what's better for playing at higher resolution?

[HossHuge]

Is crossfiring a card as good as or better for playing at higher resolutions than having more memory?

For example 512mb-crossfire or 1gb-noncrossfire

 

[alexp999]

What rez and what card(s) are you talking about?

 

[HossHuge]

my 4850 (+ another 1) and at 1920x1200

 

[alexp999]

So are you saying is it better to buy another 4850 to crossfire, or get something like a 4870 1GB on its own?
If so, another 4850 is the better choice, as you have much more GPU processing power.

 

[JrRacinFan]

The second in crossfire would be faster but it's dependent on what other card your thinking about purchasing. IMO, a single 1GB 4870 could potentially be a better choice, with all the crossfirex compatibility issues.

So here's my idea, take the funds you have for your 2nd 4850, sell the 4850 you have now, and combine the funds for the 4870.

That way you can also pickup a second 4870 if you want to do so.

EDIT: Also you have psu consumption to think about as well .....

 

[HossHuge]

does that equate to better at higher res though?

 

[JrRacinFan]

does that equate to better at higher res though?

Yes it would.

EDIT: Also another card to look at would be the GTX280.

 

[HossHuge]

The second in crossfire would be faster but it's dependent on what other card your thinking about purchasing. IMO, a single 1GB 4870 could potentially be a better choice, with all the crossfirex compatibility issues.

So here's my idea, take the funds you have for your 2nd 4850, sell the 4850 you have now, and combine the funds for the 4870.

That way you can also pickup a second 4870 if you want to do so.

EDIT: Also you have psu consumption to think about as well .....

I feel if I sell my card I won't get really what it's worth (2nd baby is in the oven and will be done in a few weeks). I have read that 2 gpu's are better for higher res gaming. Should 2 4850's be good enough at 1920x1200 for awhile?

 

[alexp999]

I feel if I sell my card I won't get really what it's worth (2nd baby is in the oven and will be done in a few weeks). I have read that 2 gpu's are better for higher res gaming. Should 2 4850's be good enough at 1920x1200 for awhile?

I personally would say thats your best option, provided you can get another 4850 for a good price. Dont forget you can corssfire, any 48xx card with your current 4850.

 

[Exavier]

well, my 4870X2 is nice at 1920x1080 with all the details cranked to the highest and then some.
this is technically two 4870 1GB on a single PCB..equate that to what you will.
my gf's rig is a dualcore at 3ghz and a single 512 4850..it ran FC2 at my res at about 30-40fps.
so..two should be nice, yeah, but not as nice as all that vmem.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I feel if I sell my card I won't get really what it's worth (2nd baby is in the oven and will be done in a few weeks). I have read that 2 gpu's are better for higher res gaming. Should 2 4850's be good enough at 1920x1200 for awhile?

Well of course it would be good. I am just saying trying to upgrade from 2 mid(by time newer cards come out) is alot harder bcuz you may be losing in funds twice as much when you go to sell(If you attempt to).

Whereas if you go the single high end now, much more longevity because you can get a second of the same.

Oh and one more thing to think about, 4870+4850 in crossfire.

EDIT: One more possibility so you dont have to kill your budget ...

4850 + 4830 in crossfire.

 

[HossHuge]

I personally would say thats your best option, provided you can get another 4850 for a good price. Dont forget you can corssfire, any 48xx card with your current 4850.

ya, I've been thinking about the 4830 as well. I kinda wanna wait to see if there will be a price drop after the new green cards come out.

 

[HossHuge]

Too many choices....

I bought my 4850 when they first came out, when they didn't have the 1gb. I think I will wait for a good price on a 4850 or 4830.

thanks boys

 

[DaMulta]

I say two cards or noting.

I love sli and CF anymore. It really works.....


The 512 would work....

 

[G-wiz]

yea two cards it definately better for higher resolutions i'm not being bias but 2 GTX 260 core 216 would be your best bet atm

 

[spearman914]

2 x 4850 512mb CF is better then a single 4850 1 gb. But if u have a one slot board then just get a 4850 1gb.

 

[J-Man]

GPU memory is important with large resolutions.

 

[kysg]

the heck well in your situation crossfire is probably very viable option.

I mean you could get a 1gb card and try to crossfire that down the road but still 5 series cards would have hit by then.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you man 4830 is pretty reasonable and only 100 bucks. with the extra cash you could dump that on other things like an ssd drive.