High end system combo: 790/gtx280sli vs x48/4870x2 xfire

[idrinkevian]

I am currently undecided about which high end combo to get, either an EVGA 790 FTW with a pair of EVGA gtx280 FTW's or a Rampage Extreme with a pair of Asus or Sapphire 4870x2's. Various forums I've visited seem to be split. Currently I have a Dell 2408 Ultrasharp and will most likely replace it with a 27" later.

I'm a bit short on cash atm so i'll be getting one video card to start with then the second a few months down the line at which point money will be NO obstacle, I'm just really impatient and rather get it now than wait and get it all later, though being an indecisive person I might end up waiting to get it all in one go, but no x58/nehalem suggestions.

Anyway, please pick a combo for me! Thanks.

 

[badge]

I am currently undecided about which high end combo to get, either an EVGA 790 FTW with a pair of EVGA gtx280 FTW's or a Rampage Extreme with a pair of Asus or Sapphire 4870x2's. Various forums I've visited seem to be split. Currently I have a Dell 2408 Ultrasharp and will most likely replace it with a 27" later.

I'm a bit short on cash atm so i'll be getting one video card to start with then the second a few months down the line at which point money will be NO obstacle, I'm just really impatient and rather get it now than wait and get it all later, though being an indecisive person I might end up waiting to get it all in one go, but no x58/nehalem suggestions.

Anyway, please pick a combo for me! Thanks.

From the 'sticky' at the top of the Graphics and Displays section

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum-33-208.html

Best PCIe Card For Over $350: None

With exponentially increasing prices over $350 offering smaller and smaller performance increases, we have a hard time recommending anything more expensive than two Radeon HD 4850s. While the 4870, GTX 260 and GTX 280 perform impressively in multiple card configurations, there’s just not enough of a gain compared to two 4850’s in Crossfire mode unless you’re playing at resolutions beyond 1920x1200. But for now, the power of two 4850’s in Crossfire is our top recommendation for price/performance.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Best-Graphics-Card,2011-4.html

 

[homerdog]

I am currently undecided about which high end combo to get, either an EVGA 790 FTW with a pair of EVGA gtx280 FTW's or a Rampage Extreme with a pair of Asus or Sapphire 4870x2's. Various forums I've visited seem to be split. Currently I have a Dell 2408 Ultrasharp and will most likely replace it with a 27" later.

I'm just really impatient and rather get it now than wait and get it all later, though being an indecisive person I might end up waiting to get it all in one go, but no x58/nehalem suggestions.

Anyway, please pick a combo for me! Thanks.

Welcome to the THG forums.

The GTX280 combo is the better choice of those two; quad Crossfire scaling is genuinely terrible. Do consider that a single HD4870X2 will likely be fast enough for any game at your current and future resolution (1920x1200). I recommend you pair a solid X48 motherboard with a single HD4870X2. And remember to get a good PSU.

I'm a bit short on cash atm so i'll be getting one video card to start with then the second a few months down the line at which point money will be NO obstacle,[...]

Do you plan on winning the lottery?

 

[megamanx00]

Look up 4870X2 reviews, altho it's hard to find some that put it up against the 280 in 2 and 3 way SLi. Here is one such review though that shows two 4870X2s not scaling too much better than one. Still, when it does scale it kicks ass.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3372&p=5

And here is another

http://techreport.com/articles.x/15293

Make sure to take a look at the test setups. Drivers to improve 4870 and 280 scaling will only get better. While you look at the reviews keep in mind the resolutions you are going to be playing at. Also keep in mind that in the lower resolutions you are more likely to be CPU limited.

 

[kitsilencer]

With a 27" (at 1920) the GTx260 SLI or 4870X2 is more than enough. Your proposed rig with GTX280 SLI or 4870X2CFX is likely overkill.