Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hello WSGF users,

I've been doing long long hours of researches online on multi-monitor GPU performances to help me decide whether to upgrade my GPU's or not for the three ASUS 1080p (VE278Q) monitors I already ordered.

My current cards are two HD5870 (1GB) overclocked by 25% on the core (@1062mhz).

Naturally, the VRAM limit is to be expected with 1GB cards pushing 5760x1080 pixels. Based on my researches (not 100% sure though) is that some cards have plenty of VRAM without GPU power to drive it all (Example: HD6990 4GB performs better than a GTX590 3GB in intensive VRAM situations, but then again, the game is not considered playable with the HD6990 anyway!)


I was about to go with one of those 6 options (In order from lowest to highest cost):

-2x HD6970 2GB in CF ($660 USD)
-2x HD570 1.2GB in SLI ($660)
-2x GTX570 2.5GB in SLI ($800)
-2X GTX580 1.5GB in SLI ($940)
-2x GTX580 3GB in SLI ($1040)
-HD6990 2GB+HD6970 2GB in CFX ($1050)


Well, I'm seeking advice from eyefinity/surround users about performance generally in games at 5760x1080. I only tried eyefinity gaming very briefly before, only the game DIRT2 and that was over a year ago. Now, I'm excited about setting up 3x27" monitors soon.

*Few hours before posting this I thought of just keeping my current setup. I don't mind playing some games with slightly lowered settings (but wish to have 2X AA on all games at least) for the time being and maybe just use my HD5870's more before next HW generation and upgrade everything all together. Kindly, advice me on this option too. My HD5870's are highly overclocked (850mhz -->1062mhz). I'm certain my GPU setup is noticeably faster than say a HD5970 or maybe even stock/mild OC'ed 6870's, so 5760x1080 gamers with similar GPU power, please report in.


Thanks to all in advance and gold luck.

Stick with the 2 5870's till you are up and running, then see. Its usally aa that eats up the vram, and its often left low or off when running surround as framerater is more important

_________________
intel x79
2 way 780ti's under water
Intel 4760 extreme @ 4GHz
3 x 42 inch screens @5860x1080
16 gigs xmp ram @2200

I'm running 5760x1080 or 6060x1080 with bezel compensation on 2x 1GB 5870's with pretty good performance. Most games I can crank all the way up, as long as I leave antialiasing at 2x or turned off. Since jaggies don't typically bother me, that's no problem. I'd take a wait and see approach and only upgrade if you find your favorite games sluggish at your preferred settings.

It all depends on what games you plan to play. But bottom line is that if you do plan to upgrade then you should automatically erase any card that has less than 2GB Vram. I don't know what games you play or the future games you intend to play but like others have said, try to play with what you have and if you cant get the performance and quality you want then think about the upgrade.

-2x HD6970 2GB in CF ($660 USD)
-2x HD570 1.2GB in SLI ($660)
-2x GTX570 2.5GB in SLI ($800)
-2X GTX580 1.5GB in SLI ($940)
-2x GTX580 3GB in SLI ($1040)
-HD6990 2GB+HD6970 2GB in CFX ($1050)

Thank you for the helpful information.

I should have noted..

1. My PC is watercooled, the loop is dry currently. So, it's not a matter of just installing/un-installing cards in PCI-E slots and try out performance, I wish that was the case. If I decide to setup eyefinity with the 2XHD5870 1GB, I'm gonna have to fill up the liquid in my system which will make me think twice before drying up the loop again, remove the cards, buy new cards, install waterblocks on them.. y'know.

2. The games I play or looking to play.. Call Of Duty 4, Bad Company 2, Left For Dead 2, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Dirt 3, Dues EX Human Revolution.

Thank you

Hey, same monitors as mine!
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4923/66996074.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9333/76385352.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/481/54942148.jpg

Running Battlefield 3 beta, 64 player Caspian Border map, 285 nvidia beta drivers, 5760x1080 60hz, i was getting 20-25fps on the low setting, and 5-10fps on the ultra setting.

Intel core i7 960 3.2ghz
2x GTX580 3GB
6GB RAM
Win 7 64bit
Fan cooled with Cooler Master HAF X case
no overclocking - im a total noob to overclocking, and all the local PC shops advise not to overclock, so i dont bother with that.

