4870 CF or wait 2 weeks for 4870x2

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Rydawg5143

Supreme [H]ardness
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Apr 22, 2008
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Title says it all. My new x48 board comes in today and I can buy another 4870 now and CF them or i can stick with 1 4870 for a few weeks then buy a x2 ( then buy another next year)
What do you guys think?
Oh by the way have become a major fan of this recent GPU wars!
 
From my understanding the 4870 X2 will be about the same price as the two 4870s, but have twice the memory. So I'm waiting. :)
 
Well, some benchmarks show that two 4870 slightly beats a 4870x2 (And a 4870x2 beats a CF 4870 in some games too) but consumes more power than a single 4870x2. For me I'm getting a 4870x2, and it is a single card too. So 4870x2 for the win here.

2GB of GDDR5 memory sounds nice to me.
 
Thanks, i just wanted someone to tell me what i was already thinking :)
 
John Vuong said:
Well, some benchmarks show that two 4870 slightly beats a 4870x2 (And a 4870x2 beats a CF 4870 in some games too) but consumes more power than a single 4870x2. For me I'm getting a 4870x2, and it is a single card too. So 4870x2 for the win here.

2GB of GDDR5 memory sounds nice to me.
Click to expand...

Also, those benchmarks are with beta drivers. We will probably see even better performance from the 4870X2 than shown in previews.
 
keep in mind the heat/noise

that single card is probably alot harder to overclock then 2 cards you can put aftermarket cooling on

thats why i went with 2 cards myself
 
CanadaOwnsJoo said:
keep in mind the heat/noise

that single card is probably alot harder to overclock then 2 cards you can put aftermarket cooling on

thats why i went with 2 cards myself
Click to expand...

Hrmmm... me wonders exactly how hard it would be for me to make my own custom cooler for a 4870x2....

My custom cooler for my 7900GS with volt mods let me do a 50% overclock!

<3 three slot cooling setups!
 
can run my 4870's @ 850 core , dont know if the cooler on a 4870x2 could handle that

the ram argument doesn't mean much most benchmarks show 1gb cards actually loose a few fps in some cases, most gains are @ 2560x1600

still quite happy regardless :)
 
CanadaOwnsJoo said:
can run my 4870's @ 850 core , dont know if the cooler on a 4870x2 could handle that

the ram argument doesn't mean much most benchmarks show 1gb cards actually loose a few fps in some cases, most gains are @ 2560x1600

still quite happy regardless :)
Click to expand...
Can't wait to see the hd4870x2 do justice to my 2560x1600 :D
 
I bought 2 4870s to run crossfire about 5 weeks ago, i cant see myself replacing them until next generation personally.
 
Unless you desperately need to play a game RIGHT NOW, that your 4870 can't play at, I would wait.

There's no point.

Plus, buyer's remorse is a bitch ;)
 
I'd wait!!!!

I got two 4850's on an impulse but will upgrade to two 4870X2's :p
 
total-recall-two-weeks-490.jpg
:D
 
1 week guyzs!!!

Oh boy o boy o boy, I can't wait to get rid of this 7300le..
 
4870X2 has major advantages over CF 4870 only at 2560x1600, more noticeable at insane AA levels.

Unless you have a 30" LCD i suggest you go CF 4870, since as noticed it can reach quite high OC levels (850 core is very good on air)

if you really wanna have simply the best ebay your 4870 right now, since their price will fall after 4870X2 launch.
 
Alai said:
Also, those benchmarks are with beta drivers. We will probably see even better performance from the 4870X2 than shown in previews.
Click to expand...

I would argue that whatever drivers would boost the 4870x2 would boost the 4870 as well.
 
I went ahead and ordered the 4870 ( visiontek) from the egg, got a free game and MIR so AR its 264, not bad. Figured id see how these run.
Question is, since i've never used 2 GPU's before will it be a challenge to OC them both via CCC also will it be hard to fan hack via profile ?
 
You can go 790/1100 using CCC and still control the fan. The only time it gets complicated is if you want to go higher than 790 and still control the fan speed.
 
If I'm not mistaken, couldn't you just buy a 4870x2 when it comes out and x fire it with the 4870 you already have? I know you went with the second 4870 already, but I didn't notice this option mentioned, and I thought that was one of the appealing features of ATI, being able to cross fire with different GPU's.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
 
i was told when u xfire 2 diff cards it will down clock the higher card? if thats true why spend 500 bucks for another 4870...
 
Rydawg5143 said:
i was told when u xfire 2 diff cards it will down clock the higher card? if thats true why spend 500 bucks for another 4870...
Click to expand...

