HD4870 or HD4870x2 ??

[cyber07]

Hello guys ..

I need advice to upgrade my video card, but i'm still in doubt about it. this is my specification of my computer :

Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE
MOBO : J&W-790GXT-Fusion
RAM : 2x Muscle Power DDR3 2GB Dual Chanel
VCard : Manli Radeon HD4870 1GB
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX (750W)


( and consider it i already have HDD and other components )

actually, i thought it was the newest video card so bought HD4870 1GB. but that's ok for now at least it's not to "old-fashioned"

and should i go for another HD4870 1GB or HD4870x2, but if i go for HD4870x2 can my power supply handle it? or should i change it?

and if there any deficiencies in this upgrade let me know, i would appreciate your help and sorry if my English are terrible

 

[welshmousepk]

if you're going to upgrade, get a 5 series card.

4 series are old, and its worth paying the extra cash for the extra performance a 5850 can offer. it wil be more future-proofed, and it will improve as drivers are updated and DX11 is implemented.

 

[paperfox]

a single 4870 will handle 1680x1050 resolution for awhile but getting another before they are all gone would be a good upgrade.

two 4870s for 1920x1080 resolution is a good upgrade you can benefit from now.

three 4870s id get only for 2550x1600. (i think 750w is enough to handle it)

 

[cyber07]

should i change it to 5 series? but some benchmark shows that HD4870 in CF are good. i don't really want to upgrade my vcard to the newer one, i'd prefer to add it one more card and at least HD4870 CF can last long for another 3~5 years incoming game

what do you say?

 

[paperfox]

well adding another 4870 is the better value in upgrading compared to getting a 5870 since you already have a 4870. infact crossfire 4870 = 5870 in performance. the trade off with getting a 5 series card now is that you have DX11 support where as adding another 4870 is cheaper for the same performance increase. eventually games will come out that only support DX11 so your DX10 4870 cards wont be able to play those games. as to whether 4870s will last you 3-5 years, its just to far into the future to tell, but mostlikely a 5000 series card will over a 4000 series.

 

[cyber07]

well adding another 4870 is the better value in upgrading compared to getting a 5870 since you already have a 4870. infact crossfire 4870 = 5870 in performance. the trade off with getting a 5 series card now is that you have DX11 support where as adding another 4870 is cheaper for the same performance increase. eventually games will come out that only support DX11 so your DX10 4870 cards wont be able to play those games. as to whether 4870s will last you 3-5 years, its just to far into the future to tell, but mostlikely a 5000 series card will over a 4000 series.

oh i see ..

i just have in my mind if i have HD4870x2 + HD4870 in CF, but still in doubt because that DX11 support

can i play game that support DX11 in DX10? such as Resident Evil 5 that can choose to play in DX10 or DX9. i hope the game makers would be kind enough to make the game that works in DX11 playable smoothly on DX10, so it's not necessary to change it to 5 series

 

[paperfox]

I’m sure they might make some dx10/11 games it’s just the dx11 and dx11/12 games that can’t be played on 4870s. It’s a big trade off/gamble between DX version, price and performance.

 

[shubham1401]

^Yes you can play DX11 games in DX10(And even DX9)...


First of all tell us the native resolution of your monitor.Cuz spending $$ for a 5 series card for a 1650X1050 resolution monitor won't pay off.

And HD4870 is a very powerful card itself.You can just keep it for a while if you aren't an enthusiast.

Don't get a 4870x2.You might think about 4870 CF or buying a 5XXX card,
But first tell the resolution.

 

[cyber07]

^Yes you can play DX11 games in DX10(And even DX9)...


First of all tell us the native resolution of your monitor.Cuz spending $$ for a 5 series card for a 1650X1050 resolution monitor won't pay off.

And HD4870 is a very powerful card itself.You can just keep it for a while if you aren't an enthusiast.

Don't get a 4870x2.You might think about 4870 CF or buying a 5XXX card,
But first tell the resolution.

i got BenQ LCD E900W 19" WXGA+, res of 1440x900 maybe ?

 

[paperfox]

your single 4870 will handle your 1440x900 screen for a very long time. by the ime you do need to upgrade id get a 5000 series card. maybe untill we hear rumors of the 6000 series you will be looking to upgrade.

 

[shubham1401]

Your card is good enough for your Screen and resolution.
So no need to change the card.
Cuz you won't be able to notice the difference.

 

[jyjjy]

Yes, your current single card is overkill for 1440x900. By a rather large degree actually. I would only consider adding another HD4870 if you upgrade to at least an 1920x1080 monitor and even then a single HD4870 should be pretty good.

