Upgrade ATI 6970?

[Jeff007245]

Currently Using ATI 6970 and Play Diablo 3, WoW, and other various games.

I plan on getting 3x Samsung 27" 3D Monitors so I can play Eyefinity HD3D or 3D Surround... Would I need an upgrade?

Currently using FX-8150, 16GB Ram, Asus Crosshair V Formula/Thunderbolt

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Go for 7970 or 670 or above. Also get core i7 3770k if in budget

 

[chimaxi83]

Go for 7970 or 670 or above. Also get core i7 3770k if in budget

Umm... why would you recommend an entire system upgrade when he doesn't need it?

Anyway OP, an upgrade to what you have now depends on your games. The ones you listed don't really warrant an upgrade, but multi monitor resolution probably does, but again that depends on your games. What else do you play?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If that's all you play, no worries. Even at higher res.

Unless you use the 3D feature. Then it's more of an "as much freaking GPU power as possible" thing, since you have to not only handle a lot more pixel-pushing (which your card can probably do fine) but you also have to effectively double your framerate (which would be... more difficult.)

 

[Jeff007245]

My friends like to come over to play BF3, Batman Etc... But on my solo time those are the games I like to play. I use my computer and require many screen because of work for the most part (Spreadsheets, Project, Visio, Adobe Suites etc...).

And yes I want to use the 3D feature.

 

[Jeff007245]

With the 7970 being out for a while now, and the refresh GHZ edition released last month, would it be worth it to just wait until the next generation of cards? From my understanding they Refresh every 6months or so and Release new Generation of cards every year... I barely bought this 6970 last August 2011 and its now 1.5 Generations behind...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The "every six months" refresh thing is not really true - AMD and nVidia both will launch speed bumped parts or rejigger their lineups every few months to gain a competitive or marketing edge, but real meaningful upgrades come much less frequently.

The Radeon 7xxx series hasn't been out for a few months, but AMD's 8xxx series is due in early/mid 2013. (So, 12-18 months between updates, depending on when exactly the new parts launch.)

But in terms of speed bumps and minor revisions: the 7970 GHz Edition just launched a couple weeks ago (Speed bumped 7970). I'd expect another speed bumped part sometime between now and the 8xxx launch.

Thing is, that speed bumped part won't be a big boost, and probably wouldn't be worth waiting for.

 

[palladium]

Get another 6970 if you want/need more performance.

 

[Durvelle27]

crossfire with another 6970

 

[aaksheytalwar]

680 oc will give better experience than 6970 cf

 

[Schmide]

680 oc will give better experience than 6970 cf

Based on?

 

[guskline]

I have a 6970 for sale.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2256302

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Why not get your three monitors, see if the games run with an acceptable performance or if there are any show stopping bugs, THEN decide to upgrade or not. Sounds like the three monitors are happening one way or another, so jump on that and let the rest sort itself out.

If the performance doesn't work out, you can stick to gaming on only one of the monitors until you swap in a new card, so its not like you'll be stuck with horrendous frame rates or anything.

 

[Corporate Thug]

If that's all you play, no worries. Even at higher res.

Unless you use the 3D feature. Then it's more of an "as much freaking GPU power as possible" thing, since you have to not only handle a lot more pixel-pushing (which your card can probably do fine) but you also have to effectively double your framerate (which would be... more difficult.)

I have a GTX 570 running at 900/2200 and a 2500k@ 4.5 Ghz and I still get stutturing in some places in DIII @ 1900x1200, all settings maxed.

 

[Schmide]

I have a GTX 570 running at 900/2200 and a 2500k@ 4.5 Ghz and I still get stutturing in some places in DIII @ 1900x1200, all settings maxed.

Sounds like network issues.

speedtest.net make sure you're not running slow.

I've found this helps some computers

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Local Area Connection\Properties\Configure\Advanced\Receive Buffers

Increase by 64 or so. Depending on the nic these numbers are often different.

 

[Rvenger]

I have a GTX 570 running at 900/2200 and a 2500k@ 4.5 Ghz and I still get stutturing in some places in DIII @ 1900x1200, all settings maxed.

That might just be the server lag. I stutter with everything in D3.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Sounds like network issues.

speedtest.net make sure you're not running slow.

I've found this helps some computers

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Local Area Connection\Properties\Configure\Advanced\Receive Buffers

Increase by 64 or so. Depending on the nic these numbers are often different.

Thanks, I'll try it. Forgot all about that as my internet connection is absolutely TRASH.

 

[Jeff007245]

OK guys, thanks for the input... Will prioritize monitors over video card for the time being.

Actually going for the new High Res Samsung SB970 for my designing/drafting/blueprinting/project/data workstation computer, and the 3 monitors will be for my Gaming setup next to my workstation desk in my office. The gaming setup is more of my toy, and the system next to it will be my bread and butter.

Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciate it.