HD 6950 2gb Crossfire help - No real PC experience plz help

[p0rtal]

Howdy, I am new to gaming pc rigs and really do not know much about what crossfire or running dual gpus. I'd like my new rig to run the highest res possible for whatever game I play and have very high fps. I am not sure if my psu can handle it nor what the requirements would be for crossfire HD 6950s would be. Any help or advice is appreciated.

These are my specs. Do I need to upgrade my power supply or can this handle dual cards? It doesn't offer what brand it is, just that its 800w. I won't get the actual desktop for another few days so I wanted to know what I should do. Thanks!
-Mike

General Spec
Brand
iBUYPOWER
Model
Gamer Supreme 956SDLC
Type
Gaming
Processor
Intel Core i7-960 3.2GHz
Processor Main Features
64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Memory
12GB DDR3 1333
Hard Drive
64GB 2.5" SSD
1TB SATA II
Optical Drive 1
24x DVDRW Drive
Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 6950 2GB
Audio
Sound card - Integrated
Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Power Supply
800W
Keyboard
iBUYPOWER USB Deluxe Keyboard
Mouse
iBUYPOWER USB Mouse
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Special Features
NZXT Phantom Gaming Tower

iBUYPOWER 240mm Dual Radiator Liquid Cooler
CPU
CPU Type
Intel Core i7
Installed Qty
1
CPU Speed
960(3.20GHz)
L3 Cache Per CPU
8MB
CPU Socket Type
LGA 1366
CPU Main Features
64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Graphics
GPU/VPU Type
AMD Radeon HD 6950
Graphics Interface
PCI Express 2.0 x16
Memory
Memory Capacity
12GB DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3 1333
Form Factor
DIMM 240-pin
Memory Spec
2GB x 6
Memory Slot (Total)
6
Memory Slot (Available)
0
Maximum Memory Supported
24GB
Hard Drive
HDD Capacity
64GB + 1TB
HDD Interface
SATA II
HDD Spec
Main Hard: Drive 64GB 2.5" SATA SSD
Hard Disk Drive#2: 1TB Serial-ATA-II
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type
DVD±RW
Optical Drive Spec
24x DVDRW Drive
Audio
Audio Chipset
Integrated
Audio Channels
8 channels
Communications
LAN Chipset
Integrated
LAN Speed
10/100/1000Mbps
Front Panel Ports
Front USB
2
Front eSATA
1 x e-SATA (based on motherboard availability)
Front Audio Ports
1 x HD Audio/Mic Jacks
Back Panel Ports
PS/2
2
Rear USB
6
Rear IEEE 1394
1
eSATA
1
RJ45
1 port
Rear Audio Ports
6 ports
S/P DIF
1 x Optical S/PDIF Out
Expansion
External Bays
5 x external 5.25" drive bays
Internal Bays
7 x internal 3.5" drive bays (3.5"/2.5" SDD Support)
PCI Slots (Available/Total)
2 x PCI-Express x16 (SLI & Crossfire Ready)
2 x PCI-Express x1
2 x PCI
Mouse
Mouse Type
USB Mouse
Keyboard
Keyboard Type
USB Keyboard
Physical Spec
Dimensions
24.56" x 8.74" x 21.31"
Weight
48 lbs.

 

[ricardois]

Looks like it is ok, your motherboard can handle crossfire with 2x pci-e 16x, your videocards in crossfire will offer a good performance;

about the psu if the brand is good 800w is enough for crossfire with dual 6950;

everething looks ok for crossfire;

 

[p0rtal]

Ya, I guess what I am worried about most is not having enough connectors on the psu. I'd be a bit upset if I got the extra 6950 and found out all the plugs were in use already and i did need an upgrade on the psu lol :[ No way of knowing until I open her up, I guess

:\

 

[swifty_morgan]

if your system is running right I don't see any reason right now to run 2 cards. what makes you think you need to ?

 

[signor]

As a heads up with regards to connectors, if needed you can run multiple molex to 6 pin connectors (possibly 8 pin but ive never seen it), so you should be fine with connectors. If your PSU is modular (spare slots on the back for extra cables) then you should be perfectly fine aswell.

 

[randomkid]

if your system is running right I don't see any reason right now to run 2 cards. what makes you think you need to ?

Agree with this question. If you are gaming only on a single 1920x1080 monitor, the 6950 is plenty. I would only recommend a 2nd 6950 if you are into multi-monitor eyefinity set-up at 5760x1080 or more.

 

[p0rtal]

It was recommended that I do so by a friend if I wanted to run the latest games like Batman City and BF3 on absolutely maxed out settings at the highest res allowed, via my 32inch lcd. After some researching on me own I am just not sure what to do, some benchmark sites say it runs games like Batman Arkham City on max settings at max res with X amount fps that is well over 60+, but on another site it says its far less and closer to 30fps, same setting and same res.

