920 x 1080)
Radeon HD 6870 11011
Radeon HD 6850 8743
Radeon HD 5870 12625
GeForce GTX 470 9240
GeForce GTX 460 7819
Crysis (1920 x 1080)
Radeon HD 6870 34,98 fps
Radeon HD 6850 29,19 fps
Radeon HD 5870 38,55 fps
GeForce GTX 470 30,46 fps
GeForce GTX 460 23,42 fps
Unigine Heaven (1920 x 1080)
Radeon HD 6870 43,80 fps
Radeon HD 6850 36,10 fps
Radeon HD 5870 45,50 fps
GeForce GTX 470 39,20 fps
GeForce GTX 460 32,30 fps
Conclusion
If you see and compare the performance of the Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850, both series graphics card is indeed a new competitor that can not be underestimated for granted. Performance is quite strong. Both
series graphics card is directly competing with top-class products that have been circulated previously as the Radeon HD 5870, HD 5850, GeForce GTX 470 and GTX 460. Its performance can match even a little ahead of the fourth series graphics card.
With the release of the second generation DX11 class GPUs today AMD confused their consumers a little. The shift in naming will be bothersome for some of you, what we have been looking at today should have really been labeled Series 6700 as the fastest products, which you’d expect to be placed in the 6800 series, still need to be released. Talking offsite with AMD learned us that this was done to make some room in the sub mid-range segment for upcoming unannounced products, we can only hint to Fusion here.
Both cards released today are somewhat an improved and updated hybrid silicon based of the AMD’s 5700/5800 series. And granted, while performance really is very nice on both cards, we as well seem to be
confused a little by the 5700/5800 vs 6800 naming stigma we just got used to. But that will pass with time … it will fade away plain and simple. So keep it in mind, the 6800 is upper mid-range of graphics card performance, and 6900 is high-end, it is and will be as simple as that.
If you focus on the suggested retail prices then we can definitely state that these products will find their way into the market fast and with a lot of interest, the feature set of course is grand with the new HD3D and UVD 3 update of the video processor.
While capable, we feel that the HD3D implementation is a loss 3D gaming wise. Pretty much what AMD is doing is saying, “here’s a hardware-capable product … and you guys do the rest”. The complexity of finding the right TV/Monitor, glasses and then 3rd party software you need to buy is in our vision too difficult for the generic end user, without any guarantees that the 3D experience will work properly as it’s not backed by AMD whatsoever. Time will tell, though we think that the complexity of a 3rd party for a lot of end-users will simply be complicated, making them choose the competitions (NVIDIA 3D Vision) solution as that’s a handy straight out of the box kit, which is far more easy.
But yeah with the introduction of HD3D and HDMI 1.4a AMD also brings 3D Stereoscopic features towards the new 6000 series graphics cards, which is a welcome addition of course, yet requires optimal monitors and shutter glasses. As stated we do not like the complexity of the 3D gaming side at all, but watching movies and pictures in 3D is an easy to accomplish task.
Architecture wise both products today merely are improved changes & tweaks based of the last-gen architecture. There are no ground-breaking new designs aside from some feature updates.
Price/performance wise however, you have noticed that the R6800 does offer a truckload of value for money. Its one purpose, which is to hinder the GeForce GTX 460 series, is achieved.
The Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 has a price tag of a much more affordable than current Radeon HD 5870 and HD 5850 at the beginning of the year 2010. Positioned in the price range between $ 200 and 300, both this series to be very attractive to own.
Overall, both AMD’s new hero is very interesting. AMD’s decision to launch a new variant ahead of our competitors feels quite right to capture more users. Moreover, the price is also relatively not too
expensive. So, it seems AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 is suitable for a New Year gift for your PC.
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