Help me upgrade from 2x4850s

[Etrusk]

*sniff*

I loveded you 4850s. I loveded youuuuuuu...

Anyways, please help.

I need a 2-card SLI or Crossfire setup that will run current GPU intensive games at 1920x1080, 2xAA (preferably 4) as close as possible to 120 fps.

1920x1080 @ 120Hz
i5-2500k @ 4.5Ghz
Enermax 82+ 525W (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2011/09/13/what-is-the-best-400-599w-psu/6)
Case is essentially identical to this (http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Antec-P183-Case-Review/733)

1) Budget is equivalent to $800
2) Would like minimum 2Gb on a single card (Am I right this value does not double with 2 cards?).
3) Not sure about overclocking (probably prefer not to) - air only, 5 fans, case is tidy and regularly cleaned.
4) I know about the micro-stutter and driver issues.

Basically (I think) it is between two GTX670's and two 7970's, but I cannot find a direct benchmark between them in a single article. Results seem very similar, with 5+/- variance between titles.

Finally, can I just unplug my Radeons from their PCI-E slots and stick 2 NVIDIA cards in there, install software and go?

Let me know if you need more info and thanks!

 

[Termie]

*sniff*

I loveded you 4850s. I loveded youuuuuuu...

Anyways, please help.

I need a 2-card SLI or Crossfire setup that will run current GPU intensive games at 1920x1080, 2xAA (preferably 4) as close as possible to 120 fps.

1920x1080 @ 120Hz
i5-2500k @ 4.5Ghz
Enermax 82+ 525W (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2011/09/13/what-is-the-best-400-599w-psu/6)
Case is essentially identical to this (http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Antec-P183-Case-Review/733)

1) Budget is equivalent to $800
2) Would like minimum 2Gb on a single card (Am I right this value does not double with 2 cards?).
3) Not sure about overclocking (probably prefer not to) - air only, 5 fans, case is tidy and regularly cleaned.
4) I know about the micro-stutter and driver issues.

Basically (I think) it is between two GTX670's and two 7970's, but I cannot find a direct benchmark between them in a single article. Results seem very similar, with 5+/- variance between titles.

Finally, can I just unplug my Radeons from their PCI-E slots and stick 2 NVIDIA cards in there, install software and go?

Let me know if you need more info and thanks!

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/03/28/nvidia_kepler_geforce_gtx_680_sli_video_card_review/4

Subtract about 10% for 670SLI.

Any reason your trying to quadruple your GPU power in a single upgrade? That's a lot of cash to throw down at once given what you're coming from. And honestly, if you're trying to hit 120fps, you might be disappointed. That's a serious stretch in BF3, for instance, because your CPU will bottleneck you.

By the way, I've heard plenty of horror stories about 7000-series crossfire issues, but not a single issue about 670/680 SLI.

 

[yottabit]

Does your mobo support SLI? Not all do, although practically all of them do support crossfire

 

[jacktesterson]

I would avoid Crossfire right now.

- Former owner of both 7850 and 7970 Crossfire setups.

 

[Termie]

I would avoid Crossfire right now.

- Former owner of both 7850 and 7970 Crossfire setups.

I was wondering how that 7970 crossfire experiment went for you, especially after your terrible 7850 crossfire experience.

 

[3DVagabond]

525w PSU? I know it's Enermax, but it's still not enough for 2 high end cards.

While I think crossfire issues are exaggerated, if you aren't going to O/C the 670 is the way to go in your budget of $800USD. Assuming the are the same relative pricing where you are. The 7900's need to be O/C'd or you're wasting money.

 

[Dark Shroud]

You could get two of these in crossfire.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7950twinfrozr3gd5oc

 

[philipma1957]

You could get two of these in crossfire.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7950twinfrozr3gd5oc

I second this idea. buy one from the egg buy the other from amazon (30 day return policy). set up with 1 card if it is good enough send the other back to amazon using the 30 day return policy

 

[Etrusk]

Thanks for the replies.

