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Should I swap my GTX 275 SLI for...

admoo

admoo

admoo

Associate
Joined
10 Mar 2010
Posts
400
... a single 5870.

Now, before you tell me this is madness, here me out.

I recently got a second GTX 275 because I felt that my GTX 275 wasn't coping as well as I wanted it to in certain games. I also want to add a second monitor to my system (both at 1920x1080) in the very near future. And the GTX 275 was cheap.

So while the GTX 275 SLI are blowing away everything I can throw at them, they're bloody hot. And noisy. And my room is reaching temperatures that I find pretty uncomfortable, even when the temperatuires aren't that hot outside.

I reckon, if I'm lucky, that I can ~£100 per GTX 275 on the bay, which would go towards a new 5870, with the intention to get a second 5870 after Christmas or whatever, when I have some moneys, or when I feel that a single card no longer copes.

And I'm doing this purely because my GTX 275's are cooking me alive in my little room. Is this a wise idea, or just a waste of time and money? I've read that the 5870's are pretty energy efficient, and cooler/less noisy than most other cards, but I'm scared that two of them would be just as hot and noisy as my 275's.

I could wait for the 6xxx series later in the year/next year but I don't want to wait so long that my GTX 275's become worthless.

Any advice would be much appreciated :)
 
admoo said:
... a single 5870.

Now, before you tell me this is madness, here me out.

I recently got a second GTX 275 because I felt that my GTX 275 wasn't coping as well as I wanted it to in certain games. I also want to add a second monitor to my system (both at 1920x1080) in the very near future. And the GTX 275 was cheap.

So while the GTX 275 SLI are blowing away everything I can throw at them, they're bloody hot. And noisy. And my room is reaching temperatures that I find pretty uncomfortable, even when the temperatuires aren't that hot outside.

I reckon, if I'm lucky, that I can ~£100 per GTX 275 on the bay, which would go towards a new 5870, with the intention to get a second 5870 after Christmas or whatever, when I have some moneys, or when I feel that a single card no longer copes.

And I'm doing this purely because my GTX 275's are cooking me alive in my little room. Is this a wise idea, or just a waste of time and money? I've read that the 5870's are pretty energy efficient, and cooler/less noisy than most other cards, but I'm scared that two of them would be just as hot and noisy as my 275's.

I could wait for the 6xxx series later in the year/next year but I don't want to wait so long that my GTX 275's become worthless.

Any advice would be much appreciated :)
Click to expand...

Yes as i went from a 275 to a 5850 and thought it was worth it 'just' but it depends on what you are expecting from your upgrade
 
bells said:
Yes as i went from a 275 to a 5850 and thought it was worth it 'just' but it depends on what you are expecting from your upgrade
Click to expand...

I just don't want to be as hot! I know the 5870 will not perform as well as two 275's, but I'd quite like to game without the need of wearing swimming shorts or the like :eek:
 
For your requirement, you probably only got GTX460 (my be add a 2nd one to SLI in future), 5850 or 5870 to choose from.

Just curious what PSU you got by the way? Cause if your PSU is not quality and efficient, it can produce lots of waste heat and dump it out into your room.
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
For your requirement, you probably only got GTX460 (my be add a 2nd one to SLI in future), 5850 or 5870 to choose from.

Just curious what PSU you got by the way? Cause if your PSU is not quality and efficient, it can produce lots of waste heat and dump it out into your room.
Click to expand...

My PSU is a Corsair HX850. It's only a month or so old. I don't think that would be giving me any trouble.

I've considered the 460 (single and SLI) but I think it would be too similar to the 275s. I'm leaning towards the 5870 I think...
 
What mobo and case are you running them in? Have 2 x gtx 275's in sli here, installed in an asus p6t dlx v2 in a lian li a70f case. Idle they sit at 48 and 50c respectivey, (auto fan), in gaming with 70% fan speed they hit 75-76c, the spacing between both cards is pretty decent which helps keep temps down, also good airflow in the case. Tbh, if you can get them running a bit cooler theyd be worth holding onto, as a single 5870 wouldnt be that much of an upgrade.
 
