Upgrading Gpu, crossfire or not to crossfire?

RyanvF

RyanvF

New member
Hi guys.
So at the moment I'm running with:

Cpu: Intel i5 4430 3.0ghz
mobo: MSI z87-g43
Ram: 2x 4Gb DDr3 1600mhz
Gpu: GTX650 DDR5 1gb
PSU: coolermaster thunder 600w
HDD: WD blue 1TB
optical drive: Samsung Dvd rw.

The Gtx is working very well for me at the moment but I would love to upgrade in the near future. I need opinions and advise on which GPU would be best. My mobo is Crossfire Compatible but does not support SLI. So i was wondering whether i should stick with a newer Nvidia card "got around R4k to spend", no more than that. Or should i go the crossfire route and maybe look at two 1gb cards such as HD7850's?
Thanks in advance.:)
 
RyanvF said:
Hi guys.
So at the moment I'm running with:

Cpu: Intel i5 4430 3.0ghz
mobo: MSI z87-g43
Ram: 2x 4Gb DDr3 1600mhz
Gpu: GTX650 DDR5 1gb
PSU: coolermaster thunder 600w
HDD: WD blue 1TB
optical drive: Samsung Dvd rw.

The Gtx is working very well for me at the moment but I would love to upgrade in the near future. I need opinions and advise on which GPU would be best. My mobo is Crossfire Compatible but does not support SLI. So i was wondering whether i should stick with a newer Nvidia card "got around R4k to spend", no more than that. Or should i go the crossfire route and maybe look at two 1gb cards such as HD7850's?
Thanks in advance.:)
Click to expand...

1gb cards will become pretty useless in the near future even when gaming at 1080P
2GB will become the standard on gaming gpu's.
Then there is the CF and Sli issue, dual card systems are amazing but they almost always have issues.
Stuttering, driver issues, stability issues when overclocking 2 cards and so on and so forth, so I would opt for a single powerful card.

Something like this http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=7625
Then at a later stage you could always add another 1 (Psu upgrade would be required if you run more than 1 though)

Alternatively you could wait for the new cards to launch and check local pricing on those.
 
I think that the better option would be to wait for the full local release of the R7 and R9 AMD cards. SLI/Crossfire is boss indeed, but at the same time it requires impeccable maintenance from your side of your system. having two cards also leads to certain difficulties in running certain games when not using dual-monitors. Plus you have to spend money to make them work at optimal levels. 1 Pagani trumps 2 Lotuses :D
 
Crossfire is just so much 'cooler'. You could get 2 powercolor hd7870s for just over R4k, but big single card is better
 
If you have to ask, always get a single card. The pitfalls of multi-GPU configurations, even with Nvidia's exemplary support, are still a very real thing. I wouldn't even do Crossfired HD7950's now because The R9 290 and the R9 290X have a new method of doing it that makes the cable linking look ancient.

However, for four grand right now I'd go with a Radeon HD7970 Ghz Edition. Its cheaper and faster than any stock GTX680 and the free games, the extra VRAM and the wider bus just makes it a far better deal. Your PSU will run it just fine as well.
 
Wesley said:
If you have to ask, always get a single card. The pitfalls of multi-GPU configurations, even with Nvidia's exemplary support, are still a very real thing. I wouldn't even do Crossfired HD7950's now because The R9 290 and the R9 290X have a new method of doing it that makes the cable linking look ancient.

However, for four grand right now I'd go with a Radeon HD7970 Ghz Edition. Its cheaper and faster than any stock GTX680 and the free games, the extra VRAM and the wider bus just makes it a far better deal. Your PSU will run it just fine as well.
Click to expand...

Man has a point. for 4k there really isnt anything better than a 7970 ANYWHERE. Really is your best option.
 
I had Sli 8800GTs and even with a gap between them, the ambient temperature in the case was significantly higher than using a single, better card. Also more current draw which may shorten the life of your PSU.
 
bromster said:
I had Sli 8800GTs and even with a gap between them, the ambient temperature in the case was significantly higher than using a single, better card. Also more current draw which may shorten the life of your PSU.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I never thought of that. Thanks for the input/advise.
 
The Joker said:
Well Rebeltech now has stock of the 270X and 280X and as usual their pricing is utterly brilliant

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=11136
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=11135

He has 5 of each and there won't be stock again till the 18th as far as I know, So I would jump on this. :cool:
Click to expand...

Forget what I said before. Jump on that shit if its 4K. Jump on it and never let her go!
 
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