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Choosing VGA cards--- HELP NEEDED PLZ !!!!
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:47 am
by compatriot
Hi All,
i have bought two sets of HD 5770 VGA cards in a deal on ebay. i got two XFX HD 5770 and two ATI Radeon HD 5770. i used and tested either but found no difference at stock settings of PC and cards.im not a gamer but needed to upgrade my machine for high graphic works using both cards with crossfire and one LCD.
my question is that are XFX cards Better than OEM radeon ?? the only visual difference is that XFX are with sticker and each XFX card is with single crossfire head while OEM has dual.
im confused which set to keep and which to sell, i need help from you guys....
Thanks...
Re: Choosing VGA cards--- HELP NEEDED PLZ !!!!
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:20 am
by lordvic
Hello, and welcome to Legit Reviews!
If the two sets are running at identical speeds, then they'll be...well identical. There isn't much difference other than the cooler and shroud? (don't which XFX 5770 you bought). I'd go with the XFX 5770's. XFX has a double lifetime warranty on their graphics cards. If you are the second owner -being the person from ebay is the first- you are elible for XFX's lifetime warranty. You just register your two cards on XFX's website.
Regarding about the one or two Crossfire birdge connects; it doesn't really matter. You really just need one.
Re: Choosing VGA cards--- HELP NEEDED PLZ !!!!
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:32 am
by compatriot
Thanks.....
both models are identical, but when i removed the covers and blower, i found much difference on circuit boards and the capacitors are also different. any way since there is no difference in performance that shouldn't matter.
iv seen some people suggest to use dual crossfire cables on two cards so is good to use dual bridge cables?
Re: Choosing VGA cards--- HELP NEEDED PLZ !!!!
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:51 pm
by lordvic
compatriot wrote:Thanks.....
both models are identical, but when i removed the covers and blower, i found much difference on circuit boards and the capacitors are also different. any way since there is no difference in performance that shouldn't matter.
iv seen some people suggest to use dual crossfire cables on two cards so is good to use dual bridge cables?
Ah, the XFX cards are either using "revisioned" PCBs (prinit circuit boards), or it's XFX's own custom design/layout. Custom boards are usually a bit better at overclocking and BIOS that allows you to overclock further than the OEM limit. But then again, if you don't plan to overclock, than it won't matter.
The Crossfire bridge basically allows the two cards to communicate with each other, and handles each other's data. You can have either one or two bridge connects, but cards like the 5770 won't even use all the bandwitdth that ONE conecctor supplies. As long as the connectors line up you'll be fine. You'll only really need to use all two when you have a set-up that uses 3 or more GPUs.
Re: Choosing VGA cards--- HELP NEEDED PLZ !!!!
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:52 am
by skier
compatriot wrote:Thanks.....
both models are identical, but when i removed the covers and blower, i found much difference on circuit boards and the capacitors are also different. any way since there is no difference in performance that shouldn't matter.
iv seen some people suggest to use dual crossfire cables on two cards so is good to use dual bridge cables?
the OEM is likely a reference model and while XFX uses a reference heatsink on most of their 5770 models, I do not believe they sell any that are in fact reference model circuit boards, either way the odds of your OEM and XFX being the same PCB are slim to none. also for compatibility concerns, you can crossfire any 5770's or any 5750's or even a 5770 and 5750 together just fine.
one bridge is fine if not better than 2, often crossfire does not function to its full capability, or properly if two cables are connected with just two cards. my XFX 5770 did not even have two crossfire interconnects on the PCB, though was otherwise reference
also if i remember correctly, Triple xfire is the max for just about all radeon cards (meaning you can have 3 but not 4 cards function, be it the 4th card simply sits idle or does not take any of the graphics load, or will just cause the system to not run.)