Multiple GPU's

[Theral]

So I am not a pc expert so don't judge but I assume if I get two of the same graphics cards then and got them both going it would increase my performance in games right? (and by how much) the one i have at the moment is a Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Dual-X Boost OC AMD Graphics Card 2GB 

[Vacsol]

if you get a second 270x, you will see increased performance in crossfire-enabled games as long as you have a crossfire-capable motherboard

[adamsjus1]

Depends on the game. In games like battlefield and Arma and alot of graphics intensive games two R9 270x will perform slighly better than one R9 290x

[Oshino Shinobu]

It would increase performance, but by how much would depend on the game. Some games are better optimised for multiple GPUs, while some don't support it at all. 

 

In your case, it would be better to get a more powerful, single card rather than adding another. A GTX 970 is probably the best price/performance/other factors card right now. 

[Oshino Shinobu]

Depends on the game. In games like battlefield and Arma and alot of graphics intensive games two R9 270x will perform slighly better than one R9 290x

Arma? Arma isn't GPU intensive, it's the CPU that normally holds it back, along with poor optimisation. 

[adamsjus1]

Arma? Arma isn't GPU intensive, it's the CPU that normally holds it back, along with poor optimisation. 

I mean Like Arma 2 and 3.    So yea. 

[adamsjus1]

Arma? Arma isn't GPU intensive, it's the CPU that normally holds it back, along with poor optimisation. 

I mean Like Arma 2 and 3.    So yea. 

[Oshino Shinobu]

I mean Like Arma 2 and 3.    So yea. 

Even then, Arma 2 and 3 aren't limited by GPU power. The entire Arma series is known for being one of the few games that is dependant on the CPU. 

[GuruMeditationError]

 

So I am not a pc expert so don't judge but I assume if I get two of the same graphics cards then and got them both going it would increase my performance in games right? (and by how much) the one i have at the moment is a Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Dual-X Boost OC AMD Graphics Card 2GB 

 

Multiple GPU configurations aren't particularly worth it from a practical standpoint unless you're thinking of adding a second one to postpone having to buy a new, more expensive single card. Even then you'd probably be better off selling the card you have and combining the money to buy a single more expensive card (not least because you might have to get a more powerful PSU to keep them fed and you'll probably also be looking at heat and cooling issues with more than one card).

 

People generally have multi-gpu configurations because they're hardcore enthusiasts or they just have money to burn and don't mind paying hundreds extra for incremental increases in performance way beyond the point of diminishing returns.

 

My advice would be to sell the card you have on eBay and put the money together to buy a single new card.

 

Also, some games just flat out don't work with multiple GPU's and performance in other games vary from game to game.

[adamsjus1]

Even then, Arma 2 and 3 aren't limited by GPU power. The entire Arma series is known for being one of the few games that is dependant on the CPU. 

Ummmm.. I think not. I have played the games and the graphics are AMAZING and when you bump up the graphics settings and you don't have a good graphics card your system will poop on its self. But I have seen some of the numbers for myself and two r9 270x will preform slightly better than one r9 290

[Oshino Shinobu]

Ummmm.. I think not. I have played the games and the graphics are AMAZING and when you bump up the graphics settings and you don't have a good graphics card your system will poop on its self. But I have seen some of the numbers for myself and two r9 270x will preform slightly better than one r9 290

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,687620/ArmA-2-tested-Benchmarks-with-18-CPUs/Reviews/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/124736-is-arma-3-cpu-or-gpu-intensive/

 

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2908465

 

Look around anywhere, the Arma games are CPU intensive. Obviously the GPU plays a part and will improve performance, but the series is known as being an example of CPU intensive games. 

[Kermit]

Usually when you SLI or X-fire cards you see almost a 2x improvement, although the margin of performance change gets smaller and smaller as you add more cards. I think two 270x would be great as long as your motherboard and power supply can harness it. 

[BrianPena]

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,687620/ArmA-2-tested-Benchmarks-with-18-CPUs/Reviews/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/124736-is-arma-3-cpu-or-gpu-intensive/

 

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2908465

 

Look around anywhere, the Arma games are CPU intensive. Obviously the GPU plays a part and will improve performance, but the series is known as being an example of CPU intensive games. 

 

http://www.techspot.com/review/712-arma-3-benchmarks/page3.html

 

Not saying that the CPU doesn't matter, but the graphics card does as well. A good example of a CPU intensive game is Guild Wars 2 where I barely noticed an fps boost going from a 7870 to 280X CF.

 

[sgloux3470]

Crossfire is generally a near-doubling of your performance, around 90-95% improvement.  270xCF is on-par with a 290x.

 

Some games don't support crossfire, and it only works in fullscreen mode. (Not borderless window or windowed mode.)  In these games only a single card can be used.  Some examples are Company of Heroes 2, Lords of the Fallen and Far Cry 4. The latter case should get it eventually.  Coh2 will never support it and Lords of the Fallen likely won't either at this rate.  Something to keep in mind is that brand new games rarely have support for crossfire until a few weeks after release.

 

Some games like Civ Beyond Earth and Thi4f can support Mantle Crossfire, but not all mantle games support mantle crossfire.  This is basically the same thing as normal crossfire, but using the mantle API instead.  

 

 

CPU limited scenarios will have very little, if any, gains from crossfire.  Arma 3 is a good example of that.  

[Thor829]

i currently run a 270x in crossfire with a 7870 and i saw a great improvement in frame rates after i added the second card. it is a good set up if you don't have the money to buy one higher end card. i just wish it had a larger Vram but hopefully dx 12 will solve that.