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Radeon 4870 512mb in Crossfire, or 1 4870x2 1gb?

Krynj

Krynj

Platinum Member
I've already got a 512mb 4870, and the prices on them have dropped substantially since I bought it late last summer. So, according to the Egg, I could get another for $170sh after rebates.

Now, what kind of performance loss would I see if I had 2 512mb's in Crossfire, rather than just an x2 1gb?

Also, is anybody running a 4870 512mb in Crossfire that can comment on the performance?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Never post from work. You'll be browsing a forum, get sidetracked, and then make a thread in the wrong forum. Sorry mods.
 
Bump, since this I mistakenly posted this in the wrong forum and it was just recently moved.
 
Wellll... you could always try to do bastard crossfire. If you're planning on buying another card, since the price of the 1gb is so close to the 512s these days, get that and crossfire up. I believe it will only use 512mb in crossfire, but you get the benefit of that. In single GPU mode, you get the 1GB card (assuming you set it to primary).
 
Since you are working with 22" displays I wouldn't worry too much about the 1 GB cards... you should be fine with a pair of 512's
 
Oh geez, did I ever read your post wrong. If you already have a card, just get another for CF.
 
To make the switch to a CF setup, I'd have to buy a new mobo. I'll have to see if it'd just be cheaper to get an x2 right now, instead of buying a new board and another 4870.
 
Man just get the 4870x2. I have 2x4870@512 and can't play on a 24" without disabling some features. Sell the one you have and minimize your "loss". If you plan on keeping the 22" a 48701gb will do fine.
 
Originally posted by: sgrinavi
Since you are working with 22" displays I wouldn't worry too much about the 1 GB cards... you should be fine with a pair of 512's
Click to expand...

This is the winner. Im surprised more people in this thread did not comment on the resolution before saying that 512MB is not enough.


Cross-fire that baby with a cheap 512 and call it a day.
 
Yup, I would get another 512 mb one and make a sexi crossfire. For 1680X1050 512 mb is just right. Maybe except GTA4 who needs 4 gb of video memory, everything else should work perfect.
 
If I do go the crossfire route, I'll have to buy a new motherboard. I'd prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, and the cheapest one I could find on the Egg with 2 PCI-E slots is around $130, and has great customer reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358

That, and the card brings the total to about $330 or so. I'm not sure how much I could sell my current board for. NewEgg doesn't carry it anymore I don't think, and when I bought it (Summer 08), it was only $80 or so. Either way, that's cheaper than an x2 right now.
 
Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
If I do go the crossfire route, I'll have to buy a new motherboard. I'd prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, and the cheapest one I could find on the Egg with 2 PCI-E slots is around $130, and has great customer reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358

That, and the card brings the total to about $330 or so. I'm not sure how much I could sell my current board for. NewEgg doesn't carry it anymore I don't think, and when I bought it (Summer 08), it was only $80 or so. Either way, that's cheaper than an x2 right now.
Click to expand...

Ah. At $330 total to add another 512MB 4870, that changes things.

I would get what you can (sell) for the 4870, and purchase a 485/70X2.
 
Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
If I do go the crossfire route, I'll have to buy a new motherboard. I'd prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, and the cheapest one I could find on the Egg with 2 PCI-E slots is around $130, and has great customer reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358

That, and the card brings the total to about $330 or so. I'm not sure how much I could sell my current board for. NewEgg doesn't carry it anymore I don't think, and when I bought it (Summer 08), it was only $80 or so. Either way, that's cheaper than an x2 right now.
Click to expand...

That's why I suggested a 4870 1gb, forget the x2 if you're not going for a different display. Get rid of the 512 card you already have and get the 1 gb one, it kicks even the gtx 280 in some games.
 
Originally posted by: Drivenbyvoltage
Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
If I do go the crossfire route, I'll have to buy a new motherboard. I'd prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, and the cheapest one I could find on the Egg with 2 PCI-E slots is around $130, and has great customer reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358

That, and the card brings the total to about $330 or so. I'm not sure how much I could sell my current board for. NewEgg doesn't carry it anymore I don't think, and when I bought it (Summer 08), it was only $80 or so. Either way, that's cheaper than an x2 right now.
Click to expand...

That's why I suggested a 4870 1gb, forget the x2 if you're not going for a different display. Get rid of the 512 card you already have and get the 1 gb one, it kicks even the gtx 280 in some games.
Click to expand...

I would like to see a review where going from a 512 to a 1GB @ 1680X1050 makes a real difference. (I guess real is relative, but you know what I mean).

Im actually interested in the two at that resolution, ill look around.
 
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
I would like to see a review where going from a 512 to a 1GB @ 1680X1050 makes a real difference. (I guess real is relative, but you know what I mean).

Im actually interested in the two at that resolution, ill look around.
Click to expand...

Got to love the misinformation in this thread. many users are saying 512mb isnt enough tof 1680x1050, but offer no proof. The reason being there ISNT ANY.

512megs is all you need for 1680x1050. Proof below:

crysis: a wimpy 4fps difference http://images.anandtech.com/re...ati/1gb4870/crysis.jpg

Oblivion: a HUGE .1fps difference...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...i/1gb4870/oblivion.jpg

Enemy Territory: 2 FPS.. amazing the difference the extra ram makes...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/etqw.jpg

Race Drive grid: .5 FPS!
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/grid.jpg

I could go on but no need to. At 1680x1050 1gig of ram is complete overkill. Please do some research on your own versus taking what people say on here blindly. Many people say things that arent really true or just flat out wrong.
 
Originally posted by: Raider1284
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
I would like to see a review where going from a 512 to a 1GB @ 1680X1050 makes a real difference. (I guess real is relative, but you know what I mean).

