Considering GPU Upgrade (Extreme System)

[cygone]

Please see system spec below. Is a GPU Upgrade required for the display size I am running, Mostly running FPS, but getting lower than desired FPS in alot of the new games. Is it worth going to GTX 4** or Radeon 5*** Series?

CPU: - Intel I7 920 D0 Stepping Retail Processor @ 4.2GHz (200*21 : 1.30 vCore)
MB: - Asus P6T6 WS Revolution (16*16*16 NF 200 Chip)
RAM: - 6Gb Corsair Dominator 1866MHz RAM (3x2Gb)
PSU: - Cooler Master 1100w UCP Power Supply
SSD: - 2x Intel X25 80Gb in RAID 1
HDD: - 4x Western Digital Black 640Gb 7200RPM 32MB Cache in RAID 0
GPU: - 3x Asus nVidia GTX 260 216, (Overclocked to 725 GPU / 1125 Memory / 1450 Shader)
CHASSIS: - Antec 1200 Full Tower Case
OPTICAL - LG 22xDVD+RW
SCREEN: - 3x Dell E228WFP 22" Monitors @ 1680*1050 @ 59Hz (Total Single Display of 5040*1050, 5292000 Pixels)
DISPLAY: - Matrox Triple Head to Go Digital Edition
RAD: - Hardware Labs Black ICE GT Extreme Radiator 360 (120.3)
PUMP: - Swiftech MCP655 Pump
RES: - Swiftech MCRES-Micro Rev.2
CPU BLock: - Swiftech APOGEE XT CPU Water Block
MIC: - Logitech USB Microphone
KB: - Logitech Illuminated Keyboard
MOUSE: - Logitech G5 Mouse
PAD: - Steel Series Ice Mat
SOUND: - Sennheiser HD595 Headphones


Screen resolution gives me about 2.2x the amount of pixels you get on a 1080p monitor.

 

[dmcfc]

Well it really depends on what is your budget. Because if you just want to run a single card a ati 58xx or 5970 would be the best option because it has eyefinity to run the 3 monitors, if you want the best you can get probably it would be 3 or 4 gtx 480.Though with the 4xx gtx series they need to be in SLI to run 3 screens. If you really don't have a budget limit go with either two 5970's or 3 or 4 gtx 480's.

 

[cygone]

Should I upgrade or wait for next gen?

 

[welshmousepk]

A single 5970 would do very well at that res, but you could always get two if you want even more performance.

 

[cygone]

a 5970 is no faster than 3x260s

 

[welshmousepk]

Yes it is.

a 5970 has two 5870's on a single card. a 5870 is almost as powerful as a GTX295 (which contains two GTX260 chips)

 

[cygone]

Actually a GTX 295 contains 2x275 but clocked at 260 levels with 240 stream processors.

a 5970 is basically 2x5870 but they are down clocked to 5850 levels due to heat and power issues, and 3x260s are alot faster than 2x5850s (i know, i have 2x5850s as well and vantage will net me +3000 pts with the 260s)

 

[cygone]

TBH, i might have a stupidly good pc, but im not made of money, i would as stated; need to go to 2x5970s or 3/4 GTX480 to see notable gains. tho adding a 3rd 5850 and swapping them back to this system would seem to be about the best option for money spent.

 

[welshmousepk]

[quotemsg=5028371,7,299129]Actually a GTX 295 contains 2x275 but clocked at 260 levels with 240 stream processors.

a 5970 is basically 2x5870 but they are down clocked to 5850 levels due to heat and power issues, and 3x260s are alot faster than 2x5850s (i know, i have 2x5850s as well and vantage will net me +3000 pts with the 260s)[/quotemsg]

Yes, but returning it to 5870 levels is as easy as the flick of a (virtual) switch.

But yes, you would need a second card to have a big increase.

 

[spentshells]

[quotemsg=5028361,5,299129]a 5970 is no faster than 3x260s[/quotemsg]

interesting I would usually ask for proof but that is interesting enough to find out myself


ha the link I found was toms article

 

[cygone]

Go take a look at Futuremark ORB, my above system, gets just shy of 32000 points. thier is a CF 5970 on thier with only 34000

 

[welshmousepk]

If you have been out of the loop for a while, Vantage is NOT an accurate measure of system performance when comparing ATI to Nvidia. its HEAVILY nvidia skewed.

 

[cygone]

Assuming PPU disabled, its not to far off.