Want opinions on Xfire setup and card clearance.

[rbarr110]

In one of my desktop builds I currently have a micro ATX board with a Gigabyte 5850 in it. I have been very pleased with it (once I figured out the problems I had were due to bad memory).

I had just noticed that the 5850 I had purchased a few months back dropped about $50 and I am considering picking up a second one so I can run a X-fire setup. However, I am concerned about the clearance between the cards. I know both cards will fit, but the new card will be so close to the old card that the airflow/heat may be an issue.

Any opinions on that?

Here is a link to what I have.
Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9&cm_re=msi_890gxm-g65-_-13-130-269-_-Product

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125318&cm_re=5850-_-14-125-318-_-Product

 

[EvilViking]

Lots of people have ran xfire with micro atx boards. The cards are very very close and temps will go up. But with proper air flow people seem to get by with it. Your cards will also run at 8X 8X. From the 5870 xfire reviews this doesn't seem to hinder performance. But I would research if xfire is even worth it. Every where I look on this forum people have issues with it. "Its hit and miss"

With that said. Do you need xfire? What resolution and what games are you playing? It may be a smarter idea to save that money towards the new series cards coming soon.