Have a 5850... should I go crossfire or just buy a new card?

[el_brio]

I can add another card to my system and have 2x 5850's for about $190 or should I just shell out some extra coin and go for a GTX 570?

 

[happy medium]

5850's all day! Much faster then a gtx570 anyway.

 

[OCGuy]

5850

 

[Mopetar]

AnandTech Bench Comparison

Getting the extra 5850 is cheaper and has upwards of 45% more performance depending on the game and resolution.

 

[MagickMan]

Go CF, it's a no-brainer if you already have a 5850.

 

[Silverforce11]

5850s are prolific overclockers. You can get a 30% performance increase basically for free. That's like a new upgrade.

 

[Spikesoldier]

5850 can be as cheap as 150 shipped if you look in hot deals forum

 

[Rifter]

5850 for sure, unless you are one of those people who really notice microstutter in which case go with the single card.

 

[darckhart]

actually oc'ed 5850CF is more like having stock 5870CF... which is just AWE.. wait for it... SOME. you only lose in noise, heat, and power usage. but hey, those worries are for sissies anyway. =)

 

[el_brio]

Thanks. I guess I would need to throw the cost of a new PSU in there too since I think I am running a 550W.

 

[stag3]

same boat here, i think i need a 2nd psu since i dont have anymore 6 pin pci-e connectors

 

[happy medium]

Thanks. I guess I would need to throw the cost of a new PSU in there too since I think I am running a 550W.

No, thats makes it a whole different ballgame. Please list you system specs.

cpu and if you overclock
motherboard
memory amount
psu brand name

 

[Termie]

same boat here, i think i need a 2nd psu since i dont have anymore 6 pin pci-e connectors

Actually, you don't really need 4 pins if your PSU is sufficient. I'm guessing you have a single 12v rail on that PSU. Might check the PSU forum, but I think you'd be ok with 4-pin molex to PCIe adapters.

No, thats makes it a whole different ballgame. Please list you system specs.

cpu and if you overclock
motherboard
memory amount
psu brand name

Agreed - if you're talking about investing $70-80 in a PSU that could handle crossfire, then it becomes more complicated. If you were interested in a new PSU anyway, that's one thing, but if you have no problems with your current PSU, the $230 combined cost of a second HD5850 and a PSU makes it a close call. Crossfire still wins on performance, but for simplicity and ease of upgrade, you might consider the HD6950 at roughly the same price. Obviously, the GTX570 is still much more expensive, and is a pretty serious power-hog on its own, so you don't want a weak PSU to run it either.

 

[bryanW1995]

Thanks. I guess I would need to throw the cost of a new PSU in there too since I think I am running a 550W.

what kind of 550w PSU do you have? If it's a high quality 80+ unit like seasonic or corsair (or better) then you're probalby ok, but if it's some no-name brand then xfire probably isn't for you. Of course, a high quality psu can last you 7-10 years easily, so it would be a good long-term investment regardless.

 

[3DVagabond]

Trying to get above 5850 performance on a 550W PSU is pushing it anyway. I would plan on upgrading the PSU. As was said, if it's a good PSU then I'd say it's OK with a single 6950. I personally wouldn't use anything that draws more power than that.

So, what are the rest of your specs?

 

[taltamir]

I can add another card to my system and have 2x 5850's for about $190 or should I just shell out some extra coin and go for a GTX 570?

We can't decide for you... how much is your money worth to you? here is the difference between them:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/295?vs=306
here is between 1x5850 and CF:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/295?vs=303

 

[stag3]

Actually, you don't really need 4 pins if your PSU is sufficient. I'm guessing you have a single 12v rail on that PSU. Might check the PSU forum, but I think you'd be ok with 4-pin molex to PCIe adapters.

oh haha didn't know they made molex to pcie adapters