7850 Crossfire has failed me this round. Sent 2nd card back. Sticking with one card.

[jacktesterson]

Honestly, this isn't much faster than a single 7970 OC. My 7970 OC scores nearly 10k in P10k ish or so, just 200-300 points or so lower I guess

And CF anyways feels like 2/3rd the FPS in terms of smoothness and experience, so sub 12k will actually give a worse experience with CF hassles, MS, less smoothness, more heat etc, at the price of a single 7970

Compare Graphics score, not overall scores. My graphics score is 13150, and also remember, I paid less for 2 7850's with Great cooling then I would have for a 7970 on release.

I7's have hyperthreading. Your pretty much guarenteed to be 2500 or more points higher overall At P level just because you have hyperthreading. (if identical systems except one is 2500k, one is 2600k)

As stated earlier, 3DMARK11 really likes i7's for scoring

EDIT: Not trying to be rude, just explaining

 

[Termie]

Compare Graphics score, not overall scores. My graphics score is 13150, and also remember, I paid less for 2 7850's with Great cooling then I would have for a 7970 on release.

I7's have hyperthreading. Your pretty much guarenteed to be 2500 or more points higher overall At P level just because you have hyperthreading. (if identical systems except one is 2500k, one is 2600k)

As stated earlier, 3DMARK11 really likes i7's for scoring

Ignore him...he's a chronic thread crapper.

 

[exar333]

Honestly, this isn't much faster than a single 7970 OC. My 7970 OC scores nearly 10k in P10k ish or so, just 200-300 points or so lower I guess

And CF anyways feels like 2/3rd the FPS in terms of smoothness and experience, so sub 12k will actually give a worse experience with CF hassles, MS, less smoothness, more heat etc, at the price of a single 7970

This.

SLI/CF is really only worth it when there is no other substitute. For example, there isn't a big enough single GPU to drive a 3x1600P in modern games, you have to go multi-monitor for decent framerates. If you can avoid the whole driver and scaling issues these solutions bring, along with microstutter, the better. Not to say they are 'bad', but definitely a hassle compared to a single GPU setup.

 

[Silverforce11]

CF/SLI is for people who don't mind to do a bit of troubleshooting now and then and don't notice the micro-stutter. For these people, they can obtain $1,000 performance for $500 for example.

Have any of you who are annoyed with MS tried to turn on vsync and triple buffering?

Adam: You should update the OP with new benches when u get them.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

My benchies, have images if you want

Windows Basic Theme with MSI AB running. CCC Default

Windows Aero with MSI AB + Hwinfo running

Fraps too let me score 9840.

With CCC = Tess Disabled. 11k+ lol, I know this is irrelevant

AND

Graphics score and Physics score alone don't show the true picture of the kind of improvement you would get in real world games.
I know 3D Mark isn't a 100% representation for real world gaming, but their overall score increases with overclock are very close to the kind of real world performance increase you can expect with the given overclock, at least very often.

With a stock card sub 8kish I went to nearly 10k once overclocked. That is approximately the kind of improvement I see in my games as well. But the graphics scores and physics scores are relatively more biased and rise or decrease relatively very quickly, real world gaming isn't as quick in increase/decrease.
It is the overall P score which is a better representative of performance, and the individual scores are more for troubleshooting and other purposes IMO, and of course to benchmark as well

Even if you do get 13k or so, that is just 30% more than what I get. Even if you do get 30% more FPS in games, a single card will run it better because it will be at least as smooth if not smoother, and won't have any MS etc, and again no CF hassles, and will scale better where CF isn't supported.
To actually make CF worth it, anything below a 50% performance increase isn't worth it. Because 50% more FPS means that if you were sub 40 FPS you will get near 60 and with CF you need at least 60 FPS for smoothness, while 45-55 FPS may work out with single GPUs.

IMO Getting a single 670 7970 680 is a far better deal compared to 7850 CF assuimng the price is similar. Your games will be smoother, there won't be any MS, no waiting for profiles, guaranteed performance in all games, and less driver hassles. These reasons make loosing 20%+ performance worth it especially when your higher FPS are usually not as smooth either, except in some occasional cases.

