Sapphire Radeon HD5750 Vapor-X Crossfire

[zc1]

I finally got around to actually testing out the 5750s in Need For Speed Shift (with various graphics settings) rather than just enjoying playing the game.

My System:

-Processor: Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.57 GHz
-Memory: 8GB Mushkin Blackline PC2-8500 @ 1060 MHz
-Graphics: 2x Sapphire Radeon HD5750 Vapor-X 1GB GDDR5 in crossfire setup; fan speed set to 70%
-Display: 3x SyncMaster 2243

The cards were run @ stock settings, first:

STOCK Settings:
-GPU Clock: 710 MHz
-Memory Clock: 1160 MHz (4640 MHz effective)

I then overclocked the cards to see if that changed anything:

Overclock #1
-GPU Clock: 870 MHz
-Memory Clock: 1160 MHz (4640 MHz effective)

Overclock #2
-GPU Clock: 870 MHz
-Memory Clock: 1255 MHz (5020 MHz effective)

Here are the results (FPS) as per FRAPS. I didn't log anything. Max FPS is the maximum on the FRAPS real-time display. I was only half-playing the game...and spending a fair deal of the time mowing the track-side lawn, actually...and primarily focusing on the FPS display. Average FPSs given are my impressions of where the frame rate tended to spend the most time.


1. 710x1160 (i.e. stock)

-5760x1080, 0xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 30 FPS max (24-30 FPS avg)

When [H]ard|OCP tested a single card, they had all settings to low and the game was *just playable*, with framerates around 30FPS; their setup was i7 920 @ 3.6 GHz -- AMD Radeon HD 5750 - AMD's ATI Radeon Eyefinity Performance Review | [H]ard|OCP

2. 870x1160 (i.e. overclock #1)

-5760x1080, 0xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 35 FPS max (33-35 FPS avg)
-5760x1080, 4xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 27 FPS max (26-27 FPS avg)
-5760x1080, 8xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: Unplayable

-4800x900, 0xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 48 FPS max (46-48 FPS avg)
-4800x900, 4xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 36 FPS max (33-35 FPS avg)
-4800x900, 8xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 32 FPS max (28 FPS avg)

-1920x1080, 0xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 60 FPS max (60 FPS avg)
-1920x1080, 8xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 60 FPS max (55-57 FPS avg)

3. 870x1255 (i.e. overclock #2)

-5760x1080, 0xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 34 FPS max (30-34 FPS avg)
-5760x1080, 4xAA; all settings otherwise MAX: 27 FPS max (23-27 FPS avg)

Overclock #2 didn't add anything, so I've dialed back to the overclock #1 settings. Although the quality of the graphics was great in 1920x1080, I gladly gave up the superior graphics quality for the wider view offered in 5760x1080. 4800x900 is a nice middle ground, with lots of screen real-estate, while allowing me to run 8xAA and still get almost 30FPS.

Some people have commented about micro-stutter problems with crossifire, but I didn't run into any of that except when I kept ATI Catalyst Control Centre open on top of the game window.

I'm very happy with this setup. The Q6600 and 2xHD5750 allows me to run NFSS with Eyefinity enabled, with almost maximal settings and still get a reasonable framerate. It's not a monster setup like a 58xx and 59xx, but for my purposes it does the job and was less expensive than a single 58xx card.

There don't seem to be many user reports regarding the 5750, so I just figured I would give a bit of info about my experience so far.

A photo of my desktop:

[puroman1]

Is that your view using 3 monitors?If it is it looks pretty amazing.
All we need now is a motion controlled chair that hooks up
to our computer.

[Oversized Rooster]

I don't know...I've found that even a 5870 is insufficient to run some games smoothly at max quality with just TWO monitors, yet here you are running THREE monitors with a 5750. How do you tolerate the reduced graphics?

[Bond007]

Nice setup, and nice results.

[zc1]

Originally Posted by puroman1

Is that your view using 3 monitors?If it is it looks pretty amazing.
All we need now is a motion controlled chair that hooks up
to our computer.

Yup, that's my desktop. The wires are cleaned up now (longer DVI cables). When a reasonably-priced pneumatic gaming chair becomes available I'll definitely put that on the "to buy" list, lol. I saw the YouTube video of the guy who made his own -- very cool.

[zc1]

Originally Posted by Oversized Rooster

I don't know...I've found that even a 5870 is insufficient to run some games smoothly at max quality with just TWO monitors, yet here you are running THREE monitors with a 5750. How do you tolerate the reduced graphics?

I guess it's my cross to bear So dramatic! I'm willing to "tolerate" less than maximal settings in my gaming. It's really not that big of a deal. I'm sure you "tolerate" things that are less than utopian in other areas of your life, if not in your gaming. If I want to max out all settings then I can use one monitor, but I prefer the experience/view with three. 8xAA and higher frame rates were nice at 1920x1080 but, for me, the extra real-estate easily trumps the quality difference. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by Bond007

Nice setup, and nice results.

Thanks Bond007. I just figured I would share since it seems that not all that many people post about their experiences with non-high-end cards.

[puroman1]

Don't worry once you guys get to my age high resolutions are not a priority
as your eyesight goes down and you need glasses.My son always has his computer
turned up max but I have the resolution lower so i can read,lol.I think I will break
down and go with a three monitor setup and see my son drool.

[Raserei408]

Originally Posted by Oversized Rooster

I don't know...I've found that even a 5870 is insufficient to run some games smoothly at max quality with just TWO monitors, yet here you are running THREE monitors with a 5750. How do you tolerate the reduced graphics?

To be fair he's using 2 5750s, but I agree to some extent. That said, dropping AA and maybe some textures wouldn't look that much worse and often boosts performance by a LOT.

[CoolHandL]

I've been looking for this post for months!(any post from people who have 2x5750's)! thanks. I just picked up my second Vapor X 5750, I also have the Q6600, only 6GB of Ram though, and only one 24" monitor for gamming.
I do have the option to add 2 x 20" dell 2009W's (i have one and can buy one from work) to the set up, which i will do one i get some more desk space.. thanks for confirming my rational for purchasing another 5750, and that being it would be worth it.

Thanks ZC1!!!

[zc1]

You're welcome! If you turn off vsync the FPS gets even better. Those numbers are with vsync turned on. 5750s run great in crossfire.