 

[JofaMang]

I get away with a 4870 512mb @ 1920x1080, unless it's too heavy of a game, then I will drop down to 1680x1050 or 1440x900 to maintain buttery smoothness. I wish I had gone with the 1gb model, mind you, but the 512mb version has served me well.

I have also had a 4870x2, and while it was fantastic for 1920x1080, at any resolution below that, there was very minimal performance difference, other than allowing me to bump up the AA a level or two. I am excluding the standard Crysis/GTAIV example, but talking about pretty much every other game I have played.

 

[Mudit Sathe]

Your current HD 4870 is more than sufficient.But if you still want to upgrade 5XXX series has come.

 

[cyber07]

I am not an enthusiast but I want everything clean for several years. I mean, I don't really interesting about new graphic products maybe because " the condition" inside my pocket. I want my recent card with add extra one, perhaps HD4870x2, that could do as good as the new ones until I make my mind to spend for another build, which mean my card no longer suitable for gaming. that's all

and would it put too much stress to my HD4870 if I add HD4870x2?

 

[jyjjy]

You do not need a new card or even anything close to as powerful as your current card for the resolution you are using. All adding another card will do is raise your power bill.
If you really feel the need to spend some money then what you want to do is add another HD4870 and get yourself a good 1920x1080+ monitor.

 

[paperfox]

Adding a 4870x2 on top of your 4870 while only playing at 1440x900 resolution will not get you any performance increase. However if like jyjjy says, you get a bigger monitor then you can benefit from the x2 card upgrade.

 

[cyber07]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/260564-33-4870x2-4870-fire-benchmarks-quad-core-results

ok, let say i already have 1920x1080+ monitor and i add HD4870x2. can i expect more than that benchmark? i've read driver issues about ATI CF that can't work even better than a single card.

 

[paperfox]

You should. he was using 9.1 drivers which are well 11? months old. Also i think a number of months back tri and quad fire got a big FPS boost.

One thing to consider is that he was using an overclocked E8400 @ 3.9ghz while you have a PII 965. Point being you might need to overclock to "unlock" a good amount of extra FPS.

Also you might need to upgrade your 750w PSU. The 4870x2 says it recomends a 650w for one, and 1000w for two. So if adding a second X2 card adds 350, take half that and it gives me 825w for three 4870s.

 

[atomicprince11]

I have the same card and resolution as you do.
I can run dirt 2 on 50 fps on the highest options.
I don't think there would be a problem until 2 or 3 years, running games over 30 fps.
and if you feel a lack at that time, Consider buying a 5xxx or 6xxx card then.

 

[jyjjy]

Why are you so intent on so many cards? 2 HD4870s would be fantastic for 1920x1080. A better call would be ditching your current card and getting an HD5870. Cards more powerful than that or two HD4870s are only really useful for 2560x1600. Even your single HD4870 is a fine card for 1920x1080 if you upgrade your monitor. Just keep what you have and donate the money you seem intent on spending to Haiti instead of obsessing over expensive upgrades of questionable value.

 

[shubham1401]

^+1.

 

[cyber07]

the main reason is, I am not willing to change my card to a new expensive card. And why I am intent on so many cards? that because of my cocky neighbors, i just want to show them that brand new and powerful card are not the best, by adding extra cards that should do the same as brand new ones ( perhaps not exactly the same, but close )

about you, jyjjy, and paperfox said before, considering that i use 750W and I have to change PSU again if i go for HD4870x2, maybe I shall go for another HD4870 then.

but is HD4870 CF that good for me? arrrghh damn !!
is there any benchmark that fully satisfy me and make up my mind to go for HD4870 CF?

 

[jyjjy]

I'm sorry but new powerful cards ARE actually the best... there's no getting around that. Why are you not willing to change your card to a new expensive card but instead want to get an OLD, hot, power hungry, equally expensive card?
Spending way too much money to capture the most performance using old tech will prove nothing to your neighbor other than that he is smarter, has a lower power bill and computer that doesn't double as a space heater.
In terms of practical upgrades to improve your actual gaming experience the first step would be a new monitor, probably 1920x1080. This will be a huge upgrade and your current card will still perform quite well. If after trying it out for a while you feel like it's performance isn't good enough then get yourself a second HD4870 or consider Ebaying your current card and grabbing an HD5850.

 

[notty22]

this reads like a train wreck. You guys can't convince him to stop settling on a 4780x2 when he already has a 4870, let him buy that expensive card and unbalance his whole system , because thats what would happen. 4870 in crossfire has 5870 power its been explained, they can run hot. 4780x2 does run hot , put those together and you will probably not even run correctly.
Why not buy a shiny 23' monitor to show the neighbor ?