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Yep another thread asking what should i buy....

Ultim8

Ultim8

Ultim8

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Joined
27 Nov 2008
Posts
669
Location
UK
Ok so i have my 3 monitors, got a logitech g27 arriving any minute.....but havent got the graphics cards yet so i wanna know what i should do.

As im going eyefinity im going to be running a resolution of 5760*1080 so im thinking on waiting for the 2GB 5870 Toxic....however i believe that some boards cannot be overclocked as well as others (non reference designs particularly).

So what would you guys suggest if you were in my shoes?
 
I work in the industry lol.

I was thinking of xfire 5870's but with eyefinity im guessing im better off with the 2Gb cards, now would the refrence "six" editions overclock further than the toxic gb which i believe will come shipped @ 925Mhz/5000Mhz?
 
Anandtech did a review of the Eyefinity 6 cards when they came out, and for a 'mere' 3 monitors it doesn't seem like it's worth the cost:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3621/amds-radeon-hd-5870-eyefinity-6-edition-reviewed/7

Essentially a 1Gb 5870 Vs a 2Gb 5870 'Eyefinity 6' gives identical results.

Obviously, if you're mad enough to want 6x1 (and have a bezel right in the middle as it doesn't support 5x1 for some weird reason) then the 2Gb probably makes sense, but for 5760x1080 I'd save the money and go for 1 (or 2 :p) 1Gb 5870's :)

Although only one of those benchmarks actually have AA, which is something that may tip it over the edge of the 1Gb memory...
 
Yeah really need a review with AA on and all the settings whacked up as thats how i intend to play games if they allow it and that may be where the 2gb's trump the 1gb's but i cant find a review anywhere with 3 monitors and those kind of settings :(
 
I've heard the Toxic additions are missing specific parts that limit them severely to others.
I could be wrong though.

2GB is very handy for Eyefinity but i wouldnt recommend one at that price. Personally i have a 5870, but if i could turn back time i'd get 2x5850, value you can't compete with there.
 
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So what brand should i go for that wont limit me on overclocking and also has a nice quiet and effective cooler?
 
If you dont want to flash the BIOS, Asus/MSI are the easiest bet, although its easy enough to do.

I wouldnt hold on the toxic on my word though i've just heard a couple of people mention it. nad it only applies when increases the volts.

I've got the Asus version and im quite happy with the noise, a lot better than the 4*** series.
 
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hmmm just read a review where in eyefinity some games wouldnt play on the 1gb card so think im going to wait for the 2gb cards but need to find out which can be flashed and which cant.

Hate the waiting
 
Ultim8 said:
hmmm just read a review where in eyefinity some games wouldnt play on the 1gb card so think im going to wait for the 2gb cards but need to find out which can be flashed and which cant.

Hate the waiting
Click to expand...

What do you mean they won't play, and what review are you looking at?
I run a 1gb asus 5870, and it runs fine, although i am cpu bottlenecked with a quad @ 3ghz.

Only game i have to turn down in settings is bad company 2.
And youll have to live without much AA and AF.


You may find this interesting.

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/ATI_Radeon_5870_Eyefinity6_-_Featured_Review
 
it was on a eyefinity setup with 3 monitors and AA on and it was under 10fps but 40fps on the 2GB but cant find the review now, i'll keep digging through my history.
 
Ultim8 said:
it was on a eyefinity setup with 3 monitors and AA on and it was under 10fps but 40fps on the 2GB but cant find the review now, i'll keep digging through my history.
Click to expand...

I cant imagine that being true, from experience and from reviews ive seen.
And if so it must be just one game.
I'm sure other people can say the same?
 
So 2GB it is then after reading that, but now should i wait to see who's 2gb cards will be the best for OC'ing and cooling or jump in now and get 2 x six editions?

And yes unknownsock it was just 1 game at this stage but generally i build a new pc every 2-3 years with the best i can and futureproof it hence if more games come out utilizing the extra vram then i want to worry about it now rather than 6-12 months later and get the right tools for the job now if possible :)
 
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I suppose it depends on how long you can handle sitting there staring at three monitors without a card to run them. ;)

If it was me I would just an Asus card now. 3 years warranty and volt modding. :)
 
Since you didnt say how much you had to spend and judging by the rest of you're rig i would say two 5970s or get 3 5870 vapour X /woo :)
 
Im lucky i dont have a budget as such as i do this every 2-3 years and spend upto 5k on a system this system hasnt cost me that much as i went down the OCing route although before this system was even built i spent 1k on upgrades which will soon be on the members market place. From what i have read 2 x 5970 or 3 x 5870's has trouble at this stage of the drivers with eyefinity, so if i go 2x 5870 2GB then drivers mature and everythings fine then nothings stopping me from adding another 5870 or even a 5970 at a later date.
 
If it was me and i had no budget?
3xAsus 5870 2gb. :D
But realistically i would never buy nor recomend a 2gb version as they are way over priced.

Although the sweet spot would be 2x5870's.
 
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