Minimum CPU Spec for Crossfire 69xx

[Seany84]

Hi all,

First post here I was wondering what the minimum spec CPU you would need for 2x 69xx ATI cards. I currently have an old Q6600 clocked @ 3.3 and 8GB DDR3 1066MHz.

Would the CPU be a bottle-neck if I was to purchase 2x 6970's for example?

I use my PC for software development and some gaming. I was looking at this Metro 2033 and it looks GPU hungry. Should I consider moving to i7 and going with more than two ATI cards?

Or should I wait for the dual GPU 6990? Any ideas which end of Q1 2011 we should be expecting this?

EDIT:
I have a 22" Samsung LCD, maximum resolution is 1600 x 940, so would I actually run any game there is on full AA/AF/whatever on that monitor?

Thanks in advance

 

[95thrifles]

You dont need 2 high end cards like that, one will more than suffice especially at that resolution, one 6970 and a q6600 @ 3.2 will still max out pretty much everything at your res, easily, save your cash

 

[Purgatory]

You dont need 2 high end cards like that, one will more than suffice especially at that resolution, one 6970 and a q6600 @ 3.2 will still max out pretty much everything at your res, easily, save your cash

+1


Save the money for a new larger and higher res monitor. A single 6970 with a single 1920 x 1200 screen is more then enough right now with the current games we have (with the exception of the almighty Crysis maxed out).

Just think instead of the 2nd 6970 you could have this 27" 1920 x 1080 screen and enjoy gaming and using the pc more for the same price.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-054-IY&groupid=17&catid=1120&subcat=

or

26" 1920 x 1200

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-043-IY&groupid=17&catid=1120&subcat=


or

27.5" 1920 x 1200

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-001-HS&groupid=17&catid=1120&subcat=

 

[JediFragger]

Agreed, treat yourself to a new monitor and a single 6970 instead

 

[drunkenmaster]

The 6950/6970, looking at [H] and driverhaven(or something along those lines) does better and better the further you crank up the settings. A single 6950/6970 will max out that res with ease.

To be honest a 5850 for £125 will max out that res and overclocked will eat up a huge amount of AA easily.

The 6950 looks like it needs powertune "overclocked" to really crank out the frames at high res/load, the 6970 might be the better choice for "stock" performance.

I wouldn't disagree a better screen + one gpu would be a better option, but would also point out that, honestly 27" is crazy big right infront of you on a desk. 24" screen with the same res as a 27" looks sharper and is about as big as I'd recommend for most people and you can get some very high quality 24" screens for £150, something like the Benq LED 24" screen and a 6970 would offer a nice res bump, great performance and less noise than a xfire setup which I think would be wasted on anything less than a 1920x1080 screen anyway, even then a lot of current games will be more than fast enough on a single card.

As for cpu limits, theres no need for a great CPU. THe idea of a second gpu is to bump you up from say medium settings in Crysis, to maxed out, not to go from medium settings and 60fps, to medium settings and 120fps. You need a great CPU to bump the framerate up to double on a lower setting, but the second GPU is really for increasing quality and as long as you have a half decent cpu(basically any quad) you'd be fine.

 

[Duff-Man]

As others have said, I would go for a new screen rather than a second GPU. A single 6970 would be overkill for 1600*940 resolution, let alone adding a second one.

Personally I would go for a high-quality 24" screen rather than a 27" TN panel, but it's up to you really. The Dell U2410 will blow your mind, but it all depends on your budget. Give PCM2 a shout in the monitors forum (or visit his own forums) and he'll set you on the right path

 

[Purgatory]

Agree the Dell U2410 ** REV A02 ** 24" WideScreen IPS LCD's are amazing screens.. but are expensive.. £400+

I have a so called 26inch samsung here and it's really 25.5" and the image is still pin sharp.

I came from a pro CRT to the samsung lcd and to be honest I think it's great only thing I miss is the true blacks of CRT's but in time you don't notice it.

