Need a realistic alternative to my 5770 Xfire

[Nbolo]

Hey all,

So i've been running 2 x 5770 for a few weeks now and finally got around to running a furmark stability test, the results both shocked and horrified me!

After 25 minutes my primary hit 105 degrees! Seems my case is simply to small and cramped (ZALMAN Z7 PLUS, ASUS P6X58D-E MOTHERBOARD (there's about 4 mm's between the 2 cards)) to handle an Xfire system, despite the fact that the fans have a dedicated 120mm case fan blowing on them at full blast!

Anyway, i removed my second card and OC'd the first one (clock to 940 and memory to 1350) and it's now running at a more reasonable 75 degrees.

However, i'm just not getting the performance i want from a single 5770 and attempts to overclock any further get my stability issues on the farcry 2 benchmark tool (grey screen or white screen with grey banding).

So what i need is a new solution, i've considered selling the 5770's but have no idea how much i'd get for them, anyone know? and if so what would you reocmmend i get for the price? (i'm looking at the radeon 6 series myself).

Last question (i'm just full of them today!) any idea if i could push the 5770 any further? and how i'd go about it?

Any advice at all would be very much appreciated, thanks guys.

 

[Nbolo]

Wow the replies around here come fast! thanks guys!

Marine, you've embarrased me now, i should've noticed that, thanks! will try it tonight

Ejizz, any idea how the 6850 handles an OC? i've read about people getting 5850's close to 5870's via OC, wonder if the 6 series is similar, might see if i can dig anything up on it (beats work!)

Cheers guys

 

[Nbolo]

Thanks marine, a big help.

So many shiny grapihcs cards, so few shiny coins to pay for them all!

GTX460 or a 6850 then, not sure i'm to keen to go back to an Xfire system, so much more hassle!

 

[Nbolo]

I'll test the 2 x 5770 setup with marines suggestion on slots and see what temps i hit while gaming (sadly i'm mainly playing fallout new vegas which doesn't use xfire.. damn them, so will have to make do with the far cry 2 benchmark program).

What would you say is a safe temperature for them to be running at?

 

[Nbolo]

3D isn't a big concern, the 5850 is an option, might check ebay and see how much 5770's are going for these days, any ideas?

 

[Nbolo]

Part of me was hoping furmark was misleading, will give it another go with a game instead of furmark then, see how i get on, thanks guys.

 

[Nbolo]

I once tried metro 2033 on high on my old system (phenom 2.5, 4 gig DDR2, 9800 GTX+ 512Mb)... i honestly thought it was going to melt! then i spent 2 years torturing that poor card, and then of all things my MB went, card is fine!

They don't make 'em like that anymore... =P

 

[Nbolo]

Assuming i can get my 5770's working at a decent temp then i'll be sticking with them atleast until the 6970 is out and has dropped in price a little.
If i'm forced into buying now though i imagine i'll go for a 460 and overclock it to buggery (from what i've seen £120 of 460 can almost stand on the coat tails of a 5870... almost, not bad for such a cheap card

 

[Nbolo]

I've had a look and the fan is indeed sitting at just under 50%... will give afterburner a go, set the fans to 100% when the card hits 75 degrees or so.

In regard to CPU and resolution i'm running a stock i7 950 and am polaying at 1680x1050.

Big thank you to everyone so far, very helpful!

 

[Nbolo]

Well crossfire (and i assume SLI) are out of the window, the 2 x16 slots are to close togather and the x8 slot simply doesn't give me enough space between itself and the side of the case to even fit a GFX or atleast my XFX 5770 won't fit there!

Leaves me 2 options, sell both the 5770's for about £140 - 150 and pick up an MSI 460 cyclone OR stick with 1 5770 and try to overclock it to buggery! has anyone had any experience with the XFX 5770's? how far cna they be pushed? mine has topped out (it seems) at 940 clock, 1400 memory without changing the voltage.

Cheers guys.