Need help understanding benefit/downfall of using 5770s in crossfire

[xboxist]

Help please.

Built a new computer last week:

i5-750
MSI p55-gd55
4GB DDR3
Windows 7 home premium
HD 5770 Sapphire 1GB 128-bit GDDR5
1920x1200 gaming resolution

If I one day wanted to increase my gaming OOOOMPH, would it make sense to take into account the $160 I already spent on the 5770 and add another to it? Or should I just go with a new beast of a card like a 5870? I don't know how to compare things like 5770 crossfire vs 5870, etc.

Do 5770 crossfire even perform well to begin with?

 

[jtisgeek]

Yes 2 5770's will beat a 5870 but remember that you won't always see that speed in all games.

Usually only the big high end games are really setup to use crossfire well.

Also make sure your psu is up to adding a second card.

Crossfire always depends on the drivers that's why most of the time people opt for single cards much less hassle.

 

[Udgnim]

pros: performance similar to 5870 when scaling is good, cost lesser than a 5870

cons: crossfire scaling relies on developer and driver support, potential for micro stutter

 

[xboxist]

pros: performance similar to 5870 when scaling is good, cost lesser than a 5870

cons: crossfire scaling relies on developer and driver support, potential for micro stutter

Yuck, the microstutter sounds very annoying. For games that don't handle Crossfire very well, can you disable it within Windows or the game? Or would you have to physically remove the one card from the case?

I think I'm going to jump on another 5770 since the same one I bought for my computer is on sale through today.

 

[Udgnim]

Yuck, the microstutter sounds very annoying. For games that don't handle Crossfire very well, can you disable it within Windows or the game? Or would you have to physically remove the one card from the case?

I think I'm going to jump on another 5770 since the same one I bought for my computer is on sale through today.

pretty sure turning Catalyst AI off disables crossfire

 

[happy medium]

Any game thats worth playing will work in crossfire now a days.
300$ for better then 5870 performance is best bang for your buck right now.

Most 5770's will overclock past 925 core 1300 memory when needed.

If you have a 5770 in your system now and a crossfire motherboard, there is no reason that I can think of not to buy another.
Last I looked the "HIS" 5770 was on sale at Newegg for 143$ shipped.

I say go for it.

Some crossfire 5770 benchmarks..

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-5770-review-test/14

 

[Rezist]

I'd think the 128 bit GDDR5 would be a limit on memory bandwidth personally. But if not go for it.

I always recommend a single card, less issues in the long run.

i checked that link the 5870 still wins most the benchmarks.

 

[happy medium]

I'd think the 128 bit GDDR5 would be a limit on memory bandwidth personally. But if not go for it.

I always recommend a single card, less issues in the long run.

i checked that link the 5870 still wins most the benchmarks.

Thats from oct 2009, can't find the other review. The crossfire 5770's' win in most of the benches.

Edit: thats the right review,the only time the 5770's lose is Crysis Warhead. Since then (Oct 13 2009) crossfire performance has improved with Crysis.

Remember the crossfire setup cost 90/100$ less!

 

[1h4x4s3x]

Isn't ATI's next driver (10.3?) going to significantly (according to ATI) boost crossfire performance? Might wait for reviews, if there are any but crossfiring/SLI is nothing to be worried of apart from potential microstutters.

 

[xboxist]

Thanks guys. I grabbed another Sapphire for $149 shipped. I figure that getting an exact make/model match to my existing 5770 can't be a bad idea.

 

[sgaliger]

Great, I got 2 5770's in xf and they are silky smooth. I get perfect performance from them on a system that is almost exactly the same as yours (1920 x 1200, i5-750 etc).

 

[jaggerwild]

3Dmark2006 score:28150 two 5770 in CF! Link
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=12819361

That score almost as good as 2 4870 X2 running in crossfire X
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=12088363

 

[Lonyo]

Isn't ATI's next driver (10.3?) going to significantly (according to ATI) boost crossfire performance? Might wait for reviews, if there are any but crossfiring/SLI is nothing to be worried of apart from potential microstutters.

More importantly it's going to enable ATI to put up Crossfire mode updates more often for new games, so the general support should be better, since the Crossfire profiles will be separate from the main driver.