Which graphics card is better for three screens?

[tilldeath]

Looking to run highest FPS over three screens, trying to figure out what would be most cost effective? Do I run 1 6950 2gb or 2 tx 550Ti's? Trying to stay below $300. Thoughts??

EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB...
or
SAPPHIRE FleX 100312FLEX Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bi...

 

[brandonwh64]

6950 hands down

 

[NdMk2o1o]

The 550's are great in SI though in games that aren't optimised for SLI you will be running only one which will be quite poor, +1 on the 6950 though a GTX 570 should also be considered for that price.

 

[DarkOCean]

For three monitors 6950 2gb no doubt about it.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

For three monitors 6950 2gb no doubt about it.

Duh completely missed that disregard 570 comment, yea 6950 all the way in that case

Could be worth seeing how cheap you can grab a used pair of 5850's as that would be even better.

 

[douglatins]

6950 totally. It massacres the 550

 

[AsRock]

6950 without question and no worry if both gpu's are running in your game.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

6950 totally. It massacres the 550

He mentioned 2 and in games that support SLI they stack up and beat the 6950 in cases

 

[Syuzeren]

2x 550ti are better in some games, the 6950 is better in mayority of the games, not a hard decision.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

2x 550ti are better in some games, the 6950 is better in mayority of the games, not a hard decision.

Proof?

You will find in reviews overall the 550's beat the 6950 and only in some games the 6950 beats them hands down. I would still opt for the 6950 personally because I cba with multi-gpu setups anymore.

Heres a quite good comprehensive review and includes a 6950 for comparison also.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/39...b_sonic_video_card_in_sli_review/index14.html

 

[qubit]

6950, no contest.

 

[BrooksyX]

As everyone else stated. Get the 6950.

 

[GSquadron]

I would suggest an opengl game rather than buying cards
Just my opinion

 

[qubit]

I would suggest an opengl game rather than buying cards
Just my opinion

Eh what?

 

[Onenutleft]

Do the GTX580, then .. add multiple ones
edit: srry didn't read the post. Must have thought I was still on reddit

 

[erocker]

He mentioned 2 and in games that support SLI they stack up and beat the 6950 in cases

True, however since he will be running three screens the 1gb 192bit memory bus is going to hurt even if he's running four 550's. The 6950 2gb in this instance is the better choice.

 

[Syuzeren]

Proof?

You will find in reviews overall the 550's beat the 6950 and only in some games the 6950 beats them hands down. I would still opt for the 6950 personally because I cba with multi-gpu setups anymore.

Heres a quite good comprehensive review and includes a 6950 for comparison also.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/39...b_sonic_video_card_in_sli_review/index14.html

newer thought they had so much power, still doesn't beat the 6950 overall

 

[tilldeath]

thanks, that's what I figured and I guess it will give me the option to crossfire a second 6950 in the future. Like I said I'm also open to suggestions on other cards or configurations just need to keep it under $300.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

6950 2gb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However i have read that the FleX edition of hte 6950 doesnt support voltage tweaking. Correct me if im wrong

 

[eidairaman1]

He mentioned 2 and in games that support SLI they stack up and beat the 6950 in cases

ya but it takes twice the cards to beat 1, n that means more money down the drain.

I look at it this way I go after the Fastest one Available for my price range n then later on i add a second 1 to up the ante say a couple of gens down the line

 

[MxPhenom 216]

1 powerful card is always better then 2 not as power cards. Less chance of running into dual gpu configuration optimization problems like microstutter. I went from 2 GTX260 core 216 to a HD5870 and gameplay was so much smoother even though my average was higher with the gtx260 sli.

 

[MilkyWay]

Id say that the 6950 2gb was a good choice, the 2gb of ram will help across 3 screens.
Ideally you could get one big IPS screen that was one of the faster response screens but if you really want to try out 3 screens then ATI is the way to go.

 

[Zubasa]

Id say that the 6950 2gb was a good choice, the 2gb of ram will help across 3 screens.
Ideally you could get one big IPS screen that was one of the faster response screens but if you really want to try out 3 screens then ATI is the way to go.

Pretty much this.

A pair of GTX 550 1GB still acts effectively as a 1GB card, Vram in CF/SLI is mirrored.
The 6950 2GB wins hands down when dealing with higher res like triple monitor setups.

 

[yogurt_21]

Proof?

You will find in reviews overall the 550's beat the 6950 and only in some games the 6950 beats them hands down. I would still opt for the 6950 personally because I cba with multi-gpu setups anymore.

Heres a quite good comprehensive review and includes a 6950 for comparison also.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/39...b_sonic_video_card_in_sli_review/index14.html

That's single monitor resolution gaming. Not really relevant to the discussion at hand. Crank up the resolution and the sli 550's won't even be close to playable. The 6950 2GB will.

6950, no contest.

this

True, however since he will be running three screens the 1gb 192bit memory bus is going to hurt even if he's running four 550's. The 6950 2gb in this instance is the better choice.

and this

 

[LordJummy]

Obviously the 6950 2GB. It wins in every way possible. No point in comparing the two, as they are not similar.