GTX 580 to ATI Eyefinity 3-1 setup

[CVSiN]

Looking for a high end setup for a 3 way Eyefinity setup.

right now I have a single GTX 580 or dual GTX 460s.. but Nvdia Surround is inferior as far as I can tell to the Eyefinity performance and setup.

now I have questions..
it looks like everyone is saying to go 6950 2gig x2 is this correct?

now my question is..

with 2 of those in Crossfire do you still have to do a Displayport active adaptor or a native DisplayPort Monitor or with Xfire does the 3rd DVI cable plug into the Xfired card?

If I have to buy either a displayport native monitor or a active adaptor that really begins to make this deal expensive..

i currently have 2x Samsung 22s both only DVI and am looking for another 22 to do this setup with.

all the DP monitors are either super expensive or super expensive and SLOW refresh it seems..

want at least a 2MS mon to match my others.

oh well feedback is needed.. looking to set this up for SWTOR and BF3.

 

[Silverforce11]

Display port adapters are cheap now, ~$25, don't need to buy the branded expensive stuff. Do more research on the widescreengaming forums.

2x 6950s 2GB are the best bang for buck ATM, if you can't wait a few months.

 

[CVSiN]

Display port adapters are cheap now, ~$25, don't need to buy the branded expensive stuff. Do more research on the widescreengaming forums.

2x 6950s 2GB are the best bang for buck ATM, if you can't wait a few months.

an active display port adaptor is required and i thought they had to be on the AMD/ATI certified list?..
all those are right at 100 bucks..

I only see passives which do not support gaming for that price.

 

[mosox]

If the video card has DP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999030

If the video card has mini DP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999034

For the video cards I think the coolest are the Powercolor, Sapphire and XFX all dual fan 2GB versions.

 

[Mistwalker]

If the monitors are DVI only, then yes, you will need a single active Displayport adaptor. You can't use the video output jacks on the second card if you are in Crossfire mode, so you'd be looking at DVIx2 and DP->DVI adaptor x1.

You will absolutely want 2GB models, the extra VRAM is one of the biggest reasons to go 6950s for Eyefinity resolutions. Even with a single adaptor purchase I suspect it's the best bang for your buck, even moreso if you can find unlockable cards, but it really helps if you don't have to overspend on the connector.

This one seems to work for many people. It's important to note that the more expensive active adaptors tend to support dual-link DVI, which you only need if your resolution is above 1920x1200. (EDIT: beaten by mosox)

 

[Silverforce11]

an active display port adaptor is required and i thought they had to be on the AMD/ATI certified list?..
all those are right at 100 bucks..

Thats what i meant by brand named expensive stuff.

A $25 active adapter works fine.

 

[CVSiN]

If the video card has DP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999030

If the video card has mini DP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999034

For the video cards I think the coolest are the Powercolor, Sapphire and XFX all dual fan 2GB versions.

Lots of reviews saying they did not last or perform well...

Widescreen gaming forums flat says you need a powered adapter with an external power source or a 2-1 USB adapter as 1 is not enough.

Think I may just look into this card which says it does not need a DP at all.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102929

 

[Madcatatlas]

That is a great card for the purpose you mention. up to 5 screens if you also use 2 displayport monitors.

 

[3DVagabond]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=asus%206950

Another good choice, if you have the room in your case and a mobo with the proper pci-e layout. Don't know what your system is like.

 

[CVSiN]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=asus%206950

Another good choice, if you have the room in your case and a mobo with the proper pci-e layout. Don't know what your system is like.

full sized HAF 932 case with an EVGA SLI FTW board in in should be plenty of room for any card setup..


Boss is going to give me a Sapphire 6950 he has as a spare..
so will only have to buy 1 and a new mon or a Active DP adaptor for an awesome Xfire Eyefinity setup..

now do the cards have to match exactly or can it be different manufactures etc like Nvidia?

ugh.. i swear I thought these EVGA boards did both Crossfire and SLI..
apparently not..

