Bursary time!

[dr.walrus]

I'd like a decent ATI Eyefinity graphics setup (single card or x-fire) for around £350

The rest of my system specs are in my little info panel thingy. Comparable options will be considered, but this will end up being a top-end rig, so sensible, well-thought out questions like 'why do you need eyefinity on high settings' will be rudely ignored :twisted:.

I can't afford more than one 6950/6970 - what do you guys reckon for 2 x overclocked 6870?

[StormRider]

two 6870 should probably be fine
I recommend this model in particular, if you can afford two of them:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150520
don't take my word for it though :D

[dr.walrus]

I like that this one comes with freebies!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-188-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866

[x88x]

I'll be interested to see the results of this as I'm planning a similar jump at some point this year. I haven't yet decided if it'll be an Eyefinity or nvSurround..that'll largely depend on who is at what price point when I'm making the jump.

EDIT:
BTW, found this:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1569405
It looks like dual 6850's should outperform a single 6970 at least most of the time.

[diluzio91]

yes, and dual 6870's should rock socks, i have a friend with a similar build, (4gb ram, 1055T @3.8, 6870x2) and it screams on one screen, ill have to hunt down another panel and we can do some eyefinity tests for you.

You should look into the 6950 1gb for xfire about $20 USD more than the 6870, but significantly more performance

2 of these should run any game eyefinity oh high settings for around that $500 USD price point you were looking at

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523

[dr.walrus]

How about 2 of these? BIOS flash and then crank them up?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&tool=3

[diluzio91]

lol. you broke budget... but yes, that would work much better due to the higher amount of ram for a higher frame buffer

[dr.walrus]

Hmmmmm....

I will probably buy one now and add a second later.....

[d_stilgar]

I thought you couldn't do Eyefinity with crossfire. Has this been updated?

[farlo]

two 6870 should probably be fine
I recommend this model in particular, if you can afford two of them:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150520
don't take my word for it though :D

i got the 6850 version with that cooler, first card was DOA had to rma it for another, xfx has had some bad quality control lately according to reviews for some of their recent cards on newegg.

[x88x]

You can't do Eyefinity 6 with two Eyefinity 3 crossfire cards, and you can't do Eyefinity 3 with crossfire non-Eyefinity cards, but I'm pretty sure any features that a single card will support, two of those cards will support in crossfire.

[dr.walrus]

Didn't used to work, they fixed it for the 5870/5850 onwards

[dr.walrus]

aaargh need to order tonight but can't pick a version

[dr.walrus]

DAYUM THAT IS CHEAP (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-asus-hd-6870-directcu-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-915mhz-1120-stream-processors-2x-dvi-2x-displayport)

Just ordered 2 of them, a R.A.T. 5 and a displayport adapter

x88x, you want me to do some comparative benchmarks?

[slaveofconvention]

Yup, those prices are hard to argue with. I once bought a NVidia Ti4200 - that's the last time I went close to cutting edge heh - quite happy with my 4870 altho I am kinda tempted by that other card you have for sale, just as a spare...

[dr.walrus]

Yup, those prices are hard to argue with. I once bought a NVidia Ti4200 - that's the last time I went close to cutting edge heh - quite happy with my 4870 altho I am kinda tempted by that other card you have for sale, just as a spare...

I'll happily hammer the price down on the 4850 if you write me something nice :bunny:

[slaveofconvention]

So can I dedicate my next review to you or does it have to be something special :P

[x88x]

Wow, that is a great deal!


x88x, you want me to do some comparative benchmarks?

Yeah, if you wouldn't mind. It'll be interesting to see how much of a difference there is between dual 5850's and 5870's. Of course, if my plan works out, you'll be driving a bit higher res display than me...but still, a good metric. :D And then if it works for you it'll definitely work for me.

[dr.walrus]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

They're too fat! They're slightly wider than a standard 2 slot card, so you can't have them 2 slots apart - and I have no other options without, you know, putting one in an x4 slot :hurt:

Cards already RMA'd, will be sending them back by courier tomorrow, will order new cards tomorrow to arrive on Monday.

