[img]http://imgkk.com/i/wlmo.png[/img]
I am looking for a [b]single[/b] GPU which can provide a decent performance upgrade (50%+) over my current GTX 275, while being both reasonably priced and able to drive 3 monitors at 1920x1200, 1280x1024 and 1920x1080. Sound over HDMI for the TV is a major plus.
Currently I'm looking at this card: [url]http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI/ATI+6900+Series/Asus+ATI+Radeon+HD+6950+OC+2048MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=43146[/url] (planning to use the shader unlock BIOS, assuming it is compatible?)
I have another GTX 275, but SLI is not an option. I am more sensitive to microstutter, refresh rate and input lag than the average person, and it was absolutely unbearable despite almost perfect 100% scaling.
Keeping my current GTX 275 in non-SLI mode for one of the monitors is an option, but keep in mind my board is 8x/8x, so unless this scales depending on GPU usage (allowing one GPU to be at 16x and the other at 1-2x), I'd rather avoid doing this. I've checked and there are no BIOS options for 16x/4x etc.
PSU is a Corsair HX750.
Budget is unlimited within reason - if the GTX 580 supported 3 monitors I would have ordered one already. Waiting for new cards to come out is also an option; I'm in no hurry to upgrade.
I play osu! without any form of frame limiting (0 input lag is a must), so a GPU that can run cool and quiet at solid 100% GPU usage for hours at a time is essential.
Other games I play include Source games and Killing Floor, and I'd like the upcoming DX11 games such as Crysis 2 to run well.
I'd say you're in quite a dilemma when you persist on a single-GPU configuration.
I doubt that the 6950 is good enough to run Crysis 2 with 3 plugged monitors decently.
Are you sure that two 6950's or two GTX570's are not an option?
[QUOTE=yellowsn0w;28322997]I'd say you're in quite a dilemma when you persist on a single-GPU configuration.
I doubt that the 6950 is good enough to run Crysis 2 with 3 plugged monitors decently.
Are you sure that two 6950's or two GTX570's are not an option?[/QUOTE]
Would 2 monitors just showing nothing/desktop really be that detrimental to performance?
I'm not looking to play games on any more than 1 monitor at a time (in most cases the 1920x1200 LCD). Probably should have mentioned that.
Well I'm not shure about that, however, my GTX580 gets up to 60°C with two monitors without usage (45°C with one). So if it isn't the performance, you might get in trouble with the temperature, especially if you want "100% GPU usage for hours at a time".
using only one monitor to play games doesn't have an impact on performance
I can guarantee you this because I play games on the 1920x1080 TV while I have HWmonitor open on the 1280x1024 monitor
[QUOTE=Jaehead;28328925]using only one monitor to play games doesn't have an impact on performance
I can guarantee you this because I play games on the 1920x1080 TV while I have HWmonitor open on the 1280x1024 monitor[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but as I said, temperature might become a problem.
What GPU are you using?
5770, and temps are not an issue for me
I don't know why a second monitor would increase temperatures by that much for you - there's really nothing intensive about desktops, as far as I know
Your case has to have shit airflow to get bad temperature, even on a ref cooler. 4850 w/ 107c ingame, 75% fan speed all day, every day.
[QUOTE=Armotekma;28329996]Your case has to have shit airflow to get bad temperature, even on a ref cooler. 4850 w/ 107c ingame, 75% fan speed all day, every day.[/QUOTE]
That's insanely hot. My 4850 never gets over 60C and it's stock everything.
This kind of temperature increase is common for a 580 with two monitors. It's not actually bad since it can take up to 95°C and didn't go over ~80 under full usage yet. However, if the OP considers a Fermi and three monitors (making SLI already necessary anyways), he might be warned about increased temperatures.
[QUOTE=Armotekma;28329996]Your case has to have shit airflow to get bad temperature, even on a ref cooler. 4850 w/ 107c ingame, 75% fan speed all day, every day.[/QUOTE]
Mine is running at a constant 40%, that might explain some, too.
[QUOTE=Watevaman;28330097]That's insanely hot. My 4850 never gets over 60C and it's stock everything.[/QUOTE]
Fermis are known for high temperatures, they're also kind of build / resistant for it.
My 570 idles at 47c with 2 monitors. When I take one off it goes down to about 36c idle. I never, even running Heaven benchmark, go above 70c with no more than 50% fan speed. It's nice to have a cool Fermi.
Also, they idle higher with dual monitors because the GPU never downclock to idle. They are at a constant usage to keep your 2nd screen from flickering and such. I really hate how it increases my idle by 10c. But just so others know. And a 2nd monitor will not
impact performance. Only make your GPU idle higher/load higher.
While you may not want to run Crysis 2 across 3 monitors, maybe you want to do it with less requirering games, so consider an AMD card with eyefinity.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;28340248]While you may not want to run Crysis 2 across 3 monitors, maybe you want to do it with less requirering games, so consider an AMD card with eyefinity.[/QUOTE]
The TV is on the other side of the room and the CRT/LCD are completely mismatched in size/position/resolution, so eyefinity definitely isn't for me
[QUOTE=Darkimmortal;28343200]The TV is on the other side of the room and the CRT/LCD are completely mismatched in size/position/resolution, so eyefinity definitely isn't for me[/QUOTE]
Then why is it necessary to run those three at the same time?
[QUOTE=yellowsn0w;28343601]Then why is it necessary to run those three at the same time?[/QUOTE]
Swapping the DVI cables around is really awkward with where I have my PC positioned, plus sometimes I want to have something playing on the TV while working on both monitors which isn't possible currently.
It's not like eyefinity is forcing you to play games on all 3 monitors at once
6950 doesn't always unlock 100%. I got one from sapphire and unlock successfully but furmark crashes in 10 minutes. Played crysis for 20 minutes and the game crashed too.
I was also told they fixed it on the 1gb models. And prbly fixed it on new 2gb models.
[url]http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752[/url]
Going to go with this unless anyone has any objections. Amazing price and:
[quote]- ATI Reference Design (Revision: 1) - Flashable too 6970[/quote]
I seriously have my doubts with this flashing option. After all I've read, it's not that clean & safe as it sounds, but I forgot the reason(s), actually.
So if the difference in price isn't that high, I'd go for the 6970.
the first batch of 6950 2GB cards have a good chance of a stable unlock, and even if you screw up, they have dual-BIOS, so you can just revert back to the factory BIOS
Actually seems like that particular card doesn't unlock well/at all. :/
Suppose I should check if SLIPatch 1.0 has improved on 0.7 in terms of microstutter... (would be a much cheaper solution :P)
[QUOTE=Darkimmortal;28349710][url]http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752[/url]
Going to go with this unless anyone has any objections. Amazing price and:[/QUOTE]
2 problems, it's overclockers and 6950 unlocking is anything but reliable now
Just tried 2x GTX 275's again and amazingly it works with next to no microstutter; a vast improvement on how it was last time.
However, probably in some way caused by SLIPatch, when I attach 3 monitors and attempt to enable SLI or access the 'View HDCP status' or 'Set up multiple displays' sections of the nvidia control panel, various things go wrong ranging from it crashing to the screens all going black (with signal) and staying that way even through reboots - only a driver reinstallation or removing one card recovers it.
So SLI still isn't an option :(
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