I think my P67 SB setup does now though...

 

[Madcatatlas]

can be different manufacturer (sapphire, xfx, anything) can be different card, like 6970/6950
etc etc, a much better system than Nvidias "screw you customer" approach.

 

[NoQuarter]

The adapter you want is a single link active DisplayPort -> DVI. Those are about $30. The $100 are dual link active DisplayPort -> DVI adapters. There are also passive adapters for around $30 that you need to avoid.

If you already have a GTX 580 seems like a 2nd one of those would be the best approach though.

 

[CVSiN]

The adapter you want is a single link active DisplayPort -> DVI. Those are about $30. The $100 are dual link active DisplayPort -> DVI adapters. There are also passive adapters for around $30 that you need to avoid.

If you already have a GTX 580 seems like a 2nd one of those would be the best approach though.

except that Nvidia Surround reviews are terrible with 2x 580s

ATI got Eyefinity right for sure...


not to mention 580 is way more expensive.

 

[Madcatatlas]

surely not with 3gb versions of the 580, those things are beasts!

 

[CVSiN]

surely not with 3gb versions of the 580, those things are beasts!

Eyefinity is lightyears ahead of Nvidia on this technology..

and BTW mines not a 3Gb 580 mines an original launch 1.5..

 

[CVSiN]

Tried Nvidia Surround with SLI 1gb GTX 460s.

pretty disappointing results.. tried Rift and it ran very poorly..

also tried Just Casue 2 which ran ok but the cards got hot breaching the 100C mark which was a bit high for my taste.


boss said I can either try a pair of GTX 560 Ti's or the ATI setup.. 2gb 6950

I want the best I can get here.. I cannot stand gaming in less than ideal resolutions or with features turned down..

2x 580s is out of the question even with only having to buy 1 more card and a 1200AX power supply to run them that is much too much thats nearly 700 bucks. and even then 580 1.5gb cards are not ideal for this with the lower Vram.

need some advice...

 

[CVSiN]

no further advice huh? oh well... not sure what to do..
ATI or Nvidia...

 

[badb0y]

boss said I can either try a pair of GTX 560 Ti's or the ATI setup.. 2gb 6950

Is that 2x 6950 2GBs vs 2x GTX 560 Tis? If so get the 6950s.

 

[CVSiN]

Is that 2x 6950 2GBs vs 2x GTX 560 Tis? If so get the 6950s.

yeh boss will even give me 1 of the regular 6950s

or I can have 2 560s


so I'd only have to buy 1 6950 card for an Xfire setup.

what kinda performance can I expect with 2 of these? pushing 3 22s in Eyefinity?

 

[3DVagabond]

yeh boss will even give me 1 of the regular 6950s

or I can have 2 560s


so I'd only have to buy 1 6950 card for an Xfire setup.

what kinda performance can I expect with 2 of these? pushing 3 22s in Eyefinity?

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/01/11/amd_69706950_cfx_nvidia_580570_sli_review/1

[H] review which included crossfired 6950's.

 

[CVSiN]

Ok boss just handed me an MSI Twinfrozr2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

As soon as I can plan to get a second card and go Crossfire with it.

any card recommendations to go with it?

 

[3DVagabond]

Ok boss just handed me an MSI Twinfrozr2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

As soon as I can plan to get a second card and go Crossfire with it.

any card recommendations to go with it?

I thought that the 6950 TwinFrozr II was a dual bios design? This card appears to be missing the switch. Although the PCB is marked for it.

 

[CVSiN]

I thought that the 6950 TwinFrozr II was a dual bios design? This card appears to be missing the switch. Although the PCB is marked for it.

yeh I noticed that as well..

oh well. still a good card though right?

 

[3DVagabond]

yeh I noticed that as well..

oh well. still a good card though right?

:thumbsup:

I was just checking my mind.