7850 or 6850 Crossfire help

[PanicMaster85]

OK this is my problem,
I have made many threads and each one goes from get the CF and then get the stronger 7850

I already own one 6850 and to get one more would save me money and time.
The 7850 is said to be great and I should get it instead of just getting a second 6850.

Here are the arguments I hear

7850
-No worry of microstuddering
-2GB DDR5
-Easier to install
-Better tessellation filtering

6850 CF
-Better FPS then 7850
-Less money
-Faster for me

Problems

7850
-More money on me
-More Time

6850
-Worry of microstuddering



Here are my specs
CPU- FX-8120
GPU- HD 6850
RAM- 8GB DDR3
MOBO- GA-970a-UD3

Basically the only reason I don't want to get the 6850 is because I am worrying about microstuddering.


Sorry for the long post but thank you for your time!

 

[El Tigre]

After searching around the forums, I see that folks do indeed have issues with micro-stuttering with CF HD 6850's. This happens particularly in Skyrim and BF3. If you want to avoid that issue, then it may be best to sell the HD 6850 and get the HD 7850.


What is the max budget you are willing to spend? a HD 7870 would be a more worthwhile upgrade.

 

[Guest]

- - - -

 

[stickg1]

Again, from what I've read by other users here and across the Internet, you should never start out with a SLI/CrossFireX setup at the start. You should get the best card you can afford, and maybe SLI/CrossFireX later on.

He got the best card he could afford a while ago, hence why he has one 6850 already and is looking to get another.

I had a 6870CFX for a while and didn't experience any microstuttering. I have heard about it though. Honestly I'm a fan of one single card over the CF-X. Especially because of power demands and filling the case up. It's hard to say though, 6850's would perform great, you just never know if you're going to affected by the microstuttering.

How much more performance do you need? If you want a little boost then get the 7850, if you want a huge boost and willing to risk not enjoying the experience, get a 2nd 6850. If it doesn't work you could always sell them both and get a strong single card.

 

[refillable]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127662

7870 Sale price same like 7850 price!!!

Get it fast!

The 6850 you can sell it off ebay

 

[PanicMaster85]

He got the best card he could afford a while ago, hence why he has one 6850 already and is looking to get another.

I had a 6870CFX for a while and didn't experience any microstuttering. I have heard about it though. Honestly I'm a fan of one single card over the CF-X. Especially because of power demands and filling the case up. It's hard to say though, 6850's would perform great, you just never know if you're going to affected by the microstuttering.

How much more performance do you need? If you want a little boost then get the 7850, if you want a huge boost and willing to risk not enjoying the experience, get a 2nd 6850. If it doesn't work you could always sell them both and get a strong single card.

I need a lot better performance because I can't play gta IV on max settings... taking the risk is what is unnerving to me.

 

[PanicMaster85]

After searching around the forums, I see that folks do indeed have issues with micro-stuttering with CF HD 6850's. This happens particularly in Skyrim and BF3. If you want to avoid that issue, then it may be best to sell the HD 6850 and get the HD 7850.


What is the max budget you are willing to spend? a HD 7870 would be a more worthwhile upgrade.

well the reason I am going to get this is because I need better FPS and in about a year im planning on building a new computer with the one of the best gpus out there.

 

[stickg1]

I need a lot better performance because I can't play gta IV on max settings... taking the risk is what is unnerving to me.

GTA IV is so poorly hardware optimized I don't believe dual 6850s or a 7850 will help you on that game. I've read people with i5's and gtx670s complaining about sluggish gameplay on that title.

 

[dosdecarnitas]

microstuttering is something you have to experience, not everyone can perceive it i for myself i couldnt ever see a diference

id go with a 6850 crossfire just have a good airflow

 

[gamerkila57]

if i was you i would crossfire the HD 6850 with a HD 6870

 

[stickg1]

if i was you i would crossfire the HD 6850 with a HD 6870

Yes they are compatible to crossfire together but what happens is both cards operate at speeds and with the amount of stream processors as the WEAKEST card in the CF-X. So it would be the same thing as running two 6850s only you paid more to do it. Bad idea.

