5 x GPU options - please put into performance order

[jmp_78]

As title suggests really. I obviously know how the AMD cards compare to each other, and the Nvidia against each other... just not sure the difference between SLI vs Crossfire scaling. Thoughts on 1st to 5th place would be great - thanks

6850 Crossfire
6870 Crossfire
550 SLI
560 SLI
560 Ti SLI

 

[Martini1991]

Top to bottom ;

560Ti SLI
6870 Crossfire
6850 Crossfire/560 SLI (Not 100% sure, I'd personally think the 6850 Crossfire)
550Ti SLI.

 

[Tommyzz]

May I ask why you have chosen the cards you have? Are you thinking of buying one of them in Xfire/SLI?

 

[jmp_78]

May I ask why you have chosen the cards you have? Are you thinking of buying one of them in Xfire/SLI?

Possibly... that said, I am well aware of the 1GB VRAM limitation of all cards listed. I've just been bitten by the 'wanna try 2 cards' bug even though I always thought it'd be far more hassle than 1.

For the record, I'll be getting new full system soon as current P55 board only supports 8x/4x Crossfire

 

[Surveyor]

What's the exact model of the motherboard you have?

A lot of LGA1156 motherboards aren't SLI compatible.

Edit

Never mind.

Just seen you'll be getting a new rig.

 

[~>Dg<~]

5850 secondhand saves hundreds all round win

 

[Tommyzz]

6950 CF

 

[Surveyor]

6950 CF

If the OP went down that route then the best option would be 2GB HD 6950 Crossfire.

 

[jmp_78]

Thanks for the advice guys, but I don't have the funds to buy 2 x 6950s, plus have been offered £105 for my current 5850 so aren't too bothered about getting another.

I guess my question should have been... 6870 Crossfire or 560 Ti SLI?

 

[Surveyor]

Based on the Guru3D review the cards are fairly similar at 1920x1200, the GTX 560Ti slightly edges it.

See the tests on this page onwards.

A pair of HD 6870's will set you back £268 using the Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6870.

A pair of GTX 560 Ti's will set you back £328 using the OcUK GeForce GTX 560Ti.

Prices based on the cheapest currently on OcUK.

You'll probably get more out of overclocking the GTX 560Ti than the HD 6870.

In summary the GTX 560Ti's are marginally better but only you can decide if they're £60 better.

Don't forget that it doesn't look like you can use SLI on your current motherboard and you say it only does Crossfire at x8/x4.

 

[jmp_78]

Thanks Surveyor, appreciate links. Defo getting new board in new build, and for the record I play at 1920 x 1080.

Thanks again

 

[pat_c]

SLI vs CF scaling also depends on the game, chart placing is dependent on if the programmers optimized for the red or green camp.