4870X2 -> GTX285 - swap or not to swap...

musek · May 17, 2009

Hello!

Yup, I'm wondering about swapping my ATI Radeon HD4870X2 for a GTX 285.
I have my current rig from september and it's handeling everything really good, can't complain.

But one thing happened during few last months - I'm basicly not playing any games at all. I'll lunch some GRID of Team Fortress 2 from time to time, that's all.
And also I've started using linux and I already have enough of lack of drivers support from ATI.

So I'm thinking - should I sell my current card and buy a GTX 285 instead?
For those who might think 'hey dude, buy a GTX 260 if you're not playing games and it will be enough' - yup, I know that, but my current rig have to last for a long time, so i don't want loose too much of it's power either.

So here are my pros and cons:

+ GTX 285 is much more economic, even during idle mode (less Watts drained, card is cooler...)
+ Still - it's powerfull and it's not a dual-gpu sollution, so some of the lost power won't really be lost (none micro-stuttering and always full power of the card, don't need to wait for new driver with CF profile)
+ few $$ will stay in my pocket after the swap
+ no linux driver problems AFAIK
+ better performance in some OpenGL apps (vide Blender, I'm using it a lot)

- Still - It's performance IS lower (I'm using 24" LCD with 1920x1200, so it needs good card to run smoothly)
- 4870X2 looks better ^^
- All those other doubts that attack your mind during downgrade...

Ok, now you guys know my point of view. I'd like to see your opinions, your pros and cons.
Thanks in advance for all your help and support.

musek

PS. Sorry for my poor english. I hope you'll understand everything. :toast:

DrPepper · May 17, 2009

Well for linux why not get a cheap nvidia card and just change them about when your on linux. I'd stick with the 4870X2 tbh or if anything 2 gtx260's which can be had very cheap.

PS your english is excellent.

musek · May 17, 2009

Thanks for your opinion, DrPepper.

The thing is - I'd like to work with Blender in Linux for it's stability. So descent performance in it would be nice.

Right now I'm spending more time in Linux than in Windows, so I don't know if it's a good sollution to keep such a monster like 4870X2 on the shelf.

And one more thing - my rig is under the desk, chassis closed, so diving to swap a card everytime I'd like to switch an OS does not convince me.

About those GTX260 x 2 - one of my '+' was having a single GPU sollution and other was the energy efficience of single card - GTX 285.

So switchng from one dual-GPU sollution to another is a NOGO for me.

But thanks anyway.

DrPepper · May 17, 2009

musek said:
Thanks for your opinion, DrPepper.

The thing is - I'd like to work with Blender in Linux for it's stability. So descent performance in it would be nice.

Right now I'm spending more time in Linux than in Windows, so I don't know if it's a good sollution to keep such a monster like 4870X2 on the shelf.

And one more thing - my rig is under the desk, chassis closed, so diving to swap a card everytime I'd like to switch an OS does not convince me.

About those GTX260 x 2 - one of my '+' was having a single GPU sollution and other was the energy efficience of single card - GTX 285. So switchng from one dual-GPU sollution to another is a NOGO for me.

But thanks anyway.

I never thought you would need the power for linux. Well in this case I would go for the GTX285. My single 260 is amazing I can only imagine a 285 being more amazing.

musek · May 17, 2009

Haha, good one.

But you know, the problem is that I've already seen how amazing 4870X2 is...

^^

n-ster · May 17, 2009

if you only use one 4870 in linux... will it work? IMO keep the 4870x2 ... you'll get back into gaming you'll see xD

I say it would be a hassle to change cards anyways... why bother? I'm not sure but I am under the impression that you don't need much power in Linux, so might as well disable one GPU

DrPepper · May 18, 2009

musek said:
Haha, good one. But you know, the problem is that I've already seen how amazing 4870X2 is... ^^

Indeed I've had the luxury of benching with one. Tbh I think your looking for a reason to change cards. I do it all the time I get bored of my pc then try find reasons to justify changing it :laugh:

musek · May 18, 2009

n-ster said:
if you only use one 4870 in linux... will it work? IMO keep the 4870x2 ... you'll get back into gaming you'll see xD

I say it would be a hassle to change cards anyways... why bother? I'm not sure but I am under the impression that you don't need much power in Linux, so might as well disable one GPU

Hi!

Dual core isn't the problem in linux. ATI is just lazy with linux support and right now i can't even install drivers on Ubuntu 9.04.

DrPepper · May 18, 2009

musek said:
Hi!

Dual core isn't the problem in linux. ATI is just lazy with linux support and right now i can't even install drivers on Ubuntu 9.04.

Why not email ATI's tech support and see if they can cook you up some beta drivers. Just say its essential for your work that linux works. Quite un-orthodox but it might work.

musek · May 18, 2009

DrPepper said:
Indeed I've had the luxury of benching with one. Tbh I think your looking for a reason to change cards. I do it all the time I get bored of my pc then try find reasons to justify changing it

No, I'm not bored with it. Seriously.