They don't always stutter, I ran two 6870s for a while and it was smooth and the performance was great.

 

[gamerkila57]

Yes they are compatible to crossfire together but what happens is both cards operate at speeds and with the amount of stream processors as the WEAKEST card in the CF-X. So it would be the same thing as running two 6850s only you paid more to do it. Bad idea.

They don't always stutter, I ran two 6870s for a while and it was smooth and the performance was great.

actually an HD 6870+Hd 6850 performs better than an HD 6850+HD 6850 but not better than an HD 6870+HD 6870

 

[PanicMaster85]

hmm yeah... do any of you know of a video or anything that can give me an idea on how much there may be?

 

[paddys09]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw5QZ6NvkIU

If given the choice I would always go for the strongest single card. Im not a crossfire expert but have heard plenty of complaints about the mid range AMD's

 

[PanicMaster85]

I think i might go with the 6850... I hope the microstuttering will not be too horrible.

 

[2xarchonxx]

dude just get the extra 6850 and if it micro stutters, RMA it

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah i was but then i found this baby... i can wait for this considering it not too much more with about as much as cf and no risk of microstuddering, also possibility of cf those!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161410

 

[de5_Roy]

7870 is a good midrange gpu.
your motherboard:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3907#sp
doesnt support x8+x8 mode, only x16+x4 mode crossfire.
are you okay with running a 6850 on x16 and the other on x4 bandwidth?
imo your mobo is better suited for single card.

 

[stickg1]

DEFINITELY get a 7870 instead of 2 6850's on x16/x4. x16/x4 doesn't provide good performance scaling.

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah I will especially since the one i showed you guys is the 7870 ghz eddition HIS ICEQX!

 

[PanicMaster85]

7870 is a good midrange gpu.
your motherboard:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3907#sp
doesnt support x8+x8 mode, only x16+x4 mode crossfire.
are you okay with running a 6850 on x16 and the other on x4 bandwidth?
imo your mobo is better suited for single card.

Yeah that is what i heard but i also heard that the performance will only go down like 5 percent then if i had double 16x

 

[stickg1]

Yeah that is what i heard but i also heard that the performance will only go down like 5 percent then if i had double 16x

That's kind of true, I had to look it up because I remember setting up a 6770 CF-X for my neighbor (don't ask me why he wanted to CF-X those I tried to talk him into a better card, but I got paid either way)

My neighbor had a x16/x4 motherboard and the results were awful, but after reading this article below it makes me think something else was wrong:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pci-express-scaling-p67-chipset-gaming-performance,2887-10.html

That shows a small percentage decrease, but the CF-X I set up (apparently faulty) had the 2nd card in the x4 slot performing about 50% of the one in x16.

But anyway, he returned them and got the 560ti I suggested in the first place and all is well.

Also, the HD7870 is a stud. I actually downgraded from a 6950CF-X for this Sapphire HD7870 I run now. My benchmark scores aren't as high but I noticed improved and smoother gameplay. I still max out all the games that I currently play on highest settings 60FPS constant. This 7870 OC'd like a champ too, 1325/1525 stable but I run it at 1250/1450 for an everyday OC because it was a very little voltage bump from stock to do so. This card runs much cooler than my CF-X, uses a lot less power, and as a result my case airflow temp is lower resulting in lower temps across the board. I love it and have no regrets. I think you will feel the same way too. Good luck and have fun!

 

[PanicMaster85]

Yeah cant wait... I should be able to afford it in september if I dont have a unexpected *** up like my hdd dying

 

[stickg1]

Yeah cant wait... I should be able to afford it in september if I dont have a unexpected *** up like my hdd dying

I believe the release of the gtx660ti is going to bring 7000 series AMD's prices down even more. I think by september you'll be happy with what $250 can get you! And if the 7870 isn't $250 or less by then, you should consider a 660/660ti because from the review I've seen it smokes the 7870 and will be between 200-300 dollars!

 

[PanicMaster85]

wow ok I guess before I buy the card I will post another thread just to make sure im still on the right track!