one grahhic card or two ..

[mad_muppet]

I have about US$300 to buy a graphic card .. Im not current with the latest cards so would I be better getting say a 9800GT 1GB or two 8800GT's at 512?

any other ideas on the best combo for this price?

I have a MSN-SLI motherboard waiting so it looks like Nvidia cards ..

thanks in advance

 

[Springy182]

I have about US$300 to buy a graphic card .. Im not current with the latest cards so would I be better getting say a 9800GT 1GB or two 8800GT's at 512?

any other ideas on the best combo for this price?

I have a MSN-SLI motherboard waiting so it looks like Nvidia cards ..

thanks in advance

I personally would go for a single 9800GT, SLI is all well and good, but you pay 200% price for around 130% performance on average, most games can't take advantage of SLI or the ATi version, CrossFireX.

And furthermore, a 8800GT or 9800GT can draw up to 225W of power per card, so going SLI usually requires a beefy power supply (800W to be on the safe side) which drives costs up even further

You say you have 300$ to spend, a GTX 260 or an ATi 4870 would be better then a 9800GT or 8800GT by far in a single card configuration, whilst being under 300$

 

[StrangleHold]

Hi,


And furthermore, a 8800GT or 9800GT can draw up to 225W of power per card, so going SLI usually requires a beefy power supply (800W to be on the safe side) which drives costs up even further

You dont need no 800W P/S to run a 8800/9800GT in SLI to be on the safe side. WAY over estimated.

 

[just a noob]

get a single 4870, way better performance

 

[ameyo]

one graphic card is better i would chose the gt 9800

 

[63083]

I like all of the performance I can so I would actually get a pair of SLI cards or a card the the 4870x2.

 

[spamdos]

its better to spend up one one now, and when you have the money, get another one and run it in sli

 

[Springy182]

You dont need no 800W P/S to run a 8800/9800GT in SLI to be on the safe side. WAY over estimated.

Assuming he has a quad core that draws 95W TDP, 3-4 HDDs, pair of optical drives, etc.. could easily see 650-700W, and you never want to hit peak utilization of the PSU, so again, to be on the -safe- side, 800W..

 

[mad_muppet]

thanks for all the feedback so far .. I appreciate it ..

 

[Dystopia]

i think if you are goin for the 8800/9800, get the 9800. But like others have said, better yet, the 4870

 

[StrangleHold]

Assuming he has a quad core that draws 95W TDP, 3-4 HDDs, pair of optical drives, etc.. could easily see 650-700W, and you never want to hit peak utilization of the PSU, so again, to be on the -safe- side, 800W..

Dont be assuming anything, ask. Lets forget the fact that have built about 20 SLI or C/F systems and have had 4 myself. Not getting my info. from over zealous internet sites. Lets forget the facts that all manufacuters Min. requirements for 8800/9800GT in SLI are 450W with 28/29 amps for the average system.

A good quality 550 to 650W with atleast 35/40 amps. will run a 8800/9800 SLI systen just fine. Even with a couple of Roms and harddrives. Saying you need a 800W P/S it be on the safe side, should be get a 800 just for overkill. I am all for larger P/Ss, hell I have a PC P&C 750W with 60amps running a single 8800GT. But there is a difference in what you need to be on the safe side and overkill.

 

[teamhex]

I have about US$300 to buy a graphic card .. Im not current with the latest cards so would I be better getting say a 9800GT 1GB or two 8800GT's at 512?

any other ideas on the best combo for this price?

I have a MSN-SLI motherboard waiting so it looks like Nvidia cards ..

thanks in advance

A single 4870 hands down, iv got one. $260 on the egg, You'd have to pay alot more to beat it.

 

[bullzi]

4870, no doubt.

 

[63083]

What's so good about the 4870?

 

[bullzi]

What's so good about the 4870?

It'll beat just about everything but a GTX280. There are a few games that prefer Nvidia, but more so the 4870 will run better and for the price, you simply can't beat it.