Semi-Budget Gaming System.... Need GPU input for 1080p

[jacktesterson]

What I already have laying around from previous computers, private sales:

120GB SSD
500GB Momentus XT
650W XFX Core Power Supply
Blu Ray Reader/DVD Burner
4GB DDR3 1333 Memory
Corsair A70 Cooler
Microsoft Wireless Keyboard/Mouse
Windows 7 Home Family 3 License (I have 1 more I can use)

What I'm buying:

Budget 24" Monitor: Ordered a Benq 24" 2ms Monitor
Budget Case: Ordered a Coolermaster 471 Elite
Motherboard: Ordered a Gigabyte Z68 SLI/CFX Certifed ATX Board
CPU: Ordered a 2500k, will overclock to 4.2-4.6 Range

GPU: Ordered 2 x 6790s, $99 each after rebate. THIS IS WHERE I NEED INPUT.

STORY: Layed off from my job in May, Sold both my big rigs for money (2500k @ 4.5 with 2x 560 ti's and a 1090T @ 4.0 with 2x 6950's, both in CM 932 with Coolit Ecos)

Now I have an awesome job and want a dedicating gaming PC again, but I'm on a tight budget, so I've been picking stuff up used/privately and deals. Now I am down to just needing a GPU.

I'd like to stay within $250.00 Range plus tax and shipping.

After a ton of reading today, I decided to bite on 2 x 6790s for $99 each after mail in rebates. I ordered 2 different brands so I could use both rebates.

Now 2x 6790's are almost identical to a GTX 580 in performance.

I've never crossfired/SLI'd cards this low on the Pyramid before so I was a little bit nervous... Did I make the right call?

Truth it, they are basically 6850s with 800 shaders rather than 920. When overclocked, they can equal a 6850 easily. In crossfire, they are 90-95% of 6850 crossfire setup. Newegg.ca has them right now for 129.99 - $30 MIR. I decided to go for it and save some cash.

What I am wondering about, is Micro stuttering. Should I be wondering?

I play major titles mostly, and in my opinion, I've never had issues before. But I had used stronger cards.

Thoughts? Input? I still have some time to cancel the order.


Check this out:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2157093

 

[mfenn]

No, it is not a good idea to Crossfire low-end cards like that. When it comes to dual-GPU, 1 + 1 most certainly does not equal 2. It equals somewhere between 0.9 and 1.8, depending on the game.

Microstutter and so forth is greatly exacerbated by the limited memory bandwidth available on these cards. Minimums are also often hardly better than a single card.

So in short, yes they can theoretically beat a GTX 580. The experience will in no way rival that of a single higher-end card.

 

[Athadeus]

Go for it, I really want to see what those can do. I don't think you will be disappointed for the price.

 

[jacktesterson]

Go for it, I really want to see what those can do. I don't think you will be disappointed for the price.

haha. I cancelled for now.

My worries are minimum frame rates and micro-stuttering...

Thinking about a 6950 or a used 570

Input?

 

[lehtv]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814127578

That thing is factory overclocked at 950MHz, which is near GTX 570 performance. And despite that i'll be relatively cool and quiet. You could probably overclock it past 1GHz. Plus, used hardware doesn't get you a free game

 

[jacktesterson]

well... thought it was cancelled. Newegg guy said he thought he could cancel it as was with the warehouse at that point, but I just got my tracking information.

Guess I'm going to give the 6790's a whirl as originally planned!

 

[mfenn]

Lol, well I suppose you can always return them.

 

[jacktesterson]

Well, I'll be honest, I'm curious about them. I could always return them.

 

[lehtv]

I would return :E

 

[jacktesterson]

I would return :E

well, with the limited games used in this Review, it appears minimums on par with a 6970


http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/sapphire-hd6790-crossfirex-review/13/

http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/sapphire-hd6790-crossfirex-review/14/


Only review with minimums I can find, just bad game choices...

Edit: http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/sapphire-hd6790-crossfirex-review/20/


From that review, Minimums seem to be at a 6970 level, Maximum between a 570 and 580

 

[lehtv]

I would still not get two low GPUs. A single med-high GPU is a better experience overall even if it is outperformed in pure fps over time.

- less power consumption
- less heat
- less noise
- no driver problems
- no microstuttering
- more stable and less situational fps
- fps less game-dependent

 

[jacktesterson]

I would still not get two low GPUs. A single med-high GPU is a better experience overall even if it is outperformed in pure fps over time.

- less power consumption
- less heat
- less noise
- no driver problems
- no microstuttering
- more stable and less situational fps
- fps less game-dependent

1) Known to be silent cards
2) They only have 1 6pin Power slot each
3) What major titles, honestly, suffer from driver issues with SLI and Crossfire? Everyone always says this, but I've never experienced personally


Micro-stuttering is my main concern, and Minimum frame rates, but out of the 3-4 Reviews I've found, minimums always seem to be at least 6950 levels.

 

[lehtv]

1) in crossfire they may not be as silent because the higher card especially will heat up more than normally
2) 2x 6790 use 104W per card (http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6790-review/6) while a 6950 uses 155W, a 560 ti uses 170W, and a 6970 uses 205W.
3) Why major titles only? Is dual-GPU meant only for major titles?

 

[jacktesterson]

1) in crossfire they may not be as silent because the higher card especially will heat up more than normally
2) 2x 6790 use 104W per card (http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6790-review/6) while a 6950 uses 155W, a 560 ti uses 170W, and a 6970 uses 205W.
3) Why major titles only? Is dual-GPU meant only for major titles?

Same power draw as a 6970 with similar performance is a win for me for $200 range.

Major titles is all I play, so thats why I'm saying that.


I've thought about this all day, and I'm going to try it. Its $200.00. If it doesn't work out, I can sell and upgrade when next gen cards come out

I plan on creating a Review with Results for this setup too

 

[lehtv]

Looking forward to your results :thumbsup:

 

[jacktesterson]

Looking forward to your results :thumbsup:

yeah, Not arguing, just weighing the positives/negatives.

for all I know I'll hate it. I am really not hardcore enough though to think I will. I'll most likely be satisfied.

Seems to be lots of 6850 xfire setups out there, this is really almost the same level (5-10% stock slower)

 

[T_Yamamoto]

how about a 560ti 2 GB?

 

[mfenn]

Well, I'll be honest, I'm curious about them. I could always return them.

Yeah, I would definitely try them first.

 

[mfenn]

3) Why major titles only? Is dual-GPU meant only for major titles?

To add to this, CFX/SLI often sucks for "name" titles right after the game comes out. Notice how the release notes for beta drivers always talk about huge performance increases in SLI/CFX? That's because the performance really sucked beforehand.

 

[lehtv]

True. And minor titles (e.g. indie games or anything that's just a low-budget production) get completely ignored SLI/CFX-wise.

 

[jacktesterson]

Decided to keep the 1035T for now and upgrade everything else, and wait for Bulldozer.

I'll buy a FX when they arrive.

Stick to my roots as a AMD/ATI guy.

Will update how the 6790's later this week.

 

[mfenn]

Oh well, more very fast and cheap Intel CPUs for the rest of us.

 

[jacktesterson]

Oh well, more very fast and cheap Intel CPUs for the rest of us.

hoping for Bulldozer to even things up