Upgrading HD4850 to Eyefinity Card

[Mantrum]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
This week or next week

BUDGET RANGE:
100-200€ / 125-250$ (willing to cough up some extra cash for potential MoBo or PSU upgrades)

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
■ triple monitor desktop use
■ single monitor gaming
■ triple monitor gaming (optional, see below)
■ 1080p video playback
Games:
■ Borderlands (currently too choppy to play at 1680x1050 with dynamic shadows on, enjoyable but choppy in some situations with shadows off)
■ Left 4 Dead 2 (running fine at 1680x1050 as it is)
■ Being at least somewhat set for future games would be nice

From what I read, Borderlands is very GPU-intensive, so I assume with a 1920x1080 monitor part of the upgrade will be offset by the increased resolution. If running the game on max settings
at 1920x1080 is too much to ask within my budget range, I'd welcome pointers at both cards
that can run the game under said parameters at 1680x1050 and cards that exceed my budget.

Running the Borderlands at full AA (via Catalyst, the game itself doesn't support AA) is optional.

Whether or not running the game in triple monitor mode (3x 1680x1050) would be realistic with
your suggested cards might prove relevant to my decision as to what to get as my new primary monitor.

Video Playback:
■ My current setup performs well at 1680x1050, so I assume there will be no issues at 1920x1080 either, seeing as downscaling will cease to be a factor.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
GFX: ASUS EAH4850 (ATI Radeon HD 4850, 512MB DDR3 at 993MHz / 1986MHz effective)
PSU: Delta Electronics DPS-460CB C (460W)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz (might overclock after upgrading)

MoBo: Some Intel 975X by HP
(has 1x PCIe x16 and another "PCIe x16 (x4 electrical" slot. If I'm reading that right, that probably rules out CrossFire with this MoBo?)

RAM: 4GB DDR2

My case is some generic HP workstation case which currently only has two fans at the back (1x case, 1x PSU). Will probably add another one at the front to create a proper air stream. Might be willing to upgrade to a case better suited to overclocking if it would really make a difference as I'm looking at
new cases anyway in the process of an HDD upgrade.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:
Doesn't matter / just use newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES:
None

OVERCLOCKING:
Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:
Only if it makes sense to use my current HD4850 as a secondary. So probably no.

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Currently: 2x 1680x1050 (1x for gaming)
Soon: 3x 1680x1050 (in that case triple-display gaming would be nice, but optional)
OR 1920x1080 + 2x 1680x1050 (1080p single-display gaming)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
■ Must support simultaneous use of 3+ monitors required (i.e. ATI Eyefinity)
■ Must be less noisy than my incredibly annoying ASUS HD4850

 

[unknown_13]

I'm afraid that you'll have to upgrade your CPU. (and the mobo + new DDR3 RAM)

As for the question, the best price/performance option would be 2x5830 in Xfire, that should provide enough power to play games smoothly on an eyefinity setup. A quality 600W PSU from Antec, Corsair, OCZ, CM should do the job.

 

[sabot00]

I'm afraid Borderlands is horribly optimized, you have 5870's parring GTX 260's, my friends 9500GT killing my 4850, etc, if you want to soley play Borderlands (especially with multi-monitor), then you're gonna want nVidia.

 

[crazybaldhead]

I'm afraid that you'll have to upgrade your CPU. (and the mobo + new DDR3 RAM)

As for the question, the best price/performance option would be 2x5830 in Xfire, that should provide enough power to play games smoothly on an eyefinity setup. A quality 600W PSU from Antec, Corsair, OCZ, CM should do the job.

The 5830s don't support Crossfire.

http://game.amd.com/us-en/content/images/crossfirex/CF_combo_chart.jpg

 

[unknown_13]

The 5830s don't support Crossfire.

http://game.amd.com/us-en/content/images/crossfirex/CF_combo_chart.jpg

Oh, is that so??
I guess you haven't read this ones and you haven't been folowing Tom's Builder Maraton Series.

Sapphire Radeon HD 5830 in Crossfire
ATI Radeon HD 5830 Crossfire Review

......

Search the net a little more before posting nonesences.

 

[decode]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
This week or next week

BUDGET RANGE:
100-200€ / 125-250$ (willing to cough up some extra cash for potential MoBo or PSU upgrades)

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
■ triple monitor desktop use
■ single monitor gaming
■ triple monitor gaming (optional, see below)
■ 1080p video playback
Games:
■ Borderlands (currently too choppy to play at 1680x1050 with dynamic shadows on, enjoyable but choppy in some situations with shadows off)
■ Left 4 Dead 2 (running fine at 1680x1050 as it is)
■ Being at least somewhat set for future games would be nice

From what I read, Borderlands is very GPU-intensive, so I assume with a 1920x1080 monitor part of the upgrade will be offset by the increased resolution. If running the game on max settings
at 1920x1080 is too much to ask within my budget range, I'd welcome pointers at both cards
that can run the game under said parameters at 1680x1050 and cards that exceed my budget.

