Gaming Rig crossfire vs trifire

[jackd]

Approximate Purchase Date: march
Budget Range: 2K
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming

Parts Not Required:keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:newegg.com

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: amd ati
Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution:2048 x 1152

Additional Comments:

This will be my first complete build. Im gonna spend about 2k on it.

Case: Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811139005
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair V Formula
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131735
CPU: AMD FX-8150 Zambezi 3.6GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103960
CPU Cooler: CORSAIR H100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] air%20h100
Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820233180
Power supply: CORSAIR Professional Series HX1050 (for trifire)
CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX850 (crossfire)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139034 (for trifire)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139015 (crossfire)
Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100312-3SR Radeon HD 6950
SAPPHIRE FleX 100314FLEX Radeon HD 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102945
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102924


my first big question is with my graphics selection. I'm an AMD and ATI fan, so i want a ati series card. But I don't know what would be better, I could run HD 6950 X2 in crossfire. or hd 6870 in trifire for almost the same price. not sure which would be better or provide better graphics for Battlefield 3. Also not sure if the H100 will fit with that set up either. Comments and Ideas are welcome thanks.

 

[13thmonkey]

well you are buying top(ish) end AMD stuff, so whats there to say, wait for 7series?

 

[Ninja Pants]

At your resolution tri-fire 6870's should offer the better performance. If you ever want to consider an eyefinity setup then definitely the 6950's, the extra VRAM will make a huge difference. On more GPU hungry games the 6950 will again offer better performance. Its a close call really. Personally I would get 2 Toxic 6950's and flash the BIOS to unlock the 6970 shaders.

Yes the H100 will fit, the radiator will mount easily to the top of the 600T.

Could always wait for 8000 series as well... its always a circular argument as there is always something new around the corner. That wasn't the OPs question but I see the validity in that comment, it will be down to the needs and patience of the OP as it always is.

 

[jackd]

thanks, I think I will go with the 6950's than, don't have an eyefinity setup right now but would love it. Thanks for the info and validating my setup.

 

[mikeny]

thanks, I think I will go with the 6950's than, don't have an eyefinity setup right now but would love it. Thanks for the info and validating my setup.

Jack,

You mentioned that you will go with the 6950's and I noticed the power supply you will use with crossfire. I was looking on Newegg and that power supply seems to have a lot of problems lately. The HX850 is very popular and has been getting glowing reviews. If you want to check the HX850; here's the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011


Keep in touch I was thinking of crossfiring 2 6950's (my screen size is 2400x1080) or waiting for the 79xx's but I think they won't be out at the earliest; January.

 

[Ninja Pants]

January might be a bit ambitious, and they generally release the lower end cards first, so could still be some months away yet. Though I am looking forward to them when they happen.

 

[mikeny]

January might be a bit ambitious, and they generally release the lower end cards first, so could still be some months away yet. Though I am looking forward to them when they happen.

Im debating.....6950 and/or crossfire or wait for 7950 (although the rumor of the price is $449 seems high but then again, this was the second price I saw; the other was $349). If the 7970 is less than $400; then my attention will turn to the 7970