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Saithe
Southern Cross Empire Flying Dangerous
15
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Posted - 2012.01.31 19:36:00 -
[1] - Quote
So, it is tax return time. I have been debating weather or not to get a second video card. Here's what I have right now: Mah Card. Obviously, if I did get a second card, this would be it. However, from the research I have done the 'boost' to fps and quality is not that noticeable unless you plan on running 3+ monitors, or bought an underpowered card.
My current system: AMD Phenom II x4 955 @ 3.2 ghz Sapphire Raedon HD 6950 (2gb VRAM) @ stock 12gb G.Skill DDR3 1600 RAM @ 9-9-9-24 46" Samsung Plasma TV
I currently have no issues running any game on max settings @ 1920x1080, so as of right now a 2nd video card is not worth it to me. However, I do have plans of building a badass TIE Fighter desk, which will incorporate 3 32" displays and one 24" display (not near the 3 displays, merely for information showing).
So would it benefit me to get the 2nd card now, or wait until I get the command center complete and upgrade when I finish? I suspect it will take 7 months or so to build this command center, 4 to get the basics. To give you an idea, You'll walk in the back of the unit, and there will be a chair mounted on the ground (swively of course). The 3 display panels will be on wall mounts, and will be 'connected' so moving one moves all 3. The command center will be completely enclosed once you close the back door, with adequate airflow and cooling so it's comfortable. It'll have fancy lights and a badass paint job done too. |
Marie Hartinez
Aries Munitions and Defense
78
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Posted - 2012.01.31 20:48:00 -
[2] - Quote
If it were me, I'd wait till I'm ready to order everything I need as better hardware is released, prices come down, yadda yadda.
As you have said, a second card most likely will not be any real benefit to you and it would IMHO be a waste of money that you can use on the newer system. Surrender is still your slightly less painful option. |
Saithe
Southern Cross Empire Flying Dangerous
15
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Posted - 2012.01.31 20:53:00 -
[3] - Quote
Marie Hartinez wrote:If it were me, I'd wait till I'm ready to order everything I need as better hardware is released, prices come down, yadda yadda.
As you have said, a second card most likely will not be any real benefit to you and it would IMHO be a waste of money that you can use on the newer system.
That's mostly where I am leaning, but I have always wanted to experience Crossfire for myself. |
Marie Hartinez
Aries Munitions and Defense
78
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Posted - 2012.01.31 21:00:00 -
[4] - Quote
If you want to do it just to see how it all works, then that is a good enough reason. I've never used more then one video card myself as either I didn't have the budget at the time or now it just seems a bit pointless.
As long as I can play a game on high settings with around 60 FPS on one video card, I'm happy.
But I still maintain that you save the money for the new shiny and go hog wild then. Surrender is still your slightly less painful option. |
VKhaun Vex
Viziam Amarr Empire
294
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Posted - 2012.01.31 22:01:00 -
[5] - Quote
No reason to buy PC components now if your 6950 can already max everything out on your PC. You can't 'experience' anything unless you're actually using the power. |
SpaceSquirrels
258
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Posted - 2012.01.31 22:22:00 -
[6] - Quote
Beware (I ran into this problem) in some cases if the GPU bios isn't the same (exact same) x-fire will not work. So i'd recommend buying the exact same card.
Yes you can flash the bios. However you need the manufacturer bios, and some different manufacturer have slightly different overall versions thus leading you right back to where you started.
I raise this issue because they discontinue some lines... |
Saithe
Southern Cross Empire Flying Dangerous
15
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Posted - 2012.02.01 03:37:00 -
[7] - Quote
I am slightly considering this just to see how it works, since my other PC needs a new GPU as it is, but I think the 6950 is a bit much for what my other PC has:
Intel Core2Duo @ 2.66 ghz 2gb ddr2 800 ram dead nvidia gt 220 (by dead the fan spun off, it still works just overheats VERY fast) 550w PSU.
My current machine (the amd one) has a 750w psu
And yes, I am well aware it needs to be the exact same card, which is why I linked the one I had. If I did get this card, since it is discontinued from newegg, I would call up Sapphire and have them SHOW me which 2gb 6950 I can buy to crossfire the one I have.
Does this seem like a decent idea, or is the card too beefy for the other pc? I don't plan on really doing any sort of upgrading for it, it's fine just the way it is. This whole idea of crossfire seems interesting, yet bogus at the same time. Almost like if you want to crossfire/sli, you want to get 2 crappier cards instead of 1 good card. |
Kattshiro
Deep Core Mining Inc. Caldari State
10
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Posted - 2012.02.01 15:32:00 -
[8] - Quote
Depends on what you're going to do with it. If you want it just to say you have it... Then in the long run you're probably going to be disappointed. If you want it so you can play the latest and greatest maxed then you'll probably be happy. If all you play is eve, and not other graphic intensive games A.K.A BF3 etc... Eh. You wouldn't even notice too much of a difference unless you're running 3+ clients...and even then EvE still uses more ram than anything.
However in many cases you will get better performance with SLI/ X fire than buying one 500-700 dollar card. (Not all the time mind you) |
Saithe
Southern Cross Empire Flying Dangerous
15
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Posted - 2012.02.01 18:19:00 -
[9] - Quote
So with the release of the new 3gb 7950 cards; for better performance I would have been better off buying 2 of the 1gb 6950's last year, instead of the 2gb 6950 I picked up?
I've been slightly confused on how exactly SLI/Crossfire works even after the extensive research I have done.
For crossfire/sli on a single screen, does the VRAM work together (2x2gb) or does it split the screen in half and work 50/50? |
SpaceSquirrels
258
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Posted - 2012.02.01 23:57:00 -
[10] - Quote
It works together....Assuming it's the same clock speed/freq |
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