GPU Eyefinity suggestions?

[IronWarrior]

Anyone suggest an GPU for Eyefinity gaming in BFBC2/L4D2 and other games please.

Needs to power x3 24" 1920x1200 monitors and be gaming at that resolution.

I would like to play with max graphics/shaders etc, but AA/AF can be off or set to low, but if that is not possible, can lower settings.

I was thinking of an 6950 flashed to a 6970 and later adding an other for CFX later in the year.

Or should I just get an proper 6970 and save the hassle of flashing it?

I seen videos on youtube of people using one 6950 for Eyefinity in BFBC2 and it looks good, good FPS, so am sure it's powerful enough, but if not, please offer any suggestions.

Can't afford an 6990.

 

[muggs]

what cpu have you got

 

[IronWarrior]

Q6600 OC'ed to 3.1Ghz, 6GB of OCZ Reaper/Titanium, Asus P5K, running Windows 7 64bit , currently using an GTX260 BE at 1080p on a 42" screen.

Able to play BFBC2 at max settings with about 50-110FPS, AVG is about 60+

 

[old gamer]

dont know about bfbc but l4d will run highest settings no problem with a single 6970 at 5760x1080

 

[DazQ87]

I run eyefinity on 2x 5850, at a resolution of 5040x1050, L4D runs perfectly fine, I had to drop the AA down in BC2 to keep it as smooth as I would like it to be. Same for aliens vs predator as well. I think the problem comes from only having 1GB of VRAM.
Eyefinity deffinatly works better with more VRAM and it should deffinatly be a consideration in which card you pick.

 

[RedStarRiot]

I run black ops, civ 5, l4d2, shift,bfbc2, dirt 2 on a 6970 at 5760x1080 maxed. your res will be higher though so could be pushing it but could run quite high and still be very impressive

 

[muggs]

Q6600 OC'ed to 3.1Ghz, 6GB of OCZ Reaper/Titanium, Asus P5K, running Windows 7 64bit , currently using an GTX260 BE at 1080p on a 42" screen.

Able to play BFBC2 at max settings with about 50-110FPS, AVG is about 60+

your cpu will slow games down at 5760x1200 res, i seriously would not bother with that res until you have a better cpu and expensive mobo. my q6600 at 3.6 struggled with games at that res with full setting and even turned down they it was still laggy.

ive just been trying to locate a faulty component in my new build, one of my tests were to run 1 gpu at the above res and i was very shocked at how well a single 6950 unlocked shaders only coped with 5760x1200 max setting on games like dirt 3/2 just cause 2 farcry. these games were maxed out(besides ssao on jc2) and all highly playable, this is all down to the 26k and the maximus iv extreme. the frame rates were around 30(jc2) 25-30(dirt3) but it was so smooth and totally playable....when i had my 26k in my p8p67 deluxe games wernt as smooth as this, thats why i say you need a good mobo too.

 

[IronWarrior]

I run black ops, civ 5, l4d2, shift,bfbc2, dirt 2 on a 6970 at 5760x1080 maxed. your res will be higher though so could be pushing it but could run quite high and still be very impressive

Awesome, that sounds good, you do have a better CPU so that's helping a lot, hopeful my Q6600 can do just as well, if not will have to lower settings till it becomes playable, if the worst comes to worst, just have to play on one screen.

I run eyefinity on 2x 5850, at a resolution of 5040x1050, L4D runs perfectly fine, I had to drop the AA down in BC2 to keep it as smooth as I would like it to be. Same for aliens vs predator as well. I think the problem comes from only having 1GB of VRAM.
Eyefinity deffinatly works better with more VRAM and it should deffinatly be a consideration in which card you pick.

What sort of FPS do you get in BFBC2 with the two 5850's? Is your settings maxed other then AA?

I was looking at some reviews and it seems two 5850's can double the FPS in BFBC2 in CFX and could get two of them for about £250-300 while one 5950/70 costs just as much but half the FPS, untill you go CFX then you are rocking!

