Crossfire vs new card

[fizzy]

Hi,

Just curious really, but possibly may result in an upgrade....

I currently have a crossfire setup, 2 x 1900XT's. Wondering how these compare to a 8800GTX or HD2900XT in a number of ways...

Obvious 1st would be performance. 3dmark06 score on my setup is around 9300. I think a GTX is just about the same level? Is there a big difference in dx9 game speeds on a GTX vs crossfire setup?

How does 2 1900xt's compare power consumption/heat wise to a GTX or 2900XT? I've heard the new cards are power hungry etc.. trying to decide whether my case cooling/psu would be sufficient, and if would actually cope with an 2900xt crossfire configuration....?

Hopefully a single new card will be quieter than my 2 current cards (even with zalman's fitted) but with similar performance?

 

[BlackDragon]

Well you have a better 3DMark06 score than mine, i only get just over 8000. Do you have anything that slows down your cards to a point that is unplayable? If not then you might as well keep your crossfire setup until something comes along that your crossfire cards can't handle or if you're desperate for DX10 support/features (which really is no point unless you have vista).

Sorry if im not too helpful with answering your questions

 

[Typhoon]

Yeah, like hes said, no point upgrading if you can still play what you want. An 8800gtx is far superior to 1900xt's in Crosfire in the realword.

 

[fizzy]

I appreciate the advise - not only was I thinking of it possibly getting new tech, was wondering if it would be possible to have less noise/heat/power needs compared to my crossfire setup yet still keep the same performance.

Besides, the way prices are dropping I can either sell my existing cards now when they are at least worth something, or wait until they are struggling and get peanuts for them, or put 'em in my spares box.

 

[BubbySoup]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2870

As this review of the 8800GTX shows, a crossfire setup comes within a few frames of a single GTX and on occasion, beats it. However, the GTX brings so much more to the table - DX10, less heat, noise, power draw.

It's a decent upgrade all in all.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Agree with the above.

 

[B@Th*nG]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2870

As this review of the 8800GTX shows, a crossfire setup comes within a few frames of a single GTX and on occasion, beats it. However, the GTX brings so much more to the table - DX10, less heat, noise, power draw.

It's a decent upgrade all in all.

admittedly i don't know much, but why would it be worth spending a lot of money on something which performs similarly and still plays everything he wants to play? it seems like meaningless money spent to me

B@Th*nG

 

[BubbySoup]

admittedly i don't know much, but why would it be worth spending a lot of money on something which performs similarly and still plays everything he wants to play? it seems like meaningless money spent to me

B@Th*nG

That's true. I also own an X-Fire setup, only difference being mine is under water so I have even less incentive to upgrade right now, as the only benefit I get is DX10 (not bothered atm) and less power draw (also not bothered). Noise and heat are irrelevant to me.

However, the OP states he wants a single card solution giving the same performance as he has now, but quieter and using less power. The GTX fits this bill perfectly.

 

[Hamoodii]

a crossfire x1900 will probably beat a HD 2900XT

So if you;re upgrading for a 8800GTX, or just stick with what you've got and wait till end of summer for the new range of graphics cards (G92?)