Graphics Card Dilemma - Which should I choose?

[HEJSURT]

Hey everyone! I have a little dilemma. I am about to buy a new graphics card but I dont know which one I should choose. I have narrowed it down to two. The Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 and the ASUS Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5.
It's the same model (Radeon 6870) but they have a little bit different specs.
Here's the links to the cards:
Sapphire http://www.komplett.se/k/ki.aspx?sku=613682#extra
ASUS http://www.komplett.se/k/ki.aspx?sku=614224#extra

The site is on swedish so you may have to use Google Translate The only major difference between the cards is the price (Sapphire about 241 euros and the ASUS 263 euros) the clock speed (Sapphire 900MHz ASUS 915MHz) and some connections on the back. Just look in the description boxes on the sites and you'll find all the info.

Cheers

[Aimzz]

The Sapphire has a clockspeed of 900MHz, While the Asus has 915MHz...
Maxiumus resolution on Sapphire is 2560 x 1600 / 60 Hz, While the Asus has 3840 x 2400 (External) and DVI: 3840 x 2400 / VGA: 2048 x 1536
The Sapphire has following programs included:Dual Slot Fan Cooler, ATI Eyefinity Technology, ATI CrossFireX Technology, ATI PowerPlay-Technology
While the Asus has: Voltage Tweak Technology, ASUS SmartDoctor, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology, ASUS GamerOSD, AMD Eyefinity Technology, AMD HD3D Technology, AMD CrossFireX Technology, and also, the Asus has one CrossfireX cable included..
I would personally go for the Asus as it's not a big price difference..

[HEJSURT]

Okay, thanks alot

[TheRock]

ASUS does not offer much performance latelly, personally from own usage, I'd go for the sapphire.

[Wash]

The ASUS is win.

I'd go for the ASUS.

[Todor]

Clocking the 6850/70 doesn't offer great gains.. The difference of 15 mhz you will never see, and if you want it you can clock your own card anyway. I'd just go for the cheapest with good warranty. And if you don't want to be an idiot... get a 768mb 460 SLI.

[DellStorm]

Hi Amizz,

Very Difficult chose, as they are exactly the same in respects to their performance rating. If you are planning to use this in Cross Fire Mode (2 Graphics cards) then I would choose the Sapphire for the money.

If you are looking for the best card then the asus is the obvious win, but ask yourself is that extra money worth 1fps? For me I wouldn't spend it just because it is a better brand. Do not forget that 4 months from now, or even after the Christmas period these cards will be a lot cheaper!

Happy Gaming,
Regards,
DellStorm

[Todor]

It wouldn't even give him a gain in 1 fps. The current bang for buck single card to be had is the GTX570, in a dual arrangement that's the 460. Can't wait to see what AMD are going to come up with, though. If you're AMD all the way, I still maintain my opinion you should get the one with the better warranty and lesser price - They're both reference so they are NOT different in any way. The fact the stock clocks on the ASUS are a little higher don't matter at all. Also, wait for the release of the 69XXs and you should be able to grab one of these for less than that. IMO it's still the Sapphire, plus the Sapphire cards come with an excellent overclocking utility (which works on all cars anyway..) called TriXX which has got to be the best GPU clocking utility I've seen so far, even smashing MSI Afterburner to the ground. It's just so nice and easy for all of you now.. you should've seen us real men in our sheds putting pencil lines across sockets.. 

EDIT: Get this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-136-OK

[RailWayGuy]

i can say that you shouldn't buy sapphire because the cooling is noisy, and asus is not worth the money
i have an 6870 from HIS, it works fine so i'll recommend you that

[Todor]

i can say that you shouldn't buy sapphire because the cooling is noisy, and asus is not worth the money
i have an 6870 from HIS, it works fine so i'll recommend you that

They're all refference cards.. there's absolutely no difference between them except the flipping badge.

[HEJSURT]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions guys, but I think I made up my mind. Ima go for the ASUS. ATM I have a Sapphire card and so far it has been really good, but I think the ASUS is a better win since it has got a higher resolution rate aswell. But I dont know if the 6900 series is going to be any better I mean these cards just have 890MHz of clockrate when the 6800 series have 900MHz standard? Ofc they are going to have more videomemory but why is the clockrate less?

[Todor]

Ouch! Was just about to reply and tell you to get a 470/570.. I wish I had as well