2xHD6850

[paradisiac]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/302?vs=305

Yeah not much in it, still I would take a single GPU over a crossfire/SL setup any day, especially if they are offering roughly the same performance.

GTX580 = £379.99+
HD5970 = £399.99+
2xHD6850 = £230

so. even if its 25-30% slower than either of them, still good value for money

same performance, twice the price. think i will stick with crossfire and save my pennies. or i could infact buy 2 more HD6850s for that money. oh thanks, now you got me want to run 3xHD6850s.

 

[arc@css]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/302?vs=305

Yeah not much in it, still I would take a single GPU over a crossfire/SL setup any day, especially if they are offering roughly the same performance.

Agreed. I am more than likely looking to go for a single card next time round. Can't be certain until I hit the buy button though. I'll be coming from a 4870X2 so I'll need something with clout to make the upgrade feel worthwhile.

 

[paradisiac]

Agreed. I am more than likely looking to go for a single card next time round. Can't be certain until I hit the buy button though. I'll be coming from a 4870X2 so I'll need something with clout to make the upgrade feel worthwhile.

like i said before, the HD6850 is a nice card for the price, but its nothig special. for the budget i had when building mine it was the best option, and since people are saying 2x are similar to GTX580, and for the price of a GTX580 i could buy 3xHD6850s then im not all that dissapointed. yes it will run hotter, and fans will be noisey, but the speakers will drown out the noise, and it will see no more than 2 hours a day gaming, so i wouldnt think heat would be a great issue.

 

[RavenXXX2]

same performance, twice the price. think i will stick with crossfire and save my pennies. or i could infact buy 2 more HD6850s for that money. oh thanks, now you got me want to run 3xHD6850s.

Well it's reported that crossfire setups and SLI do not give as smooth gameplay experience compared to a single GPU of similar performance, there is always trade offs when going multi GPU. You are reliant on driver profiles to get max scaling out of games and that's not always guaranteed with multi GPU.

 

[paradisiac]

Well it's reported that crossfire setups and SLI do not give as smooth gameplay experience compared to a single GPU of similar performance, there is always trade offs when going multi GPU.

yeh that seems pretty reasonable, but still, would 3xHD6850s for the same price as a GTX580 not compensate for it?

 

[arc@css]

I found the 4870X2 smooth but yes, when I used either a 4890 or a 260 it was even smoother performance. Either way, paradisiac, you will be happy I'm sure with whatever you do, two or even three gpu's.

 

[RavenXXX2]

I mean three GPU's is not necessary, scaling with two is good but with three it's not nearly as good, waste of power and a lot of noise and heat will be created. 2 GPUs is the sweet spot As you already have a 6850 it really is best to just get another to boost performance a good bit.

 

[paradisiac]

I found the 4870X2 smooth but yes, when I used either a 4890 or a 260 it was even smoother performance. Either way, paradisiac, you will be happy I'm sure with whatever you do, two or even three gpu's.

thinking 2nd one either next week or the week after, then next month maybe add a 3rd. then save for the release of AM3+ mobos then a bulldozer.

 

[paradisiac]

I mean three GPU's is not necessary, scaling with two is good but with three it's not nearly as good, waste of power and a lot of noise and heat will be created. 2 GPUs is the sweet spot As you already have a 6850 it really is best to just get another to boost performance a good bit.

oh right, even better then, means AM3+ mobo sooner well if they ever get released.

 

[flopper]

using 2x6850 havent had issues in the games I play.
rift beta showed crossfire scaled not so good since in any instance some games take time to provide full performance for them.

I play 5760x1080 with eyefinity and BC2 with a 5ghz cpu runs like a dream, sure I use low settings to max out fps which hovers about 80-130fps with that resolution and game is smooth.

6850 overclocked give tremendous value.
930mhz for me and for the price its fantastic.
I tried 2x6950 but wasnt happy with the performance as it didnt make much difference for me.
so stuck with the 6850 and its been good to me.

 

[paradisiac]

using 2x6850 havent had issues in the games I play.
rift beta showed crossfire scaled not so good since in any instance some games take time to provide full performance for them.

I play 5760x1080 with eyefinity and BC2 with a 5ghz cpu runs like a dream, sure I use low settings to max out fps which hovers about 80-130fps with that resolution and game is smooth.

6850 overclocked give tremendous value.
930mhz for me and for the price its fantastic.
I tried 2x6950 but wasnt happy with the performance as it didnt make much difference for me.
so stuck with the 6850 and its been good to me.

thanks for the input. my monitor and tv only run @ 1920x1080 so dont need crazy high res, and i dont play a lot of graphics intense games. i tried OC'ing my card but everytime i restarted pc MSI Afterburner wouldnt save the configuration so i gave up.

 

[arc@css]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/302?vs=297

 

[Surveyor]

thinking 2nd one either next week or the week after, then next month maybe add a 3rd. then save for the release of AM3+ mobos then a bulldozer.

You can't Crossfire three 6850's.

They only have one Crossfire connector so you can only Crossfire two cards.

If you're prepared to spend over £400 in total on graphics cards you'd be better selling your 6850 and buying two flashable 6950's.

 

[paradisiac]

never looked at the card to see how many connectors it had. 2 should be fine though dont have the funds to spend £400 in one go, but would have £120 a month approx so can do upgrades in stages.

 

[paradisiac]

2nd card will be here tomorrow, although i cannot fit it as my 8pin cpu power lead is in the way and to get an extension next day will cost nearly £8 P&P

 

[gareth170]

Well it's reported that crossfire setups and SLI do not give as smooth gameplay experience compared to a single GPU of similar performance, there is always trade offs when going multi GPU. You are reliant on driver profiles to get max scaling out of games and that's not always guaranteed with multi GPU.

i kinda agree.

if crossfire isn't setup right or some other hardware mess's it up it can make gameplay not smooth and also crashs

i have a 6990 + 6950 unlocked , at first i was getting crashs and gameplay was't smooth , now i've solved that, everything is running fast...

but theres a few games that are not crossfire, such as TDU2

 

[paradisiac]

well thanks to the excellent CS at OCUK my cable has been shipped next day del so will set it up. in reference to CF not being as smooth in some games, thats fair enough, but i cannot afford £200-£400 in one go, so if a certain game has issues with CF can i not just disable it and run that game off a single card?
also, will my cpu now be the weak point of my system?

 

[arc@css]

will my cpu now be the weak point of my system?

No, should be fine. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[paradisiac]

awesome, well it should be here tomorrow with the extension lead so can get the build complete. the cpu seems pretty good at the moment, will hang fire until bulldozer comes out before upgrading it.
from what i remember when i had my HD5770s i just put 2nd card in, link with the CF ribbon and tick the box in CCC (dont think i need to install the drivers again). sound about right?

 

[paradisiac]

awesome, well it should be here tomorrow with the extension lead so can get the build complete. the cpu seems pretty good at the moment, will hang fire until bulldozer comes out before upgrading it.
from what i remember when i had my HD5770s i just put 2nd card in, link with the CF ribbon and tick the box in CCC (dont think i need to install the drivers again). sound about right?

yeh?