Crossfire a Sapphire 4870 1G with a Sapphire 4870 512mb?

[lenslo223]

Hey Guys,

I am having a question here with my CF option. I currently have a Sapphire 4870 512 mb installed and I am thinking of adding another card.

saw newegg has Sapphire 4870 1GB on sale, quite attractive.


So i wonder if i could crossfire this 1GB 4870 with my 512MB 4870 without any problem?

my PSU is Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1kw, mobo is ASUS P5Q PRO

 

[br3nd064]

You'd be better off getting another 512mb version. My understanding is that games will only be able to use 512mb on the 1gb card. This would be wasting half of the memory, and would really defeat the purpose of getting it. If I'm wrong on this, someone please correct me.

 

[rangers]

yes you can but the 1gig card will be cut back to 512

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

You should be able to CF it without any problem, but it won't give you any advantage over CF'ing another 512MB model since it will only use the 512MB portion of the 1GB available.


D'oh, teaches me for being slow to reply at work.

 

[lenslo223]

thank you all guys,

I think i will try to sell my old card and get the 1GB then

 

[nerdnic]

The 1gb model does not provide any real advantages until you get past 1920. If you're not playing at super high resolutions, then there is no need to replace your 512 with a 1gb.

 

[eklipz330]

the 1gb model does show minimal fps increase at 1680x1050, but not much too justify the price increase... if your resolution is 1920x1080 or higher, than you should consider swapping cards. otherwise no.

BUT since you were considering getting a 1gb model to cf, why don't you just buy another 512 card and crossfire it? it'll be the best choice yet

 

[jitpublisher]

I gotta concur. Forget about the 1 gig card, and simply CF another 4870 512. The extra memory 95% of the time, unless you are gaming at uber high res won't help a thing. Even then, it's a very small benefit over your 512 meg card.
Now, CF'ing 2 512 meg 4870's will allow to crank up the res, the eye candy, and flex plenty of horspower to keep things moving very nicely.
Much, much, way much better plan.

 

[Noegzit]

Considering the fact that now 4870 1GB are sold quite at the same price than 512 MB cards, is it still a bad idea to add a 4870 1 GB on a X48 board with already one 4870 512 MB ?

I saw for example a Sapphire Vapor X 1GB around 130€ that's less than most of the 4870's. I saw only noname 512 MB 4870 cards cheaper in fact.