2GB VRAM surely does help, that's the only downfall with the 5800's, they only come in 1GB models, but am sure I saw a 2GB version once.

your cpu will slow games down at 5760x1200 res, i seriously would not bother with that res until you have a better cpu and expensive mobo. my q6600 at 3.6 struggled with games at that res with full setting and even turned down they it was still laggy.

ive just been trying to locate a faulty component in my new build, one of my tests were to run 1 gpu at the above res and i was very shocked at how well a single 6950 unlocked shaders only coped with 5760x1200 max setting on games like dirt 3/2 just cause 2 farcry. these games were maxed out(besides ssao on jc2) and all highly playable, this is all down to the 26k and the maximus iv extreme. the frame rates were around 30(jc2) 25-30(dirt3) but it was so smooth and totally playable....when i had my 26k in my p8p67 deluxe games wernt as smooth as this, thats why i say you need a good mobo too.

What settings did you use for BFBC2 at that resolution with the Q6600 and GPU again, can you remember what FPS you was getting?

 

[IronWarrior]

I decided on the 6950, be getting an other one next month, flashing both to 6970.

At the moment, am having trouble finding the cables for it.

I want to use both Mini DP connections to connect to the DP ports on my HP2405wg's while the third monitor be collected by HDMI to HDMI.

I can't seem to find Mini DP to DP cables, found one that had a bad review, made his screen flciker and found the XFX upgrade pack but that costs £26? lol

I was hoping to get the ASUS or XFX 6950, but if I can't get my hands on a cable or converter, then it seems I have to purchase the MSI version that comes with a Mini DP to DP converter.

Plan on buying one 3m and one 5m DP to DP cable.

 

[muggs]

Dont have bfbc2. is there a advantge to using display ports? i know you have to use one but why arse buying another if you don't need 2.

Good luck on your second 6950, you will most likely get worse performance when adding a second 6950 to one alone due to your cpu.

 

[DeadMan]

I run 6088x1200 using a HD6990

tested so far:

BFBC2: max settings
Fallout new vegas: max settings
X3 Terran conflict: max settings
Shift2 Unleashed: no AA, medium motion blur, everything else max settings

Upgraded from a 5870 completely crapped out with Shift2 in eyefinity.

 

[DeadMan]

Shift2 Unleashed: no AA, no motion blur, everything else max settings - seems to run a lot faster 40+ FPS

 

[IronWarrior]

Well got my MSI 6950 today, haven't unlocked it yet, but started to mess around with it.

Playing BFBC2 at 5760x1080 at 70-90 FPS in spawn areas and drops around 50-60 FPS during light combat, but intense combat it drops down to 35-45 FPS at max graphics with 1AA/1AF and HSAO set to off. Plays fine, no lag at all in 26/32p servers.

I'm sure when it's unlocked, FPS will go up since it be running like a 6970. Just need to decide on if to flash it with a 6970 bios or unlock the shaders only and OC it afterwards.

 

[Bozy]

Well got my MSI 6950 today, haven't unlocked it yet, but started to mess around with it.

Playing BFBC2 at 5760x1080 at 70-90 FPS in spawn areas and drops around 50-60 FPS during light combat, but intense combat it drops down to 35-45 FPS at max graphics with 1AA/1AF and HSAO set to off. Plays fine, no lag at all in 26/32p servers.

I'm sure when it's unlocked, FPS will go up since it be running like a 6970. Just need to decide on if to flash it with a 6970 bios or unlock the shaders only and OC it afterwards.

Now where oh where do I know your name from???

I'm getting the exact same card tomorrow bud, luckily for me I'm only gaming on a maximum res of 1920x1080, so hopefully it should be OK. Don't know whether to flash it yet though, to be honest I doubt I'd need to.

Good Luck and keep us informed

 

[IronWarrior]

Now where oh where do I know your name from???

I'm getting the exact same card tomorrow bud, luckily for me I'm only gaming on a maximum res of 1920x1080, so hopefully it should be OK. Don't know whether to flash it yet though, to be honest I doubt I'd need to.

Good Luck and keep us informed

Small world my AA brother.

6950 at 1920x1080 will play any game with max settings for sure, no need to worry there, but if you need some extra pow you can always unlock it to a 6970 when you need it.

Looking forward to getting the second one! xD

 

[Bozy]

Small world my AA brother.

6950 at 1920x1080 will play any game with max settings for sure, no need to worry there, but if you need some extra pow you can always unlock it to a 6970 when you need it.

Looking forward to getting the second one! xD

I'll bet! she be a monster

 

[IronWarrior]

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/9448r/

So it's unlocked and OC'ed and has been running nicely for the last few hours.

Played BFBC2, Aliens vs Predator and Left 4 Dead 2 so far.