6870 X2 - Owners Opinions

[jpe30]

To those who have owned this card, I am very interested in your opinion on its performance. I will be upgrading my video card for the fall releases, and am considering this card heavily. It seems to offer great performance, but from what I read here on Toms, it suffers from micro-stuttering.

In your experience, how widespread has this micro-stuttering been? I know it is more apparent in certain games due to driver issues, so I'd like to know how often you buy a new game only to find that it suffers from micro-stuttering.

My second choice in a video card would be an O/C'd 570, they seem to have a decent price for the performance offered.

Thanks!

 

[jonnyrb]

I run SLi'd GTX560's and I do not see this microstutter that you say I should, are you sure that you know what you are talking about?

I know that you know mousemonkey You probably aren't playing anything demanding to drop you near a 30fps where you can notice the microstutter. Some people aren't as aware of microstuttering as others are.

I'm saying it would "theoretically" be almost as bad as the 6870x2. Unless any "one person" has done both in sli//xfire this subtopic is moot.

edit: I also don't see where I say you "Should" experience this microstutter.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I know that you know mousemonkey You probably aren't playing anything demanding to drop you near a 30fps where you can notice the microstutter. Some people aren't as aware of microstuttering as others are.

I'm saying it would "theoretically" be almost as bad as the 6870x2. Unless any "one person" has done both in sli//xfire this subtopic is moot.

edit: I also don't see where I say you "Should" experience this microstutter.

You just have a sour opinion from a bad experience. It is the same with nvidia sli in the same range a cards, a 560 will stutter just as bad as a 6850//70. If you are going to sli//crossfire I suggest a 570 or 6950//70 with preference to the 6950 2gb card

So will it? That to me says that you are saying that it 'should'.

 

[jonnyrb]

So will it? That to me says that you are saying that it 'should'.

Then you are making an assumption that the 6870x2 is stuttering under the same circumstances. However no examples have been given with detailed specs or games//apps being used

 

[Mousemonkey]

Then you are making an assumption that the 6870x2 is stuttering under the same circumstances.

No, you are the one who is making the assumption that the GTX560 SLi setup that I'm running suffers from microstuttering and that I don't run anything demanding enough to get the framerates to drop below 30 per second.

 

[jonnyrb]

No, you are the one who is making the assumption that the GTX560 SLi setup that I'm running suffers from microstuttering and that I don't run anything demanding enough to get the framerates to drop below 30 per second.

I was making a statement that has been pulled so far from context it's ridiculous. I was replying under a statement saying the 6870x2 suffers from micro stuttering, I was making a statement saying the nvidia suite of mid range cards will suffer from a similar stutter under said circumstances that caused his previous micro stutter, since he spoke of it as though it were severe and unplayable.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I was making a statement that has been pulled so far from context it's ridiculous. I was replying under a statement saying the 6870x2 suffers from micro stuttering, I was making a statement saying the nvidia suite of mid range cards will suffer from a similar stutter under said circumstances that caused his previous micro stutter, since he spoke of it as though it were severe and unplayable.

But why will it? If you are such an expert then would you please explain exactly what causes this problem and do so in such a way that it can be reliably reproduced.

 

[jonnyrb]

But why will it? If you are such an expert then would you please explain exactly what causes this problem and do so in such a way that it can be reliably reproduced.

Not sure why this is being requested. I feel like I'm being trolled by an Admin..

http://media.bestofmicro.com/Crossfire-SLI-stuttering,W-I-300546-22.png

the stutter is less, however existant. Since you want me to break it down for you...

Edit: It's a quality defect prone to multi GPU setups from both Xfire and SLI, granted they both use AFR. It is an irregular delay between frames rendered by multiple GPU's, causing an instant frame rate of the longest gap to be much lower than the frame rate that is being displayed as frame rates are usually averages over a second. To try to answer your question on a single line, AFR is imperfect

and simply put, no I don't want to do the leg work for you to have this recreated, I don't have the time or money. Nor am I a lab or someone who does frequent benchmarks and write ups. I'm simply an enthusiast

 

[Mousemonkey]

Not sure why this is being requested. I feel like I'm being trolled by an Admin..

http://media.bestofmicro.com/Crossfire-SLI-stuttering,W-I-300546-22.png

the stutter is less, however existant.

For starters I'm not 'Admin' and secondly yes I've seen the article and played the game so now I'd like you to tell me what causes this 'microstutter' .

 

[jonnyrb]

For starters I'm not 'Admin' and secondly yes I've seen the article and played the game so now I'd like you to tell me what causes this 'microstutter' .

I already have in my edit. My apologies, you're a moderator.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Not sure why this is being requested. I feel like I'm being trolled by an Admin..

http://media.bestofmicro.com/Crossfire-SLI-stuttering,W-I-300546-22.png

the stutter is less, however existant. Since you want me to break it down for you...

It's a quality defect prone to multi GPU setups from both Xfire and SLI, granted they both use AFR. It is an irregular delay between frames rendered by multiple GPU's, causing an instant frame rate of the longest gap to be much lower than the frame rate that is being displayed as frame rates are usually averages over a second.

and simply put, no I don't want to do the leg work for you to have this recreated, I don't have the time or money. Nor am I a lab or someone who does frequent benchmarks and write ups. I'm simply an enthusiast

Nice cut and paste but it doesn't explain why it happens on some systems and not others.

 

[jonnyrb]

Nice cut and paste but it doesn't explain why it happens on some systems and not others.