Running the Borderlands at full AA (via Catalyst, the game itself doesn't support AA) is optional.

Whether or not running the game in triple monitor mode (3x 1680x1050) would be realistic with
your suggested cards might prove relevant to my decision as to what to get as my new primary monitor.

Video Playback:
■ My current setup performs well at 1680x1050, so I assume there will be no issues at 1920x1080 either, seeing as downscaling will cease to be a factor.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
GFX: ASUS EAH4850 (ATI Radeon HD 4850, 512MB DDR3 at 993MHz / 1986MHz effective)
PSU: Delta Electronics DPS-460CB C (460W)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz (might overclock after upgrading)

MoBo: Some Intel 975X by HP
(has 1x PCIe x16 and another "PCIe x16 (x4 electrical" slot. If I'm reading that right, that probably rules out CrossFire with this MoBo?)

RAM: 4GB DDR2

My case is some generic HP workstation case which currently only has two fans at the back (1x case, 1x PSU). Will probably add another one at the front to create a proper air stream. Might be willing to upgrade to a case better suited to overclocking if it would really make a difference as I'm looking at
new cases anyway in the process of an HDD upgrade.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:
Doesn't matter / just use newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES:
None

OVERCLOCKING:
Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:
Only if it makes sense to use my current HD4850 as a secondary. So probably no.

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Currently: 2x 1680x1050 (1x for gaming)
Soon: 3x 1680x1050 (in that case triple-display gaming would be nice, but optional)
OR 1920x1080 + 2x 1680x1050 (1080p single-display gaming)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
■ Must support simultaneous use of 3+ monitors required (i.e. ATI Eyefinity)
■ Must be less noisy than my incredibly annoying ASUS HD4850

Seeing as your limited to ATI I'd recommend the 5850 shown here although its $40 out of you price range, or $20 after rebate, It is however OC'd and quite a cool running card, Exactly what you want.

However, for the sake of considering that you just CANNOT afford the extra $20-40 I recommend this 5830 which comes in at 199.99 plus $8 shipping, Although you can get one for 199.99 with free shipping, I believe that Gigabyte is a better brand than HIS, It should perform on par, or better than a GTX 460.

EDIT: Just spotted THIS 5830 its a stock overclocked Asus at $209.00, although it only ends up being $189.00 with rebate

 

[unknown_13]

Seeing as your limited to ATI I'd recommend the 5850 shown here although its $40 out of you price range, or $20 after rebate, It is however OC'd and quite a cool running card, Exactly what you want.

However, for the sake of considering that you just CANNOT afford the extra $20-40 I recommend this 5830 which comes in at 199.99 plus $8 shipping, Although you can get one for 199.99 with free shipping, I believe that Gigabyte is a better brand than HIS, It should perform on par, or better than a GTX 460.

EDIT: Just spotted THIS 5830 its a stock overclocked Asus at $209.00, although it only ends up being $189.00 with rebate

I think that a single 5830 won't provide good enough performance in Eyefinity.

 

[decode]

Yeah, thats why I recommended the 5850 first, however if money really is a limitation he will have to suffice with a 5830..

As a side note, if you wait a month or two details of Southern Islands will be released and the 5xxx Series will drop in price.

 

[unknown_13]

Yeah, thats why I recommended the 5850 first, however if money really is a limitation he will have to suffice with a 5830..

As a side note, if you wait a month or two details of Southern Islands will be released and the 5xxx Series will drop in price.

Maybe that's the best solution.

 

[Mantrum]

Thanks for your responses so far!

Regarding upgrading CPU/MoBo/RAM:

Building a whole new system isn't out of the question, especially if my CPU and RAM would bottleneck the new GPU so much that it would offset a major portion of the upgrade.

On the other hand, if the GPU upgrade would provide for a sufficient performance boost to let me play Borderlands at max settings, I think postponing the CPU/MoBo/RAM upgrade until I absolutely need it would allow me to eventually get better hardware for the same money.

Seeing as your limited to ATI I'd recommend the 5850 shown here although its $40 out of you price range, or $20 after rebate, It is however OC'd and quite a cool running card, Exactly what you want.

I'd be willing to spend some extra cash if it's the more future-proof decision and/or the value for money is right.

How big would you say is the performance tradeoff on the ASUS HD5830 you linked in comparison to the MSI HD5850?

As a side note, if you wait a month or two details of Southern Islands will be released and the 5xxx Series will drop in price.

That's an option. Any idea by how much I can expect the price to drop?

 

[decode]

You should see quite a performance improvement, 10~20+% I think? correct me if im wrong.

As for the price drop, I'd say maybe..... 25~50% ?

Worth the wait, and then you might even wait to buy the next gen dependent upon benchmarks.

EDIT: Performance increase from 5830 ASUS OC to 5850 MSi OC seems to be about the 20% mark, No more than 25% however.

 

[Mantrum]

Best answer selected by Mantrum.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey