3 unique devices and CrossFire/Dual Graphics?

[nerdychick]

Hello, new here, so forgive me if this question seems dumb.

I'm building a combination family computer and gaming computer. I'm planning on doing the Radeon dual graphs set-up so I want to know some things and I couldn't find an answer to this specific question, so here it goes. From what I understand, CrossFire can be configured across up to 4 discreet video cards. I'm planning on getting an A-series APU (probably an A10 since AMD is promising to stick with the Socket FM2 platform for a little while). I like playing games on higher settings, Sims 2, Sims 3, Darkstar One, Star Wars, Starcraft, etc. My husband may be doing some heavy video and photo editing.

I know that an APU + Radeon HD discreet graphics card will improve graphics performance by sharing the load; but if I mount those on an AMD motherboard with onboard video, will the 3 components work in tandem to produce better graphics than just the APU + discreet?

Here is my proposed build:

-Apex Computer Technology PC-389-C 10bay ATX Tower No Psu USB / Hd PC389C [Already Have]
-Lite-On Super AllWrite 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive - Bulk - IHAS124-04 [Already Have]
-Gigabyte Socket FM2 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Motherboard
-AMD A10-5800K APU 3.8Ghz Processor
-Gigabyte Radeon HD 6670 2GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 DVI-I/HDMI/D-SUB Crossfire Ready Graphics Card
-Corsair CX750 Builder Series ATX 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Power Supply
-Corsair Vengeance Blue 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (I know, I know, I'm probably gonna get 1866 instead)
-Seagate Barracuda 7200 500 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 16 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive
-Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

So should I get an AMD mobo with onboard video, or would I be fine with just the APU + Discreet?

Thanks!

 

[sanilmahambre]

APU+Discrete graphic card can get you decent graphics and also enable your husband to do heavy video editing

 

[nerdychick]

Best answer selected by NerdyChick.

 

[nerdychick]

Thanks!

 

[Kari]

btw the psu is a massive overkill for that setup, save a tenner or two and get a 500W unit instead (even 500w one would be more than enough)

 

[sanilmahambre]

btw the psu is a massive overkill for that setup, save a tenner or two and get a 500W unit instead (even 500w one would be more than enough)

The minimum requirement for crossfire is a 600 W psu

 

[Kari]

The minimum requirement for crossfire is a 600 W psu

for a no-brand pos that would be true and that is how the manuf spec their cards, for the extremely worst case scenarios.
Corsair is not one of these...

edit
some numbers
6670 max power consumption 50W
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_6670/25.html
a10-5800 tdp rating 100W (very close to full load consumption)
10w for HDD and ODD, 30W for mobo, maybe another 10W for ram.
total usage about 200W under max load. If you wanna calculate the psu inefficiency into this the rig will draw close to 250W from the wall socket.

 

[mouse24]

Whats your budget for this? Also I would probably just grab an i3/fx6300 over an A10 with a DDR3 6670.

The A10 setup would be slower than the lowest current gen card. (7750) You are also spending wayyy to much on that psu. That system won't even break 170w max load