I agree except that I've heard the 4870 is actually clocked slightly higher than the 4780 x2 plus you are adding 2 more GPUs instead of just one.
 
memnoch_thedevil said:
If I'm not mistaken, couldn't you just buy a 4870x2 when it comes out and x fire it with the 4870 you already have? I know you went with the second 4870 already, but I didn't notice this option mentioned, and I thought that was one of the appealing features of ATI, being able to cross fire with different GPU's.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Click to expand...

I intend to do just that.
One X2 Crossfired with a single 4870 = TripleCross, ftw!!!;)
 
Rydawg5143 said:
I went ahead and ordered the 4870 ( visiontek) from the egg, got a free game and MIR so AR its 264, not bad. Figured id see how these run.
Question is, since i've never used 2 GPU's before will it be a challenge to OC them both via CCC also will it be hard to fan hack via profile ?
Click to expand...

In Crossfire, you need to set BOTH fans up in your created profile. It's simple just follow the instructions in the hack.

OC = each card individually via the Overdrive drop down selector.
Do the fan hack in the Overdrive profile and it will speed up both fans once you modify EACH in the profile.....ie fan "0" and fan "1". I set mine at 40% and have my Crossfired 4870s set at 775/1000......cool and smooth.:D
 
I hate misinformation. When using overdrive both cards can be clocked differently, you should test whether overclocking one card more nets you any speed difference, synchronisation between cards may mean you get little to none speed boost. As to the fan profile, both card settings are saved in one file, so to change that you have to modify them in two places.

<Profile>
<Caste name="Graphics">
<Groups>
<Group name="Overdrive5">
<Feature name="TimeUnlocked" />
<Feature name="OverclockEnabled">
<Property name="OverclockEnabledProperty" value="True" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="CoreClockTarget_0">
<Property name="Want_0" value="30000" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="30000" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="30000" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="MemoryClockTarget_0">
<Property name="Want_0" value="40000" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="40000" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="40000" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="CoreVoltageTarget_0">
<Property name="Want_0" value="1263" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="1263" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="1263" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="MemoryVoltageTarget_0">
<Property name="Want_0" value="0" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="0" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedProtocol_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedProtocolProperty" value="Percent" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="20" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="CoreClockTarget_1">
<Property name="Want_0" value="30000" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="30000" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="30000" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="MemoryClockTarget_1">
<Property name="Want_0" value="40000" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="40000" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="40000" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="CoreVoltageTarget_1">
<Property name="Want_0" value="1263" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="1263" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="1263" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="MemoryVoltageTarget_1">
<Property name="Want_0" value="0" />
<Property name="Want_1" value="0" />
<Property name="Want_2" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedProtocol_1">
<Property name="FanSpeedProtocolProperty" value="Percent" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_1">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
</Group>
</Groups>
<Adapter name="PCI_VEN_1002&amp;DEV_9440&amp;SUBSYS_02581043&amp;REV_00_4&amp;16E9CD3&amp;0&amp;0008A">
Click to expand...

This is my profile slightly modified, low core/memory clocks are result of AMD GPU Tool, don't mind them. Sections in BOLD are where profile is to be modified.
 
I was completely wrong about Crossfire......I have only had ATI cards for about a month, and I truely thought that one OC=bothOC'd.......oops.

I was running the auto tune feature last night and it finally dawned on me that the primary card was so much cooler than the secondary......

Yeah, you have to adjust for both cards in the fan profile you create, easily done; and you need to OC each card individually, by selecting the proper card in the first drop down box of the Overdrive section.

Sorry about that.......I didn't realize my mistake until late last night.:eek:
 
Interesting, so i have to actually overclock both cards seperately? Thought it worked like SLI and just overclocked both the same. Stupid CCC. Guess i have some tinkering left to do.
 
veedubfreak said:
Interesting, so i have to actually overclock both cards seperately? Thought it worked like SLI and just overclocked both the same. Stupid CCC. Guess i have some tinkering left to do.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad.....I thought the same.
I also assumed the CCC was like the nvidia control panel......but SLi has it's own set(s) of problems as well.

Anyway......I used the "auto-tune" function to get an idea where my cards stood, then OC'd them the same.....775/1000. AND reset my fan profiles so each fan runs at 40% manually.
 
i set my fan at 35 ( quite) and idles at 45 load at 58. Oc's to CCC max 790/1100. will do the same with my 2nd one that comes in on monday
 
veedubfreak said:
Interesting, so i have to actually overclock both cards seperately? Thought it worked like SLI and just overclocked both the same. Stupid CCC. Guess i have some tinkering left to do.
Click to expand...
Yeah I hate when people give us more freedom. Cursed freedom!
 
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