Need advice for new upgrades

[lordjohn]

I am using a i3 2100, h67, ddr3 1333 4g x4 and gf460 1gb for gaming,
I am getting some bottle lock in all max setting in BF3 and Future soilder@1980x1080.
I need to either lower some setting or lower the resolution for a good play.
I plan to buy 2 6850 since it is really cheap, and perform like 580 in most FPS games.

I am thinking a psu from enhance ATX0260, 600w, single 12v 45A max 540w. Will this psu hold the cf 6850s? The psu is now in promotion, cost about 60 usd.

I don't plan to spend more money than 2 6850, any other option that i may get a similar performance?

Thank in advance

[Jetster]

BF3 has some serous requirements on Ultra. 6850 X2 might get you there but not with a i3 2100 IMO. And the PSU would not be enough IMO. I actually saw a Corsair TX 650 for sale on Newegg for $69 after rebate recently. That would work. But you need to look at a CPU also
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2....

[Crap Daddy]

For the money you spend on 2 6850 you can get one 7870 which with a little bit of OC is at 580 level and you don't have to deal with CF issues plus you'll have 2GB of VRAM. Furthermore a good 500W supply is more than enough.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Crap Daddy

For the money you spend on 2 6850 you can get one 7870 which with a little bit of OC is at 580 level and you don't have to deal with CF issues plus you'll have 2GB of VRAM. Furthermore a good 500W supply is more than enough.

I checked the price 7870 = 2 6850 + psu, still 2 6850 outperform 7870, and even 6950.

or I can save money by just getting another 460, and sli, however, there are no more 460 on the market

7xxx and 6xx are still overpriced, i think,

[Elmo]

try amazon :s or enquirer with a local retailer to order. I would sell mine but meh .

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Jetster

BF3 has some serous requirements on Ultra. 6850 X2 might get you there but not with a i3 2100 IMO. And the PSU would not be enough IMO. I actually saw a Corsair TX 650 for sale on Newegg for $69 after rebate recently. That would work. But you need to look at a CPU also
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2....

thanks, i have another question
the mainboard has 2 pcie, one on 16x, and one on 8x, is that ok for CF?

[Jetster]

Yes

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Jetster

Yes

Will sli 2 460 get similar performance? i have a first gen i7 960 on x58, the board can do 4 way sli, i don't use this pc much for gaming due to most games never use all cores. and yet this i7 can get very hot when full loaded, even water cooled.

and for psu, the enhance 0260 is 80+ B, will it handle 2 460?

[Hayder_Master]

better look for 2G card, 7870 looks great

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Hayder_Master

better look for 2G card, 7870 looks great

7870 is very good, just think it is overpriced, so may be i can get other 460 and do sli, and get a 7870 by the mid of next year. would that be a good idea?

[Xzibit]

You said you wanted to game at Max Setting @ 1080p

1gb in SLI isnt gonna help much just smoothen out the game play with your current settings

If the 7870 is too price. I say buy a 7850 now and get a second one if you need to down the road. 7850 can be OC to 7950 levels with luck but you should be able to match 7870 levels with a OC. 7850 CF can be run in a 550w PSU and performance at 7970 GHZ levels.

Just something to consider if your strapped on cash. Buying another 460 will just be dumping money since you want Max Setting @ 1080p

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Xzibit

You said you wanted to game at Max Setting @ 1080p

1gb in SLI isnt gonna help much just smoothen out the game play with your current settings

If the 7870 is too price. I say buy a 7850 now and get a second one if you need to down the road. 7850 can be OC to 7950 levels with luck but you should be able to match 7870 levels with a OC. 7850 CF can be run in a 550w PSU and performance at 7970 GHZ levels.

Just something to consider if your strapped on cash. Buying another 460 will just be dumping money since you want Max Setting @ 1080p

AMD started to cut price on 7xxx today, I think I will just wait a bit, and get one 7850 then wait for the 2nd 7850, the only game that I don't get 40+ fps now is future solider and bf3 at all max setting@1080.

One more question, for a 600w 80+ B psu, is the total out put only 480w? since it is 80%, am I understanding this correctly? so those psu without a 80+ are much lower, for example a 500w psu maybe only 350w if at 70%.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Crap Daddy

For the money you spend on 2 6850 you can get one 7870 which with a little bit of OC is at 580 level and you don't have to deal with CF issues plus you'll have 2GB of VRAM. Furthermore a good 500W supply is more than enough.

many people advice 7xxx, and I just tried MP3 again yesterday, I can get 60FPS at all max setting @1080, but if I enable some dx 11 features, I started to deal with not enough Vram, So I think I should go with 2GB Vram versions. Will wait for 7850 or 7870.

In the main time, I think I can OC 460, how much can I go?

and I have a question for the power connections, the old psu have 1 6+2 pin for vga, so I used winfast power connecter(come from vga), I never paid attentions before, from my old 960 or 860, I have always used the connecter from the VGA. I just notice today, the new PSU have 2 6+2 pin for vga, can I use them on the 460? but the connecter from vga use different power from the psu, looks like 2 yellow, 2 black and 2 brown.

[Dent1]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

i don't use this pc much for gaming due to most games never use all cores.

Those days have gone, BF3 is one of those games that generally don't run well on dual cores.

It also uses more than 4GB of system memory.