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What GPU To Pick?

Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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Ok so like the thread states im in need of a GPU for my build.

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor AM3 3.2GHZ 8MB Cache 125W 45NM
Motherboard: ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 ATX DDR3 790FX 4PCI-E16 2PCI SATA2 eSATA
Ram: Kingston HyperX KHX1800C8D3K2/4G 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1800 CL8 Dual Channel Memory Kit
Power Supply: Antec CP-850 850W Cpx Dual Pcb Power Supply Modular ATX12V V2.3
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1500GB 1.5TB SATA2 7200RPM 32MB Cache
Case: Antec P183 ATX Tower Case Black 11 Drive Bay 4X5.25 1X3.5 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Sound
LG 22Inch(Max Resolution of 2560x1600)

Alright so that's the gist of my build. Iv bee comparing a lot of different GPUs lately. And im not sure if i should be a new model or perhaps an older one and CF it. Any opinions would be well appreciated.

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Graphics card Authority

I'm guessing you'll want to keep this system for a few years? Then I'd definitely get a DirectX 11 compatible card. Any DX10 card (or pair of cards) will probably be obsoleted long before the CPU.

An HD5770 at minimum, 5850 or 5870 if you can afford it.

Also, you do NOT need an 850W power supply unless you're either a) crossfiring two very powerful cards, or b) need more PCIe connectors than usual (which probably means you're crossfiring two very powerful cards). A 500-600W is more than enough to handle any single card setup.

Although looking at the price of the one you picked, you're really only going to save maybe $25 by downgrading to a smaller one, so maybe you'll be better off with the big one if you ever decide to, say, crossfire a pair of 5870s.

capt_taco said:
I'm guessing you'll want to keep this system for a few years? Then I'd definitely get a DirectX 11 compatible card. Any DX10 card (or pair of cards) will probably be obsoleted long before the CPU.

An HD5770 at minimum, 5850 or 5870 if you can afford it.

Also, you do NOT need an 850W power supply unless you're either a) crossfiring two very powerful cards, or b) need more PCIe connectors than usual (which probably means you're crossfiring two very powerful cards). A 500-600W is more than enough to handle any single card setup.

Although looking at the price of the one you picked, you're really only going to save maybe $25 by downgrading to a smaller one, so maybe you'll be better off with the big one if you ever decide to, say, crossfire a pair of 5870s.



Yeah this will be around for a few years min.

As far as money goes the rest of my build only came out to $1100 so money isnt much of an issue.

The Power Suply and Case were actually on sale as a bundle for really cheap so thats why i took the 850w considering id most likely be doing CF in the future at some point

Originally i was thinking about getting two 5870s and then Crossfifering them but thats quite expensive( $900) almost. I was just wondering if maybe there was something else out there that would be comparable.
Graphics card Master

Sympatheticz said:
Yeah this will be around for a few years min.

As far as money goes the rest of my build only came out to $1100 so money isnt much of an issue.

The Power Suply and Case were actually on sale as a bundle for really cheap so thats why i took the 850w considering id most likely be doing CF in the future at some point

Originally i was thinking about getting two 5870s and then Crossfifering them but thats quite expensive( $900) almost. I was just wondering if maybe there was something else out there that would be comparable.

A single 5870 would be plenty for now. Better than most other 2 card solutions.
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Graphics card Master

Sympatheticz said:
Would the performance be significantly better between 2 and a single GPu setup or no?

Having 2 cards in SLI or crossfire does not double your performance. Numbers will vary from game to game but never double the performance.

rolli59 said:
Having 2 cards in SLI or crossfire does not double your performance. Numbers will vary from game to game but never double the performance.


Yes im aware. Lets say for example would a game like WoW or Call Of Duty benifit from a CF setup or is it more meant for games such as Crysis

Im looking over some Benchmarks now and id say that as far as CF goes with the 5870s go wouldnt i just perhaps be ebtter off buying a 5970?
Graphics card Master

5970 is basically two 5870 on one card. The 5870 is the best single cpu card out to date almost equal to hd 4870x2 and gtx295. If you feel the need for the performance of the 5970 you might as well go for it although I do not think that the 5870 would struggle even at your resolution of 2560x1600
Graphics card Master

rolli59 said:
Having 2 cards in SLI or crossfire does not double your performance. Numbers will vary from game to game but never double the performance.

It does in some cases, in C.o.D 4 I got 90+ fps with one card and 200+ with two.

rolli59 said:
5970 is basically two 5870 on one card. The 5870 is the best single cpu card out to date almost equal to hd 4870x2 and gtx295. If you feel the need for the performance of the 5970 you might as well go for it although I do not think that the 5870 would struggle even at your resolution of 2560x1600


Well thinking about that prices come into mind.

The 5870s like $450 (Two would be $900 or so) While the 5970s like $700 but is also out of stock everywhere atm. I have all the other components at my house already so i think im gonna go with the 5870 if i can ill pick up two if not ill leave the best single gpu on the market tear it up its self. Thanks for the assistance.

And damn mouse thats a huge jump in Fps ^^

Graphics card Master

Sympatheticz said:
And damn mouse thats a huge jump in Fps ^^

Yeah, I've found that there are a few special cases and CoD 4 was one of them but they are few and far between, GRAW 1 & 2 also showed a decent improvement as I recall but not as much.

rolli59 said:
You can always pickup another one later after the prices have settled down some.


Thats true and as far as WoW goes which is the main game im playing atm i think one 5870 would be plenty correct?

rolli59 said:
A HD4670 would do LOL


Lmao keep in mind im using a biggest peice of crap computer in the world right now. Its not that WoWs the only game i want to play trust me :p  Thanks for the help tho
Graphics card Authority

rolli59 said:
You can always pickup another one later after the prices have settled down some.


^^This.

If you can afford a 5870, a single one is going to absolutely kill at whatever game you could possibly want to play today, unless you're trying to set some kind of benchmark record. Then when they start coming out with any cards that are significantly better, you'll probably be able to pick up a second 5870 for under $200.

Not that you'd even need a second one. In all likelihood, that CPU will be what ends up capping your performance, not the video card, so crossfiring may not even do you any good. An AM3 chip and a single 5870 sounds like a pretty good balance to get the maximum out of that setup if you ask me.
Graphics card Authority

capt_taco said:
^^This.

If you can afford a 5870, a single one is going to absolutely kill at whatever game you could possibly want to play today, unless you're trying to set some kind of benchmark record. Then when they start coming out with any cards that are significantly better, you'll probably be able to pick up a second 5870 for under $200.

Not that you'd even need a second one. In all likelihood, that CPU will be what ends up capping your performance, not the video card, so crossfiring may not even do you any good. An AM3 chip and a single 5870 sounds like a pretty good balance to get the maximum out of that setup if you ask me.



^^AMEN!
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