DrPepper said:
Why not email ATI's tech support and see if they can cook you up some beta drivers. Just say its essential for your work that linux works. Quite un-orthodox but it might work.

New drivers will be released soon and I hope they will fix the problem. But this is not the first time that sittuation like this occures.
And there also is the case of poor ATI performance in blender under Linux...

Doh, I'm starting to feel dizzy about it.

n-ster · May 18, 2009

What do you do on linux that you can't on windows? This is just for my info lol...

LittleLizard · May 18, 2009

if you dont have any plans of go multi gpu in the future, then, yes go gtx 285

musek · May 18, 2009

n-ster said:
What do you do on linux that you can't on windows? This is just for my info lol...

It just is a good OS.

And blender is much more stable in linux version.

And guys, using it on linux was only one point from my con/pros list.

Others are also important.

LittleLizard - thanks for your opinion.

n-ster · May 18, 2009

I doubt you have much money left... and by disabling one 4870, you will get much less power consumption etc... and no more problem with CF...

IMO stay with Windows and stay with 4870x2

does Blender use a lot of GPU power? Why do you care so much about power consumption?

This is my recommendation of what I understand ATM... I may change it if I understand other stuff xD

System Name	FlowTI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB
Memory	Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB 6000MHz/CL30 RGB
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Storage	Main: Crucial P5 Plus 1TB \| Data: Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
Display(s)	DELL S2721DGFA 165Hz
Case	NZXT H5 Flow RGB
Audio Device(s)	Audioquest Firefly Black DAC \| Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X \| Shure MV7 Microphone
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x
Mouse	Logitech Pro X Superlight
Keyboard	Logitech MX Keys
Software	Windows 11 Professional
Benchmark Scores	Don't care

System Name	Rusky
Processor	Intel Core i7 D0 3.8Ghz
Motherboard	Asus P6T
Cooling	Thermaltake Dark Knight
Memory	12GB Patriot Viper's 1866mhz 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s)	GTX470 1280MB
Storage	OCZ Summit 60GB + Samsung 1TB + Samsung 2TB
Display(s)	Sharp Aquos L32X20E 1920 x 1080
Case	Silverstone Raven RV01
Power Supply	Corsair 650 Watt
Software	Windows 7 x64
Benchmark Scores	3DMark06 - 18064 http://img.techpowerup.org/090720/Capture002.jpg

System Name	FlowTI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB
Memory	Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB 6000MHz/CL30 RGB
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Storage	Main: Crucial P5 Plus 1TB \| Data: Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
Display(s)	DELL S2721DGFA 165Hz
Case	NZXT H5 Flow RGB
Audio Device(s)	Audioquest Firefly Black DAC \| Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X \| Shure MV7 Microphone
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x
Mouse	Logitech Pro X Superlight
Keyboard	Logitech MX Keys
Software	Windows 11 Professional
Benchmark Scores	Don't care

System Name	Rusky
Processor	Intel Core i7 D0 3.8Ghz
Motherboard	Asus P6T
Cooling	Thermaltake Dark Knight
Memory	12GB Patriot Viper's 1866mhz 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s)	GTX470 1280MB
Storage	OCZ Summit 60GB + Samsung 1TB + Samsung 2TB
Display(s)	Sharp Aquos L32X20E 1920 x 1080
Case	Silverstone Raven RV01
Power Supply	Corsair 650 Watt
Software	Windows 7 x64
Benchmark Scores	3DMark06 - 18064 http://img.techpowerup.org/090720/Capture002.jpg

System Name	FlowTI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB
Memory	Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB 6000MHz/CL30 RGB
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Storage	Main: Crucial P5 Plus 1TB \| Data: Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
Display(s)	DELL S2721DGFA 165Hz
Case	NZXT H5 Flow RGB
Audio Device(s)	Audioquest Firefly Black DAC \| Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X \| Shure MV7 Microphone
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x
Mouse	Logitech Pro X Superlight
Keyboard	Logitech MX Keys
Software	Windows 11 Professional
Benchmark Scores	Don't care

4870X2 -> GTX285 - swap or not to swap...

musek

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

musek

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

musek

n-ster

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

musek

DrPepper

The Doctor is in the house

musek

n-ster

LittleLizard

musek

n-ster

System Name	Homelabs
Processor	Ryzen 5900x \| Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard	Asus ProArt x570 Creator \| AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling	Silent Loop 2 280mm \| Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory	128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz \| 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 3080 \| ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage	Optane 900p + NVMe \| Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s)	Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED \| HP Omen 32 1440p
Case	be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 \| be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply	Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables\| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse	Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type \| Logitech G915 TKL

System Name	The Lizard v2.4
Processor	Intel Celeron G1840 (for the time being
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-H81-S2PH
Cooling	Intel Stock Fan
Memory	16GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card(s)	MSI Gaming GTX 750Ti (For the time being)
Storage	500GB Samsung F1, 160GB Maxtor "Older than god"
Display(s)	AOC 28' LCD
Case	Coolermaster N200
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Antec VP500P
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores	No crashes in the last 24 minutes.