6870 - need ideas

[OrphanBoy]

Hi guys

I won a 6870 in a competition a few weeks back and have used it to replace my 5770. Even though it was free, it's still not giving as much oomph as I was kind of hoping - when I upgrade I like to get at least 2x as fast.

I'm considering flogging the 5770 and getting a second 6870. However looking at the prices for 6950 (1GB) vs 6870 they're pretty similar! Annoyingly though the resale value of a 6870 is not high.

Which should I do:
- do nothing, games for the foreseeable future will be console ports anyway
- sell both 5770 and 6870 and get a 6950
- sell the 5770 and get a second 6870

The third option will give the highest performance, but at the greatest cost. I've had a Crossfire set-up before so know what to expect

Thoughts?

 

[opethdisciple]

Twin 6870's will be more powerfull than a 6950.

So bang for buck says get second 6870 over 6950.

 

[Marine-RX179]

That's odd...the 6870 should be 60~80% faster than the 5770. What game were you comparing it on?

 

[OrphanBoy]

Metro 2033. I yesterday replayed the game (latest version, patches via Steam etc). It's a bit weird in that the interiors are 40 fps+, but then there are the occasional outdoor which give 15 fps. I'm using DX11, DOF off, 1920x1200 "very high". I could run for the bulk of the game with 30-40 fps on "very high" but there are these freak low frame rates which kinda ruin the game play.
I've also tried the BFBC2 single player. It's just lacking that "wow" feeling that I'd normally get when I upgrade properly

 

[Marine-RX179]

Metro 2033. I yesterday replayed the game (latest version, patches via Steam etc). It's a bit weird in that the interiors are 40 fps+, but then there are the occasional outdoor which give 15 fps. I'm using DX11, DOF off, 1920x1200 "very high". I could run for the bulk of the game with 30-40 fps on "very high" but there are these freak low frame rates which kinda ruin the game play.
I've also tried the BFBC2 single player. It's just lacking that "wow" feeling that I'd normally get when I upgrade properly

Ignore Metro2033, as ALL single GPU card will struggle to get playable framerate...think people need like GTX580SLI to get playable frame rate for 1920 res 4xAA with Tessellation and DOF enabled.

As for BFBC2, you should definitely get much higher frame rate...may be you just not realised it, or you are using higher settings than before...?

 

[OrphanBoy]

Yeah the settings are definitely higher for BFBC2, but in terms of the experience it's just not better! For instance I can now run easily with 4x AA and with the SSAO setting on. However, AA doesn't seem to do an awful lot for this game (I blame the foliage) and the framerate-killing SSAO doesn't add very much.

Metro seems to be the only game which really pushes in terms of the visuals (I have yet to try Crysis 2, the DX11 patch seems an option). Have console ports really taken over? What should I play to bring back the wow of breaking out that 9700 pro?

 

[Marine-RX179]

For instance I can now run easily with 4x AA and with the SSAO setting on. However, AA doesn't seem to do an awful lot for this game (I blame the foliage) and the framerate-killing SSAO doesn't add very much.

You think that's bad? GTX580's frame rate get dropped by 55-60% going from Ultra to Ultra+UberSampling. While having UberSampling enable the graphic does look "different", but it doesn't actually look "better"
http://www.benchmarkextreme.com/Articles/The Witcher 2 Performance Review/P2.html
http://www.benchmarkextreme.com/Articles/The Witcher 2 Performance Review/P3.html

 

[OrphanBoy]

Yeah I hate those settings You're like "it's slower, it must be somehow better, I must turn it on regardless!"
Maybe I'll just flog the 5770 and keep the cash. It's just a bit annoying that a 6950 costs pretty much the same as a 6870!

 

[Jony27]

not if you shop around