SLI or one fast card?

The age old question. I currently have a XFX 8800GTS 640mb and was thinking about either adding another 8800 while they are still around for 199.00. My other option would be to sell this one to my friend and take that money to buy either a new 8800GT or an 8800GTS 512mb. My question is will it have better performance with one G92 GTS 512mb or 2 older GTS 640mb in SLI? The only game I play on PC these days is Crysis. I would like to be able to play at a decent frame rate @ 1680x1050 with everything on high/very high.

I think Crysis can utilize SLI, so 2xGTS640 should be faster (I'd think at least). Anyway, someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, in crysis sli 640MB's will beat any single GPU card. But, you'll pay for it. $200 is alot for that card when the 8800GT is much cheaper. Maybe find a used one cheaper???

Yes I have heard that it basically runs like 96 when used in SLI with another 96. Even though they are not shut down from what I have read it essentially runs the same.

To Mihirkula, I don't think the performance of one 8800GT will be better than 2x 8800 GTS 640's. Yes, a single GT is better than a single GTS 640, but not better than two running SLI. Since the OP already has one card, the best investment for a performance increase would be to go SLI.

No a single 9800GTX or G92 8800GTS will not outright beat SLI 640MB 8800GTS. 9600GT SLI beats the 9800GTX in most games and yours would be better. http://www.firingsquad.com/hardwar [...] /page4.asp


But for $200, that is a premium for the second 640MB card when you can get a better G92 vesrion for that price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127325

Tough call. you are into 8800GTS 640MB SLI for $350 ($150 for yours, $200 for the new one). 8800GT SLI would be a bit better for about that price, but you have the quieter solution unless you go non reference 8800GT like the MSI quad pipe. And one 9800GTX is not worth as much as two of your cards IMO. So no one option jumps out to me as being much better than the other. SLI G92 GTS would be nice but that is almost $450...$100 more than your 640MB solution for not a ton more performance. I still like the option of a $120-$150 used 8800GTS 640MB as your second card.