BEST Single Soultion Card

First off, This is my Spec:

Vista Premium 32bit
XFX 680i mobo
Intel E6850 C2D @3.6ghz (Water-cool)
1000 watt PSU
350gb Raptor 10k Raid 0
150gb x2 Raptor 10k
4gb Ballstix Ram
X-Fi Champion Fatality
x2 512mb XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog Edition in SLI
Z-5500 5.1 Speaker
3ms 24" Gateway FHD2400 w/hdmi
6ms 24" Dell Ultrasharp 2408

OK, having SLI is really great. Though unfortunately I cannot use two screen with SLI enable.
My co-work has offer to buy the card from me at a greatful price.

So to get things started, MONEY IS NOT AN ISSUE.
I'm in need of help of suggestion and opinion on the "Best Single Solution Card."
Single Solution/ONE GPU. Not something like 9800gx2 which is an SLI card.

And I'm in need of one, from today till Early April.
I know the 9800 series is around the corner but isn't that big of a leap in technology.
Also the 8800 Ultra is phasing out as well.

I was originally planning to pick up an Ultra, or perhaps wait for the 9800gtx. (How faster is the gtx than the 8800 ultra?)

Any suggestion or comment?

Message edited by bsan89 on 02-29-2008 at 03:55:16 AM

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i'd get an evga g92 gts and step up later to a 9800gtx

Message quoted 2 times

Reply to elsc0rch0

^Agreed. Man it looks like you got money to burn. Can I have some?

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Reply to Shadow703793

I would check out the HD 3870x2 i believe ASUS has a verison with FOUR DVI ports all which can hook up to a different monitor and its a single card solution

and since money is not an issue

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx? [...] odelmenu=1

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Xazax310

elsc0rch0 wrote :

i'd get an evga g92 gts and step up later to a 9800gtx

Sounds like an Idea, How long is the step up program? 1 month?
I think I'm going to try the ultra and step up later.
The g92 gts doesn't seem that much of a step up from the 8800gt.

The asus look nice, haven't done that much research on the 3870x2.
Would it work my 680i xfx motherboard with two monitor?
On my SLI 8800gt I have to disable SLI to use my second monitor.
Hmm

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by bsan89 on 02-29-2008 at 07:46:57 AM

Reply to bsan89

If you disable SLI it works because each monitor is running of the GFX however in games only one 8800GT will be used.

the HD 3870x2 is a excellent card and like i pointed out unlike Nvidia with CF you can run as many montiors as you want and still use CF and for the HD 3870x2(in ASUS case) you can run up to FOUR from a single card!
Mobo compatibility wont be an issue any motherboard that supports PCI-E x16 1.0/1.0a/2.0 will work with the HD.

Just a question why dont you run both monitors off a single card(instead of having one monitor on each) does that work?

Here is a review of the ASUS

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardwar [...] efault.asp

"The EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP board is outfitted with 1200MHz memory, and thanks to its higher clock speeds, runs around 3-5% faster than the stock Radeon 3870 X2 reference board. ASUS then spices the package up even further by adding two additional DVIs as well as integrating a beefier cooling solution. In our opinion, this is the best Radeon HD 3870 X2 card that has been announced to date."

Message edited by Xazax310 on 02-29-2008 at 08:15:55 AM

Reply to Xazax310

Wow, that some serious card. Too bad not available yet.

As for the 8800gt via monitor.
I haven't tried that yet. I'll do it tomorrow.
I was told by a few forums member to disable sli to use dual monitor.

I was about to pick up a 8800gtx evga for 299$ and use step up later once the 9800gtx comes out. But let see if I can keep my two gt.

Reply to bsan89

wow, great specs man... wish to run more than 32 inches lcd on one of those

------------------------------ Intel Pentium 4 630 3.0Ghz Shuttle XPC SB81P(intel 915G)
Patriot Dual Channel 2GB DDR400: Raid0 640GB 2pc WD3200AAJS
Powercolor ATI Radeon HD3870 PCS 512MB DDR4

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Reply to goonting

lol@ System lord he didnt ask about his raptors

Message edited by Xazax310 on 02-29-2008 at 12:12:25 PM

Reply to Xazax310

If you already have the two cards and want to run SLI with dual monitors why don't you buy a 3rd PCI card and do it that way?

