2 x 4870s or 4870x2

[martos]

I currently have a 4870 and was wondering whether to take advantage of the current bargain basement prices and either add another 4870 or go for a 4870x2?

My mobo is an Asus P5B Deluxe that is only 4x PCIe on the 2nd connector, will this cause a performance hit if i go 2 x 4870s?

 

[Ducky Spud]

If I was you I'd try and sell the 4870 and go for a 4870 X2, with the 4x PCI-E I reckon just adding another 4870 wouldnt be as much as an improvment as you were hoping

 

[atmax1]

I have read that 2 4870s isnt as quick as the 4870x2 but 2 4890s is quicker

 

[FaceplantSi]

I'd go for the 4870X2 seeing as you'll need less PSU connections, use less PCIe sockets and have an easier time of it as you won't have to worry about crossfire setup etc. Anyway, just my 2p worth!

 

[uv]

the 4x PCIe slot will bottleneck a 4870. A 4x slot provides enough bandwidth for a 8800gts/9600gt - anything higher will be bottlenecked by the lack of bandwidth.

 

[magicroundabout]

i've just gone crossfire and think the performance gain is excellent BUT the extra heat which is now being produced concerns me. Ok both cards idle in the 50's now and top out into the low 70's (with the fans on 70%).

what kind of temps do you see with the stock cooler on the x2's?

I'm half tempted to sell my two sapphires and get just the x2

 

[FaceplantSi]

i've just gone crossfire and think the performance gain is excellent BUT the extra heat which is now being produced concerns me. Ok both cards idle in the 50's now and top out into the low 70's (with the fans on 70%).

what kind of temps do you see with the stock cooler on the x2's?

I'm half tempted to sell my two sapphires and get just the x2

Hi Magic, with the fan at default 40% (inaudible on my rig) my Sapphire X2 idles at 60 & 70 and loads at 80 & 90... (on Vantage testing) haven't tried upping the fan yet tbh as I haven't really needed to, can play Crysis for a couple of hours without hitting above 85 on either core. My CPU temps have dropped slightly from where they were previously when I had a Powercolour 4870 1Gb with an Artic cooling twin turbo on it - trouble with that cooler was that it exhausted hot air inside the case and without a side fan on the Fortress it got quite toasty inside - with the X2's stock cooler it exhausts far more to the outside so although I do prob get some extra internal heating I think it's less than before overall - hope all that makes sense!?

 

[martos]

I assume an E6600 @ 3.3Ghz wont bottleneck the 4870x2?

 

[magicroundabout]

Hi Magic, with the fan at default 40% (inaudible on my rig) my Sapphire X2 idles at 60 & 70 and loads at 80 & 90... (on Vantage testing) haven't tried upping the fan yet tbh as I haven't really needed to, can play Crysis for a couple of hours without hitting above 85 on either core. My CPU temps have dropped slightly from where they were previously when I had a Powercolour 4870 1Gb with an Artic cooling twin turbo on it - trouble with that cooler was that it exhausted hot air inside the case and without a side fan on the Fortress it got quite toasty inside - with the X2's stock cooler it exhausts far more to the outside so although I do prob get some extra internal heating I think it's less than before overall - hope all that makes sense!?

makes perfect sence Si cheers.

It does vent loads of hot air inside and out but when gaming i up the fans to 70% which is very loud.

Maybe the x2 is a better alternative so i can keep my case internally cool and get rid of the hotter air

 

[Linx]

4870x2; can't go wrong with it.

 

[magicroundabout]

think i may get them on the MM

 

[Wmega]

None! If I were you I would sell the 4870 and get a 285. Imo its better to have a fast single core card.