Crossfire or single Nvidia graphics

[dmtben]

My motherboard is an MSI Z97 PC mate, with support for crossfire but not SLI. Am I better to get an AMD R9 270 with the ability to add another GPU later (in crossfire), or do I go for a single Nvidia GTX 750Ti FTW or GTX 960, knowing that I can't add another GPU without spending lots on a new motherboard?

[VioDuskar]

why not SLI?

you can SLI a crossfire board.

hyperSLI! brb with lynx.

 

lynx:

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/hypersli-enabling-sli-on-non-sli-motherboards.153046/

http://org.elon.edu/ncwildcat/nc-canadianlynx/images/canadianlynx4.jpg

[dragoon20005]

why not SLI?

you can SLI a crossfire board.

hyperSLI! brb with lynx.

 

lynx:

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/hypersli-enabling-sli-on-non-sli-motherboards.153046/

http://org.elon.edu/ncwildcat/nc-canadianlynx/images/canadianlynx4.jpg

that hack is old

 

and nVidia has block it already

 

 

 

 

My motherboard is an MSI Z97 PC mate, with support for crossfire but not SLI. Am I better to get an AMD R9 270 with the ability to add another GPU later (in crossfire), or do I go for a single Nvidia GTX 750Ti FTW or GTX 960, knowing that I can't add another GPU without spending lots on a new motherboard?

just go for a bigger GPU upgrade instead of CF or SLi

 

think like a R9 280/X at least

[VioDuskar]

that hack is old

and nVidia has block it already

 

It still works

 

 

just go for a bigger GPU upgrade instead of CF or SLi

think like a R9 280/X at least

yeah, OP would be best off just investing in a single stronger card.

it'd be best for him to get a GTX970 IMO.

[Imakuni]

My motherboard is an MSI Z97 PC mate, with support for crossfire but not SLI. Am I better to get an AMD R9 270 with the ability to add another GPU later (in crossfire), or do I go for a single Nvidia GTX 750Ti FTW or GTX 960, knowing that I can't add another GPU without spending lots on a new motherboard?

At the lower price point, single card is better than dual.

 

See if you can buy a used R9 290(x). Or maybe even a 970, if you get lucky.

[dmtben]

My board won't come with an SLI bridge and the 750Ti doesn't support SLI, will it still work with that software?

[Imakuni]

My board won't come with an SLI bridge and the 750Ti doesn't support SLI, will it still work with that software?

Nope. Forget SLI with that board. Plain and simple.

[dragoon20005]

My board won't come with an SLI bridge and the 750Ti doesn't support SLI, will it still work with that software?

the 750Ti is not even hardware supported by SLi

[dmtben]

Okay, so if I can only afford a single GPU, am I best to go with the 750Ti or the R9 270x?

[Caeradwyn]

I agree with dragoon20005, you should get the fastest single card you can afford rather than to plan for adding a second card.

 

The way I see it, SLi and Crossfire are not really upgrade paths, but rather something you buy right away if you're planning on running a setup that a single card wouldn't be able to handle.

Want 3 monitors with 1440p? SLi or Crossfire. Want 4k with ultra settings and high fps? Right, SLi or Crossfire. Want to run a single monitor with 1440p or less? Get a single fast card.

[dmtben]

I agree with dragoon20005, you should get the fastest single card you can afford rather than to plan for adding a second card.

The way I see it, SLi and Crossfire are not really upgrade paths, but rather something you buy right away if you're planning on running a setup that a single card wouldn't be able to handle.

Want 3 monitors with 1440p? SLi or Crossfire. Want 4k with ultra settings and high fps? Right, SLi or Crossfire. Want to run a single monitor with 1440p or less? Get a single fast card.

So which single card do you recommend between £100 and £140?

[XplosiveNoctua99]

R9 295X2 Crossfire or R9 395X2 Crossfire (if that is a thing )

[XplosiveNoctua99]

So which single card do you recommend between £100 and £140?

GTX 960 (don't know prices)

[XplosiveNoctua99]

So which single card do you recommend between £100 and £140?

I think you should spend less on the motherboard so you can get a better gpu

[Vexzarium]

Okay, so if I can only afford a single GPU, am I best to go with the 750Ti or the R9 270x?

270x is better than the 750ti. As is the story with most AMD GPU's.

 

270x>750ti

280x>960

290x>970

 

After that, the 980 & Titan X are superior to any AMD "Single GPU" solution... until the 390x comes.

[Caeradwyn]

So which single card do you recommend between £100 and £140?

 

It's a slightly tough call, and it depends on being able to find some good offers.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-175-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1983

Seems like a good option. It's just below the £140 limit, and it should perform pretty well.

