ATI Card Configuration Choices

Configurations

  • 4 4830's

    Votes: 1 3.3%

  • 3 4850's

    Votes: 1 3.3%

  • 2 4870's

    Votes: 28 93.3%
  • Total voters
    30
I say 2 4870s- less power usage, less heat output, and better performance when profiles aren't working.
 
...the less GPUs the better indeed.

Having dealt with 4890 CrossfireX for ~2-3 weeks now, I can honestly say I've had more issues and outright broken games than I did in almost 2 years of running SLI and Tri-SLI with 8800 GTXs. These cards would already be back at ewiz.com were it not for their horrible return policy. I'm a long time ATI owner, too, from the Rage 128 Pro up to the X800XT, then I went Nvidia briefly with the 8800 GTXs, then back to ATI with these 4890s. It's hardly the "welcome back" I was hoping for. This is all on a completely fresh install too, no driver conflict issues to be blamed. Catalyst is a fucking virus.
 
silent-circuit said:
...the less GPUs the better indeed.

Having dealt with 4890 CrossfireX for ~2-3 weeks now, I can honestly say I've had more issues and outright broken games than I did in almost 2 years of running SLI and Tri-SLI with 8800 GTXs. These cards would already be back at ewiz.com were it not for their horrible return policy. I'm a long time ATI owner, too, from the Rage 128 Pro up to the X800XT, then I went Nvidia briefly with the 8800 GTXs, then back to ATI with these 4890s. It's hardly the "welcome back" I was hoping for. This is all on a completely fresh install too, no driver conflict issues to be blamed. Catalyst is a fucking virus.
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funny how some people have so much problems with Catalyst are are quick to complain about the horrible drivers. I've been with ATI camp since the 8500/R200 days, thru 3 different OS's(win2k, XP, vista) and never have them failed me once....were they all "zOMGS 30% improvement in Crysis" releases....um no. but they have all been stable and worked without me growing gray hairs over it...just my 2 cents.

as for the OP. the less GPUs you can get the most performance out of the better. Same could be said for multi socket CPU systems, as the complexity grows the payoffs decrease.
 
I love how you completely discounted that I've actually been dealing with ATI hardware and software even longer than you have. Read the above. I'm not some random troll, my experience has been shit, I would not have taken this route if I'd had any idea the kind of bullshit I'd have to go through, and I am honestly trying to save others the trouble. Don't discount my issues offhand because you've never run in to a configuration where there were serious issues.
 
No contest here: 2x4870 is the best configuration you'll get out of those choices.

Also, regarding the Catalyst troll-fuse that has just been lit; I've had multiple issues with Catalyst drivers acting like a virus and being flagged by both Symantec Corporate 9 and McAfee 8. Even AVG identified some Catalyst dll's as spyware... I'm a huge fan of both companies, so there's no fan-boy undertone what-so-ever. Nvidia's drivers, while sometimes bloated have never given me or my customer's issues like that. That's my 2 cents...:D
 
I didn't mean the "Catalyst is a virus" thing literally... it's just pathetic how broken it has proven to be. Still. After years of revision.
 
silent-circuit said:
I didn't mean the "Catalyst is a virus" thing literally... it's just pathetic how broken it has proven to be. Still. After years of revision.
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I did... :D No seriously, the Catalyst is a virus statement was very accurate for the drivers released in 2006-07.
 
silent-circuit said:
Having dealt with 4890 CrossfireX for ~2-3 weeks now, I can honestly say I've had more issues and outright broken games than I did in almost 2 years of running SLI and Tri-SLI with 8800 GTXs.
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I'm in Tri-Crossfire (4870X2 + 4870 1GB) and didn't have a single problems in the last 6 months with every driver iterations. Rock-solid in every game I have. And I play ALOT of games.

Your problems are user related. ATI doesn't have anything to do with it.

And yes I was using Nvidia before, 2 X 8800GTX in SLI actually, and had ALOT more problems with these. But that was not Nvidia fault also. I had problems with a faulty and tricky power supply, and it took me a while to find the real culprit.
 
LEVESQUE said:
Your problems are user related. ATI doesn't have anything to do with it.
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Lol- I wish. Your problem is that you don't have enough experience with varied hardware to make a claim like that. If you did, you wouldn't make that claim. I'm glad the whole world revolves around how well your computer does, because obviously if yours works, everyone else's should.... ;)
 
YOu forgot a single-card solution.
After the debacle I went through with my dual 4850's, I will never go multi-card again. I like my MBR to remain in one piece, thanks...

Griff805 said:
Lol- I wish. Your problem is that you don't have enough experience with varied hardware to make a claim like that. If you did, you wouldn't make that claim. I'm glad the whole world revolves around how well your computer does, because obviously if yours works, everyone else's should.... ;)
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Well said.
 
LEVESQUE said:
And yes I was using Nvidia before, 2 X 8800GTX in SLI actually, and had ALOT more problems with these. But that was not Nvidia fault also. I had problems with a faulty and tricky power supply, and it took me a while to find the real culprit.
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:eek: OH! it's begins... :evil: fanboy, troll, fanboy, troll, rah, rah
 
LEVESQUE said:
I'm in Tri-Crossfire (4870X2 + 4870 1GB) and didn't have a single problems in the last 6 months with every driver iterations. Rock-solid in every game I have. And I play ALOT of games.
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LEVESQUE said:
I also had those random crashes (once every 2-3 hours only) with ATI 9.1 drivers, but since I installed the 9.2, it's rock stable for me.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. no problems?
 
LEVESQUE said:
Your problems are user related. ATI doesn't have anything to do with it.
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Wrong. I'll try one of my three spare PSUs if it'll make you feel better about yourself, but ATI's the one that's dropped the ball here. Also, how the hell you think you can comment on my hardware when you're not running any of the same stuff (thusly entirely different configuration, zero overlap, zero relevance) I have no idea. Should I come back complaining about a 4870X2, you're my man. Until then, don't make baseless assumptions.
 
ATI crossfire profiles you say: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=293467

I've only had one problem with my 4870x2 in since I got it in October of last year and that is when I added Vista. For some reason, I got that code 43 (disabled display adapter) and never got around to fixing it before I screwed up the install and had to redo it. Since then, I never had the problem from the beginning until I blue screened a couple times working on an cpu oc. Then, the code 43 showed back up and couldn't get rid of. So, I thought I would start over and drive sweeped Vista of ATI, except the ATI folder on the c drive. I started with 8.10 and then installed the code 43 hotfix and have been running without problems since Sunday. I'm not a 100%, but I think my code 43 showed back up after I installed RivaTuner, but I'm not for certain on this.

If I was the OP, I would run the trifire 4850 setup. Power requirements between the 3 choices will be so close to each other too. I play at 1920x1200 and can run all my games with at least 4xAA and quality Adaptive AA. I would think three 4850s would put you right at or above where I'm at, especially if you can get a decent oc out of the cards.

I'm guessing the main purpose of this setup is gaming???
 
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