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Is it worth going crossfire?

Predator

Predator

Predator

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Joined
12 Jan 2003
Posts
449
Location
Woking
Hi

I've recently upgraded my PC with the following spec

Asus M2R32-MVP
AMD 6000 @ 3.3Ghz
3GB GeIL PC6400C4
Antec Quattro 850W
Sapphire HD 2900Pro 1024MB (runs nicely at 831/1050)
Vista Premium

After noticing the price of the card has dropped another £15, I'm wondering if its worth adding a second?

I mainly play Company of Heroes on it at the mo, but want the PC to last another 2 years. The game itself still struggles a little with everything turned on max, which is almost gutting considering the new spec!

I'd appreciate your feedback on this one.

TIA
 
Its a possibility for those like yourself who allready have a highend card.
Especially worth considering is that the 2900Pro is only a limited production run, so will likely be harder to obtain in a month or two. If you play at a high res & current card isnt doing what you want it too & have the money than i would suggest it is a good option.
However i do believe that CoH (as per most RTS games) is highly reliant on CPU speed, more so than FPS.
 
Thanks for the reply.

it plays ok in DX10, although the settings arn't quite running at max becuase it does lag a little here and there.

What you said about the 2900 being limited is something thats been hanging on my mind and would be a key consideration to buy another. It may be OTT right now, but I guess who knows what will happen in 6 months time, and as I stated, I want this PC to last me another 2 years like the previous did (opteron 144 @2.8 with Sli 7800GT's)
 
I'm going crossfire too, if the mastercard turns up (4400x2 @ 2.6ghz, ATI X1900XT) I don't want to change main card, as a £140 single card isn't faster than ATI X1900XT Crossfire, so good path) also have crossfire mobo so bit of a shame not to use it, since it was a good £50 more than a standard single PCI-E mobo.
 
Predator said:
Hi

I mainly play Company of Heroes on it at the mo, but want the PC to last another 2 years. The game itself still struggles a little with everything turned on max, which is almost gutting considering the new spec!

I'd appreciate your feedback on this one.

TIA
Click to expand...

You've not stated your res. That will alter your responses on this forum. I find COH runs like a dream on my rig at 1680 x 1050 and your card is more powerful (and your cpu for that matter)

So unless you are running at higher res, I think aceshigh might be right in that your cpu is the limiting factor in COH. WOuld hate for you get another pro and not see any improvement.

And if it is your cpu, I wouldn't get another pro now just cause you can while they are still for sale. You could always pick up a 2nd hand one in a years time if you get a game where the gpu is holding you back or by then just sell your pro and get the latest, greatest single gpu.
 
Predator said:
Thanks for the reply.

it plays ok in DX10, although the settings arn't quite running at max becuase it does lag a little here and there.

What you said about the 2900 being limited is something thats been hanging on my mind and would be a key consideration to buy another. It may be OTT right now, but I guess who knows what will happen in 6 months time, and as I stated, I want this PC to last me another 2 years like the previous did (opteron 144 @2.8 with Sli 7800GT's)
Click to expand...

Why rush to spend money now just to try and make it last two years? Keep the money in the bank until a game comes along which warrants spending it. There are no rules which state you can't upgrade/add another gfx card in the next two years you know. ;)
 
Thanks to all the replies, really appreciate it.

I'm running at 1680x1050 btw.

However, just decided what the hell and ordered a second card. Life's too short and all that. Plus I can do some more tinkering while I'm off work and get my 3Dmark score up:)
 
Predator said:
Thanks to all the replies, really appreciate it.

I'm running at 1680x1050 btw.

However, just decided what the hell and ordered a second card. Life's too short and all that. Plus I can do some more tinkering while I'm off work and get my 3Dmark score up:)
Click to expand...

Well, I don't blame you since that money was obviously burning a hole in your pocket ;)

Expect to see great improvements in every game......except COH of course ;)
 
Greebo said:
Well, I don't blame you since that money was obviously burning a hole in your pocket ;)

Expect to see great improvements in every game......except COH of course ;)
Click to expand...

But with the new 7.10 drivers, they state up to an 80% performance improvment in CoH with Crossfire.
 
Predator said:
But with the new 7.10 drivers, they state up to an 80% performance improvment in CoH with Crossfire.
Click to expand...

Good point and they may will have fixed the COH problem.

On the other hand they could just mean a 80% improvement on the 0.8 fps increase over the single 2900xt which would give you a total increase over the single card of 1.44 fps :p
 
Greebo said:
Good point and they may will have fixed the COH problem.

On the other hand they could just mean a 80% improvement on the 0.8 fps increase over the single 2900xt which would give you a total increase over the single card of 1.44 fps :p
Click to expand...

Sounds like my last payrise.

Ohwell I'll let ya know what its like.

At the moment I get an average of 35fps in CoH with AA turned off, but "most" things on full
 
Crossfire is for geeks who like playing with toys. It's not really practical unless you like benchmarking for a hobby. Most people would be better off buying a single GTX/ULTRA than two 2900's or GTS's. Single cards are more stable, provide better overclocking headroom and use less power.
 
555BUK said:
Crossfire is for geeks who like playing with toys. It's not really practical unless you like benchmarking for a hobby. Most people would be better off buying a single GTX/ULTRA than two 2900's or GTS's. Single cards are more stable, provide better overclocking headroom and use less power.
Click to expand...

I agree. But when you realise that 10 days after buying the first card, there's no way back apart from buying another to match;) heh
 
Predator said:
I agree. But when you realise that 10 days after buying the first card, there's no way back apart from buying another to match;) heh
Click to expand...

Err...you could have sold your pro for £150-£160 and put the other £170 to it and then have had £320 - £340 to spend which would have got you a very nice GTX.

Ho hum, too late now ;)
 
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