There seems to be some GTX 960's to be had just above the £140 mark, but I'm not sure if that would be better. It only has 128bit memory bus compared to 256bit on the R9 285.

If you can find one cheaper than £140 though, it would definitely be an option.

Looking at the second hand market might be a good idea though, but for some having the warranty is a priority.

[Caeradwyn]

I think you should spend less on the motherboard so you can get a better gpu

 

I disagree. Having a high quality motherboard generally give you a more stable system, better options for expansion and overclocking, and it is a whole lot less hassle changing a slow graphics card for a faster one, than having to take the whole system apart to change the motherboard if you find that the cheap one you bought to save money, wasn't as good as you hoped.

But then again, I see the motherboard and the CPU as two of the absolute central components for a well built system. I'd rather have to juggle my budget elsewhere than skimping on those two. There are as many opinions on what is the "correct" way of designing a system as there are people who build systems.

[XplosiveNoctua99]

I disagree. Having a high quality motherboard generally give you a more stable system, better options for expansion and overclocking, and it is a whole lot less hassle changing a slow graphics card for a faster one, than having to take the whole system apart to change the motherboard if you find that the cheap one you bought to save money, wasn't as good as you hoped.

But then again, I see the motherboard and the CPU as two of the absolute central components for a well built system. I'd rather have to juggle my budget elsewhere than skimping on those two. There are as many opinions on what is the "correct" way of designing a system as there are people who build systems.

I am not saying get an awful mobo i am saying get one with less features 

[Caeradwyn]

I am not saying get an awful mobo i am saying get one with less features 

The MSI 797 PC Mate is one of the cheaper Z97 boards. I'm not really sure it's such a good idea to go with a different chipset.

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

Okay, so if I can only afford a single GPU, am I best to go with the 750Ti or the R9 270x?

 

Probably the 270x, but tell us what are the other options you have from where you are buying from and we'll pick the best card.

[Footy]

My motherboard is an MSI Z97 PC mate, with support for crossfire but not SLI. Am I better to get an AMD R9 270 with the ability to add another GPU later (in crossfire), or do I go for a single Nvidia GTX 750Ti FTW or GTX 960, knowing that I can't add another GPU without spending lots on a new motherboard?

 

If I were you I would buy a 960, by the time you need to upgrade you will probably want a new mobo anyway (http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvlink.html)

[XplosiveNoctua99]

The MSI 797 PC Mate is one of the cheaper Z97 boards. I'm not really sure it's such a good idea to go with a different chipset.

What is the difference between H81 and Z97

[dragoon20005]

What is the difference between H81 and Z97

the H81 is a bare bones basic mobo which only supports one GPU

 

Z97 support full OC features and mid to higher mobo will have SLi and CF support

[Caeradwyn]

What is the difference between H81 and Z97

 

H81 = budget chipset, only support for 2 DIMM slots, and seeing as you should be running two RAM modules anyway, to get dual channel, it leaves no room for upgrade. Also it's an older generation with fewer SATA3.0 and USB3.0 ports, older PCIe version.

 

Costing about £65, the MSI Z97 PC Mate is a cheap as chips Z97 board, seeing as there are Z97's at above £300. It is not an "all out" high end board by any means, and the potential for saving is so minor, it isn't likely to make much difference in what graphics card he'd be able to buy.

Now, if we were talking about a board costing £250, and instead saving £100 and add that to the graphics card budget, then I agree it would make sense.

 

EDIT: Oh, and let's not forget that according to Intel, only the 9-series chipsets are supposed to support Broadwell, so it's got a better upgrade path as well.

[XplosiveNoctua99]

the H81 is a bare bones basic mobo which only supports one GPU

 

Z97 support full OC features and mid to higher mobo will have SLi and CF support

 

 

H81 = budget chipset, only support for 2 DIMM slots, and seeing as you should be running two RAM modules anyway, to get dual channel, it leaves no room for upgrade. Also it's an older generation with fewer SATA3.0 and USB3.0 ports, older PCIe version.

 

Costing about £65, the MSI Z97 PC Mate is a cheap as chips Z97 board, seeing as there are Z97's at above £300. It is not an "all out" high end board by any means, and the potential for saving is so minor, it isn't likely to make much difference in what graphics card he'd be able to buy.

Now, if we were talking about a board costing £250, and instead saving £100 and add that to the graphics card budget, then I agree it would make sense.

 

EDIT: Oh, and let's not forget that according to Intel, only the 9-series chipsets are supposed to support Broadwell, so it's got a better upgrade path as well.

Thanks  

so it isn't necessary to get a z97 if you only wan 1 gpu and2 ram dimms and don't oc

like me