AAAAAARGH

I'm really paranoid now that these are more than the standard 2 slot width :? (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6870-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-900mhz-1120-stream-processors-2x-dvi-i-2x-mini-dp-hdmi)

[dr.walrus]

Now are these bad boys (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/254950) gonna fit? Because I don't mind flashing them if I have 2 BIOSes!

[slaveofconvention]

Now are these bad boys (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/254950) gonna fit? Because I don't mind flashing them if I have 2 BIOSes!

Going purely on the photograph, I think they might be more than double width too :S


http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/double.jpg

For what it's worth (which is somewhere between nil and nada, I know) I hope they DO fit but they sure look like they're bigger than 2 slots :(

[dr.walrus]

See, I thought that too, but check out the better pics on the egg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131392

Looks fine! Hopefully!

[slaveofconvention]

Now that looks a LOT more promising....

[dr.walrus]

Problematic (http://static.scan.co.uk/images/products/1443004-c.jpg)

....

Fine? (http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-131-392-Z02?$S300W$)

[dr.walrus]

they're here!

So yeah, a few weeks waiting, researching, RMAing later, I am the proud owner of two (now heavily overclocked) Powercolor 6950s, which will tomorrow be being unlocked to 6970s.

I can't believe I'm saying this but two cards back to back are loud. I should probably watercool them

[x88x]

Heheh, yeah...they do get loud...I was blown away by how loud the fans on the GTS250's I picked up recently are. So loud I had to move them to a different room. :eek:

Oh, and congrats on the new video cards. :D
http://www.dangerden.com/store/dd-6970-6950-water-block-v1.html

[dr.walrus]

They don't have a reference cooler, will those fit?

I have a friend with a Thermaltake armor LCS I might be able to do a P/X with my phantom, so all I'd have to do is chuck two waterblocks into the loop...

What do you think?

[dr.walrus]

note: loop will be GPU only, as I already have a h50 for the processor that's just fine - I wouldn't want both in the same loop.

[x88x]

Well, they do mention one Powercolor 6950 model that they're definitely compatible with:

PowerColor PCS++ HD6950 2GB GDDR5 (AX6950 2GBD5-P22DHG)

[dr.walrus]

Well, they do mention one Powercolor 6950 model that they're definitely compatible with:
Oh, excellent, it's the same cooler as that model...

AARGH I SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING MONEY ON WATERCOOLING!

What do you reckon to switch to the Thermaltake case?

[x88x]

Depending on what radiator they used, I think the integrated LC system in the case should probably handle the two cards to reasonable temps.

[dr.walrus]

Watercooling virgin here, be gentle with me... A decent 240mm rad should do it? Then a pump, res and all the fittings.... Sounds 'spensive.

[x88x]

My general rule of thumb is ~120mm of good rad for each major component that you're cooling, to achieve ~stock temps. n+1 if you want cool temps. IDK what condition you'll get the used one in, but it looks like that case comes with a complete LC system, so you wouldn't necessarily have to get a pump...though Tt's pumps are not exactly well known for their reliability.. Besides, after $240 for the GPU blocks, everything else won't seem to expensive. ;) If you bought all new components, I would say ~$50-80 for a good pump, ~$20-50 for the res depending on what style you want, ~$30 for the tubing (assuming ~$1.50-$2/ft), and ~$25-100 for the fittings, depending on what type of fittings you get.

[dr.walrus]

This would cover one of the 200mm fans on the top REAL nice...

http://www.thewatercoolingshop.co.uk/Phobya-Xtreme-200.html

[x88x]

Ooh, nice, someone finally made a 200mm rad that actually has standard mounts! :D The only one I knew of previously was one by Antec with proprietary mounts for one of their cases.

[dr.walrus]

It won't quite fit at the back, but removing the grill and cutting back the mounting rebate (as well as the rear mounting pegs) it'd almost fit!

http://www.vortez.co.uk/contentteller.php?ct=articles&action=file&id=5361