@Termie

Big jump is because:
1) The 4850s are finally(!) running into a performance wall. I am not picky, 2xAA and ~50fps avg. on High is ok for me, but having to play BF3 and Skyrim on Medium is missing out.
2) I have the cash and want an upgrade that will last a couple of years.
3) Since I have the 120Hz monitor, I want to get as close to that number as possible to better experience the unconfirmed, humanly intangible and totally subjective advantage of it for myself If I can actually see anything different, I can adjust the graphics down slightly to hit 120 in BF3.

@yottabit
Mobo: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8P67_PRO/#specifications

What about this one > Gigabyte GV-N670OC-2GD
...based on this > http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-test-review,3217-16.html

 

[Termie]

Looks like you're good on the motherboard front. The gigabyte 670 is solid, although some people had some issues with electronic noise. The Asus models are well-liked too, as is the EVGA GTX670 FTW model, which is currently $400 at newegg.

You need to factor in at least $100 for a PSU, so I'd again suggest you try one card to start and see if it's sufficient for your needs.

 

[jacktesterson]

I was wondering how that 7970 crossfire experiment went for you, especially after your terrible 7850 crossfire experience.

To be honest,


The 7970 Crossfire setup with the 12.7 Beta's I tried out was awesome compared to the 7850 CF experience.


I wouldn't hesitate on people using it. There are a few minor annoyances, but other than that its fine. (Biggest one for me was HDMI audio issues with 12.7 Beta's in crossfire, issues that didnt exist in older versions like 12.4, but 12.7b see's a good performance boost)


I just decided one 7970 was enough and didnt' want to waste anymore time frigging with finding a driver that works 100%.


I guess the 7850 experience still leaves me a little hesitant.

 

[jacktesterson]

7950 Crossfire is a way better buy then 7970 crossfire.

 

[Etrusk]

Got it, last question > If I am buying to use for as long as possible, does it not make sense to go with the 7970 based on the extra 1Gb of memory?

Where I am buying, the price difference between a decent 670 and a 7970 is about 40$ which is not a problem for me.

 

[Joseph F]

I think you're better-off getting the extra RAM.
I used to recommend people to buy a GPU with how much RAM they really needed, to find out that their cards would run out of VRAM, when the double RAM versions of their cards were still chugging along just fine in newer games.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Got it, last question > If I am buying to use for as long as possible, does it not make sense to go with the 7970 based on the extra 1Gb of memory?

Where I am buying, the price difference between a decent 670 and a 7970 is about 40$ which is not a problem for me.

Absolutely not.

 

[Joseph F]

Absolutely not.

You know this guy doesn't upgrade frequently. The 7970s will surely last him a longer time than the 670s.
Do you have a good counter-argument?

 

[guskline]

:awe:Let me chime in with my 2 cents. I have in rig 1 below 2 EVGA GTX 670 FTWs (which now sell for $400 each). Have nearly the same mb (yours is P67, mine is Z68). You need a bigger PSU for SLI or CF. I was worried with an Antec 750 gamer but all is well.

Now here are some FACTS! I ran FRAPS on BF3 last night both for a single monitor at Ultra and my 3 monitors at Ultra.

On the single 1920x1080 Min fps 151 and Max 171 (sorry but I didn't get the average for the single monitor).

When I played BF3 Ultra on the 3 24" monitors in Surround at 5760 x 1080 I got the following: Min 59 fps Max 120 and average 89.2 fps. These are 670s that are stock clocked at 1006 no software OC.

These are beasts that frankly could be viewed as overkill in SLI on a single 1920 x 1080 monitor.

Termie nailed it. Upgraded PSU and a single 670. BTW he has a great thread on a single 670 vs 5850s in CF.

Are 670s in SLI fast ? You have no idea!:biggrin:

 

[guskline]

You know this guy doesn't upgrade frequently. The 7970s will surely last him a longer time than the 670s.
Do you have a good counter-argument?

??????????? Because of 1 G more Vram? There are some articles that show that a 7979 at high resolutions (5760 x 1080) gets a few more fps than a 670 but last longer?

