Considering Crossfire...

[ShogoXT]

So as time gets closer and closer to the new ATI video cards release, I see that the true top card, the R700, wont be available for a month or 2 more. With the video cards coming out next week and rumors showing crossfire performance to be promising, Im actually considering it.

The problem I have though was when I built this comp, I thought crossfire and SLI were going to be too expensive and a fad at best, so I went with a single 16x PCIE slot P965 based motherboard. I WANT to get the R700, but I dont really want to wait too long to replace this 2900XT (which has been nagging at me ever since I got this 24inch widescreen). I want to play everything at the 1920x1200 resolution if possible (I have Crysis, but It can be excluded).

So the question is: Considering my impatience, do you think it would be worth it to get a crossfire board NOW with the 2 video cards (either 4850 or 4870)? OR Maybe just get the 4870 for now if it shows to be awesome, then just keep the idea of crossfire for a later motherboard, maybe for Nehalem based motherboards? If a crossfire board NOW is viable, which chipset should I look at? I saw some new P45 based motherboards, but they arnt true dual 16x PCIE, are they? ..... Or just STFU and wait for R700? :nutkick:

I wanted the R700, but im not sure if I can hold out! Games like Stalker and Supreme Commander, and any new game that chokes on AA for 1920x1200 is starting to get to me. So I would appreciate any opinions or suggestions on this. :)

PS: I respect Nvidias performance and when giving suggestions to other people I give the benchmark/price truth of it, but I do not want Nvidia video cards in my computer if possible. :)

[ShogoXT]

Ok this is starting to look viable...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
2 of those, but one of them with the Motherboard combo.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

$510 - $60 from rebates.

I guess the real question is : Any difference between X38 and X48 motherboards if I want to stick with DDR2? Also on the P45 motherboards some seem to be dual PCI-E *8x* instead of 16x. The Asus ones claim dual 16x, but is it true?

[Cybrnook2002]

Well, if it comes to it. I could always get you my 2900 pro (XT) for your crossfire ;) , Im sticking with a single GPU

[ShogoXT]

Only a few things I didnt like about the 2900xt. Mine anyway would get loud after a bit of time in a game. The other thing was just how much 4x AA killed performance :( .

[JrRacinFan]

Your question about dual 16x, that is a no. The limitation on the chipset is dual 8x 2.0.

EDIT:Crossfire or not, usually the best deal is to get the crossfire board, have the tech available to you. Then can make a choice later; Will 2 of "XXX" perform beter than this just new "XXX" released card? In other words, stick with single card, but pickup a crossfire board, see how well the card performs by itself.

[ShogoXT]

Your question about dual 16x, that is a no. The limitation on the chipset is dual 8x 2.0.

EDIT:Crossfire or not, usually the best deal is to get the crossfire board, have the tech available to you. Then can make a choice later; Will 2 of "XXX" perform beter than this just new "XXX" released card? In other words, stick with single card, but pickup a crossfire board, see how well the card performs by itself.

Hmmm, do you think it would be noticeable? Most of the time it would be a no, but for some reason ive been hearing rumors about it bottlenecking 4850s at high res. (might have been only 2500 res and up though)

The mobo is $150 with $30 off, then $5-$10 off each video card for getting 2. After that there are 2 $30 rebates I can get with them. Its REALLY tempting. I just dont want to make the same mistake in assuming how things will turn out as when I got the P965 board (sli and xfire being a fad).

[ShogoXT]

Didnt see the edit. Thats what I should have done before, but I made a bad call and got a board that only had 1 vid slot.

EDIT: My issue was I really do want the best of the best this time, but its still 2 months away and im almost tired of waiting.

[JrRacinFan]

IMO, no it would not be noticeable. PCIe 8x 2.0 is roughly the same bandwith as a 16x 1.1 slot. What I am saying is this: Get the board, run the 2900XT, save your money for the 4870's, they are supposed to be little better performing than a 3870x2.

This also brings up a good point (I know I am not one to talk) CPU bottlenecking. Every processr now will have it to some extent unless you run at high enough res.

[ShogoXT]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747

Ooo This one has a combo with the same motherboard for $50 off, also you get a full $10 off each if you get 2 >_<

And $20 rebates. EDIT: Limit one per customer, unlike the Asus!

