2x1gb Cards or 1x2gb Card

[Bojamijams]

I currently have a 5850 1gb Vram that I'm using. I just got the U2711 and the increase in resolution has finally started putting a strain on my video card in terms of gaming performance.

I know that video ram size is the culprit when going up in resolution. My question is this: Assuming a 6970 2gb was the same speed as 2x 5850 1gb (at say 1024x768) then would they also be the same at 2560x1440 or would the 2gb be better then a pair of 1gb cards?

[_dangtx_]

depending on the game, id go with one card. but not a 6970 unless you find a crazy deal. the 6950 is a better bang per bucker

check this out : MSI Radeon HD 6970 Lightning 2 GB Review - Page 23/27 | techPowerUp

[BrutalGreen]

each gpu uses its own vram for its own textures so having 2x1gb cards is like having only 1gb effective. the thing with vram is having more than you need wont make ur system go faster, just that if you run out your performance will dramatically fall down to a stutter! At sub 1080p pretty much most if not all current games dont use more than 1gb, but going into 2560x1600 territory (2x 1080p pixels) or multi monitor then you should be looking at higher vram cards if you are playing the very latest and greatest games (even at that most games up to last year should still be ok on 1gb)

[Soultribunal]

I'd grab a GTX580 once you start getting up into that RES. Much better driver support from my experience than ATi side of things.

I tried with a 6950, and depending on the game it was hit or miss (SC2 ran bad, lots of stutter very low FPS) comparted to the 465 that it replaced...

ST

[Phill]

OP I have the U2711 as well and over the last two weeks I have tried a GTX 580, a 6970 and 6970CFX. So far I can say that the 580 has given me the best overall game-play. I found with 6970CFX that the scalability suffered from unacceptable min frames. It was to the point where the 580 was actually providing a more stable game-play because at time 6970 CFX would appear to drop to single card performance levels. One situation that is very repeatable is in BC2 when you blow up a wall and immediately run through the smoke and debris thereafter.

Also FWIW at 2560X1440 and very high if not the highest settings I saw a MAX video card ram usage of 1100MB. That was with a single 580 and the games tested where BC2, Dirt2, BF2 and RB6 Vegas 2.

[Bojamijams]

Thank you for the responses guys. Looks like Xfire with 1gb cards is not the path to be taking.

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by Bojamijams

Thank you for the responses guys. Looks like Xfire with 1gb cards is not the path to be taking.

Not this generation right now.

From what I understand the 5XXX series was fairly decent for X-fire and such but the 6XXX series has a whole bunch of issues (I haven't experienced them all but a lot of members have).

I tried, with a few of their 6000 series cards, no dice.

I'd go nVidia this time around.

ST

[_dangtx_]

Originally Posted by Soultribunal

Not this generation right now.

From what I understand the 5XXX series was fairly decent for X-fire and such but the 6XXX series has a whole bunch of issues (I haven't experienced them all but a lot of members have).

I tried, with a few of their 6000 series cards, no dice.

I'd go nVidia this time around.

ST

wait what issues? 6 series do better than 5 series scaling wise. i dont see amd's drivers gotten worse i na few months,...:)

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

wait what issues? 6 series do better than 5 series scaling wise. i dont see amd's drivers gotten worse i na few months,...:)

I am not going to write it all out but suffice to say that now the count is 5 computers (Two owned in my house) that are ditching their 6XXX series Cards.
My 6950 is already sold, I've had enough dealing with it.
My Friends 6850's, 6870's are gone too now.
Our Roomates 6970 is off as well. I've had enough of it to be honest. And like I've said time and time again, its not for lack of trying Dan.


ST

[_dangtx_]

could you point me to an article on the matter?

i understand when people complain about issues in crossfire,or sli(yes,sli too..wow!)

but for single cards to be hated? ouch! :0