XFX Radeon HD 6950 XXX Edition Review - PAGE 1

When AMD launched their second-generation DX11 architecture, they effectively increased the memory capacity found on graphics cards in certain segments of the market. They did this by introducing a 1GB frame buffer to their mid-range Barts based graphics cards, while increasing the memory capacity of their high-end models to 2GB. This allowed products such as the HD 6950 and HD 6970 to scale incredibly well with increased setting and resolutions.

However, in today's PC gaming market a 2GB frame buffer is not necessarily going to improve gaming performance for users playing on a monitor with a maximum resolution of 1920x1080. Additionally, with most PC titles being either ported to or from a console version, there is lesser incentive for 1080p gamers to require a graphics card with a 2GB frame buffer. For these reasons, AMD gave their AIB partners flexibility when it comes to the included memory capacity of Cayman based graphics.

One such model to receive a memory overhaul is the XFX HD 6950, which features a 1GB frame buffer. This reduces the memory capacity to 50% of the reference design, but to reduce any negative impact, XFX increased the GPU clock and memory speeds to 830MHz and 1300MHz, respectively. This could increase the overall performance, and depending on the settings, the XFX model could easily outperform the reference boards due to the higher clock speeds. The XFX HD 6950 also includes an enhanced thermal solution featuring dual intake fans and a large heatsink with integrated copper heatpipes.

When dealing with a graphics card that has a reduced frame buffer, the general rule is that it will not perform at the same level as card with a 2GB frame buffer when gaming at higher resolutions. The question is exactly how much of an impact will the reduction have on this model. To investigate this, we are going to pit the 1GB XFX HD 6950 against the reference board and see how they compare in resolutions up to 2560x1600. This should give us a good understanding of how the 1GB model fits into the market, and if the reduced price is ultimately worth it in the long run.