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270X Crossfire, VRAM question

Tags:
  • Crossfire
  • Sapphire
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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September 6, 2014 12:07:36 AM

Hi,

If I setup a R9 270X 2GB in Crossfire, both Sapphire and exact model, I know that the VRAM will still be 2GB.

BUT, Wouldnt the VRAM _USAGE_ decrease in Xfire, as its 2 GPU's thats processing the same textures or something.. If NO, then I cant understand how I would gain any performance in Xfire.. Now, my VRAM usage is right at its limit. Around 1.700MB. And if I get another 270X, and Xfire doesnt affect VRAM at all, then there wont be any gains?...

More about : 270x crossfire vram question

September 6, 2014 12:16:55 AM

You will gain considerable performance increase in games with R7 270X in crossfire instead of one single GPU. The workload will be split between the two. The VRAM will not increase of course. If your games are running poorly because you are maxing out your VRAM than putting another '2GB' R7 270X in crossfire is a waste of time because your VRAM will bottleneck the computing power of the two GPU's.
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September 6, 2014 12:22:06 AM

Ok :( 
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September 6, 2014 12:55:22 AM

Sorry if I was the bearer of bad news. Good news is that if you avoid VRAM demanding games and stick to the crossfire setup then you will be one happy gamer. Or just sell the R7 270X and buy a higher - end single GPU.
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September 6, 2014 1:21:51 AM

I just realized that the VRAM usage I stated was under the Mantle API... Gonna check again with DX11
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September 6, 2014 1:28:00 AM

Matthew-san said:
Or just sell the R7 270X and buy


those are "R9" 270xs not R7s
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September 6, 2014 3:46:40 AM

OOoh, yeah.. Im not talking about the R7, lol... But I think I'll get a 280X instead of 270X Xfire...
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September 6, 2014 10:07:26 AM

Sorry, I did not look close enough. The R9 280X will serve you much better. Less heat, noise, and wattage consumption.
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September 6, 2014 11:15:59 PM

Alanthor said:
OOoh, yeah.. Im not talking about the R7, lol... But I think I'll get a 280X instead of 270X Xfire...


Agera One said:
Alanthor said:
OOoh, yeah.. Im not talking about the R7, lol... But I think I'll get a 280X instead of 270X Xfire...


Read before you decide http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1955429/270x-cro...


Well, maybe if u got more than 3GB VRAM, but on 2GB VRAM, I highly doubt it..
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September 6, 2014 11:26:57 PM

That thread is old. Prices have changed since December of 2013.

R9 280X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

R9 270X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

R9 270X - $189.99 + $189.99 = $379.98

R9 280X - $269.99

You will be paying a total of $109.99 for R9 270X dual-crossfire over one single R9 280X. The performance gains offered by the crossfire setup do not justify the price increase. Bear in mind that two R9 270X's will consume more wattage which will add to cost. Not mentioning the added heat and noise output increase.

Check out the performance difference between R9 270X dual-crossfire and R9 280X:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

One last thing. Crossfire often has driver issues. Beware of that. You may experience micro-stuttering with the crossfire configuration.
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September 7, 2014 2:12:11 AM

^ Agreed !
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September 7, 2014 6:59:33 AM

Matthew-san said:
That thread is old. Prices have changed since December of 2013.

R9 280X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

R9 270X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

R9 270X - $189.99 + $189.99 = $379.98

R9 280X - $269.99

You will be paying a total of $109.99 for R9 270X dual-crossfire over one single R9 280X. The performance gains offered by the crossfire setup do not justify the price increase. Bear in mind that two R9 270X's will consume more wattage which will add to cost. Not mentioning the added heat and noise output increase.

Check out the performance difference between R9 270X dual-crossfire and R9 280X:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

One last thing. Crossfire often has driver issues. Beware of that. You may experience micro-stuttering with the crossfire configuration.


Well, basically, I dont care how much the total cost has been on my rig and yada yada yada. I bought this 270X a few months ago. Do I earn of buying the 280X instead?- Yea, ON PAPER.... lol If I buy the 270X and setup Xfire, do I earn anything of it?- Yes, In real life, I get more money over other things such as food etc...
Im just arguing that, lol. You cant say like that you know.. :p 

Either way, I think I might be buying a second monitor instead, a 24'' monitor. Then I'll have the 24'' monitor as primary, and my 21,5'' monitor as my secondary... OR a 280X that is used for just 150bucks... I dont know :( 

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September 7, 2014 9:59:10 AM

You seem very ambiguous :)  Whatever you choose both configurations will suite you fine. Will the R9 270X crossfire configuration be more expensive and probably more of a hassle? Yes, but the performance will be excellent. The R9 280X will also offer excellent performance but at less cost. Cost meaning initial price, wattage, heat and noise output. I am repeating myself to let you know that either configuration will suite you perfectly.

Upgrading from a 21.5 in. monitor I feel is a necessary upgrade, if not now then in the future. I speak from experience here. I recently replaced a LG 21.5 in. monitor with an ASUS 27 in. monitor. Huge Difference! Changed my life!

If I were you I would purchase the monitor first and then make your decision on R9 270X crossfire or R9 280X. Good Luck! Tough choice there!
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September 12, 2014 6:07:42 PM

What do you mean, how am I ambigous? :p 
By the way, I didnt buy anything special, hehe.. Just some blue LED's to my pc. I figured that I dont have to be such a bitch when its regarding my performance demands.. I mean, High details in 1920x1080 in BF4 at 50fps is pretty good IMO :p 
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September 12, 2014 8:36:10 PM

Being ambiguous over what you should purchase for your PC setup. The 270X crossfire or 280X? Or a new monitor? You seem to have it sorted out though. You do have a nice PC setup so I am glad you're happy with it. Let us know if you need our advise on anything else :) 
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