XFX Core Edition Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express Video Card (FX-785A-ZNFC) + Two Worlds PC Game Coupon $142 after $20 Rebate + Free Shipping

Quote from schnitter : If you CrossFire (SLI is Nvidia term), you will have access to 2GB RAM so yeah you will be able to run that resolution.

Thank you Schnitter.

Could I have one more verification before I spend ~300 bucks. I will be running high resolution (2560x1440 on a IPS 27 inch) and want to make sure this isn't a stupid move.

Anyone else vouch for this strat or get a bigger RAM single card / wait?

Will rep all, thanks in advanced!

(ps... I've always been nvidia so this would be the first time ever going AMD)

I have a AMD Phenom II X4 940, and 4850 which was dead recently
Is it worth upgrading to this card, or just pick a $100 7770?

Quote from schnitter : If you CrossFire (SLI is Nvidia term), you will have access to 2GB RAM so yeah you will be able to run that resolution.

Negative. You don't add up the video RAM on multiple cards like that. CrossFireX'ing or SLI'ing two 1 GB cards still only gives a useable frame buffer of 1 GB, not 1+1=2. Running at higher resolutions might still be possible unless the game starts to choke on not enough vRAM.

Anyone think this card will go less than $120 on black friday?

Quote from ir0nw0lf : Negative. You don't add up the video RAM on multiple cards like that. CrossFireX'ing or SLI'ing two 1 GB cards still only gives a useable frame buffer of 1 GB, not 1+1=2...

^This. Running a xfire or SLI setup does not combine the two cards' VRAM. Instead it has each card render alternate frames allowing the same number of frames to be rendered in half the time. With that high of a resolution monitor you should get at least 2GB of VRAM if not more.

Quote from Cowboy370 : What do you mean running under 1080P, so if my monitor is not 1080P? I just have a stock card now but have always wanted a better graphics card. Does that make sense since i dont really play games or anything on my PC, but it just seems like a good place to start upgrading my pc!

Why would you upgrade a graphics card if you don't play games?

Quote from BestJinjo : Only if his monitors do not have native DP support. If his monitor has native DP support, no adapter is needed. I think for 3 monitors, GTX650 is cheaper if you need HDMI/DVI combination and it uses even less power than the 7850. Just get this card [newegg.com] instead if you only want to drive 3 monitors. More than twice as fast [alienbabeltech.com]. How fast is your CPU though? If you have something like Core 2 Duo E6300/6600 2.4ghz, then it won't be worth it. Not an upgrade in performance for you [hardware.fr]. At minimum you need HD7950 + OC to make ditching HD5870 worthwhile unless you play Civilization V or Batman AC a lot. Also, for someone like you, it makes sense to upgrade to a 2-3GB card at minimum. HD5870 was one amazing card since even 3 years later, it still competes well with $250 GPUs. The HD7850 1/2GB cards are great for someone who was looking to spend $150-160 on GTX650Ti as 7850 is 30-35% faster [computerbase.de] than GTX650Ti.

I'm not into gamer & have gtx 465 (death) that need to replace!
which one that best for htpc......this deal or gtx 650 superclocked 1gb $ 120.....thanks

Quote from a3m0deu3 : Can someone give a decent answer on if SLI'ing two of these would give me the RAM needed to run a 27inch 2560x1440 resolution? I think the answer is 'no' and I need to get a 2-3GB, high end card but just wondering...

Sapphire 7950s are recommended but I can't find them for cheap. The 950mhz edition or the vapor x are always $50-80 price premiums... ugh.

7950's perform close to 670 once overclocked for sub $300. ~OCN

Thanks for info, I will pass then.

thanks everyone!

Quote from solara689 : I'm not into gamer & have gtx 465 (death) that need to replace! which one that best for htpc......this deal or gtx 650 superclocked 1gb $ 120.....thanks

For how many monitors 1 or 3? If you need 3 monitors, grab the cheaper GTX650. For 1 monitor, for HTPC, a $50-60 is good enough like this [newegg.com] one.

This $40 [newegg.com] GT430 Zotac has dual-link dual-DVI for anyone needing a cheap GPU to drive 2x 2560x1600 monitors and no games.

