9800GTX+ SLI vs. GTX260-216 OC

[xxcoop42xx]

hey guys, just curious about which would give me better performance. as of right now i have 9800GTX+ SLI running but at x8/x8 on a Q9300@2.7GHz (mild oc as the 650i SLI mobo SUCKS for oc'ing). i do also have my Evga GTX260-216 sitting next to me and it made me think since my SLI is way bottlenecked by slow cpu speed (i only get a 13,400 in 3dmark06) should i switch back to the GTX260-216? until next month when i get my Evga 780i SLI mobo (so i CAN oc my Q9300 and get passed 2.7GHz to maybe 3.2GHz) or would i see about the same performance from the GTX260-216 since my cpu is bottlenecking? also it would be overclocked to FTW edition clock speeds (576/1242/1998 vs FTW 666/1404/2214)

so SLI 9800GTX+ vs oc'ed GTX260-216, both are cpu limited especially the SLI so would i gain a little performance by using the single card or just stick with the SLI? thanks to all who help

 

[yetyhunter]

Ithink the GTX 260 will be better. Sli needs more CPU power and in sli the cards are at x8x8

 

[pauldh]

8800GT SLI > the GTX 260 216 more often than not. 9800GTX+ SLI is far better.
Look over each game: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13

8X/8X doesn't affect G92 SLI much at all. See this review:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_nforce_750i_sli_ftw_review/page11.asp

Some games the GTX 260 may win, the majority it will lose. You are in the perfect position to test both if you like, but otherwise unless a favorite game has SLI issues, I'd be gaming on the two 9800GTX+'s if it were me.

 

[xxcoop42xx]

8800GT SLI > the GTX 260 216 more often than not. 9800GTX+ SLI is far better.
Look over each game: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13

8X/8X doesn't affect G92 SLI much at all. See this review:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_nforce_750i_sli_ftw_review/page11.asp

Some games the GTX 260 may win, the majority it will lose. You are in the perfect position to test both if you like, but otherwise unless a favorite game has SLI issues, I'd be gaming on the two 9800GTX+'s if it were me.

hey thanks for posting those reviews, the x8/x8 review actually shows that it really doesnt affect anything. there were test where the x8/x8 beat the x16/16, thanks again for saving me about $30-50, im plan on buying a new mobo like i said before but instead of the $220 780i SLI, ill go for the 750i SLI FTW instead that only cost about $180. and its said that it overclocks just as well, anything is better than what i have now (stupid 650i SLI). and i know the SLI 9800GTX+ will shine once i can oc my Q9300. i cant believe how bottlenecked i am, i should be scoring at least 16,000 in 3dmark06 but its so cpu bias. anyway thanks again

 

[pauldh]

Yeah, I hear ya. I top out a little over 3.2GHz with a Q6600 on my 650i and wouldn't have bothered trying a 45NM chip with it.

Which mobo is it? I have the MSI P6N SLI platinum. Does yours fully support that processor and it's 7.5 multiplier? 2.7GHz sounds real low though, are you sure you have explored it fully and it's not a mem, sata, or pci-e issue? Have you read up on all/any tricks for your exact mobo?

3.0GHz or above would have been nice, but I wouldn't stress over 3DMarks alone. Although, I must say your score is very low so I question other problems going on with the system (at my everyday gaming settings with Q6600@3.0GHz and a mild OC of my 8800GT's I score almost 17K).

The 750i would be fine for your pair of cards, not sure if it will hold back two of the GTX 260's though. I haven't seen the GTX compared at 8X/8X vs 16X/16X.

 

[boulard83]

IM kinda late in this post, But my SLI rig score 16521 3dmark06.
Games run AWESOME with AA and ULTRA HIGH settings.

Switching to an EVGA 750I FTW and a Q9550 (and OC it) can really help ?

SLI BFG 9800GTX+ oc
P5N32e sli Plus
( removing the P5N32e sli plus sticker shows STRIKER EXTREME writen on board)
E6850 @ 3.6ghz.
4g ddr 800 G-skill Pi-black

 

[rangers]

i think you would be better off getting a motherboard with the p45 chipset, you dont want a nvidia chipset and all the problems they bring, yes a p45 and stick in your 260 and overclock the nuts off you cpu, you cant go wrong

 

[L1qu1d]

^ agreed, unless you want to go sli...and if you don't want to put 2 260s then p45 is your best bet. I hate Nforce chipsets, but I'm stuck with them because of the 285 GTXs.

The intel chipsets can oc much better. I could get my friend's q9450 to around 4.1 ghz before it dropped. On mine I had to work hard to get it to a stable 3.9 ghz, and decided to stick with 3.8

 

[boulard83]

As you can see. I use SLI. My question is about going from my E6850 to a Big Q9550 12mb cache and OC it to near 3.6 can really HELP the SLI ?

Its a 340$(can) buying ... so i wantto know if it worth it.

Going From E6850@3.6 to Q9550@whatever i can reach (im WCed)

And my Current mobo support 45nm CPU, so i only need the Q9550

 

[spawn_eternal]

yo boulard83

Id say go for the Q9550 but you could also stick with a Q9450 oc's well. Jus one Q? Are you sure your mobo can take the Q9XXX?? I Have a StrikerExtreme an hav been wanting to get the Q9450. Had E6850 (nice cpu) then went to E8500 oc'd to 4.2GHz on air. now i wanna go to Q9XXX aswel!!

So bro please lemi know

 

[L1qu1d]

I would go with the Q9450 since it has a bigger FSB wall, the q9550 has .5 higher multiplier which can make him get much higher....for example my q9450 oced to 3.8 ghz, and a q9550 can pretty much reach 4.0 ghz, which should give him a very nice boost going from his dual core.

Usually when I buy a quad core from a dual core, I try to get one with atleast the capabilities of reaching the oc of my previous dual cpu.

So if my previous dual core could reach 3.0 ghz I would want a CPU thats quad core that can reach 3.0 ghz so that I don't feel the hit in games that don't use quad core

 

[boulard83]

haha yeah.

My mobo support 45nm. (p5n32 is a stripped striker)

look : ive removed the P5N32e SLI PLUS sticker. (look between the 2 GPU, under the PCI slot

after thinking, i decided to stick with my E6850, ill trade up one of my GTX+ for a GTX285 while keeping my other for physx (for games that support it)

Il go to I7 when price go down and SLI GTX285 this day !

 

[L1qu1d]

good choice