Quick question about Crossfire

[taylorhuston]

I am building a new system. I am starting off with two 5770 in crossfire. That's pretty straightforward. But I would like to keep the option to ad a third or fourth down the line. But I have been reading in some reviews for 5770s on Newegg that some only have one Crossfire port on them, and therefore can only be connected to one other board, so adding a third later is out of the question. This is the card I am looking at because it's a good price right now, but I don't want to get it if it's going to hinder my upgrade path later.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317&cm_re=5770-_-14-161-317-_-Product

 

[taylorhuston]

7 Viewers and not one response?

 

[gkay09]

^ If you want Triple-Crossfire option, then any of these HD 5770s...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106793261%201067950041&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16814131327%2CN82E16814102864%2CN82E16814102868
Noticed the 2 Crossfire ports on them ?

 

[taylorhuston]

Kk. That's what I thought just wanted to make sure. Thanks!

 

[gkay09]

^ What board are you planning to buy ?

 

[taylorhuston]

Mobo and Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.322820

 

[gkay09]

^ That is a good board...Good Luck...

 

[taylorhuston]

In fact so far this is what I have:

Mobo and proc:
965 BE, MSI-790FX
$326.99 ($30 combo discount)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.322820

CPU Cooler:
Cooler Master Hyper 212
$29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
Cheap, good reviews, hoping it doesn't overtake any of my ram slots

Memory:
2 X 2GB Ripjaw DDR3 1600
$84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Case:
Coolermaster 690
$69.99 ($15 off)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

HDD:
WD Blue 320GB
$49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074
For the OS. I have a 1.5 TB that's in my current rig to house all of my videos, music, etc.

Video Card:
XFX 5770
$169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

I also have a OCZ 700W modular PSU that I am going to use. Should be enough, I think.

Debating on getting the second video card now, and possibly another 4G of RAM.

 

[gkay09]

^ +1 for another HD 5770 ...For normal usage(Including games), there will be no significant improvement with RAM over 4GB RAM...

And as for the HDD, this is bigger and better for just $5 more...
Samsung F3 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

 

[taylorhuston]

I am also going to be doing some graphic design and animation work on it. I am in my last trimester of college for my degree in video game design. Doing some work with Maya, and after that I am going to teach myself 3DS Max and Blender. That's why I am getting a quad core instead of a higher clocked dual core. Another 4G of RAM should help with that type of software?

 

[Guest]

^ If you want Triple-Crossfire option, then any of these HD 5770s...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106793261%201067950041&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16814131327%2CN82E16814102864%2CN82E16814102868
Noticed the 2 Crossfire ports on them ?

And for what it's worth, I currently have 2xGigabyte 5770's Crossfired in my rig and they each have 2 Crossfire ports as well.

 

[gkay09]

@TaylorHuston why not go with HD 5850 and Phenom X4 955 with ASUS 790X for now and get 8GB of RAM...
Yes I know the 790X has only x8x8, but there wont be any performance hit running the cards at that speed...But more importantly, you would be able to get 8GB or RAM and a powerful card in your build, with an option to add 1 more later on...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315717

 

[taylorhuston]

@TaylorHuston why not go with HD 5850 and Phenom X4 955 with ASUS 790X for now and get 8GB of RAM...
Yes I know the 790X has only x8x8, but there wont be any performance hit running the cards at that speed...But more importantly, you would be able to get 8GB or RAM and a powerful card in your build, with an option to add 1 more later on...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315717

Hmm that's a good point. I was originally planning on just getting one 5770 which is a damn good card for $170. Then as I was playing around with it in my head I started to think "Ahh why not go ahead and splurge and get the second one", never thought about it but a 5850 is cheaper and almost as fast and your right I can get another one later down the line.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127471
Overclocked out of the box (though is there any advatnage to buying and OC'd video card as opposed to buying a stock one then just OCing it yourself?)

I've read that the 790FX is AMD's enthusiast Northbridge and therefore is better for overclocking, and I'd like to keep the possibility of adding a third card in the mix later.

 

[gkay09]

^ Keeping the 790FX is upto you...and FYI the new 890 series chipsets will be launching by March...

As for that graphics card, for that price, it is a good deal for an overclocked card...Stick with it...

 

[taylorhuston]

Parts got here today, no bios, no post beeps. Fans kick on and LEDs work, but no audio or visual feedback.

Mobo diagnostic LED says 'FF' which according to the manual means 'Power on and first initialze CPU'. Seems to be the first step, never makes it past.

Processor seems to be generating no heat. Left it run for 20 minutes, shut it down, pulled off the heatsink, processor was ice cold.

Dead CPU?

 

[gkay09]

Go through this checklist...will surely help with your PC's diagnosis...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-problems

 

[EXT64]

Does your case or motherboard have a speaker to make beeps?