4850 HD or Dual 9800 GT's?

Hi, I was going to purchase a card for gaming, and I've heard good things about the 4850 HD (512 MB).

However, for the computer I'm buying, it's only $100 more for dual Geoforce 9800 GT (512 MB) video cards.

Would this be better? I've heard some pretty good stuff about the 4850 but it's an extra $250 for a pair of those.

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Please list the specs of both computers you are looking at. Also, what resolution do you plan to game at? Two 9800GT's in SLI will perform better than a 4850, but if you're playin low resolutions such as 1280x1024 or less, it isn't worth it. I game at 1680x1050 with a single 4850 and it works fine. Sometimes I wish it was faster, but don't we all?

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Reply to one-shot

Wouldn't a single HD4870 or GTX260 core 216 be better for the extra money?

Reply to hpstp

So.. whats your motherboard? Does it support SLi? If then... use nVidia cards...

Reply to meodowla

one-shot wrote :

Please list the specs of both computers you are looking at. Also, what resolution do you plan to game at? Two 9800GT's in SLI will perform better than a 4850, but if you're playin low resolutions such as 1280x1024 or less, it isn't worth it. I game at 1680x1050 with a single 4850 and it works fine. Sometimes I wish it was faster, but don't we all?

It's the same computer, the Dell XPS 630.

Specs:

Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.40GHz,1066FSB)
6GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB (upgrade to Dual Geforce 9800 GT's for an extra $100)
640GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™

Price: $1,199

I know it might be cheaper to build my own computer, but my last computer was a custom one and it wasn't very reliable. Played well for about a year or a year and a half, then power supply broke, then motherboard, then power supply again, and I just gave up on it.

I got my mom's old Dell which isn't as good as my custom but hasn't failed the family for the past 4 years. I'm looking to upgrade.

Reply to davidw00t

What size monitor and resolution will you be using?

Reply to one-shot

1280x1024..at least that's the highest resolution I can use when I go to display properties >> settings

Reply to davidw00t

Your board support both CrossFire & SLi.....It would be 90$ addition for another 9800GT(SLi)...... and 250$ plus for HD4850 in CrossFire.....

In my case.. i would go for HD4850 in CrossFire..

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Reply to meodowla

At the resolution you're using, I would just stick with one ATI 4850 and invest the $100 into a better processor. A higher clocked dual core will generally give you higher FPS than a lower clocked quad core. Since this is an OEM pc, chances are you won't be able to overclock it. How much extra would it be to jump up to an E8400/8500 or Q9450/9550? These newer processors are about 10% faster clock/clock than the Q6600. If you don't want to invest the additional money into the PC, I'm sure you'll be content with the Q6600.

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Message edited by one-shot on 01-06-2009 at 02:19:31 AM

Reply to one-shot

my AMDx2 2.8ghz, 4gig RAM, and 4850 can handle everything at 1440x900 with everything maxed, 'cept Crysis, just with no AA. I'd say at least a 4850x2 for you. Again i would recommend staying with a single card as well... Nvidia is goin to be releasing something VERY soon...
BUMP one-shot
My recommendation is always a cheaper, 'faster' dual over a quad for now, with the option to upgrade later...

Message edited by doormatderek on 01-06-2009 at 02:23:16 AM

Reply to doormatderek

meodowla wrote :

Your board support both CrossFire & SLi.....It would be 90$ addition for another 9800GT(SLi)...... and 250$ plus for HD4850 in CrossFire.....

In my case.. i would go for HD4850 in CrossFire..

I have no interest in Dell at all, therefore I didn't go to their site to look at this box......BUT........ aside from the new Intel i7, I never heard of a mother board supporting BOTH Xfire and sli. Not in my time anyways............ "oldies" need to respond if I'm wrong.

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Reply to swifty_morgan

swifty_morgan wrote :

I have no interest in Dell at all, therefore I didn't go to their site to look at this box......BUT........ aside from the new Intel i7, I never heard of a mother board supporting BOTH Xfire and sli. Not in my time anyways............ "oldies" need to respond if I'm wrong.

I think 'Skulltrail' did...? anyone? and i'm only 30 years young

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Reply to doormatderek

I may actually get an HP, because I can get a comp just as fast for a lot cheaper. Is HP better/worse than Dell? I've heard differing opinions about both companies.

Edit: Here's the HP I'm looking at:

http://www.costco.com/CTO/HPConfig [...] 84AV%23ABA

Double edit: if I bought that I would probably get the 1 GB Nvidia GeForce 9800GT...that way I can add another one if I need to later!

(Third edit to change "intel" to "HP" )

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Message edited by davidw00t on 01-06-2009 at 03:10:12 AM

Reply to davidw00t

one-shot wrote :

At the resolution you're using, I would just stick with one ATI 4850 and invest the $100 into a better processor. A higher clocked dual core will generally give you higher FPS than a lower clocked quad core. Since this is an OEM pc, chances are you won't be able to overclock it. How much extra would it be to jump up to an E8400/8500 or Q9450/9550? These newer processors are about 10% faster clock/clock than the Q6600. If you don't want to invest the additional money into the PC, I'm sure you'll be content with the Q6600.

what? you kidding me about the processor? ever heard of clockgen? http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=189
he can easily overclock it to 3ghz and the newer processors are NOT 10% faster clock/clock than the q6600 :pfff:
i say heck go buy a 22" lcd or even a 24" lcd. monitors now days run for from $150 for the 22" to $270 for the 24".

Reply to javimars

doormatderek wrote :

I think 'Skulltrail' did...? anyone? and i'm only 30 years young

Yep, you old people......thank god for ya.......LOL... Wow, how quick we forget.

Reply to swifty_morgan

davidw00t wrote :

I may actually get an Intel, because I can get a comp just as fast for a lot cheaper. Is intel better/worse than Dell? I've heard differing opinions about both companies.

Edit: Here's the intel I'm looking at:

http://www.costco.com/CTO/HPConfig [...] 84AV%23ABA

Intel makes the chips; CPUs and maybe the motherboard. Dell just sells complete 'systems'. You would compare Intel to AMD, or Dell to HP or Gateway.

Reply to doormatderek

Yeah, I meant HP...I was thinking HP but for some reason I typed Intel

Reply to davidw00t

I don't know, I always prefer to build it myself over buying a 'system'.

Reply to doormatderek

swifty_morgan wrote :

I have no interest in Dell at all, therefore I didn't go to their site to look at this box......BUT........ aside from the new Intel i7, I never heard of a mother board supporting BOTH Xfire and sli. Not in my time anyways............ "oldies" need to respond if I'm wrong.

the HP blackbird supports both, but that's the only thing other than skulltrail and x58.

Reply to Nik_I

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