Most affordable card for medium settings Eyefinity build

[olemanwinter]

I'm getting ready to build a new computer, buying almost everything new except my existing case and power supply (already upgraded)

FYI, going with a i5 3570K (OC yet to be determined). MSI z77a-G45 Mobo.

I want to play almost any game on max settings with 1 screen, and medium settings on Eyefinity (19"x3). (Skyrim, BF3)

This is a do everything computer, so no one piece of the puzzle is a huge budget.

I would love to accomplish this under $200. Possible?

I have considered the following:

Single Card: 7850 2GB 256-bit ($179)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161406

Dual Cards: 7750 1GB 128-bit ($106 x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103206


I would prefer a single card if possible in my price range because it's just one less thing to worry about.


Thanks for your expertise.

 

[Novuake]

I'm getting ready to build a new computer, buying almost everything new except my existing case and power supply (already upgraded)

FYI, going with a i5 3570K (OC yet to be determined). MSI z77a-G45 Mobo.

I want to play almost any game on max settings with 1 screen, and medium settings on Eyefinity (19"x3). (Skyrim, BF3)

This is a do everything computer, so no one piece of the puzzle is a huge budget.

I would love to accomplish this under $200. Possible?

I have considered the following:

Single Card: 7850 2GB 256-bit ($179)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161406

Dual Cards: 7750 1GB 128-bit ($106 x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103206


I would prefer a single card if possible in my price range because it's just one less thing to worry about.


Thanks for your expertise.

No, not possible. Not even at a low resolution.
You will not even be able to max all games on one monitor with an HD7850.

What is your resolution? Then I can give you a better idea.

 

[olemanwinter]

No, not possible. Not even at a low resolution.
You will not even be able to max all games on one monitor with an HD7850.

What is your resolution? Then I can give you a better idea.

I'm not calling your expertise into question, but I find that hard to believe.


Here is a thread discussing BF3 specifically:

"2 x 6850 2gb will do eyefinity alright. I wouldn't expect high settings but you should get playable frames with reduced settings."
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/344733-33-eyefintity-budget-method-hd7770-hd6850

The problem is that 6850 is pretty much out of stock and I'd rather do a single card if possible.


I've also read people debating about eyefinity settings achievable with HD7950 which makes me think SOME TYPE of performance is to be had with the 7850.

But heck, I don't know.


EDIT: Resolution would be something like 4320x900 (I guess). I'm running 1440x900 on each monitor.

I don't know if it helps to understand my situation, but I really just want the eyefinity for increased depth of field so as to reduce motion sickness and headaches. I'm pretty flexible about resolution and settings, etc.

 

[batty251]

I'm not calling your expertise into question, but I find that hard to believe.


Here is a thread discussing BF3 specifically:

"2 x 6850 2gb will do eyefinity alright. I wouldn't expect high settings but you should get playable frames with reduced settings."
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/344733-33-eyefintity-budget-method-hd7770-hd6850

The problem is that 6850 is pretty much out of stock and I'd rather do a single card if possible.


I've also read people debating about eyefinity settings achievable with HD7950 which makes me think SOME TYPE of performance is to be had with the 7850.

But heck, I don't know.


EDIT: Resolution would be something like 4320x900 (I guess). I'm running 1440x900 on each monitor.

I don't know if it helps to understand my situation, but I really just want the eyefinity for increased depth of field so as to reduce motion sickness and headaches. I'm pretty flexible about resolution and settings, etc.

can you maybe push for a 7870 you will have no problem with that and don't worry about him he's just trolling with no idea what so ever on what he is talking about

 

[olemanwinter]

can you maybe push for a 7870 you will have no problem with that

Possibly, but I think I need some education.

Both the 7850 and 7870 are 2GB and 256bit. What is the difference other than price? What is the element of the 7870 that is going to let it achieve what the 7850 cannot.

Also, I probably need some education on GPUs in general. I am confused about something.

Let's consider Skyrim for a moment. It came out in 2011. I must assume that there existed a graphics card at the time that could max settings.

So, looking at this list: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU11/188
of GPU benchmarks from 2011, the very best listed is GTX 580 SLI which is 1536 mb and 384 bit.

That seems sub-par, but when I do a comparison vs even the 7870 you are suggesting it shows a superior advantage. Why?

It's also still in stock on newegg and QUITE expensive for such an old card.

don't worry about him he's just trolling with no idea what so ever on what he is talking about

lol. I was hoping that was the case.

 

[batty251]

the 7870 will give you better performance and don't use that site

http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/skyrim-1080p-max-settings-radeon-hd-7870-vs-gtx-660-ti-video

and this one

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148-15.html

 

[olemanwinter]

the 7870 will give you better performance and don't use that site

http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/skyrim-1080p-max-settings-radeon-hd-7870-vs-gtx-660-ti-video

and this one

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148-15.html

I really, REALLY appreciate the help, but can you explain WHY the 7870 is superior to the 7850?

