I have 7600 GS; SLI it up or sell it and buy 8600GT

[Krippy]

I originally bought my computer with no plans of using it for gaming, but that has since changed. My question is, should I buy another 7600 GS (512) and SLI it with my current 7600, or should I sell it (current offer is $40) and use the money to buy an 8600 GT?

I'm looking to run Bioshock on max at 1024x768. Or, should I just wait until November (?) when the prices are supposed to drop, and get an 8800GTS?

Sorry for the multitude of questions, but any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[teh_boxzor]

check out the minimum requirements for bioshock thread i started every answer you'll ever need is in there.

 

[Krippy]

check out the minimum requirements for bioshock thread i started every answer you'll ever need is in there.

I read it, but it didn't really help me out. I'm looking for a rather specific answer to my question.

I already have Bioshock, and it runs silky smooth on low (30fps). Well, I suppose that's not silky smooth to you guys, but either way, it plays perfectly like that. I'm just sick of seeing the lack of detail in textures in whatnot, and as my budget is limited, I was wondering what the best option is.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Maziar]

8600GT wont be a big boost for you , go for a x1950 pro or XT , they are the same price of 8600GT but they destroy it lol

newegg has x1950xt for a good price :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241063

 

[spuddyt]

assuming your PSU and wallet can handle it an x1950 pro will demolish the aforementioned cards (an xt would murder the pro if you could afford that though)

 

[impreza]

get a x1950 pro/7900gs over the 8600 as they are faster and cheaper, or if you want dx10 get the 8800gts 320, sli on buget cards isn't worth it. 1 7900 outperforms 2 7600s. 1 8800 out performs 2 8600s

 

[Kkkk1]

I'd get the 8800gts, and you could always sli those later when you have more money, you may need a better psu at that point though.

 

[smokedyou911]

Assuming you only have the choice between another 7600gs or 8600gt. I would say another 7600gs. The 8600gt isnt much better then a 7600gs. Even though im not a fan of sli I would still say sli the 7600gs.

If you have the extra $ sell your 7600gs, You should be able to get more then $40 and buy a 7900gs.

 

[spuddyt]

yeah ppl suggesting 8800's... forget it, I expect that the 2 7600's would beat 1 8600 but you can check the charts

 

[Maziar]

well no one knows how 8700gts peforoms

 

[makingthemaker]

I've had a xfx 8600gt before and it sucks hardcore. Please dont get one, my roommate has a 7600gt and mine just barely beat his in some games, and he beat me in some.... Anyway, this is what i did. Get on ebay, and get a 7950gt. They are on newegg for like 180 (last time i checked) but I got mine for 140 shipped on ebay, and it absolutely crushes the 8600gt and the 7900gs (dunno about ati cards cuz i'm an nvidia fanboy ) but yea, that would be my recommendation. GL!

 

[rockyjohn]

Everything I have read says that SLI is generally not a good road to take.
If you can wait till November and get an 8800GTS that sounds like the best option to me.
If you want a reasonable alternative now - which might satisfy you past November, I suggest considering the 7900GS OC now on sale on frys.com for $100 AR. The 7900GS is one of the two cards (along with the x1950Pro) recommended for the under $140 price range for gaming cards in the article on THG. In the overall games benchmark on THG, the 7900GS is about twice as fast as the 7300GS.

http://shop1.outpost.com/template/onad/product_navigation/spot3

 

[brick88]

yeah whatever you do. do not sli 2 7600gs's. its not gonna do anything for image quality. sli just helps when you are running insane resolutions. (which you aren't)

 

[caamsa]

I originally bought my computer with no plans of using it for gaming, but that has since changed. My question is, should I buy another 7600 GS (512) and SLI it with my current 7600, or should I sell it (current offer is $40) and use the money to buy an 8600 GT?

I'm looking to run Bioshock on max at 1024x768. Or, should I just wait until November (?) when the prices are supposed to drop, and get an 8800GTS?

Sorry for the multitude of questions, but any help or advice would be appreciated.

