New GPU or Crossfire?

Wiry · 14 May 2011 at 00:06

As in the title, I am wanting more GPU power in several games @ 1920 x 1080, As I'd like to run them maxed out! Am I better off getting another 5850 to crossfire the one I have atm, or Would I be better off getting a WHOLE new card!

Jamiman · 14 May 2011 at 00:15

Whole new is better in the long run imo.

Go for a 6970/50

opethdisciple · 14 May 2011 at 00:21

I'd say crossfire it.

5850 xfire is a strong combination and you can get 5850 for around 100 now.

Sure upgrading to a 6970 would be nice... but I dont think its worth it, unless you can find a buyer for your 5850.

Surveyor · 14 May 2011 at 00:28

Crossfired 5850's will give you roughly the same performance as an Nvidia GTX 580:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/303?vs=305

So you could spend £125 on another 5850 or £350 on a GTX 580 (less what you can sell your 5850 for) for equal performance.

I say get another 5850 as long as you have a decent 650+ Watt PSU with four 6 pin PCI-E connectors.

tommybhoy · 14 May 2011 at 01:20

5850 crossfire is your best bang for buck, beats any single gpu most of the time.

Wiry · 14 May 2011 at 10:33

Cheers for the replies! I have a 850w corsair AX power supply, so I have 4 6+2 pin connectors. Also, I have been looking on eBay and found some 5850's going for £90 (ish)...

Saving my money now will do the job

Cheers!

Surveyor · 14 May 2011 at 10:53

Wiry said:
Cheers for the replies! I have a 850w corsair AX power supply, so I have 4 6+2 pin connectors. Also, I have been looking on **** and found some 5850's going for £90 (ish)... Saving my money now will do the job Cheers!

I suggest you amend your post to remove the mention of a competitor:

From the FAQ:

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=VTA=MANFACE · 14 May 2011 at 10:56

Wiry said:
Cheers for the replies! I have a 850w corsair AX power supply, so I have 4 6+2 pin connectors. Also, I have been looking on eBay and found some 5850's going for £90 (ish)... Saving my money now will do the job Cheers!

Definitely cross fire, you will get a lovely boost for cheap bucks.

Selachi · 14 May 2011 at 11:08

Jamiman said:
Whole new is better in the long run imo.

Go for a 6970/50

Crossfire is down to opinion I think. I prefer single graphics cards:

Lower temperature
Less Power
More bang for buck (scaling generally goes up to 160%)
Fewer driver issues

zoomee · 14 May 2011 at 11:11

Surveyor said:
Crossfired 5850's will give you roughly the same performance as an Nvidia GTX 580:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/303?vs=305

So you could spend £125 on another 5850 or £350 on a GTX 580 (less what you can sell your 5850 for) for equal performance.

I say get another 5850 as long as you have a decent 650+ Watt PSU with four 6 pin PCI-E connectors.

+1 - checky my sig - don't regret Xfire for one second.
With the contintual crossfire application profile updates from AMD i'm pretty impressed. Got my other 5850 for £80 - no way could I have got the same value by selling my one 5850 then 'upgrading'.

Wiry · 14 May 2011 at 12:23

zoomee said:
+1 - checky my sig - don't regret Xfire for one second.
With the contintual crossfire application profile updates from AMD i'm pretty impressed. Got my other 5850 for £80 - no way could I have got the same value by selling my one 5850 then 'upgrading'.

ok cool

KelDG · 14 May 2011 at 13:28

Wish I got a Xfire motherboard now, these do look great for the price :/

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 14 May 2011 at 15:57

^^^ wish i had bought a p5q - ah well live and learn.

Wiry · 15 May 2011 at 18:14

I have £160, with that and about £100 if I sell my 5850, I could get a GTX570? Worth it..

cmndr_andi · 15 May 2011 at 18:19

Here is a comparison between a HD 5850 and a GTX 570.