See this post: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=6269

This is really only a good solution if you do NOT plan on doing split-screen gaming but rather one monitor as gaming and a second for whatever...email, web browsing, IM, etc.

Anywas if this doesn't work for you I'd recommend the 3870X2...it is technically 1 card, with 2 GPUs on it. If this doesn't tickle your jimmy-johns, then I'd recommend an 8800 GTS G92 and then do a step up to some 9800 card once we see information about them.

Message edited by Waspy on 02-29-2008 at 03:27:48 PM

Reply to Waspy

Xazax310 wrote :

I would check out the HD 3870x2

The op clearly said he wasn't interested in a two GPU card.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to rodney_ws

rodney_ws wrote :

The op clearly said he wasn't interested in a two GPU card.

You are right, he did say that in his post...I also mentioned the 3870X2, because in his post title he says single CARD...and that is a single PCB, so just wanted to make sure he knows his options.

Reply to Waspy

bsan89 wrote :

Sounds like an Idea, How long is the step up program? 1 month?
I think I'm going to try the ultra and step up later.

The step-up program lasts for 90 days after you register the card. I would not buy the ultra because you will not be refunded the difference if you step up to a less expensive card. The Ultra costs around $600-700, and new high end cards are usually about $600-650 when they first come out. The 9800GTX is supposed to be only about $400, so you'd lose about $200-300 "stepping up" to it. Not to mention that the 9800GTX isn't even going to outperform the Ultra, if what I've been hearing/seeing is true. Oh, and I just checked Newegg and they don't even have any Ultras anymore lol. So I guess that rules that option out unless you still really want to get one and you can find it somewhere else.

Message edited by Avenger_K on 02-29-2008 at 04:42:53 PM

Reply to Avenger_K

Oh man, a 3rd card? Well it seem the 3870x2 isn't like the 9800gx2 in which I can use the two gpu in it.

Though I might pick up an ultra, because I can get 100$ off from EVGA.
Plus the step up may be nice, though I may lose some $ but hopefully maybe the 9000 series so some promise. Though on many read up, not likely.

Reply to bsan89

elsc0rch0 wrote :

i'd get an evga g92 gts and step up later to a 9800gtx

That gets my vote

Reply to SpinachEater

Ultras have been officially discontinued by nVidia as well, if that would impact your decision at all.

Reply to Waspy

I bought an 8800GTX and overclock it past 8800Ultra spec's, all the Ultra is is an overclocked 8800GTX. Plus the Ultra runs alot hotter than most cards. If you buy the 8800GTX now you still have 3 months for the step-up program. Don't know why you aren't intrested in the 9800GX2 or 3870x2, they will have more power than any single card solution.

Message edited by systemlord on 03-01-2008 at 02:51:39 AM

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
Reply to systemlord

I post a few times on the 9800gx2.
Mainly because it can use my duel screen setup. I'll have to disable its sli feature since its an sli card. So the 9800gx2 is useless.

Also 680i motherboard can't use 2 9800gx2 because that'll be quad sli.

I can look back and quote a few people if you can prove them wrong.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to bsan89

Well if his SLI setup cannot run Dual monitors and he wants a single card(which Dual GPUS are) not running SLI, i pointed the fact that what would be good for him is the HD 3870x2 because of ATI's Hyrda Vision which allows mutliply monitors and in the case of ASUS HD 3870x2 its, a Single Slot Solution, 4 DVI ports to run up too 4 Monitors and will beat a single 8800GT anyday.

Reply to Xazax310

bsan89 wrote :

I post a few times on the 9800gx2.
Mainly because it can use my duel screen setup. I'll have to disable its sli feature since its an sli card. So the 9800gx2 is useless.

Also 680i motherboard can't use 2 9800gx2 because that'll be quad sli.

I can look back and quote a few people if you can prove them wrong.

What makes you think that you can't run two 9800GX2's in SLI? I have a friend that has been running two 7950GX2's in SLI since they came out.

By systemlord at 2008-01-04

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by systemlord on 03-01-2008 at 08:46:04 AM

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
Reply to systemlord

systemlord wrote :

What makes you say that you can't run two 9800GX2's in SLI?