Those GPU's are already recent upgrades. Im upgrading again as soon as the new top intel processors and nvidia 680/780 GTX (x2) comes out early next year then maybe i'll get smooth enough fps in BF3 on the high setting.

Hey, same monitors as mine!
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4923/66996074.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9333/76385352.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/481/54942148.jpg

Running Battlefield 3 beta, 64 player Caspian Border map, 285 nvidia beta drivers, 5760x1080 60hz, i was getting 20-25fps on the low setting, and 5-10fps on the ultra setting.

Intel core i7 960 3.2ghz
2x GTX580 3GB
6GB RAM
Win 7 64bit
Fan cooled with Cooler Master HAF X case
no overclocking - im a total noob to overclocking, and all the local PC shops advise not to overclock, so i dont bother with that.

Those GPU's are already recent upgrades. Im upgrading again as soon as the new top intel processors and nvidia 680/780 GTX (x2) comes out early next year then maybe i'll get smooth enough fps in BF3 on the high setting.

Nice monitors setup man. :)

You have one of the fastest setups for BF3 man (without breaking 1.5 grands price point).
I'm 100% positive that if you overclock your CPU, you should see noticeable improvement in 5760x1080 resolutions. Don't think you'd be GPU bound like on single screens.

Shouldn't be hard. Google and follow a basic guide of overclocking through your motherboard.

Local PC shops advising not to overclock is strange kinda. Maybe they don't want to visit them a lot for repairs! :p But really, I've been overclocking my computers since 2003. I don't even remember anything getting damaged because of that.


You, with pair of GTX580 3GB wanting to upgrade as soon as you can... is a scary statement to a lot of us gamers here! hehe! Please watch it man. :)

Running Battlefield 3 beta, 64 player Caspian Border map, 285 nvidia beta drivers, 5760x1080 60hz, i was getting 20-25fps on the low setting, and 5-10fps on the ultra setting.

Are you sure about that?
I was getting ~30fps at Ultra settings and 50-60 at medium. I only have a pair of GTX570s. GPU and CPU at stock speeds.
Your results are pretty far away from what everyone else.

[quote]Running Battlefield 3 beta, 64 player Caspian Border map, 285 nvidia beta drivers, 5760x1080 60hz, i was getting 20-25fps on the low setting, and 5-10fps on the ultra setting.

Are you sure about that?
I was getting ~30fps at Ultra settings and 50-60 at medium. I only have a pair of GTX570s. GPU and CPU at stock speeds.
Your results are pretty far away from what everyone else.
Majority of the BF3 discussions on this matter have been from people playing 32 player Operation Metro.

On 64player Caspian i was getting about 45-50fps at 1920x1080 on ultra, or 55-60 on low - all standard default settings, nothing changed like AA which some people tend to do.

But 5760x1080 on ultra?
top-right corner of this picture = 11 fps.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/364/12883796.jpg
During combat in the forest it dropped as low as 4fps.
Window'd mode or full-screen mode makes little differance.

[quote][quote]Running Battlefield 3 beta, 64 player Caspian Border map, 285 nvidia beta drivers, 5760x1080 60hz, i was getting 20-25fps on the low setting, and 5-10fps on the ultra setting.

Are you sure about that?
I was getting ~30fps at Ultra settings and 50-60 at medium. I only have a pair of GTX570s. GPU and CPU at stock speeds.
Your results are pretty far away from what everyone else.
Majority of the BF3 discussions on this matter have been from people playing 32 player Operation Metro.

On 64player Caspian i was getting about 45-50fps at 1920x1080 on ultra, or 55-60 on low - all standard default settings, nothing changed like AA which some people tend to do.

But 5760x1080 on ultra?
top-right corner of this picture = 11 fps.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/364/12883796.jpg
During combat in the forest it dropped as low as 4fps.
Window'd mode or full-screen mode makes little differance.man that sux!
I hope your rig does better when the full game comes out.
I was quite happy with near 60fps on medium settings.
The difference between Caspian and Metro @5760 were negligible for me.