Update from 5870 Eyefinity

[VirtualVikingX]

Specs:

i5@4.2G

4 Gb ram

5870 1Gb

650W PSU

Windows 7 64 bit

5760x1080 Eyefinity Landscape

First of all; thanks for looking. I recently upgraded my computer, and sold off the old parts. I kept my 5870 as it was giving me very good performance. Move 3 months ahead in time: “Cool, I can finally afford and have space for a Eyefinty setup”

Guess you see where I am headed. The once so-good 5870 is now struggling due to having “only” 1 Gb of vram.

I play mostly ArmA 2, FSX, and lately Cliffs of Dover (Il-2).--> What is the best update for my GPU?

I’m open to suggestions and considerations. I also very happy for links to pages with personal experiences in these matters.

[Arclight]

I don't think any single-GPU card can push 3 displays for gaming. In that regard, it's really false advertising on ATI's part (ie. Eyefinity is useless for gaming unless you have a Crossfire setup).

What you can do is add another 5870. You'll have to hook up all 3 monitors to the "lead" card. Pretty sure the 1GB VRAM would continue to hold it back though, so cards with 1.5-2GB would be preferable, 3-4GB for dual-GPU cards.

[Arclight]

As for options: 4GB 5970 (http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=345) or 4GB 6990 (http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=1114) seem like the most straight-forward solutions.

(sorry for the double. Board keeps logging me out when I try to edit)

[Jan Kyster]

One vote for adding a 5970 and run Tri-Fire.

It's the most efficient combination and you should be able to pick up a 5970 at a reasonable price...



But don't use Arctic cooler for the 5970 - it'll prevent the use of second PCI-E slot! Like these of mine won't do... :D

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/5970/Indahouse.jpg

Of course there'll be no problems if you opt for watercooling...

[Arclight]

Or that, though a third GPU gives absolutely abysmal returns... Say going from 1 to 2 gives you some 85% gain, going from 2 to 3 only yields another 25% or so. But since he already has a 5870 it's an option; no money lost there.

Again though, that 1GB VRAM can't cope with 5760x1080, so I think it would only hold it back. :hmmm:

*and that PSU will fall short

[VirtualVikingX]

My initial upgrade plan was another 5870. That was something I wasn't too eager on because I also would need a new PSU. Anyway, I soon found out that on such large resolutions its mainly vram holding back performance. Any AA on Arma 2 is proof! :) FOr now its off.

So I would like a new card with lots of vram. Enter GTX 580 with 3 Gb. Excellent. The Google tells me Nvidia only supports "Surround" screens with SLI.

Back to scratch.

So for now its looking like the monster 6990 is my main contender. I'm also considering a 2 GB 6970 so I don't have to deal with Xfire troubles.

Thanks for the input guys!

EDIT: Yes, I think you are correct, Arc. And very nice cards, Jan!

[VirtualVikingX]

A 6990 is on its way to me, along with a 1000W Corsair PSU.

1000W...? Its crazy!

[Arclight]

Think that will do nicely. 750W would have been enough me thinks, but apart from a few extra bucks it makes no difference. ;)

Which brands did you go with? :06:

[VirtualVikingX]

Sapphire Radeon HD 6990 4GB GDDR5:

http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=627429

Corsair HX 1000W PSU:

http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=348996

+

3 x 461445 Noctua NF-S12B ULN 120mm Fan

NZXT SENTRY LX Fan Control Dual Bay

Corsair SSD Performance 3 Series™ 128GB

[Arclight]

Nice. Had an older Corsair 520W, recently replaced by Antec 650W. Solid PSU, build by Sea Sonic. Always top notch. And can't go wrong with Sapphire when it comes to Radeon.

Was thinking of picking up an Intel SSD in the near future, 80GB 320-series (http://www.anandtech.com/show/4244/intel-ssd-320-review). Should be interesting. :hmmm:

Good stuff. :salute:

[VirtualVikingX]

Great news everybody! Managed to FRY my SSD, HD, and DVD-drive. Used the wrong cable. (Yes, it looked nice and was from my old PSU... but sadly was wired wrong)

Especially the fried SSD is really bugging me!

Well. Live and learn. Ill go shopping for a DVD drive tomorro, so that I at least can install windows and get going.

[Jan Kyster]

... Used the wrong cable...That doesn't make any sense? :88)

How's that possible??

