Which ATI 6950?

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  1. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #41

    Well I'm not going to mess around. Called Amazon and though they're currently out of stock on the Sapphires, as soon as they get them in they'll ship me a replacement. I just need to send them the defective one when I get the new one in. Big plus for Amazon's customer service.

    Untill then I'll monitor this one and report my findings.

    Thannks.
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  2. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #42

    Here's a screen of what I'm talking about. Get these randomly at various times. The card is not overclocked or flashed, nor has it even been. Note the spots by the red dots.

    Which ATI 6950?-6950-artifacts.jpg
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  3. Posts : 8,398
    ultimate 64 sp1
       #43

    i see what you mean - not good.

    good luck with the replacement when it comes, and let's hope it was just that particular card - not 69xx's in general.
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  4. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Professional
       #44

    sygnus21 said:
    Here's a screen of what I'm talking about. Get these randomly at various times. The card is not overclocked or flashed, nor has it even been. Note the spots by the red dots.
    Wow that sucks. Sorry to hear.

    This may not pertain to your problem but thought I would share anyways. Sometime ago I had a Nvidia GeForce 4 card that was purchased brand new. Artifacts would randomly show up just like yours. But the computer would crash when the card was under load as well. After trying different drivers and such I decided to pull the heatsink/fan off the card. To my amazement I found that some noob (or knob!) did not remove the plastic film that protects the thermal grease during assembly. Removed the film, which was discoloured from the heat, removed the stock grease and applied some Artic Silver and the card was as good as gold. For the life of I can’t remember the company but I did send them one real nasty email. Their reply was “We know! A bunch were shipped out like that!” Nice!!

    Anyways, hope you get yours all sorted out.
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  5. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #45

    @ mickey, I think it's just one card that has issues. Haven't seen a bevy of these going bad so that's good. A replacement will confirm though.

    @ society misfit, You have a point, and yeah I could take the card apart and check the thermo paste, but since the card is only 5 days old I might as well return it. Why mess around and find the card is still problematic and now I have to deal with an RMA. Best to return it now.

    This is also why I have a philosophy of not overclocking/modding things until after I've established they work as intended. I almost flashed the card to a 6970 when I got it but decided to wait. Glad I did

    Anyway Amazon is going to send me a replacement when they get some more Sapphires in. I'm good with that :)
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  6. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Professional
       #46

    It was so long ago I can’t remember what drove me to tear the card apart. I think it was over that 15 day return period. But your right, no point in messing with it. Out of curiosity, can you return it for a different brand? Not that there is anything wrong with Sapphire.
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  7. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #47

    I thought about it. Actually thought about swapping it for an XFX brand. Bottom line is I have to get the same brand I got for a replacement. Now I can get a refund and than purchase a different brand but I think I'll stick with Sapphire. Plus I got the card for 279 where the avarage price for a 6950 is 299.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,517
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #48

    I haven't seen anything like this being reported widespread.
    So, I would think you just got unlucky and got a bad card. As we all know, things like this can happen with any hardware.
    It's never fun, but just the nature if the game.

    The good thing is a replacement should be no issue.



    As for me, Ive been putting money back and shopping around a bit. And Im a little bit on the fence now as to which card to go with.
    What I mean is, I have always had ATI cards. And my next purchase was going to be the 6950 or possibly the 6970.

    But Im actually considering switching to Nvidia this time.

    But only for these reasons:

    1) The ATI Cards can Eyefinity, and have 2GB of VRAM.
    I only run 1 monitor at 1080P, and have no desire to run more than a single Display.
    So, Eyefinity, and the extra VRAM really wouldn't be a major point to me, personally.

    2) Nvidia offers PhysX, and in the handful of games that do support it, theres a slight advantage there.
    Although thier multiple display support is not nearly as good as ATIs with a single card, this doesnt bother me.

    3) Performance-wise, the GTX 570 and HD6970 seem to be pretty much equal. At least in overall results.
    I know ATI performs better in a few games, but Nvidia does better in others, so about the same overall.

    4) Price. The 570 is about $50 more than a 6950, but 25-30 cheaper than a 6970. So kinda in the middle.

    Unless theres a better benchmark, that shows a much better advantage to the 6970/50 over the 570 I have missed.


    Anyway, thoughts or suggestions on this? Or other points I have failed to realize here that could be added giving advatange to any of the cards listed would be appreciated as well.

    In terms of budget, I was going to save up and put back around $300 for the 6950.
    But if I hold off another month, I can be in the $350-370 budget, so that puts the GTX 570 and the HD6970 in target range.


    Im just looking for a good card that will last me a couple years. Which camp doest matter to me, as much as current feature set and performance.
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  9. Posts : 8,398
    ultimate 64 sp1
       #49

    there are other factors such as power consumption, heat generation, fan noise that have to be considered too.

    i believe the 6950 does well on these fronts.

    bu then i am a little biased. :)

    i'm sure someone from the green team will contradict me soon.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 4,517
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #50

    Oh, good point. Didnt consider that aspect, even though I should have.

    If I recall, the GTX does use more power than ATI ..


    Hmm, guess I should research the Temps and Fan Noise a bit.

    Thanks for pointing that out. :)
      My Computer


 
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