Cheap gaming graphic cards for multiple (3) displays/monitors

[willardthor]

Hi,

I am putting together a gaming build (intel i5 2500k), and I am looking for cheap-but-gameable graphic card(s) for a 3-monitor setup 1920x1200 each, or 1920x1080 each (recommendations?).

Why cheap: I am waiting for the AMD 7xxx series graphics cards to hit the market for a reasonable price (at which point I will buy 2, and CrossFire them), and need something to game on in the mean time.

On a relevant note: Can you recommend monitors? Should I get monitors with DisplayPort connectivity, or just use the DVI connectors?

Cheers,
Willard.

 

[swifty_morgan]

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/21184

near the bottom....................

 

[willardthor]

I looked at reviews for this card, and apparently, people were not very impressed by the punch/price ratio...

Here's an idea.

I hear the Radeon HD 5770 has a good punch/price ratio,

and that the Radeon HD 6950 is generally a great card.

Would it be better to

■get 2 Radeon HD 5770 cards and run them in CrossFire, or
■get 1 Radeon HD 6950 (and if so, how much VRAM for a 5760x1200 resolution?)

By the way, do graphics cards have a maximum resolution, or are these just given by the vendors as a guideline?

 

[swifty_morgan]

that card isn't available yet so I have my doubts that an actual user panned it............. you said cheap to hold you over until you could get an upgrade...... a 5770 is a waste of money for either of those resolutions...... with a 3 monitor set up you'll need at least a 2gig card....... a 6950 ( 6950 cross fire ) is a good start but if you have plans on getting the 7000 series card......... ????? and as a matter of fact a 6950 2gig would be the minimum card I would purchase at this point in time.

 

[willardthor]

that card isn't available yet so I have my doubts that an actual user panned it............. you said cheap to hold you over until you could get an upgrade...... a 5770 is a waste of money for either of those resolutions...... with a 3 monitor set up you'll need at least a 2gig card....... a 6950 ( 6950 cross fire ) is a good start but if you have plans on getting the 7000 series card......... ????? and as a matter of fact a 6950 2gig would be the minimum card I would purchase at this point in time.

Will one HD 6950 suffice, or do I need 2 in crossfire?

 

[swifty_morgan]

it'll be good for now if you're running 1 monitor but you may need to cross fire depending on your individual needs when you run 3.