Only PCIe 1.0 8x, will 5770 be bandwidth limited vs. 5670?

[toscrawford]

I need a single-slot PCIe card (no double-wides) for my PCIe 8x 1.0 motherboard. Will the limited bandwidth strangle a 5770? I can get the 5670 for half the price.

5770: $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150501&cm_re=xfx_5770-_-14-150-501-_-Product

5670: $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467&cm_re=xfx_5670-_-14-150-467-_-Product

My software requirements are speedy business applications on three monitors plus light gaming like SC2.

The box is a Dell PowerEdge 2850 server in workstation mode running dual 3.6GHz Xeon hyper-threaded, Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, 6GB RAM and 6xSCSI 15K in RAID 5 configuration. I have plenty of powersupply with dual 750W, but would have to buy some additional cables to power up the 5770.

I will have to buy a converter to go from display port to HDMI or DVI in either case, or spring for a 1920x1200 monitor that accepts display port. I'm open to suggestions in the near 28" $300 range.

My question is, for my purposes, is the 5770 overkill at twice the price?

Thanks

 

[g00fysmiley]

no it wont' really be choking a 5770 on a 1.0 8x really most things won't use a x16 to begin with..

for your use it sounds like the 5670 might be fine, though the 5770 will make the light gaming alot nicer

as for monitor in 300 range hat would be nice

27" asus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236091

329.9 10 bucks to ship and asus makes really nice displays , has dvi input or hdmi

 

[wa1]

You need a single slot card, right?
So you'll better with HD5670. Yes, HD5770 is MUCH FASTER than HD5670, but a single slot HD5770 would generate a lot of heat, specially on gaming.

And don't worry about that 1.0 x8 slot, you won't see the difference.
Just make sure your choose HD5670 2.0 version and NOT HD5670 2.1 version, since your slot is 1.0.

 

[toscrawford]

You need a single slot card, right?
So you'll better with HD5670. Yes, HD5770 is MUCH FASTER than HD5670, but a single slot HD5770 would generate a lot of heat, specially on gaming.

And don't worry about that 1.0 x8 slot, you won't see the difference.
Just make sure your choose HD5670 2.0 version and NOT HD5670 2.1 version, since your slot is 1.0.

What's that? Why would a 2.0 card be backward compatible and a 2.1 card not be backward compatible? I would have never guess that.

 

[wa1]

There's many issues with 1.0 slot running 2.1 card, so for safety get that HD5670 2.0 version...
Technically, they all backward compatible, but in reality, some case it works, while the other fails...

 

[toscrawford]

I went with the HD5670. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467&cm_re=xfx_5670-_-14-150-467-_-Product

It should have enough power and I'm happy to save the money. Plus it's PCIe 2.0 compliant per your recommendation.

Heat wouldn't have been a problem. This server has six fans installed and sounds like a Jet at take-off when you power it up.

 

[wa1]

you'll be fine with that card, it won't produce a lot amount of heat, don't worry about that...
yes, that's a single slot version. and it's 2.0 version.
Enjoy your card...

 

[toscrawford]

While I have your attention, the card I bought has DP, HDMI and DVI ports. I want to use three monitors. If I don't upgrade my current displays I have 2xVGA and 1xHDMI/DVI.

I already have a DVI to VGA adapter. I already have an HDMI cable. That leaves one monitor without a cable.

Is it better (cheaper) to use (DP to HDMI/DVI + HDMI to VGA) or (DP to VGA + HDMI to HDMI)? Assuming monoprice.com, which cables are required?

I've heard DP to DVI or DP to VGA requires a chip in the cable like this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042801&p_id=5135&seq=1&format=2#description

The passive adapters are $10 cheaper, but will they work?

 

[wa1]

Yes, that's the one, you must use the active displayport...

 

[toscrawford]

Off-topic, but what's the deal with getting sound out of a video card? Some seem to output sound over HDMI I presume into a receiver, and from there into a monitor? That would seem to add undesirable latency. What am I missing? What can the card I got do for sound?

The reason I ask is because this server doesn't have a sound card either. As soon as I can prove to myself that the video card works I'll be looking for a sound card (PCI-X and PCIe x4 slots available if you want to make any suggestions).

 

[wa1]

Yes, you can add a PCI sound card if your server doesn't have it at all..

 

[RazberyBandit]

What's that? Why would a 2.0 card be backward compatible and a 2.1 card not be backward compatible? I would have never guess that.

They're actually both 2.1 anyway. All 5000-series cards are. Many PCI-E 1.x motherboards don't support 2.1 cards because they lost manufacturer support before 2.1 was even close to becoming the next standard.

The key question is, will your motherboard support a PCI-E 2.1 card? Check with the manufacturer on that, as it will likely require a BIOS update. In terms of performance, I'd go with the 5770, especially if you're considering a large, 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200 resolution monitor.

 

[toscrawford]

Best answer selected by toscrawford.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey