3x Crossfire 5870s stability?

[E13thirty7]

How hot would 3 5870s in crossfire get? I mean with them being sandwhiched together on top of one another? Its not recommended but people with tri-fire set-ups say they run fine and people still do it. With a Rampage 3 Extreme MoBo, could i do tri-fire with my 5870s? Only has 4 PCI-E slots so i would have no choice but to stack them on top of one another, but will there be any airflow or breathing problems? Id love to space them apart but my board lacks slots :-( lol....

[potatochobit]

they blow out the back of the case you will be fine assuming your case has enough airflow

 

this is also slightly high on the retarded list, you might think of 460 triple SLI instead or 5890 in crossfire

[E13thirty7]

they blow out the back of the case you will be fine assuming your case has enough airflow

 

this is also slightly high on the retarded list, you might think of 460 triple SLI instead or 5890 in crossfire

 

have a corsair obsidian 800D case, i can fit a boewing 747 in there!lol. So yeah, there's airflow,lol.

[Hemidare]

they blow out the back of the case you will be fine assuming your case has enough airflow

 

this is also slightly high on the retarded list, you might think of 460 triple SLI instead or 5890 in crossfire

 

As far as i know you cant do triple sli with the 460's, in fact i am 99% sure you cant. I personally think go for it and see what happens....the worst thing would be you take one out and just sell it.

[Locutus]

As far as i know you cant do triple sli with the 460's, in fact i am 99% sure you cant. I personally think go for it and see what happens....the worst thing would be you take one out and just sell it.

There's one 460 on newegg that claims to be able to tri-sli, but it is a lie.

 

If you're going tri-sli and being cheap, you can always do 3-way 465's

[potatochobit]

yes you are correct

he would have to run 465s which are similarly priced now or 470s

[ccokeman]

460's can only run in a two card configuration. 3x 5870 should be no problem you just need to optimize your airflow and have a fan blowing into the cards for max airflow. I would use cards with the reference cooling design that pull air in from the rear of the card as well as the fan intake

[E13thirty7]

460's can only run in a two card configuration. 3x 5870 should be no problem you just need to optimize your airflow and have a fan blowing into the cards for max airflow. I would use cards with the reference cooling design that pull air in from the rear of the card as well as the fan intake

 

i have the 5870 reference design cards.....and, how would u suggest getting a fan to blow at the cards, where would i mount it?lol.

[ccokeman]

i have the 5870 reference design cards.....and, how would u suggest getting a fan to blow at the cards, where would i mount it?lol.

 

Easy a hole in the side panel of your case would be an option but punching a hole in a case like that might rattle some feathers. Clear out some of the HDD bay drive cages so the fan from the front of the case can have a straight shot at the cards or make a bracket and mount it inside the case with a 120mm fan blowing into the cards. It can be done its all a matter of how you want the finished product to look!

[Drdeath]

5870's run pretty cool but 3 would definitely run warmer no matter what case you have. They will be fine at stock speed.

[Nyt]

Just make sure you space them out on your mobo and have some side panel (fans on side), front airflow (HDD fan) and bottom airflow (fan on bottom) if your case allows it. Up the fan speed as well by a decent amount, you dont want those expensive cards to overheat.