You do need to consider the fact that if you considered 40 FPS playable with a single GPU, you will need at least 60 FPS with a dual GPU. And you will still get MS no matter how high the FPS. If you are able to play above 60 FPS, performance will be better (not hugely though) compared to 40s/low 50s of a single GPU, however otherwise the real world experience would be even worse once you switch off Fraps and actually feel the smoothness.

So I wouldn't go CF for anything less than 7950 high OC CF, and I wouldn't do that if the total setup costs an equivalent of sub $700 of USA.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

This.

SLI/CF is really only worth it when there is no other substitute. For example, there isn't a big enough single GPU to drive a 3x1600P in modern games, you have to go multi-monitor for decent framerates. If you can avoid the whole driver and scaling issues these solutions bring, along with microstutter, the better. Not to say they are 'bad', but definitely a hassle compared to a single GPU setup.

Exactly my point.

 

[jacktesterson]

Exactly my point.

I don't have microstutter issues. I've always felt this point to be completely blown out of proportion, and often from people with 0 crossfire experience. Why are you assuming so much? My GPU's run less than 58 Degrees in crossfire with the fans at a level I can't hear over my case fans. Your points are completely irrelevant as I don't experience them.

I had a 5970+5870 before with 0 issues in a rig I sold last year.

Not trying to be a douche, but this thread is not for people coming in and complaining about Crossfire and/or telling me I should have went with a single GPU. I was actually happy with the single 7850, but wanted to test out Crossfire since it seems to be swept under the couch as far as info goes. It's to show my crossfire results since there is basically 0 info found on the net about it.

Once I get more time, I will get more benches.

 

[Termie]

OP - good job trouble-shooting and getting this information out to people. Not sure why people are crapping on your efforts. This forum is for people who like to try out new tech, and you appear to be one of the very few people out there testing out 7850 crossfire. Definitely great info for people who are interested.

 

[railven]

I don't have microstutter issues. I've always felt this point to be completely blown out of proportion, and often from people with 0 crossfire experience. Why are you assuming so much? My GPU's run less than 58 Degrees in crossfire with the fans at a level I can't hear over my case fans. Your points are completely irrelevant as I don't experience them.

I had a 5970+5870 before with 0 issues in a rig I sold last year.

Sad when in a forum of enthusiast people attack our choices and wag their epeen. Just ignore it guy. If the product is to your liking, other's can go eff-off.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

I don't have microstutter issues. I've always felt this point to be completely blown out of proportion, and often from people with 0 crossfire experience. Why are you assuming so much? My GPU's run less than 58 Degrees in crossfire with the fans at a level I can't hear over my case fans. Your points are completely irrelevant as I don't experience them.

I had a 5970+5870 before with 0 issues in a rig I sold last year.

Everybody perceives it differently.

I have tested the same system, same situation btw myself and a friend of mine. I could see unplayable MS while my friend didn't even see it, he thought it was perfect with no scope for improvement.

Not everybody is equally irritated by MS. And no matter what you may feel at your level,
Dual GPU setups have lesser smoothness and do have MS to different extents in different situations, and can never compete a single GPU setup if the performance difference isn't HUGE.
You may not notice it. But many others do notice it. Even if you don't notice MS, a single GPU will result in a relatively smoother experience.
Because if you don't feel that either, then you probably don't need 60+ FPS with a single GPU for smoothness, but many others do.

 

[jacktesterson]

edit.......dp......

 

[jacktesterson]

Everybody perceives it differently.

I have tested the same system, same situation btw myself and a friend of mine. I could see unplayable MS while my friend didn't even see it, he thought it was perfect with no scope for improvement.

Not everybody is equally irritated by MS. And no matter what you may feel at your level,
Dual GPU setups have lesser smoothness and do have MS to different extents in different situations, and can never compete a single GPU setup if the performance difference isn't HUGE.
You may not notice it. But many others do notice it. Even if you don't notice MS, a single GPU will result in a relatively smoother experience.
Because if you don't feel that either, then you probably don't need 60+ FPS with a single GPU for smoothness, but many others do.

Why are you posting this here? It'd be relevant if I was complaining about Microstutter, but I'm not.....

Final comment about this - I'm doing this for Fun.

