Which card I should use as primary? 5450 vs 3850

beyonddc

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Messages
417
Hi all,

Yesterday I bought a video card from Micro Center for my computer so that I can add a 3rd monitor. Eyefinity is not an option because I don't have a monitor that has a display port.

Anyway, should I use GIGABYTE GV-R545SC-1GI Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card as my primary or GECUBE GC-HD3850PG3-D3R Radeon HD 3850 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card as my primary?

Thanks!

- dc


The 5xxx cards run cooler and draw less power, so if it's going in an HTPC/non-gaming machine or will be idling for most of the time, I'd go with those to save on electricity.
 
I'm almost certain the 3850 would be faster. It's true that the 5450 will use a lot less power but since you're going to be running both cards anyway I'm not sure how relevant that is.

5450 has 80 stream processors. 3850 has 320...
 
Hi all,

Yesterday I bought a video card from Micro Center for my computer so that I can add a 3rd monitor. Eyefinity is not an option because I don't have a monitor that has a display port.

Anyway, should I use GIGABYTE GV-R545SC-1GI Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card as my primary or GECUBE GC-HD3850PG3-D3R Radeon HD 3850 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card as my primary?

Thanks!

- dc
EDIT: Eyefinity is an option if you got a 5xxx series with a displayport AND a displayport->VGA dongle... just saying...

I would go for 5450... newer, lower energy
 
I'm almost certain the 3850 would be faster. It's true that the 5450 will use a lot less power but since you're going to be running both cards anyway I'm not sure how relevant that is.

5450 has 80 stream processors. 3850 has 320...

Let me simplify this:

If you need more gaming oomph, use the 3850.

If power consumption is more important, use the 5450.

Both cards will decode video just fine, and handle Windows Aero effortlessly.
 
The 3850 probably draws hardly any power anyway.. As long as its not a HD2xxx card you'll be fine. I'd go with the 3850.. if you're considering such low end cards then eyefinity probably isn't on your mind at all anyways.
 
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