By the way, was wondering if you got a fan in your room :p

Cause although my 9800GTX+ doesn't get too hot, it does warm up the room quite a bit during gaming (think it would be the same for most gaming PC, but probably worse for you since you got two graphic cards that consume more power). I switch on my fan and blow toward myself when I game on hot days :D
 
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setter said:
What mobo and case are you running them in? Have 2 x gtx 275's in sli here, installed in an asus p6t dlx v2 in a lian li a70f case. Idle they sit at 48 and 50c respectivey, (auto fan), in gaming with 70% fan speed they hit 75-76c, the spacing between both cards is pretty decent which helps keep temps down, also good airflow in the case. Tbh, if you can get them running a bit cooler theyd be worth holding onto, as a single 5870 wouldnt be that much of an upgrade.
Click to expand...

I'm running them in an Antec 902 with a Gigabyte X58-UD5. There's literally 3-4mm between the cards, so airflow for the top card is less than great.

I think that's one cause of the problem. My top card struggles to maintain a temp of less than 80c at 100% fan speed. My bottom card isn't quite as bad, tops out at about 75c with about 80% fan speed. I might try an extra fan inside my case to force air between the cards.

I totally agree with you on the upgrade bit, it'd be more of a 'sidegrade'. To be honest I'd expect to lose a few frames here and there.

Marine-RX179 said:
By the way, was wondering if you got a fan in your room :p

Cause although my 9800GTX+ doesn't get too hot, it does warm up the room quite a bit during gaming (think it would be the same for most gaming PC, but probably worse for you since you got two graphic cards that consume more power). I switch on my fan and blow toward myself when I game on hot days :D
Click to expand...

I do have a big tower fan :) I was considering an aircon unit when it was even hotter!

I think the trouble is my room has a massive unopenable window, which is in the sun in the hottest part of the day.

Watercooling isn't really an option, as I have no space in my case, or that kinda moneys lying around.

Thanks for the input guys, appreciate it :)
 
Yep, unforunately the pcie slot spacing on the gigabytes is rather close, heres my two on the p6t dlx.

IMG_1510.jpg


Decent gap which helps to cool them, are you able to add a side fan to your case? Could help get some more cool air reach the cards.
 
GTX 260 SLI would be a good upgrade....and depending on the model could potentially be a good deal quieter too.
 
admoo said:
I think the trouble is my room has a massive unopenable window, which is in the sun in the hottest part of the day.
Click to expand...

How about a curtain or blackout blind for your window :D Keep that drawn in the middle of the day and you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.
 
admoo said:
...I reckon, if I'm lucky, that I can ~£100 per GTX 275 on the bay, which would go towards a new 5870, with the intention to get a second 5870 after Christmas or whatever, when I have some moneys, or when I feel that a single card no longer copes.

And I'm doing this purely because my GTX 275's are cooking me alive in my little room. Is this a wise idea, or just a waste of time and money? I've read that the 5870's are pretty energy efficient, and cooler/less noisy than most other cards, but I'm scared that two of them would be just as hot and noisy as my 275's...
Click to expand...

I have just got a second 5870 and i can confirm that they are hot (noticeably increases the room temperature even with the window open) and are noisy when gaming.
 
hallmeister said:
How about a curtain or blackout blind for your window :D Keep that drawn in the middle of the day and you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.
Click to expand...

That's really, really strange you should mention that..:eek:

I put my creative skills to the test on like, Sunday maybe, and made myself a reflective blanket thing to stick to my window out of foil and tape to keep out some heat...




Hooa said:
was thinking the same thing :D

Maybe that they are cooler.. like cooler equals better and so upgrade?
Click to expand...

Maybe, I don't really wanna go backwards though :D

creed said:
I have just got a second 5870 and i can confirm that they are hot (noticeably increases the room temperature even with the window open) and are noisy when gaming.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is really useful to know :) I might just put up with my current set up, and see how it goes. Else, I might swap it for single card and be done with it.

setter said:
Decent gap which helps to cool them, are you able to add a side fan to your case? Could help get some more cool air reach the cards.
Click to expand...

I can't unfortunately, I've tried by my Megahalems gets in the way :(

I'm really grateful for all the help guys :) I think I might see how it goes over the next couple of weeks or so, and if I still want to change then I'll see what my options are.
 
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