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2x 8800GT AKIMBO in SLI or 9800GX2?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - 2x 8800GT AKIMBO in SLI or 9800GX2?

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This is probably stupid, and I'm probably splitting hairs, but I need some opinions on a graphic card setup.

1. 9800 GX2 (1 GB GDDR3, 600 Mhz (x2), ~124 GB/sec)
2. TWO (SLI) eVGA AKIMBO 8800 GT cards EACH HAVE: (1 GB GDDR3, 600Mhz, ~58GB/sec)

So, the AKIMBO setup has 2 GB GDDR3, but the GX has a higher bandwidth. My question is:

What setup is better? Is the 2 GB overkill?

I have a 22" monitor, and from my understanding, the ram is for higher resolution screens (mine maxes at 1600x1050). Is that an accurate statement? I may be getting a bigger screen in the next few months, so the higher res would be available.

A (short) list of my specs is below:

3.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
8 GB DDR2
500 GB HD
8800 GTX SC
ASUS SLI mobo
22" 5ms Dell

Thanks in advance!

Cameron

Message edited by camnipotent on 03-29-2008 at 06:19:58 AM

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Any reason you don't just get another 8800GTX? Dual-GTXs should outperform either of the two other choices. The 9800GX2 would potentially be better then the 8800GTs, because 8800GTs can't truly use 1GB of memory, and the 9800GX2 has more shader processes per core. From what I've seen, 8800GTX/Ultra SLI is still the fastest setup if you analyze the minimum FPS level you see for a game. This review might help you decide: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/arti [...] VzaWFzdA==
For the game on the page listed, Quad-SLI(2*9800GX2) and Quad-Crossfire(2*HD3870X2) still have lower minimum FPS then 8800GTX SLI, to the point where the GTX could be considered playable at all times but the Quad-SLI could not. Results are similar in most other games, with the HD3870s winning in COD4 slightly and in Crysis they all have about the same minimum FPS.

Reply to Gravemind123

I'm actually partaking in the eVGA step up program, so my GTX is out the door when the 9800 arrives. I won't have both.

I don't know why it's so hard for me to decide, it just seems that the 2GB would help out for future games, but I've also heard that the GDDR3 is mostly related to resolution, which, in my case, isn't more than 1600x1050.

Is the bandwidth the most important? Let's just say I keep my resolution at 1600x1050.

What's the better setup with just that?

Sorry for all the questions, I just need opinions that come from experienced people.

Thanks in advance.

Reply to camnipotent

The GX2 should theoretically outperform the GT's.

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

Gx2 outperforms the GTX in SLI most of the time. Unless the Reolution gets really out there. It would be cheaper to get 1 9800 GX2 then 2 GTXs. And remember the only reason t he GX2 is really low now because the drivers are still new and the Quad drivers are faulty. There will be updates and they will get better. I updated to the Beta drivers and got a pretty sizable performance difference.

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Reply to L1qu1d

Hopefully the drivers will advance fast for the 9800GX2 as the 7950GX2 was really held back by its drivers, it had faded from the scene(replaced by 8800s) by the time they got the full potential out of it in the drivers.

Reply to Gravemind123

well I think they are ready this time lol. now that they have the ATi competition.

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Reply to L1qu1d

I would side with the 9800 GX2. If nothing else, if you need more power down the road, get a second card and just make sure your PSU can handle it, and you'd have even more performance. Beside all of that, the 8800GT AKIMBO is a highly overclocked card, and two of them should in theory beat a 9800 GX2. However, the 9800 GX2 is still overclockable on it's own, and it leaves that added room for future expansion.

Reply to Darkness Flame

L1qu1d wrote :

well I think they are ready this time lol. now that they have the ATi competition.

They did before, a single X1950XTX beat the 7950GX2 at launch in some games, but now is weaker then it in basically every game.

Reply to Gravemind123

what I mean by competition is dual GPU video cards, not more powerful video cards. I kno there were alot better cards out then (driver wise) but there were no Dual GPU other than the 7950 GX2

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Reply to L1qu1d

Good deal. Thanks guys! I think I am going to go with the 9800 GX2.

I appreciate all the answers and your opinions!

Reply to camnipotent

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