I did, :lol: because there's no CPU on that rig. Talk about a bottleneck if there ever was one :kaola:

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to dev1se

dev1se wrote :

I did, :lol: because there's no CPU on that rig. Talk about a bottleneck if there ever was one :kaola:

Now we know why Nvidia has had problems getting two 9800GX2's to scaling well in SLI.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
Reply to systemlord

Well there's a debate on what the 9800gx2 actually is.
Its possible I may run into a misconception. I really do want a next generation 8800 ultra series card. In this case it'll be the 9800gx2.

I believe it was hatman post I read that.
9800gx2 = 8800gts g92 sli.
So 9800gx2 = sli
So 9800gx2 in sli = quad sli.
Is there any motherboard that support quad sli?
Can a old motherboard with 1 pci-express use a 9800gx2 if its SLI Card?

Can I use a 9800gx2 with my dual screen setup?

Now I hope I'm wrong. These are the question that really stopping me from being interested in the card at all.
With my 8800gt sli set up. I've disable sli to use my second monitor for obvious reason.

Plus I don't think my 1000 watt power supply can take 2 9800gx2.

Message edited by bsan89 on 03-01-2008 at 09:59:59 AM

Reply to bsan89

systemlord wrote :

Now we know why Nvidia has had problems getting two 9800GX2's to scaling well in SLI.

And I thought you had no sense of humour.... top notch that was :lol: :lol:

Reply to dev1se

the GX2 wont need anything more than a good dual / quad core cpu with a quality power supply and PCI-E motherboard, although best results will no doubt be found on a PCI-E 2.0 mobo.

And it'll only really shine at resolutions of 1680 x 1050 and higher.

Reply to dev1se

Think of the 9800GX2 as SLI by itself not needing an Nvidia mobo, because running one 9800GX2 on any mobo only requires it in the drivers. Remember that conventional SLI is two different graphics cards using two different PCI-express slots. On just one 9800GX2 the SLI part is handled in the drivers and with two 9800GX2's side by side its handled in the Nvidia mobo and the drivers. I have a friend with two 7950GX2 (thats four GPU's) in conventional SLI using two 16x PCI-express slots for two years now. You can call it quad SLI, but the chipset still see's it as two graphics cards and not four.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by systemlord on 03-01-2008 at 02:35:19 PM

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
Reply to systemlord

The best solution card for a single would be a Valentines one most likely.

Reply to dev1se

systemlord wrote :

Think of the 9800GX2 as SLI by itself not needing an Nvidia mobo, because running one 9800GX2 on any mobo only requires it in the drivers. Remember that conventional SLI is two different graphics cards using two different PCI-express slots. On just one 9800GX2 the SLI part is handled in the drivers and with two 9800GX2's side by side its handled in the Nvidia mobo and the drivers. I have a friend with two 7950GX2 (thats four GPU's) in conventional SLI using two 16x PCI-express slots for two years now. You can call it quad SLI, but the chipset still see's it as two graphics cards and not four.

How well does that Quad-SLI scale?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to dev1se

Don't really get this question. Cant you just run both cards non-sli and use one for each monitor and then SLI when you need good game power on one screen???

I really don't see the problem.

------------------------------ Na na na na na na na na HATMAN!
Reply to Hatman

ooohhh ic now.
Thanks so much for that info.
Now that make so much more sense.

I'm always constantly using the second monitor for friend & family, talking to them. Also skype for distance family member. Its a personal reason that I insist having an active monitor.

Message edited by bsan89 on 03-01-2008 at 08:22:53 PM

Reply to bsan89

dev1se wrote :

How well does that Quad-SLI scale?

I know Nvidia is hard at work on the quad SLI drivers, Nvidia gave up on quad SLI back when the 7950GX2 was released. As far as how quad SLI scales I don't know exactly, but I have heard that Nvidia is having trouble with the quad SLI drivers. I have heard that the CEO of Nvidia doesn't like multi GPU single graphics cards. Lets hope Nvidia and ATI gets it right this time because I have also heard that ATI is hard at work also for their Crossfire X. I would love for the future to have multi GPU graphics cards.

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
Reply to systemlord

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