I guess the wiser thing to do is just wait and see how it works out and if I am getting low fps I'll toss another one in.

 

[ricardois]

It was recommended that I do so by a friend if I wanted to run the latest games like Batman City and BF3 on absolutely maxed out settings at the highest res allowed, via my 32inch lcd. After some researching on me own I am just not sure what to do, some benchmark sites say it runs games like Batman Arkham City on max settings at max res with X amount fps that is well over 60+, but on another site it says its far less and closer to 30fps, same setting and same res.

I guess the wiser thing to do is just wait and see how it works out and if I am getting low fps I'll toss another one in.

IF you really wan't MAX settings yes you will need both, even only at 1080p there will be games you will not be able to max out with only one 6950;

so if you really want go to max yes you will need both, about the psu if the brand is good there is no need to worry, conectores will not be a problem with 800w, normally they come with 4x 6+2 pin pci-e;

back to the crossfire, the only problem is that not all games may gain so much performance with SLI, some games will need specific drivers and updates, so it is something you will need to keep chasing always the last drivers,etc...

 

[p0rtal]

Ya. I saw that the newer batman game doesn't really scale up with crossfire or sli vs just one great gpu. I am going to pick up another 6950 today but wanted to ask if they usually come with the +fire bridge piece, or would I need to buy it separate from newegg? Not sure which brand I want though, seems some come with dirt 3 which I am not at all interested in lol

 

[ricardois]

Ya. I saw that the newer batman game doesn't really scale up with crossfire or sli vs just one great gpu. I am going to pick up another 6950 today but wanted to ask if they usually come with the +fire bridge piece, or would I need to buy it separate from newegg? Not sure which brand I want though, seems some come with dirt 3 which I am not at all interested in lol

if they come in the box, yes they will have sli bridge, it is stock item.

if the one you got is from a good brand, take another of that safer for SLI;

 

[p0rtal]

Well, I am a bit short on funds for another identical card but have plenty for the 1gb version. Dual 6950s, 1gb and a 2gb. This works, right? If so Im going to buy it right now.

 

[jjb8675309]

yeah you will just be limited to 1 gig of vram for both cards, what is your psu make and model ibuypowerpc is such a ripoff you could have built much better with you own effort

 

[p0rtal]

No I couldn't have, I got it open box for $900 with free shipping. This system would have easily cost upwards of 2,000.

I don't want to be limited, so I'll just wait and get another 2gb card when I can.

 

[ricardois]

No I couldn't have, I got it open box for $900 with free shipping. This system would have easily cost upwards of 2,000.

I don't want to be limited, so I'll just wait and get another 2gb card when I can.

yes if your video card is 2gb, and you add another 1gb, both will work at 1gb, so does not worth it... stay single for now, and when you got the money (if you still think you need more performance) take another 2gb too.

 

[p0rtal]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm heading up to the bank right now to pull funds for another identical card, another 2gb hehe

 

[jjb8675309]

if that makes you feel better, I would never buy a prebuilt, you are still paying for a bunch of crap that you do not need, but I guess 900 sounds good, still for the money id build my own

what is your PSU make and model? I would not run cfx 6950s with a no name PSU

 

[ricardois]

Just one thing i've forgot to mention, the SLI cables DON'T come with the video card, they actually come with the MOTHERBOARD, since your motherboard supports sli, in the box should be the cable;

 

[p0rtal]

I'm a bit confused by that...what crap is in there that I dont need considering the price of building it yourself would cost just a hair under 2 grand? All the parts are the same, a SSD is very needed and I've a huge collection of music so a 1tb hdd is pretty great, dual gpus for high res gaming on a 32 inch lcd at 240htz, i7 for good processing speed...really the only thing that is overkill is the 12gb of ram.

anywho, we will see if the psu is good or not. I can always upgrade it.

 

[cliffro]

The PSU is a SolyTech 800w with what looks like 4 12v rails.

Can been seen and zoomed in on here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227342

 

[p0rtal]

brilliant! nice catch didnt even see the extra pictures

 

[jjb8675309]

Well all I can say is that the PSU is an absolute piece of crap, Id replace that immediatley and rock your nice rig

Also I like that case a lot

 

[randomkid]

Just one thing i've forgot to mention, the SLI cables DON'T come with the video card, they actually come with the MOTHERBOARD, since your motherboard supports sli, in the box should be the cable;

It may also come from the graphics card & in some case also from the motherboard. It depends on the product bundle. But for dual 6950 the OP will need crossfire bridge & not SLI. SLI is for nVidia cards.

 

[p0rtal]

Well, I already purchased the 2nd gpu so that wont be a problem hopefully. As for the psu, it will have to do for another month or so until I can afford something better. Unless I can get a better one for $50 there isn't anything I can do hah, the 2nd gpu cleared me out

And yes the case looks like a turret from portal