Slowly upgrading to an ATI 6870

billy · #1 11-11-2010, 04:55 PM

The ATI 6870 arrived today and immediately a couple of issues. My power supply didn't have 2 PCI-E connectors, I just have 1. I drive molex to PCI-E should fix that.

The displayport to DVI passive connector I bought won't fit the 6870 card because it has mini displayport outputs. So, I need to buy a mini to display port cable (15 bucks).

All ordered from newegg today, might get them for next Monday.

Warpedcow · #2 11-12-2010, 10:01 PM

Should be sweet once it's all running!

I think your sig is 3 or 4 video cards out of date.

billy · #3 11-12-2010, 11:41 PM

Today's status. The 6870 needs a 600w power supply, I had a 500w. 140 bucks later and I have a 900w installed.

The box powers up and I can see two of the 3 monitors working. I tried an apple mini display port to dvi adapter and it works but there is a black border all around the picture but the computer thinks it's driving it at 1080.

My third monitor is detected but is always blank. If I try to extend the desktop to it then it says cannot save the settings. I have a proper display port to dvi adapter and am waiting for a cable to try it.

billy · #4 11-17-2010, 04:22 PM

So, it's all working now. Wrote it up on my blog

http://www.devwebsphere.com/porsche/...d-working.html

Bottom line is the 6870 drives the 5760 x 1024 about about 50-60fps in class 2 mode. I'm not sure yet whether I'm CPU limited or GPU limited.

Warpedcow · #5 11-17-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

So, it's all working now. Wrote it up on my blog

http://www.devwebsphere.com/porsche/...d-working.html

Bottom line is the 6870 drives the 5760 x 1024 about about 50-60fps in class 2 mode. I'm not sure yet whether I'm CPU limited or GPU limited.

Crank up stuff like Antialiasing and if your FPS drops, you're already GPU limited. Or try running a lower resolution on all three screens and compare.

Eric · #6 11-18-2010, 09:59 PM

and fix the title of your blog!!

billy · #7 11-20-2010, 11:30 AM

I think I'm CPU limited now. I've been trolling the iracing forums and a 6870 should be 80fps on high settings at 1650x1040x3. Iracing seems to need high CPU for road racing tracks.

Easiest fix would be one of their phenom x4 3.4ghz chips that should drop in. Illl try over clocking my one first to test the hypothesis.

mrepka · #8 11-23-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

and fix the title of your blog!!

billy · #9 11-30-2010, 05:01 PM

So
Popped in a 3.5Ghz AMD 970 BE and I can't tell much difference to tell you the truth over the 2.6GHz, might be 7-8fps faster at Road America between 3 and 5.

On ovals you get lots of FPS, 180 at daytona for example. But, to tell the truth, Road America at a min of 40fps is still really playable, I don't find myself complaining and one thing I am is a whiner if something is wrong.