Xfire 6850 or single 7870?

[cpokey26]

For around the same price ~$250 you can X-fire a couple of HD 6850s OR get a single 7870.

Which is going to show better gaming performance?

I'm sure there are many other combinations in the same price range...

 

[dscudella]

Single 7870 is way more potent. You'll have less heat, less power draw and better performance in one card. That was my original opinion.


However benchmarks tell another story and I'm sure this has something to with drivers.

Here's an older review that Techpowerup did benchmarking Cross Fire 6850's. They are on par with a Radeon 5970.

Here's the review from Techpowerup of the 7870 which has it being outperformed by the 5970 by up 13% depending on resolution.

Here's Anandtech's comparison of the 5970 and the 7870.

Sapphire Radeon 6850 Crossfire $280 shipped $250 after MIR

Sapphire Radeon 7870 Ghz Edi OC $250 shipped $235 after MIR

While Crossfire 6850's are better performance wise it's at a huge cost. You'll be stuck with two cards that you'll have to upgrade later. If you get the 7870 you have less heat, less power draw and the possibility for Crossfire later.

 

[cpokey26]

Are there any examples of Xfireing 2 cheaper cards besting a single card at the same price range?

 

[MJoob]

Just don't do crossfire with 6850 you will get the same performance in 7870 again it will draw twice as much less power and be way more efficient and if you have more cash later you can add in another 7870 and it will be like something more powerful than the 7950.

 

[dscudella]

Are there any examples of Xfireing 2 cheaper cards besting a single card at the same price range?

Crossfire 7770's are close to a single 7870 but again, same problem; more heat, more power, you have upgrade both cards to get a performance increase instead of adding one 7870. You just don't crossfire 2 low end cards. Crossfire 7850's, 7870's, 7950's & 7970's.

MJoob is entirely correct. The performance you'd gain with Crossfiring dual 6850's isn't worth the side effects.

Crossfire really shines if you're going to keep the cards for awhile. That's why you don't Crossfire 2 low end cards (like the 6850). I use the Sapphire 6850 in my rig and I run it overclocked 24/7 and it's a little faster than a stock 6870. For the price, single 7870 is the way to go. Then in another 4 months, when AMD releases the Radeon 8xxx series cards upgrade to the 7970.

 

[cpokey26]

Best answer selected by cpokey26.

 

[cpokey26]

Crossfire 7770's are close to a single 7870 but again, same problem; more heat, more power, you have upgrade both cards to get a performance increase instead of adding one 7870. You just don't crossfire 2 low end cards. Crossfire 7850's, 7870's, 7950's & 7970's.

MJoob is entirely correct. The performance you'd gain with Crossfiring dual 6850's isn't worth the side effects.

Right now my budget is getting me a single 7770GHz. So potential to upgrade to Xfire 7770s may be there in the future.

Thanks!