I'd like to learn something if I can.


Also, when you say I should have"no problem" with the 7870, does that mean MAX on 1 screen 1440x900 and playable on eyefinity?

Thanks.

 

[batty251]

I'm not really a expert on how graphics cards are different between each other i just know how to compare and choose the best in a certain number of a budget but if you want to know look here

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148.html

and

http://www.overclock.net/t/1228823/hd-7850-or-7870-is-the-100-difference-worth-it

^^ in that forum there is a bunch of wrong and troll answers but there is ones that will let you know the differences

 

[Novuake]

I think I will just sit and WATCH this thread.

olemanwinter you COULD have had some real knowledgeable help, but hey...

 

[AlienIsGOD]

7850 has 1024 GCN shaders and a 7870 has 1280 GCN shaders. Thats the difference between the 2 and the extra 256 shaders make the 7870 the more suitable choice for 1080P gaming.

@ 1440 x 900 a 7850 will suffice, but a 7870 is the better choice in the long run as it will last a bit longer @ higher settings than a 7850.

 

[morgoth780]

What Alien said. The 7870 has more processing power, although the same memory.

You could think of it as a Pentium + 4 GB of RAM vs an i5 3570k + 4 GB of RAM. The one with the i5 will perform better, even though they have identical memory. While the 7870 vs 7850 isn't that drastic in difference, the difference is fairly significant.

 

[4745454b]

I to don't believe the 7850 can max out current games. Maybe considering the lower res but there are games that will make it struggle. For example BF3. I know this is the slightly bigger res of 1680x1050, but the 7850 is sitting at 61FPS. And its only at high settings not ultra.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6359/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-650-ti-review/13

I'd be willing to bet due to its 2GB of ram and lower shader count it won't handle eyefinity well at all. I know are at the lower 900 res but things are what they are. Its not all bad though. Get the 7850 if its what you can afford. And when you can get another or upgrade. 7850s in CF are faster then the 7970 at high resolutions. I'm currently trying to decide between the 7950 or two 7850s. Good luck with your build.

 

[batty251]

I to don't believe the 7850 can max out current games. Maybe considering the lower res but there are games that will make it struggle. For example BF3. I know this is the slightly bigger res of 1680x1050, but the 7850 is sitting at 61FPS. And its only at high settings not ultra.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6359/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-650-ti-review/13

I'd be willing to bet due to its 2GB of ram and lower shader count it won't handle eyefinity well at all. I know are at the lower 900 res but things are what they are. Its not all bad though. Get the 7850 if its what you can afford. And when you can get another or upgrade. 7850s in CF are faster then the 7970 at high resolutions. I'm currently trying to decide between the 7950 or two 7850s. Good luck with your build.

but all reviews on these cards were before the 12.11 drivers the drivers that made AMD jump back into competing with Nividia i have a 7770 i can play this game on max with 20 - 30 fames what you think a 7870 can do if my 7770 can do that ?

 

[olemanwinter]

I think I will just sit and WATCH this thread.

olemanwinter you COULD have had some real knowledgeable help, but hey...

Oh, like your first comment? What a TOTAL JOKE.

I've learned a lot researching over the last few weeks, primarily that you have no idea what you are talking about.



For everyone else who was actually helpful:

I purchased one of the Sapphire 7870 XTs with the same architecture as the 79XXs. I thought this would be a benefit for future possible crossfire use.

However, I don't think that will be necessary except in the very distant future because this card performs so well.

It cost me $230 and came with some free games.

This card is currently running Skyrim on Ultra settings in eyefinity. Every game I've played with it so far is ultra settings. I just bought BF3 (50% right now) and will try that out in eyefinity for the real test.

UPDATE:
In retrospect, the flawless exceptional performance of the 7870 XT on Ultra settings leads me to believe that the 7850 WOULD have definitely run Skyrim with eyefinity on lower settings.

I'm very happy that I splurged for the better card though.

 

[Novuake]

I think I will just sit and WATCH this thread.

olemanwinter you COULD have had some real knowledgeable help, but hey...

Oh, like your first comment? What a TOTAL JOKE.

I've learned a lot researching over the last few weeks, primarily that you have no idea what you are talking about.



For everyone else who was actually helpful:

I purchased one of the Sapphire 7870 XTs with the same architecture as the 79XXs. I thought this would be a benefit for future possible crossfire use.

However, I don't think that will be necessary except in the very distant future because this card performs so well.

It cost me $230 and came with some free games.

This card is currently running Skyrim on Ultra settings in eyefinity. Every game I've played with it so far is ultra settings. I just bought BF3 (50% right now) and will try that out in eyefinity for the real test.