EDIT: I guess waiting for the 4870 wouldnt be as bad as waiting for the X2, but still it has quite a bit of price difference, I hope its worth it.

[batmang]

^^^ You don't want that CPU. It has the TLB issue. Stick with the B3 revisions. 98xx. I highly recommend this.

[ShogoXT]

^^^ You don't want that CPU. It has the TLB issue. Stick with the B3 revisions. 98xx. I highly recommend this.

Click view all combos, its the motherboard not the CPU. :P

[ShogoXT]

I think im gona limit myself, no more than $600 for this project. Ideally below $550 though.

[Vincy Boy]

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/intel_p45_vs_x48_crossfire_performance/index.html

There seem to be quite some differences in performance between the X8 and X16 crossfire setups. May be worth taking into consideration.

[ShogoXT]

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/intel_p45_vs_x48_crossfire_performance/index.html

There seem to be quite so diffences in performance between the X8 and X16 crossfire setups. May be worth taking into consideration.

Thats what I was looking for, thank you very much. Il do some more looking.

[ShogoXT]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089R

Anyone have any experience with open boxes?

[JrRacinFan]

I don't directly,but I know of an "as-if" scenario. What happens if you get a board that it's serial # has been registered with a certain Manuf. under a different name/address prior to and need to RMA. You get a dud. They will not RMA the board.

PS: I am speaking of Asus directly.

[Nitro-Max]

2 x 4850's they are very impressive for the price.

[freaksavior]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089R

Anyone have any experience with open boxes?

Open box motherboards almost always come board only, no drivers, i/o sheild, manuel ect. if the nib isn't much more go nib.

[Vincy Boy]

Glad to help out. :)

The question of openbox items is one I have myself. Are they generally just a huge gamble or can they be worth it. I imagine if you get a deal on a relatively new technology, for instance a P45 or X48 it can be considered a "safe-ER" buy as the motherboard won't be that old...

[merkk]

Hi
Crossfire can be very good and it can be very bad it all about the drivers.
It being able to come up with a set of drivers that work with your gear.
Just because you down load the newes set of drivers dosn't mean it going
to work with your PC you just made your self . On my rig i been stuck on
the 8.3 for a wild now any driver new than that will not work in my rig .
Hopefully ATI will be able make drivers that work with all there hard ware.But i still think ATI and AMD will be the way to go in the long run .AMD is now getting the stuff in place to move ahead after the take over of ATI.

[ShogoXT]

Open box motherboards almost always come board only, no drivers, i/o sheild, manuel ect. if the nib isn't much more go nib.

Id like to, but the nib are out of stock. Only the more expensive x48s are available.

[ShogoXT]

NOOO. The took the rebates off! I saved the Asus one, did anyone save any of the others?

[J-Man]

I plan on leaving the 4870 X2 for a few months and grab another 3870 X2.

[ShogoXT]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

Gah it comes to 615$ before the rebates with that instead. Hmmmmm. $60 back from that would put the price where I want it though.

My past 2 mobos have been ABIT, I think I want to try Gigabyte now. I would try ASUS, but they are way to expensive, even if you get a free STALKER game.

[freaksavior]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

Gah it comes to 615$ before the rebates with that instead. Hmmmmm. $60 back from that would put the price where I want it though.

My past 2 mobos have been ABIT, I think I want to try Gigabyte now. I would try ASUS, but they are way to expensive, even if you get a free STALKER game.

erocker has a maximus for sale, there isnt much difference between x38 and x48.

[Laurijan]

I consider buying a crossfire mobo too and i definitly would go for a 2x PCI-E 16x and PCI-E 2.0 setup because i want the mobo to sqeeze out every bit of performance from the grafic cards..

[hat]

Why not get a 4870x2 with your existing motherboard? You can have Crossfire with a single PCI-E slot.

[ShogoXT]

Why not get a 4870x2 with your existing motherboard? You can have Crossfire with a single PCI-E slot.

I would, but its 2 months away and the wait is killing me.

[From_Nowhere]

I would, but its 2 months away and the wait is killing me.

Then go into cryogenic stasis for two months, and then buy a 4870X2. Or you could CrossFire two 4850's and be a happy camper (with the right motherboard of course.)

[ShogoXT]

I GOTZ IT! 2 4850s from Best Buy $149 each!

[JrRacinFan]

Wow, good price on em too. Congrats.