Crossfire vs single card?

[Tacitus]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm wondering which people think would be the best idea:

 

Buy 1 r9 280x and buy a second one when I have the money to and think it's necessary (probably when the Witcher 3 arrives) or just buy one r9 290 and probably leave it unless they drop in price sometime or are going cheap second hand.

 

Right now I can get a Sapphire nonreference 280x for £190, other brands from around £200-£220; a second hand r9 290 with nonreference cooler for ~£240; or a brand new r9 290 for £300-£330.

 

What do people think?

 

EDIT: if I were to add a second GPU that'd also mean upgrading PSU, which is like another £80.

[Guest Kloaked]

Always go with the best single card configuration you can afford.

 

Crossfire/SLI is mainly for enthusiasts or people who already own a GPU and want some more performance, so they'll just buy a matching card instead of spending more money on another card and have one sitting around.

 

Even then you could just sell the one you have (someone will buy it) and put it towards a new card.

 

My opinion, though.

[WinNut]

You should get a 290X if you can afford one. CrossFireX does take up more power, so watch that power bill, and also your system will get louder as putting your GPUs side-by-side will choke them of air.

[WhatTheQuack]

Go for the highest performance single card that you can afford, it tends to be better than SLI or Crossfire because a single card will output less heat and therefore be quieter. Also a single card won't suffer from micro-stutter and compatibility issues that can sometimes effect multi GPU setups

[LmeAde2]

Just buy a single Sapphire R9 290 TRI-X OC http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJOXUKC. The performance of a single card setup will be more desirable than with a multiple card setup for a few reasons. Less power consumption, better driver support, less heat produced, and it's cheaper in the long run.

[Tacitus]

Always go with the best single card configuration you can afford.

 

Crossfire/SLI is mainly for enthusiasts or people who already own a GPU and want some more performance, so they'll just buy a matching card instead of spending more money on another card and have one sitting around.

 

Even then you could just sell the one you have (someone will buy it) and put it towards a new card.

 

My opinion, though.

 

Thanks for that, but I would be trying to keep my costs down but have the option in the future for more power. I could over a longer period of time afford two 280x's but not one 290x, though the costs would be similar.

 

You should get a 290X if you can afford one. CrossFireX does take up more power, so watch that power bill, and also your system will get louder as putting your GPUs side-by-side will choke them of air.

 

I can't afford an 290x sadly. A 290 is a stretch in itself and hence why I am considering a second hand one

[Tacitus]

Go for the highest performance single card that you can afford, it tends to be better than SLI or Crossfire because a single card will output less heat and therefore be quieter. Also a single card won't suffer from micro-stutter and compatibility issues that can sometimes effect multi GPU setups

 

 

Just buy a single Sapphire R9 290 TRI-X OC http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJOXUKC. The performance of a single card setup will be more desirable than with a multiple card setup for a few reasons. Less power consumption, better driver support, less heat produced, and it's cheaper in the long run.

 

Thanks guys.

 

I think the message I'm getting is pretty clear

[KieranFretwell]

I was deciding either to get two 770's or a 780 ti, id say always go with a more powerful single card, spend as much money as you can on it then add another when needed in the future. 

[Sonefiler]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm wondering which people think would be the best idea:

 

Buy 1 r9 280x and buy a second one when I have the money to and think it's necessary (probably when the Witcher 3 arrives) or just buy one r9 290 and probably leave it unless they drop in price sometime or are going cheap second hand.

 

Right now I can get a Sapphire nonreference 280x for £190, other brands from around £200-£220; a second hand r9 290 with nonreference cooler for ~£240; or a brand new r9 290 for £300-£330.

 

What do people think?

 

EDIT: if I were to add a second GPU that'd also mean upgrading PSU, which is like another £80.

Try to get a PowerColor PCS+ R9 290. It's REALLY good, really quiet, high clocks, VERY high overclocks, no coil whine, and very cool.

[Tacitus]

Try to get a PowerColor PCS+ R9 290. It's REALLY good, really quiet, high clocks, VERY high overclocks, no coil whine, and very cool.

 

I have heard it is good, it's also a bit cheaper than the rest generally, but people for some reason seem to shy away from Powercolour.

 

I have seen pictures though and it looks really big

 

When you say it gets high overclocks is that a general statement or is that you getting lucky with yours? I do notice your sig describes you as a Powercolour fanboy

[Sonefiler]

I have heard it is good, it's also a bit cheaper than the rest generally, but people for some reason seem to shy away from Powercolour.

 

I have seen pictures though and it looks really big

 

When you say it gets high overclocks is that a general statement or is that you getting lucky with yours? I do notice your sig describes you as a Powercolour fanboy

I THINK that they are highly binned. They use their binned cards on their TurboDuo series so they tend to overclock better. Plus, they are very highly clocked out of the box.

[Tacitus]

I THINK that they are highly binned. They use their binned cards on their TurboDuo series so they tend to overclock better. Plus, they are very highly clocked out of the box.

 

Sorry what do you mean by "binned"?

[Sonefiler]

@Tacitus 

 

They take the bad overclockers and make them TurboDuos. They take the good overclockers and make them PCS+.