Quote from ff2c : I have a AMD Phenom II X4 940, and 4850 which was dead recently Is it worth upgrading to this card, or just pick a $100 7770?

It's well worth it but only if you play games. HD7850 is 50% faster [computerbase.de] than HD7770 is for $40 more.

Quote from BestJinjo : For how many monitors 1 or 3? If you need 3 monitors, grab the cheaper GTX650. For 1 monitor, for HTPC, a $50-60 is good enough like this [newegg.com] one. This $40 [newegg.com] GT430 Zotac has dual-link dual-DVI for anyone needing a cheap GPU to drive 2x 2560x1600 monitors and no games. It's well worth it but only if you play games. HD7850 is 50% faster [computerbase.de] than HD7770 is for $40 more.

thanks & rep for response

Quote from moomoo4me : I noticed that this card has two mini dports which i will need to use both. And i assume this can do three monitors. I have the need to do 2 1920x 1200 and 1 1920x1080. Will not do game. Is this the cheapest card i can buy? Thank you

If you don't game, I would consider a 7750 since it is low power and doesn't require an external power connection, and takes up only 1 slot on your MB.

There is even a fanless one here [newegg.com].

Quote from solara689 : I'm not into gamer & have gtx 465 (death) that need to replace! which one that best for htpc......this deal or gtx 650 superclocked 1gb $ 120.....thanks

Only 1 display to run? You could buy just about any card to run an HTPC. I mentioned this [newegg.com]fanless, low-power card above to the person that wants 3 displays but doesn't game. It's the fastest card you can get that doesn't require an external power connection.

Quote from solara689 : thanks & rep for response

You are welcome!

Quote from a3m0deu3 : Could I have one more verification before I spend ~300 bucks. I will be running high resolution (2560x1440 on a IPS 27 inch) and want to make sure this isn't a stupid move. Anyone else vouch for this strat or get a bigger RAM single card / wait? Will rep all, thanks in advanced! (ps... I've always been nvidia so this would be the first time ever going AMD)

1. When you add graphics cards, the VRAM is not cumulative, but the lowest of either GPU. For example if you have HD7850 1GB and 7850 2GB in Cross-fire, you'll only have 1GB at most. For SLI, you cannot SLI 2 different cards (so you'd need 2GB SLI = 2GB maximum not 4GB).

2. At 2560x1440, it's not only VRAM that's important but GPU power (specifically memory bandwidth and ROP performance this generation are key differentiators for high resolutions). For example, 2x GTX660Ti SLI are barely faster than a single HD7970 Ghz Edition at your resolution. [computerbase.de]

3. For such high resolution, if you play modern games, you'd need HD7950 OC Cross-fire or GTX670 SLI. If you are OK turning down some settings and not using AA or depth of field, motion blur and some ambient occlusion lighting, you can get away with a single GTX670/HD7950. The card in question is too slow for your resolution.

SLI is preferable to Cross-fire. You can grab a single GTX670 now and add a 2nd one later or wait for a $300 sale on HD7970. HD7950 is nearly as fast as GTX670 at your resolution and faster overclocked but next year it probably won't be fast by itself (and neither will be a single 670). This is because 2560x1440 is 78% more pixels as 1080P. This is why 1440P/1600P are so punishing on GPUs.

Quote from redpoint5 : If you don't game, I would consider a 7750 since it is low power and doesn't require an external power connection, and takes up only 1 slot on your MB. There is even a fanless one here [newegg.com].

Keep in mind without at least 1 native DP monitor among 3, you'd need an active-DisplayPort-to-Single-Link DVI adapter [newegg.com] for that HD7750 card for 3x 1920x1200.

The reference GTX 600 card equipped with 1 DL-DVI-D port, 1 DL-DVI-I port, 1 full size HDMI 1.4 port, and 1 full size DisplayPort 1.2, like GK104 and GK107, GK106 can drive up to 4 displays, meaning all 4 ports can be put into use simultaneously without an adapter as long as use keep limited to 1920x1200 x 3.

For Eyefinity, should i hold out for the 2gb version? or this 1gb version would be fine..