Argh! What should i do?

[Firestar_3x]

Yesterday i picked up a Samsung T240 and a couple of Samsung SSD's for Raid 0, happy with the upgrade from my 2x 160gb raptors and 2x 2025 Viewsonic screens.

I've currently got a watercooled BFG 8800GTX and i'm seriously thinking about running out to ocuk before closing time and picking up 2x 4890's for some crossfire action.

First off is the upgrade worth the hassle of taking my second loop apart thats cooling the 8800GTX (will have to be totally removed due to OCUK not having any blocks for the 4890).

Total upgrade cost is likely to be £291 for the cards, then around £160 for the two blocks so £451 in total, single Nvidia solution might be better?

 

[gary996]

If you have the money then why not. The 2 x 4890's will be quicker than the 295GTX.
I understand what you are saying about adjusting your loop, if its not too much grief then run them air cooled to have some fun and add your blocks later. Atleast then its allready set up.

just my 2p worth Gary

 

[pastymuncher]

The Swiftech MCW60R or EK VGA Supreme core only blocks should fit a 4890. Better cooling and less restrictive than a full cover block too. Just put ramsinks on the memory.

What board do you have?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Yea after reading this Link I'd like to go back to an ATI solution, The GFX loop isn't too much of a pain to remove but the idea of just a GPU block and ramsinks could be an idea.

Running an IX38 Quad GT with 6600 at 3.6Ghz and 8gb of Plat OCZ 8500, would like whatever i buy to sit in an i7 rig when i build it later this year.

 

[Firestar_3x]

I went for 2x XFX 4890's in the end, think i need a full format the cards don't seem to like being on the same windows install as a previous Nvidia card, coolers seem quiet enough to get my through till i order a few full cover blocks.

Its going to be interesting to get some results after a fresh windows 7 install

Oh and credit to the boys in the shop btw i ended up with Hawx x2 / Battleforge and World Conflict

 

[gary996]

Lets see some results before and after water esp temps?

Gary

 

[Jono8]

wouldnt it just be a lot easier and cheaper to get a 4870x2 or a 295 gtx

 

[Firestar_3x]

A 295GTX start at £354 so are almost £70 more than 2x 4890's, Single 4870X2 would be slightly less (£40) but its not as fast at 1920x1200.

Initial tests seem to point out that in crysis 1920x1200 everthing on Very High no AA, my 8800GTX was getting between 12 & 17fps this setup seems to be running between 30 and 54fps, but averages around 48 i think.

More tests needed crysis Multigpu support and windows 7 64bit seems a little odd so doing some tests to narrow the issue down, still not done a fresh install so it could be that.

Temp wise them seem to run around 64 degrees, fans 70% when gaming, not a bit issue they will be gone next week.

Need to run AA on this card really see if it decreases the FPS, it killed my GTX at this res.

 

[Happy]

Bear in my that Tri-Sli GTX 285 can just handle Crysis 1920x1200 Very High DX10 with 8xAA. So your results are pretty good.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Yea, need to run the proper tests this is just bashing around one of the early levels, i was getting a slight stutter using onboard sound so wacked my X-fi back in which seems to have fixed the issue.

Just pleased i can finally play through Crysis with the graphics cranked all the way up, its been sitting on my shelf for ages not played

 

[TaKeN]

So did you drive down and get a new card/s in the end?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Yep, new shop front needs some work but the place is dead on sundays, was nice not having to stand in line!