You have a nice system don't put a lame card in such a good system. Either get a 8800GTS for about 300 bucks or wait for the next gen cards to come out.

 

[spuddyt]

you have liquid cooling, are you OC'ing?

 

[marvelous211]

well no one knows how 8700gts peforoms

No one knows but some of us have a rough idea. It will be very close to 8800gts in medium resolutions. While 8800gts will be faster in higher resolutions like 1920x1200 or higher.

 

[marvelous211]

a 8600gt overclocked would be twice as fast as 7600gs. I wouldn't sli with 2 low end cards.

Again 7900gs is a bad buy NOW if you look at modern game benchmarks. It has a hard time even matching a 8600gt which cost less BTW.

A 1950pro or 8600gts give you similar results.

 

[reconviperone1]

8700GTS coming out that 256bit. It will likely be much cheaper than the 8800 and it will outperform the x1950xt.

That would be nice, but they start those kind of rumors everytime a new line of cards comes out, 8600gt.gts wer supposed to be 256 bit, but to the op, i would get a 7900gs or 1950xt as previously stated.

 

[reconviperone1]

I originally bought my computer with no plans of using it for gaming, but that has since changed. My question is, should I buy another 7600 GS (512) and SLI it with my current 7600, or should I sell it (current offer is $40) and use the money to buy an 8600 GT?

I'm looking to run Bioshock on max at 1024x768. Or, should I just wait until November (?) when the prices are supposed to drop, and get an 8800GTS?

Sorry for the multitude of questions, but any help or advice would be appreciated.

Didnt see your system specs before, it would be a travesty to run that system with anytning less that a 7900gs/1950xt, get your forty bucks, then head over to newegg and get a new card. On anther note, im more of a casual gamer, but i'm kinda digging bioshock too, beautiful game.

 

[caamsa]

a 8600gt overclocked would be twice as fast as 7600gs. I wouldn't sli with 2 low end cards.

Again 7900gs is a bad buy NOW if you look at modern game benchmarks. It has a hard time even matching a 8600gt which cost less BTW.

A 1950pro or 8600gts give you similar results.

I think you meant to say 7600GS and not 7900GS because the 7900GS is faster than the 8600GT, heck the 7600GT is a close match for the 8600GT.

 

[Hatman]

SLI doesnt just helpa t insane resolutions, I think you out tyo stop spreading false information.

When I enable SLI on my resolution, which is 1280x720, very small, i get almost 80% boost, there goes your whole SLI thing.

Mate if you're looking for just a cheap upgrade for a bit better performance then yeh go with it, probably best to save your money and get a 8600gts though. Rather then a 8600gt.

 

[Mousemonkey]

yeah whatever you do. do not sli 2 7600gs's. its not gonna do anything for image quality. sli just helps when you are running insane resolutions. (which you aren't)

SLI doesnt just helpa t insane resolutions, I think you out tyo stop spreading false information.

I'm with Hatman on this, Sli makes a difference @1280x1024, which is what I game at.

 

[marvelous211]

I think you meant to say 7600GS and not 7900GS because the 7900GS is faster than the 8600GT, heck the 7600GT is a close match for the 8600GT.

Ha. NO. I meant 7900gs. I wouldn't even get a 8600gt because 8600gts is only $20 more with roughly the same speed as 7900gs for older games but faster in new ones.

7900gs is looking terrible for modern games. It is only tied with 8600gt or sometimes slower in games like oblivion and bioshock.

Bioshock BTW is based on UT3 engine which is going to be used a lot in the future which would make 7900gs not worth it IMHO.

 

[marvelous211]

Using SLI on 7600gs is a stupid idea either way because it's so slow to begin with. SLI doesn't work with all games BTW which means you would be playing with only a single 7600gs sometimes.

Sell the card and get 8600gts or 1950pro. You can't even find 1950xt anymore unless you pay a premium.

 

[spuddyt]

I'll vouch for the above suggestion though I would prefer the 1950 pro option since its cheaper