Advice regarding 295x2

[sketchus]

Hi all,

Bought a 295x2 over the summer, while sometimes it's been an absolute beast, I would be lying to say it hadn't had it's disappointments as well.

I run at the res of 3440x1440 so I do need a fairly powerful card (I like to max things), and so crossfire needs to work. Unfortunately I find it's just not supported that well...new titles and old (FC4, AC3, Watch Dogs etc) don't have the support I'm looking for and GPU usage isn't what I'd like.

So I'm considering selling it and switching to Nvidia. What would you guys suggest? I'd probably look at SLI 970s or 980s. Is SLI much better than Crossfire these days? Would it be worth the switch.

Thanks in advance.

Specs:

4790k
Maximus VII Hero
12GB RAM
1TB HDD
OCZ 100 GB SSD
Superflower 1300W PSU

 

[n0x1ous]

I think you would be making a mistake by switching with what you have. Some of the recent titles have broken multi-gpu for both camps but you would be side-grading going to 970's or 980's. Crossfire is smoother than SLI at the moment with the XDMA implementation.

FC4, AC3, Watch Dogs are all Ubisoft garbage ports so those are poor choices to base this decision off of as they run poorly on all cards.

I say hold tight - you running the latest Catalyst Omegas?

 

[Skurge]

They are just as many games were SLI doesn't work or works poorly, also the games you mentioned are Ubi games with are notorious for having issues. You are better off waiting for GM200 or R9 390X if rumours are to be believed 390x should be really close to 295X2.

 

[lavaheadache]

I have a Titan Z and 295x2. Both cards are great but you aren't going to have an issue free experience going with an NVidia setup. If you want less troubles in life go with the most powerful single gpu setup that you can get.


edit--
Just noticed we have very similar systems

3440x14400 - 34um95
Titan Z, 295x2, 290x Lightning
4790k
Maximus hero
1300 watt supernova
16 gb
couple ssd's

 

[WittyRemark]

I think it would be better if you wait for 390x ,and if those leaks are any true, it's pretty close to a 295x2.
Not to mention GTX970 SLI would be slower than your 295x2 ,it's a damn good card.

 

[sketchus]

I have a Titan Z and 295x2. Both cards are great but you aren't going to have an issue free experience going with an NVidia setup. If you want less troubles in life go with the most powerful single gpu setup that you can get.


edit--
Just noticed we have very similar systems

3440x14400 - 34um95
Titan Z, 295x2, 290x Lightning
4790k
Maximus hero
1300 watt supernova
16 gb
couple ssd's

Wow that's incredibly similar. Do you Trifire the 290x with what you have? Because I have one too, but I barely use it.

I just feel that drivers for crossfire are SO poor at the moment, but I guess that's the same for Nvidia too...

 

[RussianSensation]

Wow that's incredibly similar. Do you Trifire the 290x with what you have? Because I have one too, but I barely use it.

I just feel that drivers for crossfire are SO poor at the moment, but I guess that's the same for Nvidia too...

1. SLI is broken in Watch Dogs:
http://m.hardocp.com/article/2014/1...x_980_sli_overclocked_gpu_review/4#.VJRXBCAJQ

2. Last time I checked SLI in FC4 had a major shadowing bug:
http://m.hardocp.com/article/2014/11/21/far_cry_4_video_card_performance_iq_preview/7#.VJRX_CAJQ

3. I don't know why you are having issues with AC3. Even a 7970GE gets 42 fps avg at 2560x1600, which frankly for this slow paced type Of game isn't what one would call unplayable. 290X should be enough to hit 60 FPS and 2 of those are even faster. Maybe play around with some settings that drop frames a lot with minimal increase in Iq.
http://gamegpu.ru/action-/-fps-/-tps/assassins-creed-iii-test-gpu.html

Anyway, you literally picked some of the worst games on the PC. Ubisoft hasn't made a well optimized game that didnt stutter since Rayman Legends/Origins. Imo spending $ to play their broken game engines is just going to leave you disappointed. Wait for 390X/GM200 to upgrade but don't pbther upgrading for Ubifail titles.

 

[AntonioHG]

Hold off for whatever is next.

 

[flash-gordon]

Man, Ubisoft incompetence is hitting hard on perception of AMD products.

 

[alcoholbob]

If you need trouble free performance right now your only real option is a water cooled GTX 980 OCed to like 1600mhz or something

 

[RussianSensation]

If you need trouble free performance right now your only real option is a water cooled GTX 980 OCed to like 1600mhz or something

In Watch Dogs and FC4 at his high resolution it would get leveled, so that's not a solution either. He really needs a single GPU 50-60% faster than a 980 to ditch 295X2.

 

[Mondozei]

I think you would be making a mistake by switching with what you have. Some of the recent titles have broken multi-gpu for both camps but you would be side-grading going to 970's or 980's. Crossfire is smoother than SLI at the moment with the XDMA implementation.

FC4, AC3, Watch Dogs are all Ubisoft garbage ports so those are poor choices to base this decision off of as they run poorly on all cards.

I say hold tight - you running the latest Catalyst Omegas?

Basically, everything this. People do not believe this, but Crossfire support in terms of frame pacing etc is actually better with AMD today than with Nvidia, particularly on higher resolutions. And there have been plenty of titles where Nvidia's drivers haven't supported SLI until weeks later(and sometimes never).

This is what Crossfire/SLI is about, it has always been like this. It's a risk you take. But yes, right now the AMD drivers are better for dual-GPU setups. The fact that is still not enough says quite a lot why SLI/Crossfire will always be a niche for the risktakers who understand those risks. (hopefully).

 

[Headfoot]

Your only good option is to wait for the next top end card, only single GPU will provide the stability you're looking for.

 

[Hitman928]

Send the 295x2 to me, slap a waterblock on the 290x and oc the heck out of it until the next generation comes and you can get the top end card then. It's a win, win plan.

Otherwise I agree with what most everyone else said, SLI isn't really any better for what your explaining and I think you would just end disappointed once again, best to just wait it out for now.