Which setup to go with?!? Hard decision...

[Thebrave246]

I am returning my EVGA GTX 670 FTWs and my Corsair Red 2133MHz 8gb 2x4GB sticks because they weren't working and the video cards were unstable. Which setup should I go with for the return and exchange?

I am currently playing on a single 24'' Acer LED monitor @ 1080p. I will most likely be getting another monitor or two in the next couple of months, not positive yet but I definitely want to be able to play games maxed out at 1080p without any problems either way. I am returning $869.99 worth of hardware and I need memory and gpu(s). Thanks!

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Get the 7970's and just know you will need to use RadeonPro to fix the microstuttering issues.

 

[notty22]

I'd suggest troubleshooting a problem a little deeper before you end not being able to return that much hardware.

 

[Thebrave246]

I'd suggest troubleshooting a problem a little deeper before you end not being able to return that much hardware.

I did a ton of troubleshooting on it, including using each card one at a time, switching them around, checking and reinstalling bios and everything, one of the cards was totally not working at all and the other I don't want so I am just returning both.

 

[3DVagabond]

I'm a bit confused, but are you saying that one of the cards and the RAM were defective? Or, just one of the cards?

I assume you're going to pay a restocking fee? If one of the cards is good I'd keep that one, and, if the RAM's defective exchange that. A single 670 should be fine @ 1080. It's not worth the expense and dual GPU hassles just so you don't have to turn down one or two settings in one or two games (I know that's an over simplification, but grant me some poetic license ). We're looking at 4 to 6 weeks maybe, for the Titan to be released. While it looks like it's going to be terrible value ($900!!!) it doesn't have dual GPU issues and "might" be a real powerhouse.

If the RAM is defective save yourself some money and get some good "cheap" RAM. Don't be mislead by the conservative rating and the plain look, that's very good RAM.

If you were just starting out I'd tell you to buy a good 7970 (Matrix, Lightning, or something) since you obviously like premium quality products. Since you've already got the 670 though you might as well keep it instead of flushing money down the drain. Especially with a 1080 TN monitor. Take some of this money and buy a premium monitor.

 

[raghu78]

if one of the cards works fine keep it. a single GTX 670 can handle any game at 1080p. if you do want to return both cards get a single HD 7970 Ghz or GTX 680. you don't need multi GPU for 1080p.

 

[Goatsecks]

For a multi-card setup I would go with something SLI, a single card I would go with the 7970.

Sweet spot on the price/perf curve for SLI is obviously the 670's.

I have the asus directcu II 670 in SLI and love them (I also play at 1080p @ 120hz).

Remember to get Radeon Pro for the ATI's, and to overclock

 

[MrK6]

Figure out what the problem was first. You could possibly spend $100+ in restocking fees, never mind the time wasted, due something that wasn't even the cards' or RAM's fault.

 

[Thebrave246]

I'm not paying for any restocking fees or anything, it's only been like 5 days since I had my 670 FTW SLi setup and one of the cards was defective and I am just returning both to get fresh cards. The memory was not the right speed and not as advertised so I am going to just get cheaper 1600MHz Ram instead. It's also like $40 extra for the Sapphire Dual-X 7970 Crossfire setup as compared to the 670 SLi setup. Also is this ram good?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3683258&sku=K24-2220

 

[MrK6]

I'm not paying for any restocking fees or anything, it's only been like 5 days since I had my 670 FTW SLi setup and one of the cards was defective and I am just returning both to get fresh cards. The memory was not the right speed and not as advertised so I am going to just get cheaper 1600MHz Ram instead. It's also like $40 extra for the Sapphire Dual-X 7970 Crossfire setup as compared to the 670 SLi setup. Also is this ram good?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8&sku=K24-2220

Only some motherboards have auto-detect profiles for 2133MHz RAM, many you have to set the speed manually.

 

[Thebrave246]

Only some motherboards have auto-detect profiles for 2133MHz RAM, many you have to set the speed manually.

Yeah, I tried to set manually and I still get BSOD, which is why I am sending the hardware back. Thanks for your response though.

Would it make sense to just get the 680 Lightning for now for my 24'' LED monitor, and get a nice sound system going with ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card and ASUS Vulcan gaming headset?

 

[Thebrave246]

Will the Sapphire Dual-X 7970 in Crossfire be fine with my Corsair AX 850 80 Plus Gold Certified power supply? I am running an i5-3570K overclocked to 4.4GHz w/ Corsair H100i, 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD, 1TB Internal HDD, ASUS DVD-Drive.

 

[moonbogg]

I hate to say it, but I have two 670 FTW's in SLI and absolutely am thrilled with them. They are perfect for my res of 1080p @ 120hz and allow my CPU to do the best it can. That said, if you already sent them back then I would grab a 680 for single card with the sound card and head set. That sounds like a good, fully functional upgrade and you would enjoy the headset and nice sound.

 

[Thebrave246]

I hate to say it, but I have two 670 FTW's in SLI and absolutely am thrilled with them. They are perfect for my res of 1080p @ 120hz and allow my CPU to do the best it can. That said, if you already sent them back then I would grab a 680 for single card with the sound card and head set. That sounds like a good, fully functional upgrade and you would enjoy the headset and nice sound.

Yeah dude, I would get an ASUS Essence STX sound card and ASUS Vulcan ANC gaming headset with the 680 Lightning and memory. BIG sound upgrade. PLUS, I am on a single 24'' Acer LED monitor right now.

 

[lehtv]

If one of the cards works, why not just return and replace the defective card? I just don't see the point of returning the fully functioning card. Though if you're only gaming at 1080p@60hz though, the second 670 is pretty pointless. Rather get a good sound setup.

