CF 5870: go for it, or don't go for it

[pieter_]

Hi All,

What are your opinions about a setup of CF 5870?
Many problems in the past, is it safe to go for it?

I have 1 x 5870, and I'm thinking about buying a new one..

My system:

Gigabyte EX58-UD3R
i7 920 (3.25Ghz clocked) - Skythe Mugen 2 CPU Cooler
3 x 2GB DDR3 APACER PC10666/1333
Be-Quiet! Straight Power 700W
2 x VelociRaptor WD1500BLFS (RAID0)
XFX 5870 850M 1GB (HD-587-ZNFV)

Should my PSU hold it? Or should try and see..

Thanks!

Grtz,

 

[timma]

go for it~700W PSU can use 5870 CF~

 

[RussianSensation]

If you need more performance (i.e., gaming at 2560x1600), it's a good upgrade if you can find one for a reasonable price. Otherwise, wait until HD7000 series or Kepler launch this year and upgrade to them after unloading the 5870.

Although very old, this review will give you an idea of what type of scaling 5870 CF achieves.

 

[Jacky60]

Having owned 5870/5970 I'd say they're great in xfire and scaling is really good these days. It wasn't so good in the past but is now as good, or equal to sli. If the 5870 is cheap then do it, otherwise wait 3-5 months for Kepler/HD7000 series. 5870 Crossfire is well established and a very good fast system although your psu may be borderline. What resolution/games are you playing? Some are much more demanding than others?
I say yeah pull the trigger, give em a week and if not sell and buy 6950 and wait for HD7000/Kepler/Heaven.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I went this direction because the GTX5x0 and 69x0 cards didn't really offer enough performance bump for the money of my current 5870. I think for the games I play one 5870 was already enough, but I went with it just to satisfy the upgrade urge.

I haven't had any real problems with Crossfire or microstutter. I say go for it, with my processor and two slightly overclocked 5870's I only peg something like 525 watts according to my Kill-o-meter when running Furmark.

So if you can find a decent deal on another 5870, I would go for it. I guess you have to ask your self if selling your 5870 and applying that money towards a new card would be a better value than adding a second 5870 at whatever price you can get one for.

 

[mnewsham]

I would keep it for now wait for the 7xxx series or 6xx series and then sell it then and pick up a new one then, if you have waited this long another 6 months wont kill you.

 

[Madcatatlas]

Dont go for it imo. If it was a 6970 id be more willing, since crossfire scaling with the 6xxx series is just A BEAST, besting nvidia at their own game if you think back a few years.

Hold for the 7xxx series and you`ll be set for another 2 years with a single card.

 

[OCGuy]

Go for it, I have had much better Xfire luck with the recent AMD driver releases.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I use to run 2 Vanilla 5870s in Rig2 when it was at 3.49Ghz.. It was my first time ever going dual GPU. This was about a yr ago. I would just go for a single solution. Your i7 920 is strong enough in most situations.

 

[Spikesoldier]

i would hang on to that single 5870 and wait for the new cards as others have said. scaling on 5xxx series is around 70% while scaling on the 6xxx and i would assume 7xxx series are nearly linear at almost 100%. the improved scaling really made the 6xxx series more attractive to me since i plan on running a CF setup.

i thought of going 5870 myself, which are great values at around 200, but the better scaling from the newer cards turned me off. the 5850 extremes in cf were more tempting, but again the 70% scaling.

but, ive got to ride these 4890's out until 7xxx's come out, or GF6xx if NV can beat AMD to the new launch, which i doubt.

 

[blotto]

I just added a second 5870. I figured it was about the best performance bump for ~$200 and I needed to upgrade something, I was itching. Seems worth it. Rest of system is:

AMD 1055t @ 4ghz
8gb Ram
Asrock 890GX Extreme 3

 

[ViperV990]

I just upgraded my CPU from a C2D to a 2500K, and am in the same boat as you, graphics-wise. I'm considering offloading the 5870 for a pair of 6950s.

 

[Arachnotronic]

@ OP: Go for it. Dual GPUs are definitely great for high resolution gaming. Saw a world of difference going from one GTX 470 to two