CF 5770 vs Single 5850

[JeremiahFrog]

Per Tom's Hardware http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2569-4.html it is indicated that a CF5770 would beat a single 5850. I am looking to do a mid level machine. Probably around 1000-1200. I have built enough into the budget to afford either route, though I would have to buy a higher end MB for CF. I am wondering what the upside/downside to each route is, and how much difference I will truly see between the two.

I play some online MMORPGs (not WoW), looking forward to CC4, Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, and whatever else the future holds for gaming in the coming months. Hoping to build a system to last me a few years on my limited budget. This will be the lowest end machine I have ever built, having a hard time dropping some of my needs down to wants.

If I go with the single 5850 the configuration will look similar to this:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Crucial (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
2 SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223C
Seagate Barracuda 7200 1TB or 1.5RB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
XFX HD-585A-ZNDC Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) XXX Edition 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16

I have an Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU I intend on using in the system.

If I go with a CF 5770 Setup, I will change the MB to make sure I have one that has the 2nd PCI-E slot running at 8X.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

I see crossfire more as an upgrade path than something you should build the system with. What you should do is buy a video card and then down the line buy a second one as an upgrade instead of getting an expensive new model video card. This way you can usually get a good performance boost by buying an older, cheaper card than what you would have to buy.

Basically if you have the money get both the crossfire motherboard and the 5850. Then down the line in a year or two you can get another 5850 for cheaper and have great performance. If you don't have the money for both then just buy the 5850.

 

[Kenmitch]

I was contemplating the same thing as you for a couple of weeks. I kept going back and forth as to which way to go....In the end I got the HD 5850 as it was cheaper.

As far as MB goes I'm thinking you'd be better off getting a board with the second slot at 8x even if you go for the 5850. Gives you the CF option if needed at a later time.

 

[blanketyblank]

On the other hand 5770 CF is cheaper now then a single 5850 not to mention faster if you don't factor in mobo cost and you have a friend who's willing to let you borrow their address for a second rebate. $260 vs $300 ( a good price now for a 5850).
Why not just go with a single 5770 for now and see how you like it. If performance is lacking get the second when there is a good deal.

 

[MrK6]

Always go with the single GPU solution if it's at all feasible for the resolution and settings you want to play at. Single GPU just offers a smoothness and quality of gameplay that multi-GPU setups still can't offer (although they're getting better). Considering the games you're looking at playing are not that graphics intensive, either solution should be more than enough unless you're going for an Eyefinity setup. Not that it would change my recommendation, but what resolution are you planning on playing at?

EDIT: I agree with Kenmitch, it would be worth it to grab the better mobo if you're planning on keeping this system around for awhile. Also, I'm curious as to why you're getting 8GB of RAM - memory is awfully expensive and there are only a few categories of software that will take advantage of that much RAM.

 

[JeremiahFrog]

Yeah the more I read the more I thought that may be a good option. Not sure my current PSU could do CF 5850 but that is down the road anyway. I usually build a strong system then evolve them over time, only doing a truly new build once I have exhausted all of my realistic/economical upgrade routes.

 

[JeremiahFrog]

I have been running 8GB of RAM for a few years, just seems normal to continue running that much. At one time I did a lot of music/photo editing that used it. I don't do that as much now, so maybe I should scale it down. I don't want to lose performance, and I wasn't sure how it would impact scaling it back down. Though I have noticed a great many systems nowadays only have 4GB so it made me question the need.

I currently run (2) 24" monitors are 1920 x 1200. I have in the past been known to dual box some games running two instances of the same game (different characters) one the same system at the same time. I may play around with the Eyefinity settings, but it isn't really a big deal to me. I have run dual for several years now, a feature i sorely miss when I am at work.

Part of my motivation may be as simple as I can talk the wife into letting me build a system now, but talking her into letting me upgrade one down the road may not be as easy, even if it would be the same cost either way. I already have to upgrade some things on her's to get what I want on mine. Kind of raises the costs of an upgrade when I have to make it to two computers each time, the whole if you need it, I should get it too argument.

 

[dark0anima]

On the other hand 5770 CF is cheaper now then a single 5850 not to mention faster if you don't factor in mobo cost and you have a friend who's willing to let you borrow their address for a second rebate. $260 vs $300 ( a good price now for a 5850).
Why not just go with a single 5770 for now and see how you like it. If performance is lacking get the second when there is a good deal.

i agree with blanketyblank, just go with a single 5770 and see if it runs at the fps you want it to then see if you need to get a second

 

[Kenmitch]

Part of my motivation may be as simple as I can talk the wife into letting me build a system now, but talking her into letting me upgrade one down the road may not be as easy, even if it would be the same cost either way. I already have to upgrade some things on her's to get what I want on mine. Kind of raises the costs of an upgrade when I have to make it to two computers each time, the whole if you need it, I should get it too argument.

Not like the wife would notice you added a second 5850 while she was asleep

You can always overclock the 5850 if you need more speed. I got the nerve to flash mine with the MSI bios today....Currently running at 875\1225 without any voltage increase.

Now if I can only find a way to overclock my SSD

 

[Termie]

I was also contemplating this for a very long time, and just yesterday ordered the XFX 5850 XXX that you listed above. I got it for $276 after Bing cashback from Tigerdirect, though it's closer to $300 now. I have a p55 motherboard with x8/x8 capability (because I wanted that option), and Tom's is very favorable towards Crossfire, but when you actually read reviews of performance with Crossfire, there is always a caveat regarding the glitches. With the games you're talking about, you don't need even 5850 performance. How about going for the 5770 as others have mentioned? And I agree that you can save a bundle by not going with 8GB. You'll have no performance penalty unless you have specific applications that need it.

 

[JeremiahFrog]

The Ram is about $112 per 4 GB, the difference between the 5770 and 5850 is about $140. Where would I best spend the differences for performance?

 

[bryanW1995]

video card without a doubt. even 4gb would be plenty for that system, 8gb is overkill

 

[MrK6]

The Ram is about $112 per 4 GB, the difference between the 5770 and 5850 is about $140. Where would I best spend the differences for performance?

5850, without a doubt, especially considering the "difficulty" of upgrading down the road . And considering how high RAM prices are now, 8GB is overkill unless you're a Photoshop/CAD/etc. addict. I'd grab 4GB of RAM, a 5850, and pocket the rest.

 

[Termie]

video card without a doubt. even 4gb would be plenty for that system, 8gb is overkill

Well, yes, the video card is a much better investment than the ram, but why not skip both upgrades, save $250, and buy this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167023

Intel 80GB G2 SSD, $225 at Newegg. The biggest single performance upgrade you will ever experience on a computer.

 

[dark0anima]

5850, without a doubt, especially considering the "difficulty" of upgrading down the road . And considering how high RAM prices are now, 8GB is overkill unless you're a Photoshop/CAD/etc. addict. I'd grab 4GB of RAM, a 5850, and pocket the rest.

agreed, 4gb should be enough for most computing tasks, and an upgrade to 5850 would last you alot longer. Then maybe you can crossfire the 5850 in a few years when you don't think it is fast enough.

or you can always just get 4gb and pocket the money xD