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For our review today we are using one of KitGuru’s strongest systems, featuring an Intel Core i7 970 processor clocked to 4.33ghz with a Coolit Vantage.
Our testing will take place across various sections. Firstly with a single screen then 3 screens and finally 4 screens. When we get to 4 screen testing later in the review, we will be adding another reference HD6950 in CrossfireX, for added horsepower at 7680×1080 resolution.
Featuring: Sapphire HD6950 Toxic Edition
Hardware Test System:
Processor: Core i7 970 @ 4.33ghz
Cooling: Coolit Vantage
Motherboard: MSI X58A-GD65 (MS-7522)
Chassis: Thermaltake Level 10
Power Supply: Corsair Ax1200
Memory: 6GB GSkill Performance Gaming ram @ 902.9 MHz (2:10) @ 7-8-7-24
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V+ 512GB Gen 2 SSD (Storage) / Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB (OS boot)
Camera: Nikon D300S and R1C1 Kit
Monitors: Dell Ultrasharp U2410 (A00)
Iiyama ProLite E2472HDD x2
Iiyama Prolite B2712HDS
Other Video Cards (single screen game comparisons)
Nvidia GTX590
Nvidia GTX580
Nvidia GTX570
MSI N560GTX Ti Twin Frozr II
nVidia GTX460 OC (715/900)
XFX HD5970 Black Edition 4GB (QuadFireX)
AMD HD6990
AMD HD6970
AMD HD6870
AMD HD6850
AMD HD5870
AMD HD5850
Software:
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Unigine Heaven Benchmark
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 11
HQV Benchmark
Catalyst 11.3 Driver
Fraps Professional
Steam Client
FurMark
Technical Monitoring and Test Equipment:
Keithley Integra unit
Thermal Diodes
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp
Extech digital sound level meter & SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter
Games:
Alien V Predator
Far Cry 2
Resident Evil 5
Lost Planet 2
Tom Clancy HAWX 2
Battleforge
Medal Of Honor SP
Devil May Cry 4
Metro 2033
Colin McRae Dirt 2
F1 2010
Left4Dead 2
Dead Space 2
Just Cause 2
Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests all games across five closely matched runs and average out the results to get an accurate median figure.
I saw this on amazon last week but its vanished. they stopped stocking it or something?
Been hearing good things about that trixx tool with the sapphire cards, that is a damn fine OC. wonder if it would cause a longevity issue however.
No stock of this in the UK, it shows a fair price premium in states over an ordinary board.
Good card, but ive very litle chance of getting 3 screens. Still looks to be one of the better HD6950s on the market, regardless of the FLEX aspect.
Big fan of Sapphire, I had a 5 series card fail on me and I had a replacement within 14 days. it would be either these cards or XFX for me.
Reckon Sapphire might make an nvidia board someday ? 🙂
Their coolers are always great, but there is quiet a premium sometimes for Sapphire products. Powercolor are usually cheaper and just as good IMO.
Powercolor as good as Sapphire? hardly. wait until one of them fails. unless you are in the states or far east you can kiss any warranty you might like. I know a buddy who had a card fail and he chased a replacement for 4 months then gave up.