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If you will recall, AMD started this entire "exotic" use of multi-gpus and multiple monitors.
It's currently used by many people, but not many triple GPU users and certainly not many 3D users.
While I'm not making any excuses, and if I had three GPUs I'd be screaming pretty loud, there aren't many people in that crowd. AMD is certainly focusing on other aspects of their GPU software.
I'd just like to see the review done when AMD has had a chance to fix their problems, instead of running a comparison of two VERY expensive systems with one having gimped software.
You are more than correct, nvidia has the software for this small segment and for your niche of using 3D Surround.
that said, as I said before, my Crossfire and EyeFinity are working just fine.
You won't run out of texture memory, at least on current games, on a 2GB card running 5040x1050. You will be performance limited by the 2 card setup at that resolution before you will run out of VRAM, except in very specific circumstances like Skyrim with heavy texture mod use. I also question this logic:
Yes, AMD *can* fix these drivers issues, but considering that they have had microstuttering problems for the last 3 generations of cards (worse than NVIDIA's at any rate) and they haven't fixed the Eyefinity bug with 3 cards in the last 5 months, what makes you think they are going to fix them going forward?
I've been using multiple GPUs since the 5870s, and I only noticed it in some games, and it was very frame rate dependent. But I couldn't play at 5760x1200 in most games because even though I was getting "playable" frame rates, e.g. 40-50fps in BC2, the game felt choppy and unplayable. Obviously this is a YMMV issue and not everyone is as sensitive to it, but you can't simply discount this, especially since most people don't have the luxury of "try before you buy" with these types of setups.
I'm sorry but this makes no sense. You said "Let's be honest, it's a problem for about two dozen people......I mean really, all those running triple GPU solutions, please raise your hand.....So should AMD make this an emergency? or should they just take their time and fix it right?" - but this review is specifically for people who are running or are interested in running 3 GPUs. If you aren't going to run 3 GPUs, then no, this isn't important, but if you ARE, this is a huge show stopper issue, so it's totally relevant and important to this review.
I guess "needs" is subjective, but there are definitely games out there that can take advantage of multiple video cards at multimonitor resolutions. BF3 gains noticeably from a 3rd card.
I haven't personally used the 7000 series cards but from the overall posting trends on the forum, it seems like a lot more users are experiencing problems with AMD's drivers in CFX on the 7000 series than people having problems with NVIDIA's 500/600 series. My personal experience over the history of using both companies GPUs is that NVIDIA generally has a more reliable driver for multiple-GPUs. I did recommend to my friends to grab 6950 CFX back when those came out though, and I think AMD makes excellent single GPU solutions, I just don't think that I would be comfortable with AMD's 7000 series driver situation right now if I was buying for myself.and you know this how? I have not had a single issue and I've had the 7970 pair I currently run since the series was released. I have not had a single issue with Crossfire+Eyefinity. But that's just me. MMV I guess.
)What exactly is "biast" about the article? Why is it "biast"? Give us examples or your opinion is worth less than zero.
Out of curiosity, why do you take this approach with drivers yet use third-party configuration tools for overclocking? This is an enthusiast website, and NVIDIA offers tools to enable true SSAA with their products, which to me is the same as using a vendor's tools (e.g. Sapphire's TriXX or whatever) to overclock/tweak their cards.
I could have bought plenty of them from Newegg since launch if I wanted. you do have to act fast but they do show up at Newegg and other places too. heck today alone I could have bought one at least 3 or 4 times.
but these seem to be selling better than the 7970 did too. so its probably a combination of fairly low stock and really high demand more than just low volume of cards. and supposedly the low availability is mainly just a US problem.
Really? I can't believe you even said that.
That's just so laughable, not from a you didn't get 3 but I it took me 8 days perspective. If you can't see the problem in that then we just shouldn't even pretend to debate the topic.
fixed
5 car payments
Very nice review.
BUT...........I think the overall attitude and result is somewhat biased by the fact that you are still moaning over AMDs driver problems. Crossfire is as good or even better in some of your results, but quickly downplayed by the "smooth-ness factor" whatever that is.
Let's be honest, it's a problem for about two dozen people......I mean really, all those running triple GPU solutions, please raise your hand.....So should AMD make this an emergency? or should they just take their time and fix it right?
That and the fact that you can't even buy one GTX 680 anywhere, let alone three.
Face it, there are only a hand full of games at present that require two GPUs let alone three.......yeah, I've had three way SLI and CrossfireX in the not so distant past.....and honestly I couldn't find a game that was worthy.
I'm not a big fan of either company, they both have their problems. Sure I'd like to see better AMD driver support, but to down-play their success by consistantly bashing their software support doesn't do anybody any good......who has cards for sale that you can actually buy?