Video Card Upgrade Recommendations

[gpwurzel]

Ok, I'm currently running 5770's in crossfire, with a 850w psu. Win7 64 bit.

Which card should I upgrade to, hopefully without having to replace my psu (not a problem if I have to, I'm just lazy lol).

Single card budget up to $350 - $400, dual card around $200 per card.

Wurzel

[Bino]

Wow.  Color me envious.  A pair of CF 5770's will out-perform a single 5870 for most apps.  What on earth are you running that twinned 5770's are not enough???

[zack1234]

Have you asked your wife if you can buy a new graphics is the question that needs asking

what frame rates are you getting from the two cards by the way?

[gyrene81]

geez wurzel...wth are you running? i can't imagine that you're taking any hits on frame rates with any game...why not just save the money for a rainy day or a weekend in palm springs with the wife?

if you have the money to toss around...buy a bigger monitor...30-32 inch would go nice on your desk.

[gpwurzel]

Sorry, should have been a bit clearer, its not a performance issue - its the heat produced. I live in the desert, and even with ac running, they run hot and generate a lot of heat - so a more pertinent question would probably be, which cards run cooler, with comparable/better performance?

And Gyrene, I like the way you think fella - bigger monitor might work out, or I might buy another 23" like I have - amazing how much easier it is with 2 monitors work wise. Game wise, dont want to go down the 3 monitor route as yet, space on desk limited.

Wurzel

[Krusty]

If heat's the issue, go for a single card (to save space) but get a water cooling block for it and your CPU, and just run water cooling. It will seriously cut down on the heat generated and circulated by your PC.


EDIT: My single ATI HD 6970 (2GB) is pretty good. Generates a bit of warm air (I'm not water cooling), but only runs aroudn $300-$350, leaving you a bit more to get the water cooling kit.

[gyrene81]

oh ya, i forgot you live in the stumps...and the damn swamp coolers don't do nearly enough to keep things cooled off unless you toss ice cubes in them.

as krusty mentioned water cooling would be one option...but i'm not much of a fan of putting water around anything electronic...humidity is bad enough.

i went and replaced a couple of fans with bigger ones then bought these things...
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Maximum-Vented-Covers-AEROSLOTS-BP/dp/B0040JHMIA/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_0

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZRQ47E

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Cyclone-Blower-Case-Expansion/dp/B000051299/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_2

dropped my ambient temp down 15-20 degree f

the expansion slot fan i flipped around so it sits on the back side of my video card...does a pretty good job of enhancing the cooling of my graphics card without interfering with airflow.

[gpwurzel]

Thanks for the options chaps - thinking of changing card to a 6970, and adding in the slot fans (not a fan of water cooling - not because it doesn't work, it does, and it works well, but I'm club handed, and don't want to shock my mb lol....)

Thanks again

Wurzel

[TequilaChaser]

Good Afternoon gpwurzel,

I myself recently went with an XFX HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 ( with dual cooling fans ), instead of getting a 6970 that only currently comes with one cooling fan on the heat sink....... and it runs extremely cool even under heavy load....

newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

their is also an overclocked Black Edition version of this same card, but mine will easily clock to the same speeds as the Black Edition one, and more if I want it too

just another opinion/option,  hope it's helpful

Good Luck

TC

[gpwurzel]

Thanks TC, much appreciated.

Wurzel

[gyrene81]

can i have one of your 5770's? 

[gpwurzel]

Jebus, not decided yet and the vultures are circling - 

Needed that giggle Gyrene, cheers bud...

Wurzel

[Spikes]

What kinda 5770s did you get? Mine are great on heat...barely produce any!

[gpwurzel]

Just bog standard 5770's Spike - combined with the heat here (117 daily in summer etc) even with a/c running, they get hot - so looking for a cooler running card is all.

Wurzel (and yes, case/fans etc all cleaned regularly etc, extra fans in top of case to reduce workload etc)

[Noir]

I could use an extra 5770 and do CF...