HD3870X2 or what?

[Anubis_386]

Having just sold my 2 8800GTS 640MB cards i've got money to burn .. So what do you guys reckon I should invest in .. I've had my eyes on a HD3870X2 as they seem to get some pretty good numbers at the higher resolutions (and I game at 1920x1200) ..

The other idea I had was to get a E8400 Wolfdale (which I'd clock up to 4Ghz) and then either an 8800GT or HD3870 ..

What do you guys reckon then?

Cheers :beer:

[Hipcrostino]

acorrding to anandtech you can game on a 3870x2 while running 2x screens at the same time with little frame rate loss. Thats somthing you can't do on any other card. that reason enough for me to get one. pitty i don't need it.

[vixro]

e8400 4ghz + 3870x2 why not both?!?!?!

[Anubis_386]

Because i'm a student :( .. So its one or the other ... I'm looking more towards the wolfy but I really want an X2 .. Hopefully some new CCC drivers come out soon so I can see somemore benches ..

[aja]

I would go for the 3870X2 :D

You already have a pretty fast CPU

[oakstave]

Anubis, I would go for the Wolfdale. The numbers on the 3870x2 don't support the price yet IMHO. Future drivers will improve it.

In general, I would think you'll get far more bang for your buck out of a 4ghz Wolfdale.

What a pleasant dilemma you have! :beer:

[Brolloks]

The 3870X2 is one powerfull card, see here http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=546872
With newer ATI drivers they will become even more powerfull

[oakstave]

The 3870X2 is one powerfull card, see here http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=546872
With newer ATI drivers they will become even more powerfull

No arguments here, but I note you already have the Wolfdale to feed those Bad Boys. :)

[prpz]

If it was up to me considering your setup.....Id go wolf + 8800 GT/GTS that way you dont spend to much but can still add another card down the road

[WiglyWorm]

Is there some pent up anti-AMD sentiment in here preventing people from giving good advice?

If you're gaming, there is currently no such thing as a "CPU limited" game. Not with your hardware. If you want to see any performance benifit above a 1-2 FPS, get the 3870x2.

If benchmarking or folding is your top priority, get the wolfdale.

[thideras]

Is there some pent up anti-AMD sentiment in here preventing people from giving good advice?

If you're gaming, there is currently no such thing as a "CPU limited" game. Not with your hardware. If you want to see any performance benifit above a 1-2 FPS, get the 3870x2.

If benchmarking or folding is your top priority, get the wolfdale.I will have to disagree with you completely here. I went from a e6400 @ 3.6 to a QX9650 @ 4.0, I saw at least a 20% increase across the boards in games and benchmarks.

These are newer games and benchmarks (Oblivion, 3Dmark06, TD: Unlimited, etc etc). There ARE CPU limited games when running a higher-end graphics card. This is with the exact same hardware (besides the processor) running at exactly the same speeds.

[pak]

Couldn't you get the wolfdale, sell the 6400, then buy an x2?

--pak

[oakstave]

Couldn't you get the wolfdale, sell the 6400, then buy an x2?

--pak

Someone give Pak a prize. I think he's onto something here.

Edit: Wiglyworm, I've only used ATI cards... so I don't think I'm prejudiced but I noticed a bottleneck at 3.33Ghz with my E6700, (Much better at 3.5Ghz) I'm sure it would be noticable at 3.2Ghz (Anubis' stated OC).

[ghost_recon88]

I will have to disagree with you completely here. I went from a e6400 @ 3.6 to a QX9650 @ 4.0, I saw at least a 20% increase across the boards in games and benchmarks.

These are newer games and benchmarks (Oblivion, 3Dmark06, TD: Unlimited, etc etc). There ARE CPU limited games when running a higher-end graphics card. This is with the exact same hardware (besides the processor) running at exactly the same speeds.

But there you're jumping from a 3.6GHz DUAL-CORE to the fastest QUAD-CORE out there. The L2 was 2MB vs. 12MB?

[thideras]

But there you're jumping from a 3.6GHz DUAL-CORE to the fastest QUAD-CORE out there. The L2 was 2MB vs. 12MB?Yes, I'm also talking about games that utilize 1 core. :rolleyes:

L2 cache does not have a 20% difference, not even close.

+1 to pak's idea.

[Shiggity]

E8400 and an 8800GTS 512 would be a solid setup, would most likely be able to get both too with the cash you have

Edit - woops prpz already beat me to it +1

Then if you do decide to get the E8400 and 8800GTS 512, you'll be able to sell the 8800GTS 512 when the Nvidia 2x card comes out and have a processor strong enough to support it. I just wouldn't buy the 3870x2 until the REAL drivers are out =D

[Brolloks]

E8400 and an 8800GTS 512 would be a solid setup, would most likely be able to get both too with the cash you have

Edit - woops prpz already beat me to it +1

Then if you do decide to get the E8400 and 8800GTS 512, you'll be able to sell the 8800GTS 512 when the Nvidia 2x card comes out and have a processor strong enough to support it. I just wouldn't buy the 3870x2 until the REAL drivers are out =D


Beware the 9800GX2 is going to be > $500 probably and will also have a slow start on the drivers, especially with SLI

The 3870X2 on its beats anything out there six love, we just have a no go with respect to CF with them

[wingless]

I would go for the 3870X2 :D

You already have a pretty fast CPU

+1

[TheCheat]

Does the 680 chipset even support the 45nm cpus?

+1 for X2

[Anubis_386]

Hmmm ... getting wolfy then selling my E6400 would leave me about £100 short for an X2 .. I don't intend to buy anything yet tho, my 680i died so I sent it off to Evga but its been lost along the way .. It was in for the 680i-780i upgrade so until I get a mobo I can't do much ..

Does the 680 chipset even support the 45nm cpus?

+1 for X2

Yeh there was a BIOS update released by Evga not long ago lets you use the dual core 45nm's ... Yorkfields still don't work tho ..

Keep posting your votes, Wolfy or X2 ...

Cheers :beer:

[pak]

I take my idea back. I didn't realize that you had a 680i. IMO, the only point to having a 6/780i board is to run SLI in there. Otherwise you are better off getting an intel based mobo.

With that being said, wolfy+g92GTS is your best bet with hopes of getting a second one in the future.

--pak

[Anubis_386]

Indeed, well the plan was - get my 780i from upgrade and sell it when the X48 boards are out .. An X2 fitts with that as I could go QuadFire later ...

[pak]

Then I'd try to stretch and sell the 6400 and get both. If you absolutely can not, I have to say x2 becuase you game at a higher resolution.

--pak

[WiglyWorm]

Then it sounds like you have a solution:

Upgrade to 780i for $90.

Upgrade to the new proc.

Sell your processor, buy a 3870x2

Sell your 780i when the X48's come out.

Buy an x48 and a second 3870x2.

Yum.