Is it worth adding an extra 5870 and going crossfire?

[ThundyCat]

As the title says really.

5870's seem to be going for peanuts in the MM and was pondering adding a second card?

My only concern is them being sat so close together in my rig and getting too hot!

Also should both card be from the same manufactures?

 

[Deception]

They can be from different manufacturers, but like RAM, if one has higher clocks than the other, they will both default to the lowest one.

What case do you have?
What Res do you game at?

 

[ThundyCat]

They can be from different manufacturers, but like RAM, if one has higher clocks than the other, they will both default to the lowest one.

What case do you have?
What Res do you game at?

Antec 1200

1920x1080

 

[Surveyor]

They can be from different manufacturers, but like RAM, if one has higher clocks than the other, they will both default to the lowest one.

You're correct that you can use a card from any manufacturer (as long as you pair a 1Gb card with a 1GB card).

You're mistaken about the clock speeds. In Crossfire cards can run with different clock speeds.

 

[simbady]

You're correct that you can use a card from any manufacturer (as long as you pair a 1Gb card with a 1GB card).

You're mistaken about the clock speeds. In Crossfire cards can run with different clock speeds.

Im not sure, Ive used two 4870's one with 512mb and one with 1Gb, they both ran @ 512mb Vram at the clockspeed of the lowest card.

 

[Surveyor]

Im not sure, Ive used two 4870's one with 512mb and one with 1Gb, they both ran @ 512mb Vram at the clockspeed of the lowest card.

Well in my experience you can run them with different speeds.

My point about the VRAM is exactly as you've illustrated. It may work but there's no point in combining a 2Gb card with a 1GB card as you'll "lose" 1GB from the 2GB card.