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swiftor

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It's upgrade time, I'd like some advice on a future BUDGET eyefinity setup.
I already have a 20" Asus vh202t-p.
I am looking to get an HD 6850 (that's the highest my budget will allow) and a second monitor in the next 30days (the third one will have to wait). Current budget: $360.

Should I:
1. Stick with 20" monitors and get two extra Asus vh202t-p's (or other 20" monitors: dell, acer...) for a 4800x900 setup? I don't mind the bezel difference.

2. or Attempt a 23" setup and get an Asus vh236h now, 2 extra ones later for a 5670x1080? I'd have to ditch my current monitor.

3. or Attempt a 20"-23"-20" setup at 4800x900 and get the 23" now and an extra 20" later.

Obviously bigger res monitors are better but is 5670x1080 worth the extra cash knowing that:
1. A single HD 6850 might not able be to handle that much resolution in current games.
2. 20" monitors are selling for dirt cheap.

Current system:
CPU: Core i3-530 at @ 3.5ghz
Mobo: Asus p7-h55 m-pro
RAM: 4GB DDR3 @ 1600mhz
 
I would just go with the extra 2 20" monitors.You already have one why waste it.I think even with 3 20" monitors running eyefinity is alot to ask of a single 6850.I would buy the second card now then buy the other 20" later and they will be dirt cheap.Or you could buy a 6870 and do it that way.According to this review you'd be getting about 40FPS with a single 6850 with 3 1080p monitors.So you might be able to pull it off better with the 3 20",but it's totally up to u.I'm just saying your going to need a bigger card to get max graphics.

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1065/pg14/sapphire-radeon-hd-6850-toxic-edition-review-eyefinity-call-of-duty-black-ops.html

EDIT: what is the make and model of your power supply?
 
Buy 2 of those 23'" or 3 if you can manage the money it looks like a really good deal.
Wait and save up money for the graphics card and just get the monitors now,then get the 6870.

Better to save money and do it right and not rush into it.

Of course this is totally up to you depending on how much FPS you want.

The way it looks if your spend $125 on the 20" and $140 on the 23" you can't even get the 6850.And i would reccomend the 6870 for an eyefinity setup so that it's palyable FPS.

Just buy as many 23" monitors your budget will allow and then save for a 6870.
 

swiftor

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A 6870 and 3x23" monitors would be way out of budget and I wouldn't be using the the 20" monitor I already have.

Getting a 6850 instead would keep the cost of the entire system to a minimum. I could still get the deal on the 23" just because it's a good monitor and go the 20"-23"-20"route. I'm pretty sure a $90 deal for that last 20" will show up within the next 30days.

I might have to give up on high fps but there's still the possibility to overclock the 6850 to 6870 levels.

However, I'm not sure how eyefinity would turn out with a 23" at the center and 20" on the sides.
Besides, this would only allow 4800x900 and that resolution, I might as well go with 3x20" which would make it easier on the 6850 and bring cost even lower.

Any thoughts?
Any experience with unconventional eyefinity setups?
 
No i have no experience with Eyefinitys setups in general...
I would say just to keep them all the same,seems wierd when their uneven.

I would defeinitly agree with 3 20" it is way better for the card to operate at not such a heavy load and better FPS.

If you plan on O.C. make sure you get the AsusDirectCU version.It comes with a voltage tweak that you can get even more out of the card than a traditional reference card.DirectCU versions allow you to apply a 50% overclock performance to a regular card of only 8%

HOLY ***...
Buy this it's the exact version i was talking about and it's open box for $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121399R&cm_re=6850-_-14-121-399R-_-Product
 

swiftor

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Thanks yesitsmario. Do you guys think the price might drop even lower in the coming weeks?
I would hate to pull the trigger now and see an insane deal on this card in two weeks.
 

swiftor

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If this is all gtx460s sli can manage at 4800x900 I wonder if a single hd 6850 can offer any playable fps.

image004.png
 
I've played AvP before and it's really demanding try looking up BFBC2 or Black Ops.I really don't think you would get playable fps with just 1 6850.You might with a 6870 O.C. but i still don't think you would be maxing things out.Should just save up your money for 2 6850's then you would be set.
 

swiftor

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The plan is to eventually get a second card, but that won't happen anytime soon because I would need a motherboard upgrade. And with sandy bridge new cpus and socket coming up, I'd rather wait and let things settle before upgrading.

The resolution question for eyefinity remains though 5670x1080 vs 4800x900.
From that review it seems like a single 6850 would do alright at 5670x1080.
In this case I'm wondering if getting at least one 23" monitor now and leaving the upgrade path for a 3x23" setup open wouldn't be a better option than sticking with 3x20"
 
Its totally up to u,personal perference.I would rather go with 3 20" because i really like having good FPS and eyecandy features like A/A and such.I don't really notice much of a difference between 720p and 1080p monitors for computers.Like i said it's totally up to you,you are the buyer.
 

swiftor

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I got the xfx dual fan instead for $172. I was worried about the Asus cooler exhausting inside the case. Haven't received the card yet, I'll update when I get it (hopefully I won't regret this).
 
O thats really nice the dual fan?Can you post it?

I ust got my 6870 not to long ago,it's such a beast!!!Also good thing oyu got the dual fan,these cards heat up pretty fast and the fan is extremely loud.Hopefully yours won't be to loud since you got the x2 fan.
 

sharpbrick

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ok im going to chime in now and say that 1 6850 is not going to play badco at 3x hd resolution i have 3 1280x1024 lcd's in eyefinity and the hd6870 can just play badco on high blackops how ever it is fine.
i would say go for the 2 20in screens
 

swiftor

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Here is a review of xfx. They got a pair in crossfire.
http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/xfx-hd6850-dual-fan-cfx-review-ultimate-gaming-for-300/3/

Thanks sharpbrick, I'll definitely stick with 20"s then, and I guess I'll just have to lower settings until I get a second card. Hopefully the one card I'm getting will have enough overclocking headroom for playable fps.
 
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