Anyone Have 4870x2 ? hows wow with it

[XtremeDream]

at this time when you run your video cards in sli or xfire mode only one output is used. e.g. your two video cards may have 4 dvi outputs but only one of them will work. this was a big limitation for people wishing to use multiply monitors, but is a sacrifice you make when linking the two cards. Now nvidea and ati have come out with a patch that allows you to use a second output to run 2d progams. so you can have a 3d game on one monitor and surf the internet on the other. But you cannot output two 3d programs to 2 different monitors. If you want to do that, that don't run the video cards in sli/xfire.

since sli/xfire only allows you to use 1 dvi port, what you do is add all your monitors resolutions together and have that as your screen resolution. e.g. 2x 24" monitors @ 1900x1200= 3800x1200 resolution coming from that one dvi port. than the 2heads2go splits that signal up to the two monitors.

But for the OP, i really don't see any performance benefit you will get between running 2x 4870's or 1x 4870x2, or 2x 4870x2's. there are no programs on your computer that need or will benefit from that much video card horsepower, there is nothing on your computer that is optimized to run with 4 gpu's. If you did have that kind of computing need you would not be posting here, you would already know the answer. My brother owns a digital studio and a has a render farm, he bought one computer setup from toyota america that they used to design their cars.(over 100k new) and has 2 computers with the equivalant of 8 quadcore's rendering one frame of film, takes several hours to process that one frame and it takes 24 frames for 1 second of film. takes a month to render a 30 second commercial. he multiboxes on a single computer with two 260's and 3 monitors. so if there was any performance to be gained from another video setup i'm sure he would use it.

So I can tell you without a doubt that if your intentions are to multibox with the system you described, with only 2 monitors, you will not need 2 4870x2. One is more than enough. Now if you want to use 3 monitors than you will need 2 video cards not in sli or xfire. wow is not a complex program, it is designed to run on a dial up connection, so the video is kept as simple as possible.

wow, you are very intelligent. Thank you very much. I have a question..........is there a way to disable crossfire mode if I still get these cards? thanks

[Clanked]

My reply to another post found here.

Video Card: Ok, here is where I really hope you heed my advice. The 4870x2 is cool and all, but it scales horribly. If you look at these benchmarks you will see that 2x 4870x2 cards actually perform no better than 2x 4870 cards, or a single 4870x2 for that matter. So thats an extra $489.99 for ZERO benefit it you run them crossfire. Since you are looking to go multi(3+) monitor output, I suggest going with TWO 4870 cards. This way you can enable crossfire when you want to play games on one screen, and get the same performance as your 4870x2 card. Then when you want to multibox you can disable crossfire, and run on all three monitors. I strongly recommend going with 2x 4870's. $200 each. Thats $400 for both cards. Save $89.99 and gain up to 4 monitor output while maintaining the EXACT same performance as both a single and dual 4870x2's.

[XtremeDream]

found here.[/url]

Video Card: Ok, here is where I really hope you heed my advice. The 4870x2 is cool and all, but it scales horribly. If you look at these benchmarks you will see that 2x 4870x2 cards actually perform no better than 2x 4870 cards, or a single 4870x2 for that matter. So thats an extra $489.99 for ZERO benefit it you run them crossfire. Since you are looking to go multi(3+) monitor output, I suggest going with TWO 4870 cards. This way you can enable crossfire when you want to play games on one screen, and get the same performance as your 4870x2 card. Then when you want to multibox you can disable crossfire, and run on all three monitors. I strongly recommend going with 2x 4870's. $200 each. Thats $400 for both cards. Save $89.99 and gain up to 4 monitor output while maintaining the EXACT same performance as both a single and dual 4870x2's.

Well i can still change my order................... is it possible to disable SLI if i get TWO gtx280's ? thanks in advanced

[Tsunami]

found here.[/url]

Video Card: Ok, here is where I really hope you heed my advice. The 4870x2 is cool and all, but it scales horribly. If you look at these benchmarks you will see that 2x 4870x2 cards actually perform no better than 2x 4870 cards, or a single 4870x2 for that matter. So thats an extra $489.99 for ZERO benefit it you run them crossfire. Since you are looking to go multi(3+) monitor output, I suggest going with TWO 4870 cards. This way you can enable crossfire when you want to play games on one screen, and get the same performance as your 4870x2 card. Then when you want to multibox you can disable crossfire, and run on all three monitors. I strongly recommend going with 2x 4870's. $200 each. Thats $400 for both cards. Save $89.99 and gain up to 4 monitor output while maintaining the EXACT same performance as both a single and dual 4870x2's.

I agree with clanked. It is hard to argue with test data. In fact 1 9800gtx+ ($150) is almost as fast as 2 4870's in sli mode. it all depends on the program you are running and if the program is optimized to use multiply gpu's. In most cases the program does not respond much better to the extra gpu. plus nvida will be switching to a 55nm chip next year, which will be much faster(cooler and require less power) than the current crop of gpu's

[Tsunami]

sli/xfire is just a little piece of plastic that connects the two video cards. takes about 20 seconds to disable

[XtremeDream]

I think I just found the most ULTIMATE question of all that will solve all my problems...since tommorow i will be FINALIZING my order.