[Arclight]

Wondering the same... I'm guessing this was a modular cable from another unit?

[VirtualVikingX]

You are correct, Arc. The modular cable were identical, except for one little thing; the internal wiring.

I found a local shop that had what I needed to get going. Just been there this morning, doing the Windows update dance now.

Ill report back on the 6990 and the rest when I get up to speed.

[VirtualVikingX]

Ok, time to post about the update.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JZzrB5PL734/Td1kxhl0CkI/AAAAAAAABKs/cwK6bwMWv40/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520086.JPG

This is my case. There is many like it, but this is mine. Its a Cosmos S.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_aHQv8CP9MA/Td1kx2EWasI/AAAAAAAABKw/d8DxQ4W9JeQ/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520091.JPG

The inside before the "surgery". Thats a the 5870 and the Chieftec thats coming out.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gw_NcMBFgBA/Td1k0hyHBDI/AAAAAAAABLI/HDcEsbWHnN4/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520096.JPG

Ah. Postman knocking. Our feline technicians are swift to inspect the goods. (Thats Bella and Goofy - Im sure Ill post more about those guys later)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k5EzJ6yHGS4/Td1k1Oq3lmI/AAAAAAAABLQ/3qXiaz2iXiQ/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520098.JPG

Stuff unpacked. Besides the much need 6990 I got a new heavy duty PSU, some fans and a controller and a SSD dedicated to Steam.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HkuV8OdhcSU/Td1k3OwO-EI/AAAAAAAABLg/w4-4Y-onCao/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520102.JPG

I remember thinking that the 5870 was a large card...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Vn5sotOn5lo/Td1k6PbcVYI/AAAAAAAABL8/dYsYirbegws/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520108.JPG

Time for inspection!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JFPmQJhBxic/Td1k7gDr5cI/AAAAAAAABMA/ueqaIj1Td6I/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520110.JPG

"Inspection in boring... Arnt ther spoused to be any yarnballs in this PC...?"

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xWpzsGQDg-A/Td1k7w_9LHI/AAAAAAAABME/aESEjlu5tVY/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520111.JPG

The top fans installed. Didnt have anyone there before. Should help keep my case colder. One can also see the wires from the fan-controller.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ILe7bgDoYuU/Td1k7zGCX9I/AAAAAAAABMI/n6xNHwzU1RY/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520112.JPG

What a mess! >:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-azUp9a0p5is/Td1lGDD6NWI/AAAAAAAABNg/SFAsDw2fzHg/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520136.JPG

Fan related accident

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b4TbCtZIVRY/Td1k95ArLaI/AAAAAAAABMY/6V1UaboTyEE/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520116.JPG

"U dont say...?"

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6CouuxV6FfY/Td1lHPlJXHI/AAAAAAAABNo/g6xr56L5-gs/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520139.JPG

The fan controller.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L7y7UAIMutw/Td1kczadPCI/AAAAAAAABJ0/34ZqxQO_bIQ/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520004.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JPA_CqIZ_SE/Td1kcvxNRZI/AAAAAAAABJw/Fi3QHvNAoEE/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520005.JPG

Needed to make space for the 3 top fans.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WtAFuZ19wuE/Td1kfDCOrfI/AAAAAAAABKI/T-EsFQvMrYY/s800/Pus%252520og%252520PC%252520010.JPG

The current setup. The cloth is a experiment - next step is to make it look better. The reason is to block light and cold air from the window behind. And my monitors will work as a "tunnel" so the cold air gets to my PC. Also note the nerd-o-chair. :lol: I planning to paint the wood black.

[VirtualVikingX]

So - hows the 6990 doing? I have only tested Arma 2 CO so far. Short version: Very good.

However, I cant just set everything to "Very High". Especially terrain and object detail. Those have to stay on "Normal". I guessing you need a 6 Ghz CPU to run those a 5760 x 1080. When it comes to AA the 6990 SHINES! I run AA on "High", and the sim looks STUNNING. Also lowest FPS is higher than with the 5870 and everything is smoother when there is a lot going on.

To put it in perspective: I get about the same performance with the 6990@5760x1080 that i got with the 5870@1920x1080.

The 6990 also produces a A LOT of heat and A LOT of noise. Not just the fan, but also the "electronics" chippers a way with bussing noises. The card also dumps out heat in both directions. That means that you get hot air INTO your case. I mounted a fan to expell some of this hot air out the front.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have :)