GTX280 or 4870X2 for big resolutions?

[Crashgate3]

My ultimate aim for my next build is to have three 22" monitors running side-by-side. The TripleHead2Go can't do this, due to max resolution restrictions, but I was intending to use SoftTH to get 5040x1050.

Bearing this in mind, which card do you think I should get? The 4870XT has a bit more grunt, but at stupid resolutions, will the fact that the 1GB memory is shared by both cores let it down?

 

[bennyboy2606]

The later option

 

[MR.B]

I have 2560x1600 + 1920x1200 res monitors (30" and 24") and the GTX 280 has no trouble at all. Even my GX2 (not as good though) and 8800GTX could handle them.

But i'd recommend having more than 512MB on the card whatever you go for.

And it would be best to have two bigger higher res monitors than to have three lower res ones, if you can afford it.

 

[straxusii]

Checkout the reviews of the 4870, ATI seem to have made advances in memory handling especially for AA and it seems a valid option for 25x16 now.

 

[helmutcheese]

512MB not matter how more efficient one is over the others Tech ain't going to cut it at 2560's nevermind 1920's with Full AA+AF+ Full other settings IMO.

Best look at 1024MB per card for that.

 

[Tute]

512MB not matter how more efficient one is over the others Tech ain't going to cut it at 2560's nevermind 1920's with Full AA+AF+ Full other settings IMO.

Best look at 1024MB per card for that.

I agree with this. I'd get the GTX280 or wait for the 1GB 4870 if you can.

 

[JediFragger]

From what I've read the 4870x2 is going to enable both chips to access the 1GB memory like a large cache

 

[Strife212]

From what I've read the 4870x2 is going to enable both chips to access the 1GB memory like a large cache

If this, the X2, if not, the GTX 280 because as I've already said in other topics you will literally be getting 1fps in some games with a 512MB card.

 

[Tute]

From what I've read the 4870x2 is going to enable both chips to access the 1GB memory like a large cache

I believe it's going to be done at driver level, and may eventually become the norm with all Crossfire configurations.

 

[Strife212]

I seriously doubt it could be done with existing xfire due to latency but then I'm not a graphics engineer

 

[JediFragger]

I believe it's going to be done at driver level, and may eventually become the norm with all Crossfire configurations.

Crossfire Sideport looks VERY interesting

 

[Crashgate3]

And it would be best to have two bigger higher res monitors than to have three lower res ones, if you can afford it.

Yeah, I was wondering about this, but I think I'd prefer three, to avoid having the join right down the centre of the view.

 

[londonbairn]

Crossfire Sideport looks VERY interesting

From a cost perspective, does that mean that they do not need to use 2 lots of memory? If so, and likely at a great price level, this card will probably make the GTX 280 the technical equivalent of a dodo.

 

[Scougar]

From what I've read the 4870x2 is going to enable both chips to access the 1GB memory like a large cache

*** FINALLY ***

So card should be a lot cheaper in comparison to the 3870X2 version as such, and means you won't need over system 4gb of memory if they release a 'true' 4870 1gb card (by that I mean not 2x 1gb on one card but 1x 1gb ) If this is the case I can see the X2 being very competitive on price

Awesome

Matthew