This is the Question: What kind of computer specs would I need to be able to run 5 world of warcraft accounts on one computer, and on two monitors....one monitor for 1 character, and the other monitor to hold the 4 other characters, and to beable to swap them via keyclone?

Start with the:
CPU
PSU
GPU
RAM
HDD
and just about anything else you can add................. remember I want to get the best graphics and fps as possible while 5 boxing.................thanks and tomorrow i can consider making the rig you guys tell me to get what i want out of multiboxing

[XtremeDream]

I think I just found the most ULTIMATE question of all that will solve all my problems...since tommorow i will be FINALIZING my order.

This is the Question: What kind of computer specs would I need to be able to run 5 world of warcraft accounts on one computer, and on two monitors....one monitor for 1 character, and the other monitor to hold the 4 other characters, and to beable to swap them via keyclone?

Start with the:
CPU
PSU
GPU
RAM
HDD
and just about anything else you can add................. remember I want to get the best graphics and fps as possible while 5 boxing.................thanks and tomorrow i can consider making the rig you guys tell me to get what i want out of multiboxing

please dont be modest...set it up to be the perfect multiboxing rig possible with todays current hardware

1920x1200 monitors and max graphics and settings, while multiboxxing my 5 warlocks

[Tsunami]

I think I just found the most ULTIMATE question of all that will solve all my problems...since tommorow i will be FINALIZING my order.

This is the Question: What kind of computer specs would I need to be able to run 5 world of warcraft accounts on one computer, and on two monitors....one monitor for 1 character, and the other monitor to hold the 4 other characters, and to beable to swap them via keyclone?

Start with the:
CPU
PSU
GPU
RAM
HDD
and just about anything else you can add................. remember I want to get the best graphics and fps as possible while 5 boxing.................thanks and tomorrow i can consider making the rig you guys tell me to get what i want out of multiboxing

please dont be modest...set it up to be the perfect multiboxing rig possible with todays current hardware

1920x1200 monitors and max graphics and settings, while multiboxxing my 5 warlocks

core i7, over clocked to 3.8ghz.( you can do this yourself)
800+watt psu
2x ati4870s
9-12 gb of ddr3 tri channel ram
any 2 velociraptor's in raid0, 750gb-1tb data drive.
2x hp-w2408 24" monitors. (these have a great stand)

[XtremeDream]

I think I just found the most ULTIMATE question of all that will solve all my problems...since tommorow i will be FINALIZING my order.

This is the Question: What kind of computer specs would I need to be able to run 5 world of warcraft accounts on one computer, and on two monitors....one monitor for 1 character, and the other monitor to hold the 4 other characters, and to beable to swap them via keyclone?

Start with the:
CPU
PSU
GPU
RAM
HDD
and just about anything else you can add................. remember I want to get the best graphics and fps as possible while 5 boxing.................thanks and tomorrow i can consider making the rig you guys tell me to get what i want out of multiboxing

please dont be modest...set it up to be the perfect multiboxing rig possible with todays current hardware

1920x1200 monitors and max graphics and settings, while multiboxxing my 5 warlocks

core i7, over clocked to 3.8ghz.( you can do this yourself)
800+watt psu
2x ati4870s
9-12 gb of ddr3 tri channel ram
any 2 velociraptor's in raid0, 750gb-1tb data drive.
2x hp-w2408 24" monitors. (these have a great stand)

ok I am going to do what you said, but just one last question im still confused about...................... Can Crossfire be disabled if I have 2 4870x2 ? or is the whole setup native to crossfire........like can i go into a option in the computer and disable crossfireX with two 4870x2 ? or is crossfire always going to be stuck if i were to get two 4870x2..................or are you saying that two 4870x2 is just plain overkill and a waste of money, but its is possible to disable crossfire? Thanks in advanced

[XtremeDream]

I think I just found the most ULTIMATE question of all that will solve all my problems...since tommorow i will be FINALIZING my order.

This is the Question: What kind of computer specs would I need to be able to run 5 world of warcraft accounts on one computer, and on two monitors....one monitor for 1 character, and the other monitor to hold the 4 other characters, and to beable to swap them via keyclone?

Start with the:
CPU
PSU
GPU
RAM
HDD
and just about anything else you can add................. remember I want to get the best graphics and fps as possible while 5 boxing.................thanks and tomorrow i can consider making the rig you guys tell me to get what i want out of multiboxing

please dont be modest...set it up to be the perfect multiboxing rig possible with todays current hardware

1920x1200 monitors and max graphics and settings, while multiboxxing my 5 warlocks

core i7, over clocked to 3.8ghz.( you can do this yourself)
800+watt psu
2x ati4870s
9-12 gb of ddr3 tri channel ram
any 2 velociraptor's in raid0, 750gb-1tb data drive.
2x hp-w2408 24" monitors. (these have a great stand)

ok I am going to do what you said, but just one last question im still confused about...................... Can Crossfire be disabled if I have 2 4870x2 ? or is the whole setup native to crossfire........like can i go into a option in the computer and disable crossfireX with two 4870x2 ? or is crossfire always going to be stuck if i were to get two 4870x2..................or are you saying that two 4870x2 is just plain overkill and a waste of money, but its is possible to disable crossfire? Thanks in advanced

please help or else ill just keep my same order with the 4870x2............