If you can add a second HD 5850 in crossfire then I would - it offers the best performance for your money (here is a comparison of 5850CF and a GTX 570).

Wiry · 15 May 2011 at 18:40

I'm half n' half, because my resevoir is in the way at the bottom of my case, so god knows where I'd fit that If I got a second 5850 :S damn damn damn..What else would be ideal to upgrade in my computer, bearing in mind my specs,

Intel i5 750
MSI GD-55 p55
4gb 1333mhx patriot viper Ram
HAF X
ATI Radeon 5850
corsair AX850w psu

....I need to spend my money on my pc

oh and also, I have a samsung syncmaster p24h50, although I am not interested in multiple screens...

cmndr_andi · 15 May 2011 at 18:43

Looking at those specs the number one upgrade would be an SSD.

Other nice upgrades include: a better keyboard and/or mouse (perhaps a mechanical keyboard), better speakers/headset, CPU cooler (for lower noise, more overclocking), blu-ray drive or an IPS panel monitor.

Wiry · 15 May 2011 at 18:51

cmndr_andi said:
Looking at those specs the number one upgrade would be an SSD.

Other nice upgrades would be better keyboard and/or mouse (perhaps a mechanical keyboard), better speakers/headset, CPU cooler (for lower noise, more overclocking), blu-ray drive or an IPS panel monitor.

oh cool, well I have a decent mouse and keyboard, (Logitech K340 wireless, and a lycosa for gaming, a lachesis mouse also) I have nice speakers but only 2.1, but no room for 5.1 surround sound....I have a watercooling, I do not currently have a blu-ray drive, but as I have a nice 42inch 3D TV, with a sony 3D Blu-ray TV, that's definitely a NO-NO! I am unsure how a IPS Panel Monitor would benefit me ? I don't have an SSD, but how would I shift my OEM copy of win 7 onto a SSD.......because it is currently on my 250gb samsung spinpoint...

cmndr_andi · 15 May 2011 at 19:03

Wiry said:
oh cool, well I have a decent mouse and keyboard, (Logitech K340 wireless, and a lycosa for gaming, a lachesis mouse also) I have nice speakers but only 2.1, but no room for 5.1 surround sound....I have a watercooling, I do not currently have a blu-ray drive, but as I have a nice 42inch 3D TV, with a sony 3D Blu-ray TV, that's definitely a NO-NO! I am unsure how a IPS Panel Monitor would benefit me ? I don't have an SSD, but how would I shift my OEM copy of win 7 onto a SSD.......

That's fair enough - sounds like an SSD is your best upgrade option. As for installing it - the OEM license is fine as you will be running it on the same motherboard, so that's all kosher. As for the install, just make sure your board's storage mode is set to AHCI in the BIOS, plug in the SSD and change the HDD boot priority so the SSD is at the top - then go ahead and install windows on the SSD like normal. You don't even have to format your original hard disk, as the windows install on it isn't accessed.

As for the IPS panel - this gives you the advantage of more accurate colours and much wider viewing angles. Also many IPS panels use 8bit panels, while TN panel monitors like the PP2450H usually use 6bit panels and achieve the full 16 mil colours using frame rate control. Here is a good article explaining the difference between the panel types. Personally, if I had money burning a hole in my pocket for PC upgrades I would be looking at a Dell U2711 (after I had the SSD installed of course).

Wiry · 15 May 2011 at 19:14

cmndr_andi said:
That's fair enough - sounds like an SSD is your best upgrade option. As for installing it - the OEM license is fine as you will be running it on the same motherboard, so that's all kosher. As for the install, just make sure your board's storage mode is set to AHCI in the BIOS, plug in the SSD and change the HDD boot priority so the SSD is at the top - then go ahead and install windows on the SSD like normal. You don't even have to format your original hard disk, as the windows install on it isn't accessed.

What is AHCI Mode, and how do I set this option in my BIOS, As I'm not the best with the newest computer technology! Also, what does enabling the mode do?