GeForce GTX 280 SLI vs. Radeon HD 4870X2 Crossfire

[Guest]

Atm i'm building a new gaming computer and i've been doing a lot of reading about what type for graphics cards to choose..
uhmm.. I've found it pretty hard to actully find some pure simple facts about the what would be the better choise for a high-end gaming computer..

atm.. i'm looking at

GeForce GTX 280 SLI:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130368

and

Radeon HD 4870X2 Crossfire:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121269

-------------------

What generely works best for a high-end gaming computer?
With what other parts does X work best?
When and for what does X work best?
etc.

Thanks beforehand..

//Aware

 

[Heyyou27]

Well, you could Tri-SLI the Geforce GTX 280 and I imagine it would be faster than the 4870X2 crossfire, but I haven't seen any side by side benchmarks to know for sure.

 

[Guest]

I'm not gonna go Tri for sure.. that's a bit to far for me i think..

 

[Kari]

hope you'll get nice 30'' monitor as well, anything smaller and you'll be wasting so much potential... and your money

 

[dagger]

Here are some benchmarks.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4870-x2-review-crossfire/17
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4870-x2-review-crossfire/16

Unforunately, they only included x2 cf and gtx280 sli side by side in only a few of the tests.

 

[aevm]

I'd get one HD 4870X2 for now. Combine it with a 1000HX PSU or bigger and an X48 motherboard (P5E, Rampage Formula, GA-X48-DS4, etc.). Later add a HD 4870 or a HD 4870X2 or a HD 4850X2, whatever. Either way, I'd stay away from SLI motherboards these days, until nVidia is done with the product recalls and fixes whatever supplier issues they've got.

 

[Nik_I]

one 4870x2 should give you enough performance. then, if you feel that it just isn't enough, to out and buy a second one.

 

[dagger]

Here's a better review:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3372&p=11

From the looks of those benchmarks, 4870x2 cf either gives no or very little improvement. Sometimes it performs below a single 4870x2. Better stay away from it and get a second one only after they come up with better drivers.

 

[rangers]

one 4870x2 sometimes gets the best of the 280sli

 

[L1qu1d]

280 GTX tri sli > 4870 X2 CrossX > 9800 GX2 Quad > 280 GTX sli > 4870 CrossX/ 4870 X2

From some of the reviews I've seen.

But like Dagger said the 4 series the drivers will only get better Especially with the introduction of DX 10.1

 

[dagger]

280 GTX tri sli > 4870 X2 CrossX > 9800 GX2 Quad > 280 GTX sli > 4870 CrossX/ 4870 X2

From some of the reviews I've seen.

But like Dagger said the 4 series the drivers will only get better Especially with the introduction of DX 10.1

"9800gx2 quad > gtx280 sli" isn't quite right. Gtx280 sli can outperform 9800gx2 quad in many cases because of quad sli's bad scaling.

 

[L1qu1d]

Thats actually not true anymore, in most cases the 280 GTX in sli outperforms the quad only in resolutions above 1920x1200.

Call of duty 4 it loses and it beats 280 GTX in tri sli
Fear it loses
world in conflict it loses
Crysis is wins
Half life 2 loses


All from Guru3D direct comparison Charts.

Yes there are som games that don't scale, but I can tell you first hand that it scales enough as it is.

Some games such as Doom 3, Oblivion, UT 3 it doesn't do as well of a good job as I would think, it really scales enough as it is

 

[L1qu1d]

Just so you don't think i'm trying to hide anything like you did the last time, The Source is Guru3D

I'm sure you'll have other benchies ready for me I would like to see some, if I'm wrong I can just go exchange for 280 GTXs

 

[Hatman]

pfft. Tri-sli = waste of money!! Not enough gains if any and no bugs to make it anywhere near wortht eh mney. WC your 280's and clock em up a bit probably get more positive results overall!!!


I'd rather go with 2x GTX280 > 2x 4870X2 tbh.


But I don't see why you would need more than a single 4870X2 these days unless you're at 2560x1600.

I wouldn't even consider 2x 9800Gx2. Its a good card for a 1slot mobo and cost effective but quad sli really is a no go when other cards can do it so much more effectivly.


GTX280 SLI > 4870X2 Xfire > 4870X2 > 9800GX2 > GTX280

Yep, im quite happy with that

 

[L1qu1d]

Well I'm glad your happy with something that doesn't fit in with any benchmarks...GX2 aside for a moment.

The 280 GTX is better than the 4870 X2 ( In most cases) but it does not best the 4870 X2 in CrossX Mayb in Crysis only, but thats not much of a trophy.

As for the GX2, every1 is afraid of Quad, but I showed you benchies and personal opinion. You can think of it which ever way you want

Good Day to you

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Great, now someones going to go around telling everyone to get 2x9800GTX quad ohhh nooeeessss

 

[dagger]

Great, now someones going to go around telling everyone to get 2x9800GTX quad ohhh nooeeessss

How would you fit 4 9800gtx onto one motherboard?

 

[Hatman]

Microstuttering, general driver errors in a LOT of games not shown in just a few benches. It just isn't as stable or reliable as 2 card setup. No 4card setup ever will be.

And the GTX280, reallyy, isn't as good as the 4870X2. Maybe you're thinking of the single 4870?


When you say "any" benchmarks, that's jsut your guru3d ones If you look around enough you'#ll notice that even a single 4870"X2" can come close to dual GTX280 in more than one case. Not that it performs that well generally.

 

[dagger]

It's strange that people who dismiss 9800gx2 haven't been able to give any benchmarks to back it up.

 

[L1qu1d]

So basically your saying that the 280 GTX in sli is the best since there is less micro stuttering

Thats not the thing we are actually discussing, we talking about FPS performance not Micro stuttering, Re read the posts again.

I'm defend Quad 4870 X2, and it does get more frames than 280 GTX in sli, I'm not saying that it doesn't get more Micro stuttering...

And when it comes to micro stuttering, it really depends on the person on how much it bothers em, I for one only notice it in CSS when I play but doesn't affect my game play

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

LOL like I said oh noeess. I meant 2 2xGTX

 

[Hatman]

Basically what im saying is that GTX280 sli is much more stable than quad 9800.


It is. And it doesnt rely on good drivers as much!

It may ahve worked great got you well done with that enjoy it but it hasn't worked smoothly for quite a lotttttttt of other ppl. Otherwise more would use it and i'd be agreeing with you.

 

[dagger]

Lol, it's not as if gtx280sli doesn't microstutter. All cf/sli do, same as dual gpu card. Besides, it's not like most people can even notice microstutter. You need really keen eyes.

 

[L1qu1d]

lol I never said Quad is easy, but ppl should see benchies with updated drivers.

And yes QUad is a pain in the ass, but when it works, it does its job great. And you'll see this more on SLI optimized games (thank god for Bioshock and COD4 best games ever)!

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

The consensus on MS is it happens mainly at 30-40 fps. With any of these setups, youd be hard pressed to get those numbers, except maybe the 9800x2x2 at higher res in a few games. Moot point