7950 Upgrade Advice

[LiveWireUK]

Hello!

Looking for some advice - currently have a single 7950 (IceQ Boost 3GB edition) and am wondering if it is worth an upgrade.

Have tried looking for a second one to crossfire as heard that's a sound idea but for the life of me I can't find one (probably because 7950's tend to be a great mining card!).

So, the question - hang on to this or upgrade?

Thanks in advance!

 

[LtMatt]

Hello!

Looking for some advice - currently have a single 7950 (IceQ Boost 3GB edition) and am wondering if it is worth an upgrade.

Have tried looking for a second one to crossfire as heard that's a sound idea but for the life of me I can't find one (probably because 7950's tend to be a great mining card!).

So, the question - hang on to this or upgrade?

Thanks in advance!

What cpu have you got?

What resolution do you/will you be gaming at?

What motherboard have you got?

What about your psu?

What games do you play?

 

[LiveWireUK]

What cpu have you got? i7-3820 oc'd to about 4GHz

What resolution do you/will you be gaming at? Currently 1920x1080.

What motherboard have you got? ASUS P9X79 Pro

What about your psu? Can't recall exactly - Corsair Enthusiast Series TX750M

What games do you play? BF4, TESO when it launches, GW2, that sort of thing

Fair points! Would've been useful if I said that from the start!

 

[krooton]

Your card should really be fine for 1080p, just clock it a bit.

I run 2 @ stock happily for 1440p.

 

[LtMatt]

If that's a 120hz screen or you plan to go 1440P id recommend 290 crossfire or 780 SLI. If you have a 60hz screen id stick another 7950 in there (i think gibbo said they're getting some more 7950 ice-s in soon - ask in cs) and go crossfire as 2x290 would be wasted at 1080P 60hz.

One thing to also consider is the psu. It will be fine for 290 Xfire/780 SLI at stock or with a average overclock. For extreme overclocks you'd need a 1000W psu though.

 

[LiveWireUK]

It is a 120hz screen but am thinking of changing it to an IPS panel as starting to get into photo-editing. 1440p is also what I was considering going to.

I wouldn't go for any extreme overclocks for fear of making a mistake!

What would your recommendation be for 1440p @ 60Hz?

 

[LtMatt]

It is a 120hz screen but am thinking of changing it to an IPS panel as starting to get into photo-editing. 1440p is also what I was considering going to.

I wouldn't go for any extreme overclocks for fear of making a mistake!

What would your recommendation be for 1440p @ 60Hz?

2x290 Crossfire. Its simply the best way to play BF4 while using the mantle API.

 

[krooton]

Cheap option A: Add another 7950, the IceQs go for around £160-£140 second hand on MM (which you can't access unfortunately).
Cheap option B: Sell your 7950 and get a second hand 290 and overclock it.
Pricey option: Sell your 7950 and get a 290X.

 

[LiveWireUK]

Yeah, unfortunately I don't meet the post count

So, 2x290 or 1x290X are the options apart from hunting a second hand 7950 from somewhere? Or even new if they come back in stock.

 

[LtMatt]

Yeah, unfortunately I don't meet the post count

So, 2x290 or 1x290X are the options apart from hunting a second hand 7950 from somewhere? Or even new if they come back in stock.

You'll want two cards at 1440P if you want to max out BF4 and stay around 120 fps. 2x290's makes more sense cost wise than 2x290X's.

 

[LiveWireUK]

Right, gotcha! Time to go bribe the bank manager then!

Appreciate all the help guys

 

[4737Joker]

You can run all of those games on ultra with AA off on that card, BF4 ran great for me on my 7950 on ultra with no aa

edit: well, you can run bf4 should i say, never played the others.

 

[LiveWireUK]

It's the upgrade itch coming back to bite me, haha.

One more question - to crossfire, do you have to have the exact same card, or can they be different brands but both 3GB 7950's?

 

[krooton]

I'm running a TF3 and an IceQ Boost, no issues.

 

[LiveWireUK]

Grand, thanks