 

[exar333]

CF/SLI is for people who don't mind to do a bit of troubleshooting now and then and don't notice the micro-stutter. For these people, they can obtain $1,000 performance for $500 for example.

Have any of you who are annoyed with MS tried to turn on vsync and triple buffering?

Adam: You should update the OP with new benches when u get them.

That just is not the case. The OP is using the best bang-for-the-buck GPU around, and OCing it to the moon, and is pretty much running with a high-end single GPU. OP is getting $550 performance for $500, while having some fun doing it, I would suppose. There are definite drawbacks as well; 2x7850OC will pull more power than a 7970OC and will have less memory. Getting a single 7970 allows you to just slap another one in if you needed it, while 2x7850 is already maxed-out.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

And honestly, if you want to prove that 7850 is worth it. Then you should overclock it high enough for 7850 OC CF to beat 580 SLI in 3D Mark That would be worth a mention

 

[Silverforce11]

Everybody perceives it differently.

I have tested the same system, same situation btw myself and a friend of mine. I could see unplayable MS while my friend didn't even see it, he thought it was perfect with no scope for improvement.

Not everybody is equally irritated by MS. And no matter what you may feel at your level,
Dual GPU setups have lesser smoothness and do have MS to different extents in different situations, and can never compete a single GPU setup if the performance difference isn't HUGE.
You may not notice it. But many others do notice it. Even if you don't notice MS, a single GPU will result in a relatively smoother experience.
Because if you don't feel that either, then you probably don't need 60+ FPS with a single GPU for smoothness, but many others do.

Here's the thing, a lot of users do not notice microstutter, at all. Period. These people would certainly enjoy CF/SLI (when it scales), as they get often better bang for buck or just better bang.

I've always said the same thing to those who complaint about CF/SLI. It's not for everyone. You a) have to be able to troubleshoot and maybe enjoy tweaking once in awhile b) you don't notice MS.

If you are these types of ppl, CF/SLI is definitely worth it.

 

[exar333]

OP - good job trouble-shooting and getting this information out to people. Not sure why people are crapping on your efforts. This forum is for people who like to try out new tech, and you appear to be one of the very few people out there testing out 7850 crossfire. Definitely great info for people who are interested.

I do agree with this. There isn't much info around on 7850CF setups, it's definitely a relatively unexplored area.

 

[Silverforce11]

That just is not the case. The OP is using the best bang-for-the-buck GPU around, and OCing it to the moon, and is pretty much running with a high-end single GPU. OP is getting $550 performance for $500, while having some fun doing it, I would suppose. There are definite drawbacks as well; 2x7850OC will pull more power than a 7970OC and will have less memory. Getting a single 7970 allows you to just slap another one in if you needed it, while 2x7850 is already maxed-out.

No, you didn't read the other post. OP is getting +30% performance of a high OC 7970, for $500 with no additional cost in fancy cooling.

Want to figure out what's +30% of a OC 7970 is worth?

 

[jacktesterson]

delete

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Is the throttle temp related? I have found that sometimes I have experienced score throttling in the past when enough voltage hasn't been supplied? It is stable and no artifacts/crashes, but increasing the volts at times increases the performance to some extent. Try at least

 

[BallaTheFeared]

And honestly, if you want to prove that 7850 is worth it. Then you should overclock it high enough for 7850 OC CF to beat 580 SLI in 3D Mark That would be worth a mention

It's already beating stock 580 SLI performance.

 

[Silverforce11]

GTX580 SLI. It's a factory OC card at "stock".

@ aaksheytalwar: No doubt the 79xx is a beast when OCed, i would certainly have gone for it or the gtx680 OC if my rig was a normal tower.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

P score isn't gpu score, but regardless he's a bit faster than my 470s in sli at 930 core, by about 300 points and 470 sli at those clocks are faster than stock 580 sli.

 

[Jaydip]

Good job OP :thumbsup: Keep us posted about ur progress.

 

[Don Karnage]

P score isn't gpu score, but regardless he's a bit faster than my 470s in sli at 930 core, by about 300 points and 470 sli at those clocks are faster than stock 580 sli.

Where have you been all week stranger? :whiste:

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Vacation, been working on my setup I'll send you a few pics