It's really not a cut and paste, but thanks for the accusation. It is rather heavily sourced though

 

[jonnyrb]

But why will it? If you are such an expert then would you please explain exactly what causes this problem and do so in such a way that it can be reliably reproduced.

Nice cut and paste but it doesn't explain why it happens on some systems and not others.

That wasn't your request, you asked me what causes it, and how it can be reliably reproduced. I answered the first half, and said no to the second.

 

[Haserath]

Doesn't micro-stutter come from having the 2nd GPU in the system having to render the frame than transfer that data from its memory to the memory on the first card to be put out to the display?

 

[Mousemonkey]

It's really not a cut and paste, but thanks for the accusation. It is rather heavily sourced though

You're welcome! 😉 I've seen lots of articles over the years on this and have yet to see any two that agree with each other and that provided enough details for end users to be able replicate the result, even our own THG.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Doesn't micro-stutter come from having the 2nd GPU in the system having to render the frame than transfer that data from its memory to the memory on the first card to be put out to the display?

I don't know but it's an interesting question.

 

[jjb8675309]

I run SLi'd GTX560's and I do not see this microstutter that you say I should, are you sure that you know what you are talking about?

no they do not know what they are talking about and this is getting exhaustive, most of the benches you listed are amd favored in the first place, they are on par with each other overall and there are other game benches that indicate that the 560ti is much better and it especially has more potential for heavier dx11 games of the future, also I own one, (actually talking from personal exp) unlike you and mine holds a 1ghz core oc and will blow any stock 6950 out of the water... in the end at stock they are on par with each other and depending on which game you look at, one or the other wins but your arguments are nonsensical trust me I know what I am talking about, I have owned many of these gpus for reference

 

[jjb8675309]

the bottom line is that take the 560 sli vs the 6870x2 or 6870 crossfire and the nvidia product has no noticeable microstuttering according to toms hw while the radeon cards have terrible microstuttering and these are cards of the same performance so overall it is evident to me that for dual gpu solutions sli works better then crossfire, dont even let me get started about drivers..... there is no circumstance that 6870 crossfire would be better than 560(ti) sli looking at the total overall experience

 

[Embra]

I notice no micro-stuttering with my 67870x2.

I notice many times there is an issue viewed or spoken about, folks like to brush a broad stroke where most the time it is a dot here or a dash there.

 

[Mousemonkey]

no they do not know what they are talking about and this is getting exhaustive, most of the benches you listed are amd favored in the first place, they are on par with each other overall and there are other game benches that indicate that the 560ti is much better and it especially has more potential for heavier dx11 games of the future, also I own one, (actually talking from personal exp) unlike you and mine holds a 1ghz core oc and will blow any stock 6950 out of the water... in the end at stock they are on par with each other and depending on which game you look at, one or the other wins but your arguments are nonsensical trust me I know what I am talking about, I have owned many of these gpus for reference

I hope all of that wasn't being directed at me! 😱 :lol:

 

[jonnyrb]

I hope all of that wasn't being directed at me! 😱 :lol:

lol Monkey is a known nVidia supporter, look at his sig.


@jjbI also have a 6950, which I don't need to overclock. a 560ti doesn't float beside a 6950, sorry to break it to you. I also have personal exp AND benchmarks in my favor. As far as drivers, you may as well say checkmate

edit: Essentially every game is really favoured one way more or less. I'm waiting for you to post a Hawx benchmark and say it's an unbias game.

 

[jjb8675309]

I hope all of that wasn't being directed at me! 😱 :lol:

no sorry not at you mouse, im just not on board with what johnny is saying...

 

[Mousemonkey]

no sorry not at you mouse, im just not on board with what johnny is saying...

I thought as much but I just wanted to clarify. 😉

 

[iam2thecrowe]

im just gonna get another 6850 when they drop down cheap enough, just to see for myself if this "microstuttering" is noticeable, or if its actually there at all. Maybe its certain motherboards causing it? i know anyone that has a 16x/4x setup notices it much more and have more issues with crossfire. There are plenty of people that do not see this microstuttering, so maybe its not just crossfire, maybe other things like motherboard, ram, cpu have something to do with it, or make it more pronounced.

 

[jjb8675309]

im just gonna get another 6850 when they drop down cheap enough, just to see for myself if this "microstuttering" is noticeable, or if its actually there at all. Maybe its certain motherboards causing it? i know anyone that has a 16x/4x setup notices it much more and have more issues with crossfire. There are plenty of people that do not see this microstuttering, so maybe its not just crossfire, maybe other things like motherboard, ram, cpu have something to do with it, or make it more pronounced.

true, there are many other contributing factors but in the end it is disappointing technology to me, call me anal but after seeing it once I think it will be hard to ignore to any degree

 

[jpe30]

Thanks for carrying this discussion guys, lots of good info in here!

@Embra: Good to know your 6870 X2 setup is working great!

One reason I was looking at the 6870 X2 is because I have a x16/x4 motherboard, which is useless for a CF/SLi setup. Which means I'd probably have to spend another $100+ for a new mobo along with the video cards. I just bought a brand new OCZ 850W 80+ Gold PSU during Monday's shell shocker, so I could pull off an SLi setup if I wanted to spend the money. In fact, a $100 mobo and a couple 560's(non-Ti) in SLi would keep me around $500.

I might just go with 2x 560's and a new mobo. It's nearly the same price, and provides better performance.