One Lump or Two with 4870
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
So I've decided to go with the 4870 now the question is right now do I buy one of the ATI Radeon 4870x2 now and buy a second later on? Or do I buy two ATI Radeon 4870's right now and run them into SLI. Now I understand that ATI uses the intel chipset with only two 8x PCIE2.0 channels but this is fine since those channels still aren't used fully. ( Why the heck does NVIDIA have 3 PCIE 16x channels when we can't even use one fully? I never got that. )
In addition does anyone have any recommendations for a good motherboard and cpu to support this setup? I'm looking a bit to the p45 or x48 chipsets and either a high end Core 2 Duo or a Medium High Quad Core.
In addition does anyone have any recommendations for a good motherboard and cpu to support this setup? I'm looking a bit to the p45 or x48 chipsets and either a high end Core 2 Duo or a Medium High Quad Core.
More about : lump 4870
First off, you don't SLI ATI video cards, you SLI Nvidia cards. And secondly, the P45 that does Crossfire does PCIe x8 when there's two. The X48 does the full x16. And x8 will limit the 4870's performance somewhat.
Buying one 4870x2 and upgrading later on might not be the best move. By then, there may be single card solutions that outperforms the 4870x2 for much less. What I would do is buy a single 4870, then Crossfire it with the 4870x2 later on.
You should get a X48 motherboard. If you're only going to game, a quad may not be worth the extra cash. I read somewhere that only 2% of all games now are quad-threaded, so if you're the type to upgrade often, go grab an E8200 and OC away.
Buying one 4870x2 and upgrading later on might not be the best move. By then, there may be single card solutions that outperforms the 4870x2 for much less. What I would do is buy a single 4870, then Crossfire it with the 4870x2 later on.
You should get a X48 motherboard. If you're only going to game, a quad may not be worth the extra cash. I read somewhere that only 2% of all games now are quad-threaded, so if you're the type to upgrade often, go grab an E8200 and OC away.
Honestly the HD4870 is so good that I would just get one. That way you could stay P45, and save the $200-400 depending on the other choices to buy an entirelly new card sometime in the future. Considering you could sell your HD4870 for at least 50% of sticker price, that means that in only 6 months time you could be way ahead of the game.
And currently, there isn't any game out that the HD4870 can't handle quite well.
That's how I play anyway. Buy mid to upper mid, upgarde often.
And currently, there isn't any game out that the HD4870 can't handle quite well.
That's how I play anyway. Buy mid to upper mid, upgarde often.
Related ressources:
- Forum4-Way/ One lump or two ?
- ForumChunky lump on monitor cable
- ForumHow do you kill that @!$ lump of meat known as the E..
- ForumWater Cooling the 4870 X2
- ForumTwo HD4850 or one 4870 ?
- ForumTwo 4850s or one 4870 ?
- ForumP5Q Deluxe vs Radeon HD 4870
- ForumIs a 9800gx2 enough for modern gaming?
- ForumFS: Two 1 GB 4870 's. Would like to sell as a pair if possible $180
- ForumRunning two monitors, would dedicating one card to the 2nd increase performance?
- ForumAre two 8600GT cards quicker than an ATI 4870
- ForumCan i run two monitors on my ATI 4870 ?
- ForumPlease Help! Two Monitors with-ATI Radeon 4870 X2
- ForumHD 5770 Struggling with BF3
- ForumXfx 4870 wont boot with two power cables plugged in
- ForumIs The PSU Good Enough For Two 4870 's :/
- ForumGA EX58-UD3R and two 4870 's
- ForumMy game is telling me I need to install Physx, but I have an AMD card?
- Forumwill two vf700's fit on a 4870 x2?
- ForumIssues with foxconn motherboard, please help...
- More resources
Read discussions in other Graphics & Displays categories
!
