M17x R2 GPU options breakdown

So Ive read many threads on many different GPU's guys got working in the older R2. Right now I'm still using a single 5870m OC'd a hair to get a halfway playable game in Dying Light. Managed to get 35-45 fps out of this card running medium settings and smaller res. but now I'm itching to get some more life outta this machine. Just broke down and bought the 940xm CPU, and have 8gb ram, 120SSD/750HDD, and the RGB screen. Bought a second 5870m in hopes that would be the cheapest route to add a hair more performance but it was damaged in shipping. So I do now have the slave heatsink, fan, and CF cable. What I'd love to see after the MANY THREADS of different working GPU's, in the R2, just a list of the cards to consider, which brands of cards that do/don't do fan control, ext sound, etc, and plug and play/ need mod inf files. Really don't wanna spend too much and it doesn't have to be CF either. I'd be happy with a single card as long as performance increase was noticeable and improved gameplay. Also would be nice to know which ones could be CF/ SLI if I wanted down the road. Ones I've ben looking at were 6970,6990,7970, and 580, 680, 780. If there's any other in between these models, let me know. But this search has really got me torn on what to do. Then I keep reading about brands that fan control works, then some that don't, and some that u can close the lid, others you can. I'd just love to find a thread that covers the basics of each card by brand as to which does/ doesn't do what. Anyone who could help would be a lifesaver!

 

I'd love to try a nvidia card tho since the game was native to them and their added features. But seems they are a lot more $ than AMD cards

 

6990М is an unreliable GPU. It will 100% die in 2 years. 7970M is a bit better in this but I still prefer NVidia gpu. It won't die without a cause and NV has much better drivers. If you don't want to bottleneneck 780M you need to overclock your CPU. Also try to find 680M in good price, you will need to do CPU overclocking too.

I had two 6990M and both died in 2 years. I won't ever buy AMD gpu if you ask me. Too much time looking for drivers, looking for fix for games because AMD messed something up, too much time dealing with crossfire broken profiles.

 

Running the 940xm OC'd to the 5% max allowed in the modded A10 Bios. Can't get any better CPU in this R2

 

Happy to see you input tho! Nowhere in these threads for GPU upgrades have I seen anyone talk about GPU life. My 5870 has lasted me a few years tho and is still the original from 2010. I'm not a hardcore, all day long, gamer tho. Maybe an hr or so a day, a few days a week. So the R2 isn't really punished. Plus I use a coolermaster fan stand on it when used. So it's always ran pretty cold

 

Hey,

Hmmm I don't own M17xR2 but what about Throttlestop?

Regards

EDIT::

@Up
You have to know that 6990M will fail without any cause. I had both pretty good cooled and they died just because they wanted to die.

 

I'll record some temps on the cpu and see how it's running. Still breaking in the AS5 since I only have a few hours on it since the upgrade. But I'm just so torn now. Was trying to stay in the $200 or less for a new card, but seems the nvidia's are well over that. And jus worried if I do another 5870 in CF, I'll be disappointed in performance increase vs 1 better single card.

 

Hey,

If you want to know about 5870 CF performance then look here - http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5870-Crossfire.29486.0.html
If you can get second 5870 in very good price then do it. Your CPU won't bottleneck them.

You also have to know that AMD forced users to install new drivers to get new Crossfire profiles. So if you have old gpu like 5870M that is not "supported" in new drivers you won't get any new crossfire profiles and you have to use AFR all the time. Even my 6990M won't be supported but NVidia some months ago supported even old GTX 8800M series (!). You can also get new SLI drivers without reinstalling whole driver, just use GFE. It's your choice dude but if you can get second 5870 in really good price then buy it. You won't have to deal with CPU OC but don't be surprised if you will get about 70% performance increase with crossfire instead of 90% because you won't get new profiles.

 

Funny u say that, since the other day I looked on AMD's site and their newest driver which was from this feb, still supports the 5870m.

 

I just wish I knew someone who played this game on a 5870 as well as CF, to see what kind of difference I could expect.

 

It's last driver for 5870M and 6990M. AMD catalyst 15 will probably support GCN only.

I had two 6990M but didn't played that game on it. Crossfire scaling is a bit worse than SLI but usually it gives about 70-90% boost with profiles.

Also note that Dying Light engine is total crap. It uses CPU first core so heavily that even in desktop CPUs it sometimes overheats cpu. GPU requirements are far too high too if you look at the graphics. Look at the MGS5 PC version engine. It works good even on old hardware.

 

Yeah the requirements for DL are rediculus! I got it to work pretty good, but sucks only running med settings and on a smaller res. I jus would like to boost it enough to run full screen 1980x1200 and try setting at high without 20 or less fps and stuttering like crazy