Should I corssfire or just get a better graphics card?

Griffsbrown

Honorable
May 10, 2013
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10,630
So I currently have the AMD A10-5800K APU with its onboard 7660D and after having it for a few months I wanted to upgrade to a better graphics card so would it be better to:

Get something like the Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 and just use it as a single card

OR

Get something like a 6670 which is a worse card then the above 7770 and use it to crossfire with the built in 7660D

I realize I'm kind of throwing a lot of stuff at you guys, I hope this makes since. Anyways thanks in advance for the help because I'm kind of lost here.
 
Solution
Tom's Hardware did a review of almost exactly your scenario. They were not at all impressed with Crossfiring an APU with a discrete card. Their conclusion:

"Dual Graphics should be mature. We're not sure how many mainstream gamers purchased a graphics card to go along with their Llano-, Trinity-, and Richland-based APUs, believing that they'd get a notably better experience, but from what we're seeing, those additional investments are largely going to waste.

With that said, the latest driver doesn't help Dual Graphics. And the problems with this technology are more severe than we imagined even before this story was conceptualized. We're hoping the company gets serious about fixing Dual Graphics, just as it did when it committed to...
Tom's Hardware did a review of almost exactly your scenario. They were not at all impressed with Crossfiring an APU with a discrete card. Their conclusion:

"Dual Graphics should be mature. We're not sure how many mainstream gamers purchased a graphics card to go along with their Llano-, Trinity-, and Richland-based APUs, believing that they'd get a notably better experience, but from what we're seeing, those additional investments are largely going to waste.

With that said, the latest driver doesn't help Dual Graphics. And the problems with this technology are more severe than we imagined even before this story was conceptualized. We're hoping the company gets serious about fixing Dual Graphics, just as it did when it committed to improving CrossFire with two discrete GPUs. Right now it's evangelizing a feature that helps improve benchmark results, but not actual gameplay. That's just not right."
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/dual-graphics-crossfire-benchmark,3583-10.html
 
Solution

odiervr

Honorable
May 1, 2012
343
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10,810
I have a 5800k too. I bought it for the kids / general use. Just buy a new GPU. Kinda sux but everything i've read points to a stand alone GPU when you need to upgrade. My kids are fine with it therefore, so am i. When / if the time comes i will buy a HD 7850 ish for $150 or below and will be good for a couple more years.

It's great for the price, but disappointing for the potential unrealized.

Good Luck.