I need some 6950 advice please!

[FunkyFerret]

Hello all,

I want to purchase two Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6950 TOXIC 2048MB cards because it’s time for an upgrade but i need some help. About a year ago i brought an Ultima Vanquish system from Overclockers. It came with a single HD 5870 installed, which just isn't going to cut it for running the likes of BF3 in high/ultra settings.

Anyway in my system i have an Intel core i7 930 2.80ghz which is overclocked to 4ghz, the PSU is an Corsair TX 750W and the case is a Coolermaster CM-690 II Advanced Dominator Case.

I want to know if the case and PSU is sufficient enough to hold and run both in crossfire?

I would be very grateful for all the feedback.

Many Thanks!

 

[FunkyFerret]

Also my motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3

 

[ThePengu1n]

Should be fine.

You could spend less and just get another 5870 to XFire, they are pretty beastly cards.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

I was advised I would need a 850 power supply for cf 6970s.

 

[old gamer]

I think it would be ok to xfire 6950

 

[Tealc]

Didnt know you could crossfire a 5870 and a 6950.

 

[Surveyor]

Didnt know you could crossfire a 5870 and a 6950.

You can't.

I assume the OP is going to remove the HD 5870.

ThePengu1n was suggesting the OP buy another HD 5870 for CrossFire instead of buying HD 6950's.

 

[topher]

I was under the impression a 5870 is par with a 6950 until you go past 1080p res! due to the extra vram on the 6950

 

[tommybhoy]

^ it is, unless you slap on more iq ingame/CCC.

The 6950 plays games with a smoother consistent fps as well though with less drops in fps.

When they are unlocked however they are performing as a 6970.

2500K @4.7GHz 16GB ram, 2x Ssd's, 2x 2TB Hd's and 6950>70 Crossfire @ 1GHz, no problems at all using a Seasonic 750w which is probably the same(or very similar) psu as they make corsairs psu's.

 

[FunkyFerret]

Thanks for the comments, I'm slightly concerned about the PSU. I realise it's right on the boarder line being able to crossfire the two but with the toxic cards - do you think that it will affected the power by pressing the switch, changing the bios from a 6950 to 6970. Is it worth risking it? To gain a few more shaders etc.

Sorry I forgot to mention that I'll be selling the HD5870 card.

 

[topher]

Thanks for the comments, I'm slightly concerned about the PSU. I realise it's right on the boarder line being able to crossfire the two but with the toxic cards - do you think that it will affected the power by pressing the switch, changing the bios from a 6950 to 6970. Is it worth risking it? To gain a few more shaders etc.

Sorry I forgot to mention that I'll be selling the HD5870 card.

let me know how much u want for it

 

[tommybhoy]

^^ Yes, as I said above, Seasonic make Corsairs psu's and I'm using the same wattage as you with 2 unlocked 6950's.

 

[FunkyFerret]

Apologises for my lack of knowledge. I have read very little about flashing the bios but im just not too sure when you do it. Do I switch them both before I install the cards for the first time or after I have installed them?

 

[tommybhoy]

It's already factory flashed with the toxics, you just flick the switch.

I'd install them in stock first, put in the drivers, see if the cards are fine then switch off the pc, flick the switch then reboot.

Use gpu-z to see if the shaders have unlocked succesfully:

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2039/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.5.5.html

You better edit your post above to topher unless you want suspended, discussion of selling items is not allowed unless you do it in the members market section when you have reached 250 posts or more.

topher should know all this of course.

 

[FunkyFerret]

Thanks for the info, sorry I'll edit it now!

 

[topher]

Apologises for my lack of knowledge. I have read very little about flashing the bios but im just not too sure when you do it. Do I switch them both before I install the cards for the first time or after I have installed them?

Topher - I'm not sure how much 2nd hand 5870 are going for, make me an offer. It's only a year old and I've just recently overclocked it.

k mate, I am stuck at work atm, but I deffo interested.. let me get back to l8a today, take it your email is in your trust?

does your 5870 have 1GB vram, how have you overclocked it? software or bios flash?

 

[kinger8938]

I have xfire 6950's and its running bf3 a dream on maxxed settings with 11.10 pre 3 drivers!

I had the same concerns about psu and case, ive got a 650w xfx psu and its spot on, never had any problems

 

[FunkyFerret]

k mate, I am stuck at work atm, but I deffo interested.. let me get back to l8a today, take it your email is in your trust?

does your 5870 have 1GB vram, how have you overclocked it? software or bios flash?

The overclock is only done using software and I'm sure it's 1GB VRAM , email should be in trust yeah. Drop me an email later, I will be ordering the cards today hopefully!

 

[FunkyFerret]

I have xfire 6950's and its running bf3 a dream on maxxed settings with 11.10 pre 3 drivers!

I had the same concerns about psu and case, ive got a 650w xfx psu and its spot on, never had any problems

I have been researching the last week whether or not to get a 6990, 580/590, crossfire 6950's. My brain is overloaded with reviews but my main concern was the PSU and the space in the case but I've been really grateful and happy with the responses so far. Also from a cost point of view I think I'm making the right choice as I've always gone with ati in the past.

 

[kinger8938]

Well the 6950 was my first ati card ever and loved it so doubled up a month later i think the psu this actuall depends on the quality of the psu itself like a cheap 650w psu may not work with crossfire but the one i have is of a decent quality and had worked a treat