graphics card choices

[Bolas]

Ok... still trying to finish ordering parts to put together my new computer... down to just motherboard, memory, and graphics cards left to get.

I'm thinking that nvidia fermi looks too loud, hot, and power hungry for my tastes and that I'm going to go with radeon. My wife would shoot me if my computer made that much noise, so I'll at least get a current generation Radeon card now and then re-evaluate when the next generation of graphics cards comes out.

So... which setup would work best for triple 30" 2560 x 1600 displays? Graphics card budget is $1200 to $1600. I'm using NEC displays, so they do not have a display port input, only DVI-D.

I should say that I don't play a ton of bleeding edge 3D games. Everquest or Team Fortress II are typical of what I do. So a single 5870 might work. I would like to try out Batman and Bioshock though.

Single 5870. Approximately $420. Maybe all I need?!? Wait for next gen cards in the fall to go crazy on gpu's.

Single 5970. Approximately $700. Tough to find one for sale.

Single 5970 4GB. Approximately $1000. Not out yet.

Triple 5870's. Approximately $1260. Does this setup work good? Concerned about frame buffer size of 1GB per card.

Dual 5970's. Approximately $1400. Might be a good option.

Triple Fermi 480GTX's. Approximately $1500. Gets me PhysX.

Quad 5870's. Approximately $1700. Is this even possible?

Dual 5970 4GB. Approximately $2000. Over budget.

I considered going with 2GB 5870's, but I would then have to get three $120 dongles due to no display ports on the monitors. YICK. So that's likely not an option unless the adapters start selling for $25 instead of $125.

I'm considering getting an EVGA Classified motherboard. I'm worried that Crossfire X isn't supported on that motherboard, should that be a concern?

Thanks,
Bolas

[zanzabar]

the 5870 eyefinity 6 has 2 or 3 active DP ports so u need the $20 adapters for 2 or 3 then the $100 adapter for 1.

affter looking at todays reviews i would get 2x 5850 with voltage control (so reference or msi), or the 5870 eyefinity6 if u plan to keep it longer than 3 years or so

the all boards with 2x pci-e 4x or better have xfire support unless they actively block it in the bios like with nforce chipsets, the classified works fine u just need to find a bridge as it dosnt come with one, i think that the e760 looks nice but the new rampage would be my pick from how it looks with no nf200, and intel nic, a digital pwm and proper slot spacing. (not that the e760 isnt lacking but the asus looks nice)

[Bolas]

the 5870 eyefinity 6 has 2 or 3 active DP ports so u need the $20 adapters for 2 or 3 then the $100 adapter for 1.

affter looking at todays reviews i would get 2x 5850 with voltage control (so reference or msi), or the 5870 eyefinity6 if u plan to keep it longer than 3 years or so

the all boards with 2x pci-e 4x or better have xfire support unless they actively block it in the bios like with nforce chipsets, the classified works fine u just need to find a bridge as it dosnt come with one, i think that the e760 looks nice but the new rampage would be my pick from how it looks with no nf200, and intel nic, a digital pwm and proper slot spacing. (not that the e760 isnt lacking but the asus looks nice)

Oh really? That changes things... the 5870 2GB cards are a definite possibility, then. I already have to get one $120 adapter, a couple passive cords for two of the others at $20 each wouldn't be a problem.

Also, I didn't realize the R3E has the intel NIC, that's a nice advantage. Wonder when it'll come out? I have three monitors just waiting to be powered up, I'm getting pretty anxious to stop waiting and start playing. Tell Asus to get a move on and release my board already!!

[Bolas]

Wow this is amazing, not one person voted for one or more 5870's. I guess 5970's are the way to go. Now if I could just find one for sale... maybe start with one and add a second one later if I need it.