well. I cant argue that an i7 outperforms most games when it comes to FPS and when USING NVIDIA cards. did anyone ever notice that ALL the tests that show sandybridge running more frames than AMD all use nvidia GPUS????
Truth is. a) i dont care about hitting 150 fps. I want 60 fps on vsync so that my video is smooth ... like watching HD tv. 2) why dont they do some tests with a AMD system and AMD cards running the same benchmarks??
In answer to your question number 2, I've noticed time after time on sites like Tom's Hardware that they SPECIFICALLY, and EXPRESSLY DON'T use ATI/AMD combinations SPECIFICALLY and EXPRESSLY because that is what AMD recommends. So they intentionally don't do what AMD recommends, under the guise of being "objective" and not biased by doing what AMD recommends and claiming that doing what AMD recommends skews there review as being, supposedly, an AMD spokesperson instead of being "independent", and on and on.... That is why.
But they NEVER state what Intel or Nvidia recommends in their review and NEVER specifically state that they are not going to do what Intel or Nvidia recommends. It's ridiculous and you are a victim of that bias having wasted all that money on an i7 system.
But I'm glad you posted this because I came across your account of this experience trying to decide if I should go Crossfire, or one powerful GPU card and was afraid if I went Crossfire, I would not enjoy the results. Now I know, thanks to your post.