 

[Thebrave246]

If one of the cards works, why not just return and replace the defective card? I just don't see the point of returning the fully functioning card. Though if you're only gaming at 1080p@60hz though, the second 670 is pretty pointless. Rather get a good sound setup.

Yeah, and I am playing DayZ quite a lot lately and there is no SLi support in it anyway. Which kind of sucks to be honest. Plus I am only playing on a single 24" Acer LED monitor at the moment. I sent them both back, enough said about that.

 

[Thebrave246]

I'm a bit confused, but are you saying that one of the cards and the RAM were defective? Or, just one of the cards?

I assume you're going to pay a restocking fee? If one of the cards is good I'd keep that one, and, if the RAM's defective exchange that. A single 670 should be fine @ 1080. It's not worth the expense and dual GPU hassles just so you don't have to turn down one or two settings in one or two games (I know that's an over simplification, but grant me some poetic license ). We're looking at 4 to 6 weeks maybe, for the Titan to be released. While it looks like it's going to be terrible value ($900!!!) it doesn't have dual GPU issues and "might" be a real powerhouse.

If the RAM is defective save yourself some money and get some good "cheap" RAM. Don't be mislead by the conservative rating and the plain look, that's very good RAM.

If you were just starting out I'd tell you to buy a good 7970 (Matrix, Lightning, or something) since you obviously like premium quality products. Since you've already got the 670 though you might as well keep it instead of flushing money down the drain. Especially with a 1080 TN monitor. Take some of this money and buy a premium monitor.

Get a 7970 Lightning over 680 Lightning? They are not even in stock on Tigerdirect anyway the 7970 Lightning or Matrix. PLUS, I'm playing on a 24'' Acer LED monitor @1080p right now anyway. I don't know why people are voting for Crossfire 7970 Dual-X Sapphire cards for a single 1080p for right now. Kind of a waste of money I think, especially when I'm playing with games that don't support CFX.

 

[Thebrave246]

To clarify with the GTX 680 Lightning I would be getting an ASUS Essence STX sound card and ASUS Vulcan ANC gaming headset, both would be a HUGE sound upgrade from onboard.

 

[lehtv]

Asus 7970 Matrix $500. Best 7970 GHz edition out there. Still overpriced though, it perform only a little better than an overclocked 7950 Vapor-X.

I can't recommend the Essence STX, there's almost no perceivable difference to a sound card several times less expensive. It's mainly good for its huge feature set for the audiophile crowd who use uber high quality speaker sets or headphones. You're a gamer, go with one of the gamer sound cards, that's Asus Xonar series. I'd recommend Xonar DGX, it's only $40 and does everything you need a gamer/headset card to do.

 

[Thebrave246]

Asus 7970 Matrix $500. Best 7970 GHz edition out there. Still overpriced though, it perform only a little better than an overclocked 7950 Vapor-X.

I can't recommend the Essence STX, there's almost no perceivable difference to a sound card several times less expensive. It's mainly good for its huge feature set for the audiophile crowd who use uber high quality speaker sets or headphones. You're a gamer, go with one of the gamer sound cards, that's Asus Xonar series. I'd recommend Xonar DGX, it's only $40 and does everything you need a gamer/headset card to do.

Yeah? The ASUS Xonar DGX huh? I had the DG and it was great actually. I will be using for movies and stuff too, not just gaming. I can instead then get the DGX to go with the Razer Blackshark Expert 2.0 Gaming Headset and Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 to go with my Razer Naga 2013 and Razer Goliathus mousepad lol. Completes the peripheral set.

Basically with my return if I decide on getting the 680 Lightning I would be getting:

MSI GTX 680 Lightning
16GB Corsair ddr3 1600 MHz (2x8GB)
Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Razer Carcharias Analog Gaming Headset
ASUS DGX Sound Card (PCIe)

How does that look, or I just get the ASUS Essence STX. But I am not sure I need that for mostly gaming, and watching movies, etc.

 

[SolMiester]

Yeah, I tried to set manually and I still get BSOD, which is why I am sending the hardware back. Thanks for your response though.

Would it make sense to just get the 680 Lightning for now for my 24'' LED monitor, and get a nice sound system going with ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card and ASUS Vulcan gaming headset?

This is my vote

 

[Thebrave246]

This is my vote

Does it make sense to get the ASUS Essence STX if I will be mostly gaming with it over the ASUS Xonar DGX? I will be also watching movies and stuff as well. If I were to get the ASUS Essence STX, no mechanical gaming keyboard which is a nice touch and would match my razer naga 2013. I am not sure tbh.

 

[3DVagabond]

Will the Sapphire Dual-X 7970 in Crossfire be fine with my Corsair AX 850 80 Plus Gold Certified power supply? I am running an i5-3570K overclocked to 4.4GHz w/ Corsair H100i, 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD, 1TB Internal HDD, ASUS DVD-Drive.

Yes, it's fine.

 

[3DVagabond]

Get a 7970 Lightning over 680 Lightning? They are not even in stock on Tigerdirect anyway the 7970 Lightning or Matrix. PLUS, I'm playing on a 24'' Acer LED monitor @1080p right now anyway. I don't know why people are voting for Crossfire 7970 Dual-X Sapphire cards for a single 1080p for right now. Kind of a waste of money I think, especially when I'm playing with games that don't support CFX.

The 7970 Lightning over the 680 Lightning for sure. The Matrix over both of them. Unless triple slot is an issue for you.

Dual 670's is also a waste of money @ 1080p, IMO. That's why I suggested a single card and a monitor upgrade. You can get whatever flavor you prefer, AMD or nVidia.

 

[Will Robinson]

Go for the single card setup...the GTX680 or if you can swing it the Matrix 7970 then get the soundcard,headset etc.
New generation cards will be out within 3-4 months I suspect.
Get one of the new ones rather than mucking around with SLI or XFire.