1440p gaming, what to do? 7950 crossfire/gtx 780 or new amd??

[n00b_monkey]

Hay,
So i was wondering if anyone could help me...I get a student loan in next week and was looking to blow a fair bit of it on a upgrade. I am intending to get the Asus PB278Q, i wanted a branded monitor rather than take a chance with an import.
I currently have a his hd 7950 iceq.

One option is to get another as they are now cheaper but if i go this route then the temps in my case are going to get pretty hot so i wanted to watercool the cpu. The total cost for this option would be about £350. I rekon gaming at that res with two of these cards would see me through for a year, at which point i will sell both and go for a single card.

The next option is to sell my card and get £140ish for it and put this towards a decent single card. I would have the £140 to go towards it and also save £200 on the water. This option seems like it might last a little longer as i can crossfire down the road.

The new amd cards are sounding better and better. I am guessing if i spend £450 on a new card it will just about beat the crossfire 7950 set up.

What do you guys rekon??

 

[bigmac121]

I would get another 7950. Two of these are Titan Killers.(in most games) I just got my 2nd one a little while ago (MSI F3) I have this monitor. DGM IPS-2701WPH 27 I came from a Dell. This monitor is really good. Look for it in the monitor thread for more views.

 

[zoomee]

I'd wait until AMD's new cards are out and performance can be determined. Either way it'll be win win as the 7950 should lower in price as shops try to shift stock, or you pickup a new AMD baby

 

[nutsnut]

two 7950's will be quicker than the new AMD cards or the current Nvidia cards. What CPU do you have?

 

[zoomee]

quicker isn't everything. You have microstutter to deal with and extra power and heat requirements, which the OP is rightly concerned about.

Personally, been there and done that - I'd rather have one card that is slightly less performance than two - than have that extra noise, heat and power to deal with

 

[linktoinsanity]

You want to upgrade from a HD7950 to run a 1440p monitor?

Personally I'd stick with the single HD7950 until after you get the new screen and see how it goes. I have a HD6950 which runs my 1080p monitor really well and it runs fine.

Try and save a bit of money if you can for when new cards come out then see how those perform.

 

[zoomee]

Take it from a 1440p & ex-7970 owner - Even a 7970 can't handle 1440p when maxing games (60fps maxxed on BF3? - I don't think so!! )

 

[n00b_monkey]

yo

Im running a I5 3570k overclocked at 4.3 (had it at 4.5 but the heat from the card plus the nice summer caused it to overheat)

I like to play FPS games inc crysis 3 with all the trimmings.

My guess is that a single card might well be best, from what i have read poss leave the 780 alone (unless it comes way down).

I have also been reading up about flashing the BIOS on my his 7950, poss makes it a little more stable.

2x7950 seem a bargain but i think that with the new gen consoles coming out soon that pretty soon the crossfire set up will not be enough at that res.

 

[Phixsator]

Im running a I5 3570k overclocked at 4.3 (had it at 4.5 but the heat from the card plus the nice summer caused it to overheat)

I like to play FPS games inc crysis 3 with all the trimmings.

My guess is that a single card might well be best, from what i have read poss leave the 780 alone (unless it comes way down).

I have also been reading up about flashing the BIOS on my his 7950, poss makes it a little more stable.

2x7950 seem a bargain but i think that with the new gen consoles coming out soon that pretty soon the crossfire set up will not be enough at that res.

Dont worry about what the new consoles are going to do or not going to do to the pc ports. They are still weaker tech overall compared to a modest pc today.

I would wait for the benches for the new AMD cards. The 7950 is not going to get more expensive. Its either gonna stay where it is now or dip down further(to clear out stock).

Ive had 2x7950 and i highly doubt you are going to be able to max them out 100% of the time using an i5. Also there is a lot more heat to deal with so if you want a second 7950 pick one with a blower etc the ICE-Q.