CF 6850 with this PSU?

aN.Droid

Hey there,

I have been trying to decide whether to get a 6950 or go CF 6850. (almost) everything I have read online tells me that CF 6850 will outperform a 6950,6970 and a 580.

What I need to know is will I be able to run the CF system using this PSU?

http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-500w-700w-modxstream-pro-power-supply.html

I have the 600W version. What I also need to know is, does the 6850 require a single or duel 6 pin connection? I have 2 6 pin connections which are currently running a very power hungry 8800 gtx :P

If it requires 2 6 pin connections each I may be in trouble but I can always go ahead and get a molex - pci-e converter, I would like to avoid this though.

According too http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine my system using the CF 6850's should only pull about 480 watts leaving a good bit of head room but I would not 100% trust that.

What do you guys think?

deconduo

That PSU can handle a max of 500W on the +12V rail, leaving things a little to tight for my comfort. I'd say stick with the 6950 or get a better PSU.

aN.Droid

Hmmm you are right. 504W on 12v rails.


That is very disapointing. I'm sure I can sell this PSU on and get another though... What would you recommend for around the 70-80 euro mark?

Also, I have a 965 black edition that came stock at 1.475 volts. Isn't it meant to be 1.35? If I put it too 1.35 I will save about 20 watts

Also, that calculator I linked to in my op, I just realised the reccomended wattage would of been 480+ with a minimum of around 420. I think I will go ahead with the CF 6850's and see if they run, if not I can upgrade the PSU.

Still my original question, does the 6850 need duel pci 6 pin power?

johnners2981

http://www.dabs.ie/products/corsair-memory-700w-gaming-series-gs700-high-performance-psu-7JSR.html?refs=55430000

http://www.dabs.ie/products/xfx-750-watt-core-edition-full-wired-power-supply-7NSY.html?refs=55430000

There's two psu's, think cf 6850 need about 600/650.

Not sure if you've heard of micro stuttering but it makes a strong case for single cards and against crossfire and sli
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995-15.html

I think I'd go with the 6950

aN.Droid

johnners2981 wrote: »

http://www.dabs.ie/products/corsair-memory-700w-gaming-series-gs700-high-performance-psu-7JSR.html?refs=55430000

http://www.dabs.ie/products/xfx-750-watt-core-edition-full-wired-power-supply-7NSY.html?refs=55430000

There's two psu's, think cf 6850 need about 600/650.

Not sure if you've heard of micro stuttering but it makes a strong case for single cards and against crossfire and sli
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995-15.html

I think I'd go with the 6950

Thanks for the PSU reccomendations.

Isn't micro-stuttering more of a rarity nowadays with the older generation of cards being more susceptible to it?

johnners2981

Limericks wrote: »

Thanks for the PSU reccomendations.

Isn't micro-stuttering more of a rarity nowadays with the older generation of cards being more susceptible to it?

No they found that micro stuttering is still fairly bad in the low/mid range cards when cf/sli. AMD cards are worse affected by it though.

Some people don't notice it though, read the article if you can, put me off going cf with 6870s.

Solitaire

Micro-stuttering is extremely bad nowadays in dual-GPU setups as those are the most common and also the most tweaked by the vendors to emphasize raw FPS over stability :mad: Three- and four-GPU setups see lower FPS per GPU but virtually no stutter.

At the moment the multi-GPU sweet spot is three HD68*0s. Only one catch there... such a setup is only physically possible with one HD68*0 and one HD68*0X2. Good luck finding one of those...

johnners2981

6870x2 are in stock in hardwareversand, fairly expensive if you get one of those and another 6870 plus €30 shipping. Would be some setup though

Tea_Bag

ive just been defending CF in another thread over here, but ill also be of the opinion to avoid CF at anything less than a 6950 (the review also mentions this)

besides, a 6950 will max most games quite comfortably anyway, and will leave room for upgrade in a year or so, whereas you're at a dead end on 6850CF.

ill be going 3way6950CF for my next upgrade, which hopefully wont be too soon.


tl;dr

get the 6950 2gb.

aN.Droid

Yeah I have decided to go single 6950 and upgrade in the future with more 6950's as you can easily go 3x or 4x CF with them. Will mean upgrading my motherboard and PSU too but that's for future me to worry about!

Only running a single monitor 1920x1080 so the 6950 single will do me for now for games on full. Planning on going 3x monitor in the future though, probably after xmas.

aN.Droid

On another note, can anyone reccomend a good 6950, is it too late to find one I can unlock to a 6970? And if I did find an unlockable one could I crossfire it still?

This one seems like a good price? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004L5XZBQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Solitaire

Three-card CF is the minimum, not necessarily HD6950s. "Three" HD6870s can thrash almost any other non-CF/SLI setup out there for a lot less cash.

Still, three HD68*0s are the minimum really; below that a single HD6950 should always be the way to go. And its really all about Eyefinity; the only other thing to need serious grunt is a 25"+ 4-megapixel panel, and if you can afford that kind of monitor you can afford a HD6970 or up anyway!