Im actually interested in the two at that resolution, ill look around.
Click to expand...

Got to love the misinformation in this thread. many users are saying 512mb isnt enough tof 1680x1050, but offer no proof. The reason being there ISNT ANY.

512megs is all you need for 1680x1050. Proof below:

crysis: a wimpy 4fps difference http://images.anandtech.com/re...ati/1gb4870/crysis.jpg

Oblivion: a HUGE .1fps difference...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...i/1gb4870/oblivion.jpg

Enemy Territory: 2 FPS.. amazing the difference the extra ram makes...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/etqw.jpg

Race Drive grid: .5 FPS!
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/grid.jpg

I could go on but no need to. At 1680x1050 1gig of ram is complete overkill. Please do some research on your own versus taking what people say on here blindly. Many people say things that arent really true or just flat out wrong.
Click to expand...

Thank you, you have confirmed my thoughts on the matter.


@OP: With your resolution, your card is fine. Do you notice low framerates? Why do you feel the need to upgrade?

If all you had to do was drop in another 512, that is one thing. But with having to either buy a new Mobo for Xfire, or buy an expensive X2 card, I dont see how youll get much gain for the $$$



 
I've only been toying with the idea, since I have some extra cash on hand.

My 4870 has been a flawless card. I get great framerates in everything I've played since I bought it (Fallout 3, GRiD, Crysis, Burnout Paradise). As I said, I've just been toying with the idea since I've got some extra cash on hand right now. I'm not sure when it'll really start showing its age, so I was thinking of just throwing in another card for later on down the road.

Part of me would also like to buy a new motherboard, so that's kind of an added benefit. I mentioned earlier that the board I'm on now was pretty much a budget board just so I could get the build off the ground. I was able to get my Q6600 to 3.1Ghz stable, but anything higher than that and it doesn't take. So, perhaps I could also get a little more out of my Q6600 on a better board.
 
Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
I've only been toying with the idea, since I have some extra cash on hand.

My 4870 has been a flawless card. I get great framerates in everything I've played since I bought it (Fallout 3, GRiD, Crysis, Burnout Paradise). As I said, I've just been toying with the idea since I've got some extra cash on hand right now. I'm not sure when it'll really start showing its age, so I was thinking of just throwing in another card for later on down the road.
Click to expand...

Dont do it then. That money that you have now will buy something much more powerful then 2X 4870 down the road, without having to deal with Xfire/SLI.

I know the "upgrade" itch well. I wish I could take my own advice sometimes as well.

A 24 inch monitor would give you much more happiness then another 512, and certainly a 1GB.
 
Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
I've already got a 512mb 4870, and the prices on them have dropped substantially since I bought it late last summer. So, according to the Egg, I could get another for $170sh after rebates.

Now, what kind of performance loss would I see if I had 2 512mb's in Crossfire, rather than just an x2 1gb?

Also, is anybody running a 4870 512mb in Crossfire that can comment on the performance?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Never post from work. You'll be browsing a forum, get sidetracked, and then make a thread in the wrong forum. Sorry mods.
Click to expand...

running quad fire here...

didnt see much of a boost minus a few games.

Xfire doesnt play as nice as SLI does, and CAT drivers are no where in class compared to nforce drivers.

Xfire does work on dual screens, and both screens are directX playable. Something SLI isnt.
 
Originally posted by: aigomorla

and CAT drivers are no where in class compared to nforce drivers.
Click to expand...

Careful aigo. I know you are a CPU forum junkie, but that statement usually leads to a 6 page e-peen driver showdown between red and green that nooone takes the time to read except the 4 people participating. :laugh:
 
I'm curious: can you mix and match 4870 cards? I have an ASUS Radeon 4870 512MB and like the OP, I'm thinking about adding in a second card. I can score a great deal on a VisionTek 4870 512MB; will this play nicely with my ASUS? It's the same design and everything from what I can see.

Granted, I would have to get the PC Power and Cooling 750W PSU (only $90 on NewEgg!!!)to replace my Antec 430W....

Thanks!

EDIT: I frequently use the second DVI port on my card to connect to my home theater via HDMI. Will this functionality still work with two cards?
 
Originally posted by: Raider1284
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
I would like to see a review where going from a 512 to a 1GB @ 1680X1050 makes a real difference. (I guess real is relative, but you know what I mean).

Im actually interested in the two at that resolution, ill look around.
Click to expand...

Got to love the misinformation in this thread. many users are saying 512mb isnt enough tof 1680x1050, but offer no proof. The reason being there ISNT ANY.

512megs is all you need for 1680x1050. Proof below:

crysis: a wimpy 4fps difference http://images.anandtech.com/re...ati/1gb4870/crysis.jpg

Oblivion: a HUGE .1fps difference...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...i/1gb4870/oblivion.jpg

Enemy Territory: 2 FPS.. amazing the difference the extra ram makes...
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/etqw.jpg

Race Drive grid: .5 FPS!
http://images.anandtech.com/re...o/ati/1gb4870/grid.jpg

I could go on but no need to. At 1680x1050 1gig of ram is complete overkill. Please do some research on your own versus taking what people say on here blindly. Many people say things that arent really true or just flat out wrong.
Click to expand...

Well the difference isn't impressive at all and I believe you're right with 1gb being overkill at that resolution. It appears that the difference is somewhat bigger in DX10:

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog...-video-card/#more-8600

Let's not forget, the op never said he got good performance out of his card already, instead he was just looking for an upgrade. Now a 4870 1gb is probably the cheapest solution for him if he "must" upgrade. Is it worth? No I don't think so. But usually there's no better cure for an itch than a scratch😉
 
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