Need to choose a card for multiple monitor setup

BaldrGeek

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Mar 24, 2013
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I just built a new system, and currently I'm using the on-board video, but I expect to buy a graphics card in the next week or two. (Essentially, as soon as I can decide what I want.) My build : http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RWD5

I have an AOC F22 monitor (currently at 1920 x 1080 resolution.) At some point later, I would like to add 2 additional monitors. http://us.aoc.com/monitor_displays/f22

Mostly I want the multiple monitor setup for "normal work". Programming, spreadsheets, web browsing, email, chat, Skype, that sort of thing.

I want to be able to game a little, but I'm not a major gamer, and I'm not concerned about running every game at the highest settings and such. I'm fine with doing all the gaming on my central monitor and just using the others for when I'm not gaming (though I'm also fine with gaming across all three if that's actually feasible.)

I'd prefer to get a single card that will handle all 3 monitors. My (very basic) research leads me to believe that I want an Eyefinity setup. Probably a 7850 or 7870, but that's why I'm here asking for advice.

My power supply is a Corsair CX600M. I am unlikely to overclock.

Is the extra money for an 7870 worth it? I'm only looking at 2GB cards. 7850's start at $155, 7870's at $209, and 7950's (and 3GB) start at $265.

I had hoped to keep the card under $200, but if you guys tell me it's really worth the extra money for a 7870, I will probably move up a little beyond that. I'm really hoping that I don't need a 7950, but I'm here for advice.

So, what would you recommend?
 


Note that the 7870 XT/LE costs just under a reference 7950, about $230-$260. It's above the OP's needs and budget.

What games will you be playing? Both the 7850 and 7870 will be fine for productivity on 3 monitors.
Gaming on all three monitors, however, will require at least a 7970 for good frame rates, so that's way out of your budget.

 
The general rule of thumb that I use is put in as much money into the GPU as you did for your CPU. So with i5 3570k I'd look at a 7870 myst edition or a 660. There is nothing more disappointing than paying $1000 for a PC and not being able to max out a game cause you got a 7770 (which I've had friends do). They all ended up buying a new GPU.
 
I really appreciate the advice.

I started with the i3 CPU to save some money, with the idea that I can move to an i5 or i7 later if needed.

Advice on specific cards would probably help. If I choose, for instance, a 7870, I'm already going a bit over my intended budget even for the cheapest one. But I don't know that I should get the cheapest one, I may be better off with a higher quality 7850. I really don't know much about them, or the brands, so that makes it hard to be a smart shopper.

As for "which games will you be playing", I've no idea. I haven't had a machine capable of playing any of the newer games. The last game I played (also one of my favorites) was Starcraft Brood War. Obviously, once I have a new video card, I'll be looking into getting a couple of games. :)

Supermuncher mentioned a 660. My understanding (which could be wrong) is that if I want to run 3 monitors off of one card, they should be something supporting the Eyefinity, which means Radeon, which means the 660 is out. Perhaps I'm off base on that.
 
Considering the rest of your build (especially that water cooler...), I wouldn't even have considered an i3. Incremental upgrades like that are costly and unnecessary. (I would also recommend an i5-3350P if you do decide to upgrade).

A GTX 660 will allow you to use three monitors - you'll just need an HDMI -> DVI adapter for your third monitor. (Nvidia cards have an Eyefinity equivalent called Surround.) Reference cards start at $200, so that's just at the top of your budget.

As for brands, you'll have to look at roundups and determine for yourself - different brand coolers will have different noise and cooling properties.

A 7850/7870 roundup: http://us.hardware.info/reviews/2853/amd-radeon-hd-7850--7870-round-up
Couldn't find a comprehensive GTX 660 roundup, though.
 


Funny - generally my rule of thumb is to spend twice on the GPU that you do on the CPU.

The graphics is much more important for gaming, and the i5-3570k is insane overkill when it comes to a 660.

 
Okay, it sounds like most of you believe the extra money for the 7870 vs the 7850 is worth it, and in the link xomm posted comparing different brands, the reviewer seemed to like the Sapphire. It's barely over my $200 limit, and even falls a bit under it with a $15 rebate. Plus it comes with a few game coupons.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025

SAPPHIRE 100354OC-2L Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card
Free FC 3 Blood Dragon, Bioshock & Tomb Raider, limited offer
204.99, minus $15 rebate.

I understand why people are recommending the i5, but I saved enough on starting with an i3 that I was able to get a SSD. I expect to upgrade later, which will cost me a little more, but which also spreads the cost out, and I decided that swapping the CPU would be easier than adding a SSD and having to reinstall everything. I'll probably be able to jump to an i7 when I do that, and it doesn't seem like it should be difficult. Pull it out, clean off the thermal compound, put the new one in, and done. Regardless, the system is already built with the i3, so I have to live with it at this point until I have the money to upgrade.

 
Just throwing out there, for gaming, don't bother with an i7. The only difference between the i7-3770k and the i5-3570k is that the i7 has hyperthreading, which games don't use (the ones that claim to perform better with HT disabled), and likely won't because of how the technology works.

That means that for gaming, they perform EXACTLY the same. Save yourself the $100.