Question about 2 cards and multiple screen setup!

[Goodfellah]

I currently use a non oc'd Radeon HD 6870 for my PLP setup, 20"+30"+20" (4960x1200 resolution).

It runs games like BF on the center monitor (2560x1600) at reasonable settings while still using the other side screens for email, music, skype, etc.

Would it be possible to add another card (looking at this one on Amazon for $169.99 - http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-D...00312-3L/dp/B005X64QAG/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp ) and simply plug only the center monitor into the new card and have it only power my big screen, and keep the 6870 to power my other two side screens?

Not looking to crossfire if I don't have to. Any tips or tricks or is this even possible? Processor is a non OC'd i-7 2600k as well if that helps.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Patrick

my setup:

 

[Phishy714]

I guess my first question is.. why? What are you trying to accomplish by letting a second card power the two outside monitors, and letting the first card run the 30" one?

If you are trying to get more performance, you won't - mostly because the 6870 isn't doing "extra" work by simply having the desktop on the other two screens while the middle one is the game - at least I don't think it is. If you were to get a second card and run crossfire, you would notice a huge difference in performance on the middle monitor.

But once again, what are you trying to accomplish?

 

[Goodfellah]

I am trying to get a better / smoother framerate on my center screen. So I would run the center screen to the new 2gb 6950, and then the outer screens would be directly connected to my old 6870. Powering the center screen off of the 6950 wouldn't improve my fps in games? What would be my best budget option then, getting 1 more 1gb 6870 card and cross firing them?

 

[Phishy714]

Oh, I'm sorry. Honestly I didn't even click on the link to see that the card you are looking into is in fact a different card than what you already have. I'm not 100% that getting two different cards and having different monitors run off of different cards would ACTUALLY work lol..

But to answer your question, yes - getting a second HD6870 would be the better option in your case - as now you would have double the horsepower and increase your fps - however now you would have to deal with more complex drivers and the extra noise/heat of a dual card setup. Also - another limiting factor would be the 1gb of the HD6870 - especially for a game like BF3 @ 1600p - this would bottleneck your system pretty badly and may not allow you to have the smooth fps you are looking for if you crank all the settings up.

In all honesty, I would sell the HD6870 for roughly $120, take the $180 you would have spent on the 6950 and get yourself a very nice new HD7950 (like THIS). Hell you might even be able to find a used 7970 here on the forums for around $330 or so if you can muster up the extra cash. With a decent overclock, either of these cards would out-perform the dual 6870 setup (at the very least match it) without the headaches of crossfire, extra noise, extra heat and possible microstutter - and gaining an extra 2gb worth of RAM that would more than cover your 1600p resolution. This would be the best solution for you by FAR.