Crossfire question...first time crossfire user, need some help

[thecoffeeguy]

So, I just upgraded my monitor to a 23.6" monitor.
Granted that I am moving from a 19" monitor to 23.6", i am going to probably need to do crossfire to get good resolution and speeds.

I have a ASRock 870 Extreme3 mobo that supports Crossfire, not SLI.
Now, I currently have a Nvidia GTX260 card so I need to get a new card(s).

With that, where should I start to look? What should I be looking for?
I am not that familiar with ATI cards and being that I went to a much larger monitor and my resolution will go from 1280x1024 to 1980x1080, I am going to need more horsepower and crossfire will help me.

Now, I have never run crossfire so any suggestions there on what to look for, is highly appreciated.

My system is mostly gaming/browsing and few other things. But a big time gaming rig.

I appreciate the help.

Cheers,

TCG

 

[cusideabelincoln]

See how your 260 does before jumping into anything.

 

[thecoffeeguy]

See how your 260 does before jumping into anything.

Think it would be alright?
I should mention, running a AMD 945 quad core CPU, 8gigs DDR3 1333 memory as well.

 

[railven]

I think with the majority of current games even a GTX 260 will hang. Most games we're playing now our console ports or have enough scaling options where the resolution bump wouldn't kill your experience. With the added pixel density you can relax on the AA a bit.

I'd suggest a hacked SLI before dropping the coin for two brand two cards. At least that way you can probably get another GTX 260 for the cheap.

 

[thecoffeeguy]

I think with the majority of current games even a GTX 260 will hang. Most games we're playing now our console ports or have enough scaling options where the resolution bump wouldn't kill your experience. With the added pixel density you can relax on the AA a bit.

I'd suggest a hacked SLI before dropping the coin for two brand two cards. At least that way you can probably get another GTX 260 for the cheap.

Good to know. I thought for sure, to get good solution settings and FPS, i would need to get a better card and most likely, crossfire.

 

[DrBoss]

Radeon 6950s

 

[thecoffeeguy]

Radeon 6950s

Just for my own knowledge, AMD makes their own cards (I know they own ATI).

Right now, is there a better make of the two, between AMD and ATI? Curious as to why they released their own "AMD".

 

[Zargon]

Radeon 6950s

for now a single one would rock most games at 19x12 or 1080p

sell the gtx260 and pick up another 6950 in a while

 

[DrBoss]

Just for my own knowledge, AMD makes their own cards (I know they own ATI).

Right now, is there a better make of the two, between AMD and ATI? Curious as to why they released their own "AMD".

The 6950 is produced by AMD. It was released following AMD's acquisition of ATI.

If you are interested in a reference design, i would recommend ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-416-_-Product

If you are interested in one with a better cooling solution i would recommend MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-575-_-Product

Personally, i am using two of those MSI cards in my new rig. I am still in the process of getting the system setup, but initial tests i've performed using Crysis are amazing.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2155564

 

[thecoffeeguy]

for now a single one would rock most games at 19x12 or 1080p

sell the gtx260 and pick up another 6950 in a while

Good to know.

So I might be able to get away right now with my gx260 say for a couple weeks.
I would think after that, prices might fall a bit and could get a card for a bit less money.

One quick question: When you setup crossfire, where do you buy the crossfire bridge? Is that something that comes with the card, or a separate item?

Cheers.

TCG

 

[thecoffeeguy]

The 6950 is produced by AMD. It was released following AMD's acquisition of ATI.

If you are interested in a reference design, i would recommend ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-416-_-Product

If you are interested in one with a better cooling solution i would recommend MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-575-_-Product

Personally, i am using two of those MSI cards in my new rig. I am still in the process of getting the system setup, but initial tests i've performed using Crysis are amazing.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2155564

Pretty sweet setup.
What size monitor are you using?

 

[DrBoss]

Pretty sweet setup.
What size monitor are you using?

The crossfire bridge comes with the card(s).

The monitor is an Eizo Flexscan SX2761w (27" 1920x1200)

 

[Zargon]

thats a hell of a monitor drboss

 

[Powermoloch]

it really depends on what games you're planning to play or currently playing. If you're going to try out the latest and greatest games, then the HD 6950 2gb will be a good investment. GTX 260 is still a good card and can be sold to cut down the cost for your upgrade.

 

[DrBoss]

thats a hell of a monitor drboss

Thanks man,
I purchase the monitor 3 years ago through a medical equipment supplier. At the time Flexscan's were very hard to come by in the US.

Now, however; Eizo is a bit more popular in this country.
And, they sell discontinued monitors directly at a huge discount (my model included).
http://www.eizo.com/na/purchase/direct/monitors.html#flexscan

 

[ViviTheMage]

So, I just upgraded my monitor to a 23.6" monitor.
Granted that I am moving from a 19" monitor to 23.6", i am going to probably need to do crossfire to get good resolution and speeds.

This is wrong, the only reason you'd crossfire is because the top 1 or 2 cards cannot facilitate your current needs.

I bet you'd be fine with your current card.

IMO, best bang for the buck crossfire is 6950's, and shader unlock em ... that is what I did.

 

[darckhart]

totally depends on which games you play and what eyecandy you want.

i passed on my gtx260 c216 to my cousin and he happily plays sc2 at 19x12. so if you're strapped for cash, it still cuts it. but if you can sell it and move up, 6950 seems to be the card of choice in the red camp. CF isn't really needed unless you crank the eyecandy.

 

[OCGuy]

I would look at the best single new card before looking at 2 cards. 1080p isnt a monster resolution.

 

[thecoffeeguy]

it really depends on what games you're planning to play or currently playing. If you're going to try out the latest and greatest games, then the HD 6950 2gb will be a good investment. GTX 260 is still a good card and can be sold to cut down the cost for your upgrade.

I can add a few games I am playing and plan to play.

Rift
Assassins Creed 2
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Team Fortress 2
Borderlands
Mass Effect 2

Couple that caught my eye in the future:

Star Wars: The Old Republic
Brink
Mass Effect 3

Not all at once of course.

 

[thecoffeeguy]

This is wrong, the only reason you'd crossfire is because the top 1 or 2 cards cannot facilitate your current needs.

I bet you'd be fine with your current card.

IMO, best bang for the buck crossfire is 6950's, and shader unlock em ... that is what I did.

Gotcha.
So say I went 27" or 30", CF would be more of a need.

6950's seem to be a pretty good choice.

 

[DrBoss]

1920x1200 is the resolution where crossfire will become handy in some games... like Crysis.
2560x1600 and up (common in 27" and 30" monitors) will definitely benefit significantly from Crossfire (or Sli).

 

[thecoffeeguy]

1920x1200 is the resolution where crossfire will become handy in some games... like Crysis.
2560x1600 and up (common in 27" and 30" monitors) will definitely benefit significantly from Crossfire (or Sli).

Gotcha...

So, I will be running at 1980x1080 and looks like the 6950 should work. I am assuming, go with 2gb model?

 

[Elfear]

Gotcha...

So, I will be running at 1980x1080 and looks like the 6950 should work. I am assuming, go with 2gb model?

Yes, especially if you are thinking of getting a 30" monitor soon. The 2GB model will unlock to a 6970 if you get a reference design.

 

[thecoffeeguy]

Yes, especially if you are thinking of getting a 30" monitor soon. The 2GB model will unlock to a 6970 if you get a reference design.

That is interesting.
How does that work, unlocking with cards with a reference design?

 

[Zargon]

That is interesting.
How does that work, unlocking with cards with a reference design?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2135697&highlight=unlock+6950

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2157173&highlight=unlock+6950