No. Crossfire is only actually a good thing if your resolution is higher than 1920x1080/1200 (i.e. panels larger than 23/24"). Also, performance with crossfire is not as cut and dry as "2 cards = 2x performance". It works with some diminishing returns and honestly is not good for the money, especially if you use it as an upgrade path.

Also, at 1280x1024 you are no where near tapping the power of a 5850. At that resolution either buy a cheaper card or buy a larger monitor with the money you are saving in other places.

I won't go higher than 1280x1024, but thanks for the info. So go for a single pci mobo and save money and invest it for AMD Phenom II X4 965?

Any particular reason? You are wasting a lof of money building a powerful rig that really isn't going to do much driving a game on 1280x1024.

I'm really used to that resolution, if I go higher the results of gaming and movement will be completly different. 19" is high enough for me for comfort, I tried bigger screen but didn't like it. I play a lot of first person shooters so you understand.

I also play a lot of first person shooters and no, I don't understand. I've always upgraded monitor sizes when nicer stuff came out. Everything will look much nicer and when you spend a couple of weeks playing you will get used to the difference and come to enjoy the fact that you can see more than just a gun a your hud on screen at once. Honestly if you are just against a nicer monitor there is no reason to build something this powerful. It's just a waste of money as a cheaper machine will perform just as well at that resolution.

A 8800GT can max anygame at 1280x1024

Also. big waste of money on a crappy keyboard. For that amount.. you can get a filco.

Even on crysis and bad company 2? Then should I go back my old setting with 5770?

My single 8800GT 512mb comes close to maxing most games out @ 1680x1050. The damn thing is pretty old already. Time to upgrade. Eek, what do you think about the 5830 that is coming out?

Looks great, but the price might be 200 or 240$. I think I'll get that one, comes out the 5th

Or will a 5770 work for that resolution for games like crysis and bad company 2?

The keybord fits my needs, slim laptop-like, no useless micro keys that I will never use. If you got any suggestions with that type of keyboard please do.


So keep that mobo go for for single pcie?

This post was edited by Phoenix13 on Feb 1 2010 01:51pm

I honestly wouldn't purchase anything right now if your card can still hold it's own. I'm still using a 8800GT also.

I sold off my HD5970 as soon as word that Fermi could be a monster was out. Wait till Fermi's release. It'll drop AMD's prices, pick it up then. Or get the HD6xxx that'll follow soon after Ferimi's launch.

If you feel adventurous, try volt modding the 8800GT. For less then $10 in parts, you'll notice a significant jump in performance.

Edit: If you really want the 5830, it seems like a solid buy if it's priced at $190-$210~



This post was edited by Eek on Feb 1 2010 01:57pm