Edit SOLVED:
I settled on an ASUS 1060 OC card. It was the best economically, as I have other things I want to buy as well It's also what fits in my PC, without the need for an 8-pin converter thingamabob, and no need to fear being bottlenecked by the rest of my PC. I'm happy and hype!
So, two weeks ago or so, one of my crossfire 7950's died on me and I'm now on a single 7950. It doesn't cut it at all. Especially not when I'm looking into getting some of the new FPS games, like Battlefield 1, where my card is barely over the minimum requirement.
I've been spending several days looking at comparisons of new cards and so on and I still can't make heads or tails of certain things.
Firstly, how does SLI and Crossfire work? I've read strange reports that you no longer use a bridge for it and that some cards, such as the 1060 3GB doesn't even support SLI. Is that true? I feel like I'd want to buy a mid-range card now and if I want more juice, buy a second one later on. Is that a possibility still?
Secondly, would any card such as the 1060 3GB, 6GB variant or the RX 480 equivalents be an upgrade to what I used to have with my 2 crossfire cards? I know they're all better than a single 7950. But I'm wondering how much I'm gonna have to spend to get a new experience, not just something better than my single 7950.
Thirdly, space is a premium in my PC. My single 7950 card fits, with no room to spare. But when I had both cards in there, the second card left NO room on the side towards my harddrives. I worry about the length and thickness of the new cards. Are new cards smaller or does that depend on how expensive a card I buy? I can't seem to find the dimensions on some models.
My PC is an i7-2700 at 3.5Ghz, 16 gigs of RAM and a motherboard I don't recall the model of, with an 850W powersupply.
I'm looking for something fitting for 1080p gaming, as that's the kind of monitor I'm stuck with.
Which brings me to my fourth question: With all this in mind, what would you recommend for me? Would a single 1060 3/6gb do? Should I go for a 1070 instead? Would a high end card be overkill? How do the current cards look as an investment for the future? Because when I get a new card, or two, I will not buy new ones for a few years.
My budget is preferably in the 250-300 dollar range, but up to 400 can be part of the consideration.
Thanks in advance for any answers!