If I run dual overclocked 5450s will it be better than a 5870

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endlessmike133

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Jan 2, 2011
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I have about 4 5450s laying around the house and I was wondering if I run them dual will it be better than a 5870?

Questioned answered (by Ben90 in post 14 :p j/k) so locked to prevent this thread from spiraling out of control.
-Admin DrPizza
 
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Insomniator

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2002
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I think it would be since you have double the GPU power or whatever...

Is this a joke post?

I don't think 20 5450's would be faster than a single 5870 even if they scaled 100%. One is at best an htpc card while the other is near top of the line.

Wait is this a joke topic?
 

imported_GrizzlyAdams

Junior Member
Oct 13, 2009
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I think it would be since you have double the GPU power or whatever...

It doesn't work anything like that. Your original question is the equivalent of asking if two moped motors strapped together is better than a single car engine, and the answer is no in this case.

Find some reviews for a 5450, add ~70 to 90% on top, and see if that is close to a 5870. I'm just guessing that you aren't in the same league until you crossfire 5670s or so, but that's just another guess.
 

endlessmike133

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Jan 2, 2011
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Is this a joke post?

I don't think 20 5450's would be faster than a single 5870 even if they scaled 100%. One is at best an htpc card while the other is near top of the line.

Wait is this a joke topic?
Well whatever you say, I just thought if you have double the processing power you get better quality or whatever.

I'm a noob when it comes to this stuff but basic math teaches you 2x4 > 6...
 

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
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Well whatever you say, I just thought if you have double the processing power you get better quality or whatever.

I'm a noob when it comes to this stuff but basic math teaches you 2x4 > 6...

The 5450 has 80 shader processors, the 5870 has 1600 shader processors. So insomniator is actually pretty spot on when he says even 20 5450 cards wouldnt even equal a 5870 as although 20 5450's would have 1600 shaders combined between them, crossfire dosent scale 100% and thats a moot point anyway because you can only have like 4 cards crossfired together maximum.

So no in short dual overclocked 5450's would suck and would perform worse than a 3-4 year old GPU. Its not designed for anything other than light HTPC work.
 

blotto

Senior member
Feb 11, 2006
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The 5450 has 80 shader processors, the 5870 has 1600 shader processors. So insomniator is actually pretty spot on when he says even 20 5450 cards wouldnt even equal a 5870 as although 20 5450's would have 1600 shaders combined between them, crossfire dosent scale 100% and thats a moot point anyway because you can only have like 4 cards crossfired together maximum.

So no in short dual overclocked 5450's would suck and would perform worse than a 3-4 year old GPU. Its not designed for anything other than light HTPC work.

Don't forget clock-speed, 5450 runs at 650mhz and the 5870 at 850mhz. Assuming all else is equal, it would take 26.15 5450s to equal one 5870. Now if you tack the issue of memory bandwidth on to the equation you are still left with a 26 card setup with only 8gbs of memory bandwidth (1/19th of the 5870's 153gbs) leaving you with a 26 card array that would probably preform the same as a two way 5450 setup.
 

Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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Dual 5450s will last you a very long time, it may take years for ATi to release a Radeon 10900.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
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come on guys he's new, thats not very nice. :(

Mike,
If you run them in crossfire and overclock them, it will give you a more playable gaming experience.

Running them at a lower resolution like 1400x900 or 1280x1024 should get you playing some games at med detail.
 
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Phynaz

Lifer
Mar 13, 2006
10,140
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come on guys he's new, thats not very nice. :(

Jeez, somebody check and make sure we haven't been sucked into some alternate universe - I agree with Happy.

He's asking a question because he doesn't know the answer. Take it easy on him.
 

Skurge

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2009
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come on guys he's new, thats not very nice. :(

Mike,
If you run them in crossfire and overclock them, it will give you a more playable gaming experience.

Running them at a lower resolution like 1400x900 or 1280x1024 should get you playing some games at med detail.

1280 maybe, 1400x900? I don't think so. He is better selling all of them and getting a 5670 or something.
 

dac7nco

Senior member
Jun 7, 2009
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endlessmike133, what resolution do you game at? Try posting some Metro 2033 or Crysis: Warhead benchmarks with a single card before you look for the crossfire connectors on a 5450.

Thanks for your original post.
 

endlessmike133

Senior member
Jan 2, 2011
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endlessmike133, what resolution do you game at? Try posting some Metro 2033 or Crysis: Warhead benchmarks with a single card before you look for the crossfire connectors on a 5450.

Thanks for your original post.
I game @ 1280x720.
 

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
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HD5450 was made to just barely play B-R decently, i doubt it can even start up Crysis. Metro2033 even less.
 
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