Help me with my confusion over graphics

[snadge]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to build a system soon for gaming, my main game is Eve online, playing with multiple accounts.


I have decided on a Asus sabretooth P67 MB coupled with an i5 2500k processor and 8gb of DDR3 ram powered by a 1000watt power supply, probably fractal design Newton for it's 5 year warranty.

I would like to run 4 screens in the future with 4 different instances of Eve running on each monitor but will expand to that once money allows me to, so 2 screens atm.

I have been looking at Sapphire HD6950 with 2GB VRAM, one for the moment and another in the future, overclock them to 6970 spec and run 2 monitors off each card.

Is this feasible and are the cards the right choice for this endeavour or am I barking up the wrong tree, Nvidia suggestions would be welcome but I do like the idea of 2GB VRAM, plenty to share between 2 monitors.


edit to add: I will be playing at max resolution of the monitors which will be 1920 * 1200.

 

[dma0991]

If you want to run a multiple monitor setup getting the HD6950/HD6970 would be the best choice. But you can save a little bit more money by getting a 700-750W PSU instead for a HD6950 Crossfire. 1000W is way more than what you need for that setup.

 

[snadge]

Thanks for the reply, the reason I am thinking about the 1000w PSU is for future expansions and also do the 6950s not use a lot more power when unlocked to the 6970s?

 

[bow22]

The best thing to do is to actually trail test it somehow before you decide what you really want to get.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes 6970. nice rig... gg

 

[dma0991]

Thanks for the reply, the reason I am thinking about the 1000w PSU is for future expansions and also do the 6950s not use a lot more power when unlocked to the 6970s?

The unlocked HD6950 will use slightly more power compared to an off the shelf HD6970 but 700-750W is still within a good range.

Here you could see that the total system power load for the HD6970 Crossfire with Furmark is only 600W. Furmark is a little bit more power demanding but normal games should not even approach 600W. Following normal gaming load with Crysis, that leaves you around 150-200W excess to overclock your GPU a little bit.

You should get a HD6950 with a non reference cooler to increase your chance of higher clocks at a stable temperature. You could get the 1000W if you want to but this is just my suggestion if you intend to save a few bucks

 

[flexcore]

I would look into a high quality PSU like the Seasonic X750 or similar 80+gold. Quality over quantity.