Tri-GPU CrossFireX Gaming

Our final set of GPU tests are a little more on the esoteric side, using a tri-GPU setup with a HD5970 (dual GPU) and a HD5870 in tandem.  While these cards are not necessarily the newest, they do provide some interesting results – particularly when we have memory accesses being diverted to multiple GPUs (or even to multiple GPUs on the same PCB).  The 5970 GPUs are clocked at 800/1000, with the 5870 at 1000/1250.

Dirt 3:

Dirt 3 on HD 5970 + HD 5870 (3x CFX)

Dirt 3 Minimum FPS numbers is where we usually see the biggest gains of a high specification kit, and here the 2800 C12 goes near the top in a 4x8 GB mode.  Still not enough to justify the price tag, however.

Bioshock Infinite:

Bioshock Infinite on HD 5970 + HD 5870 (3x CFX)

Tomb Raider:

Tomb Raider on HD 5970 + HD 5870 (3x CFX)

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs on HD 5970 + HD 5870 (3x CFX)

Single dGPU Gaming CPU Real World
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  • Khenglish - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    Your tRFC and tRRD rows are flipped in the table on the first page.

    That tRFC is ridiculously high. Cut it by 150-200 in XTU (yes, by up to 200. It's that ridiculously high) and you'll see around a 500MB/s bandwidth improvement. For reference I've run 2133 CAS9 stable at tFRC 128 in a laptop.

    Also it would be nice to see results on an IVB system as well as Haswell. IVB is just as good at the top end, but I've seen signs that haswell has a better IMC, so while this memory is stable on haswell, it might not be on IVB. Also most people still have an IVB or SB anyway.
  • Gen-An - Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - link

    You can't cut the tRFC by much on these, they use 4Gbit Hynix H5TQ4G83MFR ICs, and especially not at the high clocks they're running. It's going to be over 200 at about any speed, and you pretty much have to run it at 396 or so for 2933.
  • Hairs_ - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    Can we please stop this series of articles now? please?
  • jasonelmore - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    yeah enough with the RAM reviews. we've been on DDR3 for almost 10 years,
  • Jeffrey Bosboom - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    The only explanation I can think of for all these RAM reviews is that in exchange for samples, Anandtech is obligated to provide brand exposure. Otherwise there'd just be one roundup saying "yeah, they're all about the same". If that's the case, I feel sorry for Ian, who surely has better things to do with his time.
  • Navvie - Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - link

    This is what I figured, the original article was quite interesting. But this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for article ideas.
  • DanNeely - Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - link

    Gotta agree. At most this should be a twice a year round up; maybe only once yearly depending on how frequently binning changes switch out which clock/cl combinations offer the best bang for the buck.
  • Gen-An - Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - link

    Ian, you state these sticks are using Hynix CFR, but CFR is a 2Gbit IC, it'd be impossible to make an 8GB DIMM with them. This has to be Hynix 4Gbit MFR.
  • ceomrman - Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - link

    Hmmm... couldn't this article just say "premium RAM is a hoax. Just buy some decent sticks from a known brand with plenty of 4 or 5 Egg reviews, and go with 1866 MHz if your motherboard will support it. Go ahead and buy faster RAM, but don't spend much since the performance impact is not noticeable in the real world."
    There are zero users who would not benefit more from some other use of the money, either in their savings account or in the form of a bigger SSD, nicer motherboard, more efficient PSU, faster CPU, etc.
    Dog + pony show = Blech.

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