New build, 3 monitors, seeking best ATI Card option

[walkng]

Hi,
I'm building a new system. I'm looking at a i7 930 1366 socket on an ASUS p6x58d premium, intel x25-m 160 ssd, Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3x2gb)...

I'd like this thing to be smokin' fast.

I want to run 3 monitors and would like to know the best options with Radeon cards. Is one 5870 enough? Do I need a 5970 or two 5870s? And what would leave me better off if I'd like to upgrade latter?


I do mostly photo editing, some video recoding, run torrent client, monitor a web cam and the like usually a few things at the same time.

I do play games some and want the option to run the hot new games well for a year or two maybe with three monitor or not but I'd like to keep my options open.

I now have a Samsung 2333sw with 2 x acer 20" monitors the wife bought me for Christmas. But if things pick up I might be crazy enough to try 3 x 30" screens but that's not likely.

Can anyone recommend a GPU configuration to suit my needs?

Thanks
Marc
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[HendrixFan]

If you are mostly doing desktop work, you don't need a powerful video card to run multiple displays. If you are running games across 3 monitors you will need a multiple cards (and power supply), especially if you go the 30" route. But since you said you are primarily doing desktop work and will only be gaming "some", I would suggest you just go with a 5870 and call it a day. If you feel the pressing need to game on three monitors you can always add in another 5870.

 

[zerocool84]

If you are mostly doing desktop work, you don't need a powerful video card to run multiple displays. If you are running games across 3 monitors you will need a multiple cards (and power supply), especially if you go the 30" route. But since you said you are primarily doing desktop work and will only be gaming "some", I would suggest you just go with a 5870 and call it a day. If you feel the pressing need to game on three monitors you can always add in another 5870.

Even if he plays games there`s zero reason to say he would need multiple gpu`s or even a new psu. We don`t know what games he wants to play. He could get away with a 5970 and a good quality 500w-600w which he should already have or psu will be more than enough. For all we know he could be playing Starcraft and something like a 5850 or even a 5770 will do if he doesn`t play any games to take advantage of the power.

 

[tweakboy]

Grab a x800 lol jk, I think or 1950 in either AGP or PCIe factor.

 

[v8envy]

Grab a x800 lol jk, I think or 1950 in either AGP or PCIe factor.

Will you stop misleading people with the bogosity already?

The ancient cards you mention do not support 3x monitors, for starters. And although the OP seems technical and smart enough to know an AGP card won't fit into a socket 1366 motherboard a less informed user might not be.

 

[Jhatfie]

Well if you are running triple monitor eyefinity and want to ability to run modern games with decent eye candy, I would think that dual HD 5850's would be your most cost effective option for best performance (unless you go 3x30" in which case the resolution would be crazy and 2 5870's would most likely not be enough). I run eyefinity with 3x24" monitors with crossfired 5850's and it performs very well.

If you use slightly less demanding resolutions, like 3x22" (5040x1050) A single 5870 might suffice leaving yourself open to adding a second card in the future as needed.

 

[digitaldurandal]

Well if you are running triple monitor eyefinity and want to ability to run modern games with decent eye candy, I would think that dual HD 5850's would be your most cost effective option for best performance (unless you go 3x30" in which case the resolution would be crazy and 2 5870's would most likely not be enough). I run eyefinity with 3x24" monitors with crossfired 5850's and it performs very well.

If you use slightly less demanding resolutions, like 3x22" (5040x1050) A single 5870 might suffice leaving yourself open to adding a second card in the future as needed.

Dont think he is running eyefinity with 3 different size monitors, likely at different resolutions as well.

 

[smithkt]

Dont think he is running eyefinity with 3 different size monitors, likely at different resolutions as well.

It's possible. Not ideal, but possible. In eyefinity mode, the monitors will all be set to the same resolution. Bezel compensation won't work though.