UPDATE:
In retrospect, the flawless exceptional performance of the 7870 XT on Ultra settings leads me to believe that the 7850 WOULD have definitely run Skyrim with eyefinity on lower settings.

I'm very happy that I splurged for the better card though.

Yeah, maxing games in Eyefinity with 1 HD7850 was your original question?

I am sooooo wrong...

 

[olemanwinter]

I think I will just sit and WATCH this thread.

olemanwinter you COULD have had some real knowledgeable help, but hey...

Oh, like your first comment? What a TOTAL JOKE.

I've learned a lot researching over the last few weeks, primarily that you have no idea what you are talking about.



For everyone else who was actually helpful:

I purchased one of the Sapphire 7870 XTs with the same architecture as the 79XXs. I thought this would be a benefit for future possible crossfire use.

However, I don't think that will be necessary except in the very distant future because this card performs so well.

It cost me $230 and came with some free games.

This card is currently running Skyrim on Ultra settings in eyefinity. Every game I've played with it so far is ultra settings. I just bought BF3 (50% right now) and will try that out in eyefinity for the real test.

UPDATE:
In retrospect, the flawless exceptional performance of the 7870 XT on Ultra settings leads me to believe that the 7850 WOULD have definitely run Skyrim with eyefinity on lower settings.

I'm very happy that I splurged for the better card though.

Yeah, maxing games in Eyefinity with 1 HD7850 was your original question?

I am sooooo wrong...

Go away. My question WAS NOT about maxing games in eyefinity. And furthermore, your answer was that I couldn't run eyefinity at any settings.

You clearly simply don't know what you are talking about or your reading comprehension skills are so poor you can't be of any help anyway. I'm not sure which is worse.

Go away.

 

[Novuake]

Quoting : "I want to play almost any game on max settings with 1 screen, and medium settings on Eyefinity (19"x3). (Skyrim, BF3)"

 

[4745454b]

Which you can't do with a 7850. I can't do it with my 7950 though I haven't even tried yet. To call people names when they point this out to you is really bad on your part. Grow the F up.

 

[Novuake]

Which you can't do with a 7850. I can't do it with my 7950 though I haven't even tried yet. To call people names when they point this out to you is really bad on your part. Grow the F up.

LOL people don't always want to hear the truth...

 

[4745454b]

And for them we can just pop some corn and sit back. Doesn't bother me. I/we tried.

To be honest/fair the 7850 is a good/great card. But max out game? In eyefinity? Not going to happen. It can provide playable frame rates in many games. But it won't max them all.

 

[Novuake]

Yip... Well I am gonna make some popcorn then...

 

[olemanwinter]

Dear Lord, you people's reading comprehension is astoundingly bad. I spoke only of "medium settings" in eyefinity.

Try to follow the bouncing ball:

"Medium.......Settings..........Eyefinity".

He responded that it couldn't run eyefinity "at any setting". And then later incorrectly stated that I wanted to run it in eyefinity on max settings.

I maintain that he was BOTH wrong that it wouldn't run it at ANY settings (which is what he said) AND wrong when quoting my original question (which was about medium settings in eyefinity)

But I guess you guys all have a nice circle jerk going on here. Whatever makes you guys feel good. You guys frankly belong on a place like reddit. That's the only other place online I've seen such do#chebaggery.

 

[olemanwinter]

And for them we can just pop some corn and sit back. Doesn't bother me. I/we tried.
But max out game? In eyefinity? Not going to happen.

MY ORIGINAL POST: "and medium settings on Eyefinity"

W T F is wrong with you people?

 

[Novuake]

And for them we can just pop some corn and sit back. Doesn't bother me. I/we tried.
But max out game? In eyefinity? Not going to happen.

MY ORIGINAL POST: "and medium settings on Eyefinity"

W T F is wrong with you people?

We were referring to both the max settings on one monitor and medium settings on eyefinity as not being possible in ALL games with an HD7850.

 

[olemanwinter]

And for them we can just pop some corn and sit back. Doesn't bother me. I/we tried.
But max out game? In eyefinity? Not going to happen.

MY ORIGINAL POST: "and medium settings on Eyefinity"

W T F is wrong with you people?

We were referring to both the max settings on one monitor and medium settings on eyefinity as not being possible in ALL games with an HD7850.

1) My original post said "almost any game" (referring to single screen max settings)

2) His original reply said, "No, not possible. Not even at a low resolution."

3) Your comment in question "But max out game? In eyefinity? Not going to happen." butchers the English language and subsequently doesn't mean what you think it does, or perhaps you are just trying to backtrack from the statement.

In either case, the question was never about maxing games in eyefinity, a point which the original replier and almost everyone subsequently has failed to grasp.