SLI - is it for me?

Unless you want to shell out big money for two GTXs in SLi, I'd say skip the SLi board and get a single GTS or GTX. The GTS should be able to handle just about anything right now. Maybe not Oblivion on the highest AA settings but for all intents and purposes it'd be a great gamer.

rule the 320 out entirely.. SLI or otherwise. At such a high res, your biggest problem is going to be onboard video memory.

Also, remember that SLI does *NOT* double your video memory, only the processing power. With this in mind, I would suggest the GTX, as I believe the highest video memory aperature would be your highest priority. Processing should be more than adequate with only one GTX (as opposed to superior processing power of 2 GTSs), but the memory will allow you to push the boundaries further, which at your resolution, you'd be doing.

Ideally for you, SLI GTXs would be the option, but that's quite an expensive option to consider.


EDIT: further, I suggest you read this review:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/0 [...] index.html

Notice how the GTS 320 (especially overclocked) stays right in line with the the 640 GTS and GTX and lower resolutions, but at 2048x1536 and up it DRAMATICALLY decreases. This goes right in line with what I'm saying. The processing power is right up there with the higher end cards, but the memory aperature is it's chokepoint when it comes to resolutions, which is what you are worried about.

In truth, you'd be getting the GTX more for the memory than for the processing power of the card.

Remember that 8950 will be released arround may. That is dual 8800GTS on a single card for 650 dollars.

I will use that for my 2580x1600 display replacing a SLI 7900GTX setup.

I don't think you really need the GTX, the GTS should play pretty much everything on max quality settings (but not full AA/AF). But if you can afford the GTX, it'd definitely give better performance. I wouldn't worry about overflowing 640mb of graphics memory, by the time you get there the processing power would almost certainly be handicapping it at that point too.

As for the SLi board for an upgrade later, it's a possibility but don't bet on the GTX dropping in price. The 7800GTX never did when the 7900 series came out, it just became outdated and expensive.

That sucks... But good to know, thanks! I guess it all depends on ATI's R600 now. If it turns out to be horrible then yeah, there's no need for nVidia to drop its prices.

just thought i'd add my tuppence worth as reference.

i have a crossfired system and a 24" dell. whilst alot of games are fine with it, some like oblivion with max settings can still result in pretty low(around 30's).

also some games like stalker at the moment do not support crossfire(not sure about sli) so buying a dual GPU setup doesn't always work.

IMO one gtx would be better than dual gts's.

JMO of course and i personally would wait for ATI to release their offerings.

which games exactly do you play?

ya that sounds like a good plan. Atleast in the future i have some room for growth. But, like my current system. By the time my video card is getting dated, so it my CPU and Ram, which equals a new motherboard in most cases.

your assuming that it will comes out before the three months are up.

i do agree with the 1 GTX though. at that res you need all the power you can get.

where are you reading that the 89 series are going to be coming out any time soon?

no seriously now.

yes next range i.e 8600 and the like. you know the mid range, the cards where the money is

jesus your even more stupid than i thought.

yes, but logic and history, which seeing as how long you have been part of these forums you should know a bit about, dictate that there is always a mid range launched before a next gen or refresh.

nvidia need to lauch a successful mid range to recoup their costs rather than launch a new high reange which will not get them as much money.

seriously. the author's meaning is clear to anyone who follows the news.

If you're not in a hurry I would wait till the R600 is out and see how Nvidia counters their prices. But if you're in a hurry, then get a single 8800 GTX. One excellent card is better than two good cards in SLI. Plus when the 8800 GTX goes down in price, you can always buy another one for SLI

8800GTX or wait until R600 or 8900GTX