hd 5970 or 2 x hd 5870

[lordgort]

i want to run eyefinity on my 3 x 24"

so whats better 1 x hd 5970 or 2 x hd 5870???

there are tests where the 2 cards are better, but with 2 cards you have only 1 GB you can use am i right?





my system now:
i7 920
6 gb ram
2 x 8800 gtx
gigabyte ex58 extreme

[suiken_2mieu]

In either solution you only have 1GB of VRAM. 5970 has 1 GB per GPU and 2x5870 has 1 GB per GPU. For the most part, I would go the two card route just for the fact that the clock rates will be higher. But personally, I'd say wait for the 5870 6th Edition in Which has 1 GPU and 2GB VRAM. If you wanna xFire, then just get two of those.

[lordgort]

In either solution you only have 1GB of VRAM. 5970 has 1 GB per GPU and 2x5870 has 1 GB per GPU. For the most part, I would go the two card route just for the fact that the clock rates will be higher. But personally, I'd say wait for the 5870 6th Edition in Which has 1 GPU and 2GB VRAM. If you wanna xFire, then just get two of those.

so why do it have 2 gb when you cant use it?

and how bad is the problem with the "mikro-stucks" (i hope you understand this -.-*) that sli and CF have

[Gilly]

stutter problem isn't too bad AFAIK.

the 2GB is because the board has 2GB RAM soldered to it, doesn't say anything about each core can use all of it.

and

I would go 2x 5870 simply for better cooling of the cards, if your case accomodates it :)

[lordgort]

i will change the aircooler with waterblocks, so the cooling is no problem.....

[An7h0ny]

If the cooling is no problem, I say go for the 5970... When ATI release drivers that accommodate quadfire + eyefinity you can always get another one.

The 2GB of VRAM would be nice though, but you're looking to buy now right? I'm running 7680x1600 and even though I can only use 1 5970 with eyefinity at the moment (seems due to drivers issues) it performs surprisingly well!

Just my 2c, either option will kick ass!

[lordgort]

hmm is there any date when the 2 gb version comes out? or maybe a 4 gb version of the 5970?

[Gilly]

If you will water cool then yeah get the 5970, just don't use a crappy off the shelf kit, and don't skimp on PSU!!!!

The card has another 1 line available from PCI-e connector, so there may be a 4GB one in the pipeline, although it may require 2x density memory modules, which may never come.

I wouldn't hold my breath but I would get a 5970 and maybe add one later.

[lordgort]

the psu will be no problem, ive a 1000W corsair

and which one do i have to buy?, or are they all the same (hd 5970)(xfi/gigabyte/etc)

or the oc variation from sapphire?

[Gilly]

whatever you want, afaik they all get the same speed binned chips. I have had coil whine on the X1900XTX I have had ever since it was installed, neither my retailer (Overclockers UK) or the manufacturer (Sapphire) will swap it based on that alone, but I can't exactly say it's been the perfect card. Anyway, nothing says you will have better luck with another manufacturer either :P