Upgrade advice needed.

[Moinaldo]

Hello:

Budget: $500USD

Main uses of intended build: Eyefinity gaming

Parts required: Look below please

Previous build information (list details of parts): i5-2500k @ 4.6Ghz (h100i) , 16GB RAM @ 1600Mhz, Matrix R9-280x @ stock, PSU Corsair HX850, Motherboard Maximus-V gene.

Monitor resolution: 5760*1080

Storage requirements: none

Will you be overclocking: yes

Extra information about desired system:


So, the thing is that I've been using eyefinity for some time and I was happy with the performance I was getting in many games, but I'm having terrible dips below 30fps while inside vehicles in BF4 which is expected with a single card at 5760*1080.

My problem is that where I live is pretty hot, being the average temperature during the day near the 30ºC (86ºF) and that is the reason I can't overclock the video card.

I have three options now:
1 - go full water with a custom loop cpu+gpu and hopefully get 5ghz on cpu and 1.3ghz on gpu
2 - buy another 280x to crossfire and bear the inferno temps I will be getting
3 - sell the 280x and go for a single r9-290 on air.

I have a budget near the $500 USD so I can only go with a one of the three options. What would be better for triple monitor gaming?

Thanks in advance.

[PowerOver9K]

I would want another 280 card and would just bear the heat. You can get non-reference coolers you know... You can do a GPU+CPU for 500 barely but it's not going to be *desired* components. It's not worth selling the 280 for a 290. Just for reference I run 4x290x on water but I was playing at high res on two at one point then I went to 4 at slightly higher res than you're running... I can't imagine running high res without at least crossfire...

[Moinaldo]

Thanks man. I was planing to get one AX360 radiator, a D5 pump and the blocks, although the heat would be at the limit of what a single 360 rad can disipate. I guess it'll be another 280x and maybe underclock them to 1ghz to get slightly lower temps. Thanks again.

[PowerOver9K]

Moinaldo wrote:
Thanks man. I was planing to get one AX360 radiator, a D5 pump and the blocks, although the heat would be at the limit of what a single 360 rad can disipate. I guess it'll be another 280x and maybe underclock them to 1ghz to get slightly lower temps. Thanks again.

You are right at the limit of a 360, yes so bad idea.