Which of these 3 GPU set ups should I get?

[Bongbuster]

Going to get a PC with I5 750 CPU and Asus P7P55D Pro mobo.

I'll be running two GPU's in crossfire configuration to support 3 22" monitors. I'll be using the 3 monitors for work and switch to one monitor for the occasional (never enough) serious game play.

My choices and the prices of each pair are as follows
4830x2 512mb US$230
4850x2 512mb US$252
4850x2 1gb US$280

These prices are probably too expensive but no choice due to where I live.

So given my system and what I'll be using it for, which of these pairs would you recommend???

This is a quote from Toms hardware review here that puzzles me that puzzles me "The Radeon HD 4850 X2 is essentially two Radeon HD 4850s in CrossFire mode on a single card, capable of even putting the hurt on Nvidia's more expensive GeForce GTX 285."

(http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...rd,2387-4.html)

Can anyone explain what he means by two 4850's on one card?

**************I've been getting a lot of fantastic advice and info from people on this forum so thank you every one for being so helpful*****************

[AthlonX2]

is there a budget you have to follow for this build? personally id go for the i7 860 and wait a few more weeks and the 5870 will be out

[Bongbuster]

Originally Posted by AthlonX2

is there a budget you have to follow for this build? personally id go for the i7 860 and wait a few more weeks and the 5870 will be out

I've drawn the line on the current set up and will not go any higher. No real budget but I'm not going to buy a more expensive pair than the 4850.

I mentioned the 5870 to my guy at the local PC market and he had not heard of it and said there would be no major changes on GPU prices in the next few months.

So of those 3 pairs, which would you go for?

[mastrdrver]

Can you get the 4770? Where are you located so we can get an idea?

If you can get the 4770 get a couple of them as they are similar in price/performance as the 4850 but use less power.

As for the 4850x2, there are two 4850 gpus on that board. There is no such thing as a 4830x2 unless your talking about two 4830 cards where as the 4850x2 (either 1gb or 2gb) is 1 card.

If you are still on that 1100-1300 USD then I would seriously consider a 1366 setup over a 1156. Lot better at overclocking, multi gpus, etc. There is really nothing you lose.

Love the avatar Athlonx2.

[wiak]

lol wait for 5870! bongbuster
w1zz should have a review up on 23th of this month

[grunt_408]

What O/S are you going to use with this build? If XP then wait for the 5xxx cards to come out as the 4xxx series will go down in price. If Vista or 7 wait for the 5xxx series and get one of them you will be glad you did.

[[Ion]]

Of those three GPUs, I would go with the pair of 4830s because they will already be overkill for anything other than Crysis or gaming on multiple monitors, and the pair of them in Crossfire would be sufficient to drive good frame rates in games on a singlee 22" monitor (I'm guessing it's 1680x1050?)

[SneakySnake]

I'd go with Ion's suggestion. Either get 2 4830's and xfire them. Or get two 4770's which repalced the 4830. The 4770s are a bit better (think of them as a 4840).

Either setup will give you great framerates in everygame except Crysis. And even in Crysis you should be able to play on high details

[JrRacinFan]

@Bongbuster

You can only use a maximum of 2 displays with 2 cards in a CrossfireX config. To use the 3rd monitor you will have to disable crossfire or purchase a 3rd seperate ATi card. It can be as little as a 4350. Also, go with the 2x 4830's.

[Bongbuster]

Thank you Ion and SneakySnake for your suggestions. I will definitely consider what the two of you have said.

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

@Bongbuster

You can only use a maximum of 2 displays with 2 cards in a CrossfireX config. To use the 3rd monitor you will have to disable crossfire or purchase a 3rd seperate ATi card. It can be as little as a 4350. Also, go with the 2x 4830's.

I knew I have to disable crossfire to use the 3rd monitor. I was assuming disabling crossfire was a software setting. Can you disable using a software setting or do you actually need to physically remove the bridge between the two cards?

[r9]

Multy GPU setups are more efficient at high resolution and only needed for them at lower resolution you are going to be fine with only one GPU. So I would get 1GB versions due to high resolutions and future proofing. For 50$ better do it wright.

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by Bongbuster

I knew I have to disable crossfire to use the 3rd monitor. I was assuming disabling crossfire was a software setting. Can you disable using a software setting or do you actually need to physically remove the bridge between the two cards?

It can be software disabled, you can even set it to disable via hotkey.

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Bongbuster

Thank you Ion and SneakySnake for your suggestions. I will definitely consider what the two of you have said.



