XFX HD5770 1GB Single Slot in CrossfireX Review

For testing today we are building our system around an Core i7 875K Engineering Sample CPU kindly supplied by Intel.

We generally aim for slightly lower resolutions when testing budget and mid range cards, but today we are aiming for higher resolutions as two HD5770's in Crossfire X can be a formidable gaming solution.

Test System:

XFX HD5770 Single slot 1GB GFX in CrossfireX

Intel Core i7 875K @ 3.2ghz
Corsair 4GB DDR3 @ 1600mhz
MSI P55-GD65
Coolit ECO A.L.C.
Silverstone Raven 2 Chassis

Windows 7 Ultimate  64 bit
Catalyst 10.7
Fraps Professional
Corsair TX650W PSU
LaCie 730
Intel 160GB SSD & 1TB Western Digital Drive

Keithley Integra Model 2700
MultiMeter Thermal Probe
Digital Sound Level Noise Decibel Meter Style 2
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp

Colin McRae Dirt 2
Alien V Predator
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Just Cause 2
Crysis Warhead
Far Cry 2
Metro 2033

All the latest bios updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru test all games across five closely matched runs and average out the results to get an accurate median figure.

Our minimum frame rate game graphs have three main zones. These are sampled over a specific 30 interval period of time and then mapped into a chart. These are handy reference guides to detail worst case performance of the product being reviewed. When we test video cards we try to find the best combination of resolution and image quality settings while still maintaining playable frame rates.

Over 30fps is the zone most people want at all times, this means perfectly smooth frame rates with no hitching.

Between 30fps and 25fps is the KitGuru ‘Playable’ zone, although some people might notice occasional stuttering in specific scenes.

Under 25fps is classed as the KitGuru ‘Danger Zone’ which means that the game experience will be less than impressive. Settings and/or resolution would need lowered to help smooth out the frame rate.