I did check some of the new LED backlit screens and the blacks are amazing on them, so maybe even this screen that OC has is worth looking at if you want more quality then size and it's 120Hz as a bonus.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-043-BQ&groupid=17&catid=510&subcat=

 

[Final8y]

The 6950/6970, looking at [H] and driverhaven(or something along those lines) does better and better the further you crank up the settings. A single 6950/6970 will max out that res with ease.

To be honest a 5850 for £125 will max out that res and overclocked will eat up a huge amount of AA easily.

The 6950 looks like it needs powertune "overclocked" to really crank out the frames at high res/load, the 6970 might be the better choice for "stock" performance.

I wouldn't disagree a better screen + one gpu would be a better option, but would also point out that, honestly 27" is crazy big right infront of you on a desk. 24" screen with the same res as a 27" looks sharper and is about as big as I'd recommend for most people and you can get some very high quality 24" screens for £150, something like the Benq LED 24" screen and a 6970 would offer a nice res bump, great performance and less noise than a xfire setup which I think would be wasted on anything less than a 1920x1080 screen anyway, even then a lot of current games will be more than fast enough on a single card.

As for cpu limits, theres no need for a great CPU. THe idea of a second gpu is to bump you up from say medium settings in Crysis, to maxed out, not to go from medium settings and 60fps, to medium settings and 120fps. You need a great CPU to bump the framerate up to double on a lower setting, but the second GPU is really for increasing quality and as long as you have a half decent cpu(basically any quad) you'd be fine.

+1 And the Only post that answered the OPs question besides giving a personal opinion GPU overkill & monitor suggestions.

 

[Final8y]

double post.

 

[95thrifles]

+1 And the Only post that answered the OPs question besides giving a personal opinion GPU overkill & monitor suggestions.

If youre being picky, there were in fact 5 questions

Hi all,

First post here I was wondering what the minimum spec CPU you would need for 2x 69xx ATI cards. I currently have an old Q6600 clocked @ 3.3 and 8GB DDR3 1066MHz.

Would the CPU be a bottle-neck if I was to purchase 2x 6970's for example?

I use my PC for software development and some gaming. I was looking at this Metro 2033 and it looks GPU hungry.

Should I consider moving to i7 and going with more than two ATI cards?

Or should I wait for the dual GPU 6990?

Any ideas which end of Q1 2011 we should be expecting this?

EDIT:
I have a 22" Samsung LCD, maximum resolution is 1600 x 940,

so would I actually run any game there is on full AA/AF/whatever on that monitor?
Thanks in advance

And Im pretty sure my first answer answered the majority of them

You dont need 2 high end cards like that, one will more than suffice especially at that resolution, one 6970 and a q6600 @ 3.2 will still max out pretty much everything at your res, easily, save your cash

If it really needs dumbing down to the simplest value then


1) At your resolution no, at higher resolutions maybe

2) No

3) No

4) More often than not when they say Q1 it tends to be towards the end of Q1, however that would be quite a wait and AMD/ATI rolled out their last series pretty quickly so you could be optimistic and think early Q1

5) Yes with 2 6970s and a Q6600 @ 3.2 it would run on max, but it would still be capable of doing this with one 6970

I thought my earlier answer was sufficient but as we have to seemingly address 5 year olds I figured Id expand

 

[Seany84]

Thanks for the good feedback.

I have decided I'm going to go with the 6970. From the feedback it makes no sense to buy 2 cards when one will be enough. I'll always have the option to get a second one anyway I suppose if I need/want to.

I am looking at monitors and I think the Dell U2410 Rev 002 is a great monitor but it's too expensive. I'm looking at the 24" models at the moment.

 

[Final8y]

If youre being picky, there were in fact 5 questions



And Im pretty sure my first answer answered the majority of them



If it really needs dumbing down to the simplest value then


1) At your resolution no, at higher resolutions maybe

2) No

3) No

4) More often than not when they say Q1 it tends to be towards the end of Q1, however that would be quite a wait and AMD/ATI rolled out their last series pretty quickly so you could be optimistic and think early Q1

5) Yes with 2 6970s and a Q6600 @ 3.2 it would run on max, but it would still be capable of doing this with one 6970

I thought my earlier answer was sufficient but as we have to seemingly address 5 year olds I figured Id expand

Alright yours as well