2900XT crossfire versus 3870 Crossfire

[AmongTheChosenX]

Is there a huge difference in performance?

i've checked benchmarks, but i want opinions.

 

[Waymon3X6]

I wouldn't say theres a huge difference, but it is noticeable in games like crysis where every extra frame counts.

2x 3870s dont wont add an extra $100+ to your power bill too - the 2900s are monsters on power.

 

[AmongTheChosenX]

do they really add that much to the power bill? that can't be right.

 

[lucky777]

Electricity is cheap.

 

[Jakalwarrior]

Probably add like 30-100 dollars a year.

 

[rennyf77]

delta appears during benchmarking but was largely indistinguishable during game play. then again, the last time i ran 2900xt cf, it was on a p35 board in 16/4.

 

[AmongTheChosenX]

delta appears during benchmarking but was largely indistinguishable during game play. then again, the last time i ran 2900xt cf, it was on a p35 board in 16/4.

thats exactly what I'm running right now.

 

[Chombo]

Electricity is cheap.

You make Al Gore cry.

 

[lucky777]

You make Al Gore cry.

Overclocking isn't environmental friendly.

 

[rennyf77]

thats exactly what I'm running right now.

its possible that on a 16/16 cf configuration differences might be noticeable in-game but i have no way of verifying at this point. you might get more out of those xt's by moving over to an x38 board.

 

[risqu3]

but, if you are going to get an x38 anyways, why not get 3870's which will lower your PSU requirement...

 

[AmongTheChosenX]

i don't ahve alot of money right now..

unless someone is willing to trade me a 3870 for one of my 2900XT's plus some cash...

 

[Dainas]

You make Al Gore cry.

Let him cry, he's got a triple 30" ACD setup on his primary rig His homeoffice likely eats more electricity than most of our entire homes.

2900XTs are pigs though, but they do out muscle the HD3870 from time to time.

 

[AmongTheChosenX]

so i probably won't see much difference?

 

[Michaelius]

If overclocked to same core speeds 2900 XT is going to be faster in most games.

Only reason 3870 comes ahead in benchmarks from time to time is increased core speeds in games where bandwidth isn't bottlenecking performance.

 

[Josh_B]

Yes, but I'd rather get the hardware decode on the 3870's anyways. I plan on watching tons of cheap HD-DVDs on my peecee once Walmart starts clearing them out.