What Nvidia card(s) should I get?

[Beitzel15]

First, what do you guys think is the best video card to Sli for the money?

But here are my options... Single or Sli

EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 SuperClocked (sli)

XFX GTX 260 Black Edition (sli or single card?) SLI = $550

Single GTX 285

or Single GTX 295......

Which would be the best option for the money/performance that will play mondern/ near future games the best?

The Gtx 295 would be cheaper than SLI Black Editions, but would the 295 run better?

 

[spathotan]

9800GTX+ or GTX260's are the best SLI choises. GTX280/285 SLi is overkill, and the GTX295 is just two GTX260s sandwiched.

So basically, id buy either two 9800GTX+ or a single GTX295. Two GTX260's are cheaper, but a single GTX295 will take up less space.

 

[L1qu1d]

Can we have specs?????

Monitor size etc...Spathotan lol how do you kno what is overkill LOL what if he has 2560x1600? LOL

 

[spathotan]

Yea thats true. But then again you have that guy in the "GTX295 sli sucks" thread, using two of them at 1680 x1050.

 

[L1qu1d]

LMAo yeah thats jokes

I had 3 280s @ that resolution and it made little difference in some games. Though the 3rd card helped alot on my dad's TV @ 1920x1080 with 16 X AA

Orgasm

 

[Jamess]

you know when people say that cards can be overkill say if you did get a gtx 295 and only ran on a low resolution, if you've got the money and you want to spend it why not? surly it just means you will get Much better fps and performance?

 

[L1qu1d]

not always, since cpu bottlenecking will eventually kick in and thats what wastes your money

There's always a roof.

 

[spathotan]

As l1qu1d said there is always something. Which is why its usually best to find some kind of medium instead of just going out and buying all the best ****, because its actually not always the best.

Example - 4850's in crossfire will perform equally to two GTX295s @ 1680 x 1050.

 

[Beitzel15]

I dont want to SLI the 285 or 295.. those would be just single card....
2 EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 = Same price as a GTX 295
2 XFX GTX 260 Black Edition = $50 more than 295....

Out of what I named, What would be the best for a 22" Wide Screen.... Im going to be playing somewhat demanding games and I want the best Performance possible out of the cards I named...

Specs:
CPU: Q9400
MOBO: MSI P7N SLI PLATINUM 750i
HDD: WD 640gig
4gigs of ram...


Edit...

How would two EVGA 9800GTX 1gig cards match up against the other named cards?

Im sorry for this post, I just have NO IDEA what to pick!

 

[spathotan]

Two 9800GTX+ beat a single GTX280. Also, SLI'ing GTX260's on a 22" is a little too much. You will do alot better with a single GTX280 or SLI'ing 9800GTX+. I vote for a single GTX280 to eliminate any potential SLI issues like no support/poor scailing.

 

[Beitzel15]

What do you think about a single GTX 285... is worth the extra $30-$50?

Heres the specs:

EVGA GTX 280 FTW Edition:
Core clock: 670MHz
Stream Processors: 240 processing cores
Memory Clock: 2430MHz (effective)

Price: $400

EVGA GTX 285 SSC Edition:
Core clock: 702MHz (vs. 648Mhz standard)
Stream Processors: 240 processing cores
Memory Clock: 2646MHz

Price: $410

Maybe I should get the 285 and save about $140 and not SLI the 260's after all?

 

[Beitzel15]

Also, that 285 is $389 after the rebate!

 

[spathotan]

Thats good, but dont mess with those factory OC cards, you can OC it yourself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442 $355.

Also, the 280 is only $315 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500053 . I would go with this.

 

[Beitzel15]

I have NO idea how to OC.. At all.... So would it be safe for me to take the chance and trying to OC a $1500 rig with no knowledge what so ever?

 

[spathotan]

Definetly spend the extra money if you dont feel safe with it.

 

[Beitzel15]

Ok, it's just $50 more for the SSC, and I'd rather do that and try to OC and mess it up and have to buy another $400 card.

Thanks for the help.

What PSU do you think would be good for this? 750?
I like corsair but their 750 isnt modular!!

 

[spathotan]

Cant go wrong with the corsair PSUs, modular or not.

 

[meodowla]

Go with a single GTX295

 

[L1qu1d]

can u justify your answer a bit?^

 

[Beitzel15]

a 295 cost too much for me right now... Less than a year from now, it'll be cheaper... a 285 will suffice just find