Which one is better 6850 or 5850?

[DreadStunLock]

Hey, since the time Lennard helped me with my PC build, I found another graphic card.

Sapphire ATI AMD HD 6850 1GB GDDR5 HDMI Graphics Card PCI-E 2.1(Ã,£166.56)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-6850-GDDR5-HDMI-Graphics/dp/B0048EEEOW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1294421227&sr=8-7  (MORE INFORMATION)

Currently in my option is:

Sapphire HD5850 1GB Graphics Card (Ã,£171.39)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD5850-1GB-Graphics-Card/dp/B0036Z2F4U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1294591732&sr=1-4     (MORE INFORMATION)


So what is the difference? Why is the one with a higher series costs less? Is it better? What is the PCI-E 2.1?

I am asking this because I got no clue about ATI, and it doesn't make sense because they are both 1GB graphic cards but one is more expensive with a smaller price, but the other is higher in series but costs less? Which should I get and why?

Thanks in advanced.

[LennardF1989]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/302875-33-hd5850-hd6850

It's pretty much the "mainstream" version of the upcoming better videocards, 5850 beats it.

[frvge]

AMD changed a bit in their naming schedule with mid-end/high-end stuff. Go with the 5850.

Then again, there are reports that the 6850 can be unlocked to perform as a 6870, which might be better.

I'd pick the 5850.

[LennardF1989]

Currently the most High-end card AMD has is the 5970, which is roughly 800 euro's.

[DreadStunLock]

Ok, but why would AMD all of a sudden change the way they rate their Graphic cards? Usually the bigger number means better quality? Like ATI 3xxx 4xxx 6xxx?! 5xxx?! Then HD and all around?

[frvge]

They don't rate it differently.

There's budget, mid-end, performance and enthousiast.

They changed the 8 subset series to be mid-end/performance instead of performace only (like in the 4000-5000 etc series). Just marketing. And less bad than nVidia giving 1 design 4 different names.

[DreadStunLock]

Aaaaah, right thanks guys.

[DreadStunLock]

Hmmm that some nice info thanks loads.