I knew I have to disable crossfire to use the 3rd monitor. I was assuming disabling crossfire was a software setting. Can you disable using a software setting or do you actually need to physically remove the bridge between the two cards?

If CF is anything like SLI, which I believe it is, you can disable it via software. With my SLI setup, I kept SLI disabled most of the time for F@H, but I left the bridge on, and when I wanted to play games I just went into the Nvidia control panel and enabled it. I believe that CrossFire is the same way.

[phanbuey]

C) None of the above... wait 1 week and spend the money on a 5850. And don't order from the local shop because they won't have it in stock newegg ftw... one 5850 will ~ spank dual 4850's from the leaked reviews of the 5870 (which beats a gtx295)...

But if I was to pick, the 4850 1gb's would be my choice.

[overclocking101]

i woul get one 5850 or one 4890, both will out perform any of those pairs

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by phanbuey

C) None of the above... wait 1 week and spend the money on a 5850. And don't order from the local shop because they won't have it in stock newegg ftw... one 5850 will ~ spank dual 4850's from the leaked reviews of the 5870 (which beats a gtx295)...

But if I was to pick, the 4850 1gb's would be my choice.

Originally Posted by overclocking101

i woul get one 5850 or one 4890, both will out perform any of those pairs

Don't forget though guys, he's dealing with 3 monitor setup. From what details have risen so far, for single card it would have to be a 5870.

Phanbuey: I'm taking his choices as 2x 4850 512, 4850x2 1G, and 2x 4830. Will have to wait for details from the OP as to exactly which cards he has available.

[phanbuey]

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

Phanbuey: I'm taking his choices as 2x 4850 512, 4850x2 1G, and 2x 4830. Will have to wait for details from the OP as to exactly which cards he has available.

Ahhh... thanks, thread comprehension fail on my part.

you can get 2 gtx 260's for about $280, they will run 3 monitors perfectly and will destroy the 4850x2.

they also run quiteter than the 4850x2, which is a noisy, filthy animal.

[Asylum]

+1 For the GTX260's in SLI.
They should handle anything you throw at them and for $280 You cant beat it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143140

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by phanbuey

Ahhh... thanks, thread comprehension fail on my part.

you can get 2 gtx 260's for about $280, they will run 3 monitors perfectly and will destroy the 4850x2.

they also run quiteter than the 4850x2, which is a noisy, filthy animal.

Your welcome. True, more details about the 5870 will have to surface though. GTX260's do seem like a good choice but that's also dependent on what motherboard is available and if the OP has done his research properly looks like he may be running an Intel s775 Chipset -OR- an AMD crossfire board. Then even further I would still suggest to wait for 5870, single card over dual.

[phanbuey]

well if he goes with the ASUS board - and the i7 750 CPU, he will have sli support... gtx 260's are gold right now as far as $/performance... looks like ppl are dumping their stocks.

[human_error]

I thought the ati eyefinity (3 monitor support) was on the 5850 as well as 5870? Anyways definately wait until the 5xxx series reviews are out - there WILL be price cuts on current hardware from ati and probably nvidia, no matter what the computer guy at the shop thinks (it always happens when a new series hits to clear out old stock).

Plus if a single 5870 is meant to be faster than a 4870x2 (and thus sli'd 260s) it may well be a very good option to look at (or even the 5850 - we are yet to see leaks on how that competes with current cards).

[phanbuey]

Originally Posted by human_error

I thought the ati eyefinity (3 monitor support) was on the 5850 as well as 5870? Anyways definately wait until the 5xxx series reviews are out - there WILL be price cuts on current hardware from ati and probably nvidia, no matter what the computer guy at the shop thinks (it always happens when a new series hits to clear out old stock).

Plus if a single 5870 is meant to be faster than a 4870x2 (and thus sli'd 260s) it may well be a very good option to look at (or even the 5850 - we are yet to see leaks on how that competes with current cards).

+10

[Bongbuster]

Thank you every one for your comments.

My plan now is to run 3 monitors with the option to run a 4th later (work not play) so using one GPU such as 5870, even if it can run 3 monitors, is not really an option.

The gtx260 x 2 may be an option. Will check the prices of these and look online for performance reviews and see how they compare to the 4850 1gb cards. Also make sure that they'll run on the Asus P7P55D Pro mobo.

The country and city I live in have a slow supply chain for IT so what maybe good value say in the US may not be here which is why waiting for the next gen cards to come out to drop the price of current gen cards may take too long.

Good to know that changing in and out of crossfire mode is just a software setting.