Is Quad SLI the right move?

Hi fellas,

I am currently using a BFG 9800 GX2 in my system. I still qualify for BFG's step up program to a 280 if need be.
I was thinking about purchasing another GX2 since they are dirt cheap now...Does anyone have any experience with GX2's in a quad SLI setup, or should I trade up and go with a 280? I have done mounds of research and it seems like the GX2's are on par or surpass the 280's in most cases, although most of the reviews were when the cards first surfaced and there haven't been any recently that would give a heads up as to how they perform with recent drivers in quad sli. Any assistance is appreciated!

Yep, keeping single 9800gx2 is probably the smart move. As for quad sli not scaling at all, that's not true. It's just unpredictable. 9800gx2 quad scales like a champ on some games, and almost none on others.

Example:
http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_2/
First chart for Crysis,
46-64 increase on low resolution, 42-50 on high, 25-50% scaling, which is somewhat poor.

Scroll down to second chart for Call of Duty 4,
111-197 on low resolution, 104-56 on high. On high resolutions, it's an astonishing near 100% scaling!

http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_3/
Ghost Recon 2,
96-133 in low, 85-120 in high. Somewhat decent.

Scroll down to Fuel for War,
65-64 in low, 65-55 in high. Absolutely horrible scaling.

It's hit or miss, depending on games.

As for driver support, drivers are already mature, with all the kinks already worked out. On the one hand, this means future drivers are unlikely to deliver any significant performance increase. On the other, the existing optimizations already done won't just undo itself, so even if Nvidia stop supporting it, impact won't be big. It's not the same as 7950gx2, which Nvidia stopped supporting before all the kinks were worked out, leaving a buggy card.

It's fine. Brands don't matter.

And here's factory oced version for $280.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814133231

Alrighty...Im not gonna chance it with the PSU. Ill probably go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817379007 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153062

As for cards will the stock bfg card slow down the faster card to its clock speed? Should I just go with
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130338 ?

I know I'm full of questions guys and I greatly appreciate any light you could shed on the subject to assist me in completing my journey to gamer nirvana.

Yes, the stock card will slow down oced card to its own level when put into sli/cf. If you oc the slower card, it should then work on par. Not sure if there are any special difficulties in ocing quad configuration. But since the stock card you listed is more expensive, there is no point. Might as well just get the oced one for cheaper.

For psu, consider an expansion instead of replacement if your existing 700w psu is still high quality and in working order. High range psus outside the mainstream are notoriously expensive. When you reached a certain level, an expansion may be better bang for the buck.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153069

I didn't know BFG had a trade in program...

It's only $10 more because you paid for the overpriced 9800gx2 earlier. It'll technically be a downgrade. But since dual gtx280 outperforms quad 9800gx2 due to quad scaling giving less average return, you'll be planning for the future if going with gtx280, for possible gtx280 sli upgrade later on.

Yeah I dont know...The 9800gx2 is pretty stout...But...After viewing some videos on youtube and some additional research it seems as though the 280's have a much more stable frame rate than the gx2...Especially in SLI which is where I will end up eventually. So I think I'm going to have to go with the 280's...unless someone tells me otherwise in the next few hours or so. I would love to hear from l1qu1d on this since he runs quad sli atm.

Got Quad SLI here and it runs like a dream, get another 9800GX2 , especially now that they are cheap.