I know this for a fact.
1. The 7970 has 3G Vram vs the 670 at 2G Vram
2. The 7970 is "slightly" faster all things being equal
3. The 7970 uses more power than the 670.
4. Both cards will be faster than 4850s even in CF
5 2 670s in SLI will use less power than 2 7970s in CF.

Beyond that it's a crap shoot.

 

[Joseph F]

??????????? Because of 1 G more Vram? There are some articles that show that a 7979 at high resolutions (5760 x 1080) gets a few more fps than a 670 but last longer?

I know this for a fact.
1. The 7970 has 3G Vram vs the 670 at 2G Vram
2. The 7970 is "slightly" faster all things being equal
3. The 7970 uses more power than the 670.
4. Both cards will be faster than 4850s even in CF
5 2 670s in SLI will use less power than 2 7970s in CF.

Beyond that it's a crap shoot.

I agree with all of that.
Except, you know that games use more, and more VRAM, as time goes by, and when the new consoles come out next year, the PC ports of their games are going to be extremely taxing of current PC hardware. The 7900 series will take less of a hit than the GTX 600 series, in my opinion.

 

[ShreddedWheat]

I would go with a single 7950/7970 for now and see how it works for you then upgrade to another card later when you need it and save the money. There aren't enough games that really need that much crossfire power except for bragging rights, multi monitor setups, etc....

Just 1 card is going to be like night and day from what you had. Just my 2 cents.....

 

[ShintaiDK]

I agree with all of that.
Except, you know that games use more, and more VRAM, as time goes by, and when the new consoles come out next year, the PC ports of their games are going to be extremely taxing of current PC hardware. The 7900 series will take less of a hit than the GTX 600 series, in my opinion.

3GB is a bastard size. And its only 3GB due to the 384bit bus. So unless AMD continues with the 384bit bus (And I doubt that.) and nVidia joins them. Then 3GB will be a forever useless amount.

Its simply a lame argument that the 1GB extra VRAM can save the HD7970 in all its lacking.

 

[KingFatty]

3GB is a bastard size. And its only 3GB due to the 384bit bus. So unless AMD continues with the 384bit bus (And I doubt that.) and nVidia joins them. Then 3GB will be a forever useless amount.

Its simply a lame argument that the 1GB extra VRAM can save the HD7970 in all its lacking.

How good is it to have 1 GB extra VRAM? Even if it's the bastard kind of VRAM, how do you figure out what it's worth? You mention that extra VRAM doesn't offset the other negatives, but how do we quantify what it's actually worth?

I mean I have a good idea about how upping my system memory from 2 GB to 4 GB is good, but how can we translate the benefit of additional VRAM? Will it gain me 2 FPS on a particular game or something?

 

[Joseph F]

How good is it to have 1 GB extra VRAM? Even if it's the bastard kind of VRAM, how do you figure out what it's worth? You mention that extra VRAM doesn't offset the other negatives, but how do we quantify what it's actually worth?

I mean I have a good idea about how upping my system memory from 2 GB to 4 GB is good, but how can we translate the benefit of additional VRAM? Will it gain me 2 FPS on a particular game or something?

When you run out of VRAM, your reported FPS doesn't always drop a huge amount, but games will stutter badly.

I don't know what he's on about with "bastard" VRAM. Games will be able to use it, regardless of the bus-width.

 

[Termie]

I think the argument here is that 3GB is an odd size, and game developers will not design games to use that amount, but will stick to 2GB or the next logical size, 4GB. We really didn't see games use more than 1GB until the HD6000 2GB series appeared, despite the existence of the GTX480 1.5GB nine months before those cards.

 

[bigsnyder]

Just for a point of reference, I upgraded from two crossfired HD4850s to a single HD7850. Very noticeable upgrade, some situations performance has doubled. My only regret was not waiting till this summer when the HD7950 dropped in price, but oh well, the 7850 is a great card. I recommend the suggestion to try a single high end card first.