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Not sure which GPU(s) to get..

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Not sure which GPU(s) to get..

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ombadboy   05-02-2009 at 09:10:49 PM

Hello there,

my 1st post here, and ive got a question for you gurus around..

I've read the sticky about SLi vs CrossFire, but am still not quite sure which way to head, and what specific cards I should aim for.

Am building a new rig with a Core i7 920 which means new mobo and new RAM..

I still havent decided which motherboard am going for, but probably one that is able to run Quad Crossfire/Tri-SLI.

The problem am facing though, am not quite sure which cards to aim for.

I was thinking of 2x ATI Radeon 4870 for first, but then I was wondering whether 3 SLI (lets say 3 Nvidia 250) would be a better choice. The price for the 2 is quite similar, so am wondering which is the best choice.

Or if any other card combination is better around that price range.

Also am looking into the fact that the ATI cards support DX10.1 whereas the NVidia ones support DX10 only, and am pretty sure that the DX10 will go popular once W7 is out and XP starts to fade away

Thanks alot for your contribution

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by ombadboy on 05-02-2009 at 09:14:55 PM
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coozie7   05-02-2009 at 10:11:54 PM
- 0 +

Please tell us the resoloution of monitor you are using or going to use, this will have a major impact on the sort of card/s that are suitable.

Reply to coozie7
ombadboy   05-02-2009 at 11:09:27 PM
- 0 +

hmmm.. at the moment am only using 1280x1024 (if i recall correctly my monitor back home) but am considering buying a better res monitor as well, since its getting a bit old and am also probably hooking it up to full HD 1080p LCD TV in the near future.

Reply to ombadboy
ombadboy   05-04-2009 at 01:34:02 AM
- 0 +

help? please? drowning here :p

someone around must be able to help a newbie out

Reply to ombadboy
invisik   05-04-2009 at 02:22:44 AM
- 0 +

Both sli/cf have there own problems. In my opinion I would just get a simple sli or cf board (2gpu's). At that resolution sli gtx260 or ati 4870 should be plenty. Just go with the cheaper setup.


Message edited by invisik on 05-04-2009 at 02:25:04 AM
Reply to invisik
Bluescreendeath   05-04-2009 at 03:54:05 AM
- 0 +

Are there any cheap i7 Xfire/SLi boards out yet? It seems every SLI board costs $300!?!?

------------------------------ i7 920, E5300
GTX260, HD4870, HD4830
 Reply to Bluescreendeath
jzsang   05-04-2009 at 04:51:32 AM
- 0 +

Three thoughts from my tired mind...

1 - Another vote for no CF/SLI. Too many issues (ex - heat, drivers, space, power supply / motherboard requirements).

2 - The whole ATI has DX 10.1, while Nvidia has Physx and CUDA debate is boring. If you think that one is better than the other, then go for it.

3 - I'm thinking HD 4890 or GTX 285.


Message edited by jzsang on 05-05-2009 at 02:07:00 AM
Reply to jzsang
EXT64   05-04-2009 at 06:13:56 AM
- 0 +

I second getting the best single GPU you can buy. If you like, get a MB that can do crossfire/SLI and add another down the road, but start with one first. You probably will be happy with it until the next gen are out, and the new tech/power they bring will be better than 2 SLI/crossfire of the old gen.

------------------------------ New Build : Intel Core i5 750 > Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P > 2x2GB GSkill 1600MHz CL7 1.65V > Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB >
Antec 300 Illusion > Asus 4850 512MB w/AM Cooler > Corsair 650HX > CM Hyper 212 Plus > Other: PII 940/Gigabyte 790GX/4850 1G

 

Reply to EXT64

gkay09   05-04-2009 at 07:37:06 AM
- 0 +

^+1 A single powerful card is far better than the CF and SLI setup...
SLI and crossfire have driver issues...when new games release, both AMD and Nvidia have to rework their drivers so that the CF and sli work well with those games...but it is not the case with a single card...

And you can get a i7 Xfire/SLi board for about $240...

Reply to gkay09
croc   05-04-2009 at 08:06:52 AM
- 0 +

ombadboy wrote :

Hello there,

my 1st post here, and ive got a question for you gurus around..

I've read the sticky about SLi vs CrossFire, but am still not quite sure which way to head, and what specific cards I should aim for.

Am building a new rig with a Core i7 920 which means new mobo and new RAM..

I still havent decided which motherboard am going for, but probably one that is able to run Quad Crossfire/Tri-SLI.

The problem am facing though, am not quite sure which cards to aim for.

I was thinking of 2x ATI Radeon 4870 for first, but then I was wondering whether 3 SLI (lets say 3 Nvidia 250) would be a better choice. The price for the 2 is quite similar, so am wondering which is the best choice.

Or if any other card combination is better around that price range.

Also am looking into the fact that the ATI cards support DX10.1 whereas the NVidia ones support DX10 only, and am pretty sure that the DX10 will go popular once W7 is out and XP starts to fade away

Thanks alot for your contribution



Monitor(s)? Resolution?

Here's a link from Anandtech, doesn't have all of the latest GPU's, but I'd consider it a good start: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517

Reply to croc
ombadboy   05-04-2009 at 01:09:59 PM
- 0 +

mmm.. tnx for your contribution :)

i'll probably go for a single card then, which costs about 2x 4870, instead of those 2..

croc, ive stated in the 3rd post about monitor/resolution..

Quote :


hmmm.. at the moment am only using 1280x1024 (if i recall correctly my monitor back home) but am considering buying a better res monitor as well, since its getting a bit old and am also probably hooking it up to full HD 1080p LCD TV in the near future.

Reply to ombadboy
gkay09   05-04-2009 at 01:50:49 PM
- 0 +

^+1 for the GTX 275/ HD4890...

Reply to gkay09
Helloworld_98   05-04-2009 at 02:05:52 PM
- 0 +

If your an overclocker then get a 4890 because the GTX 285, and most nvidia cards don't respond much to higher clocks.

Reply to Helloworld_98
ombadboy   05-04-2009 at 02:21:47 PM
- 0 +

actually i will considering overclocking every possible component on this rig, CPU, RAM, GPU..

the GTX285 i think is out of consideration, so now am thinking between the 4890 and the GTX275, leaning more towards the 4890.

putting aside driver issues, i found the 4770x2 benchmark results (posted today on toms) very impressive.. although as you guys stated crossfire/sli is good as no good..

btw does SLi/CrossFire help in rendering in 3DS Max, etc?

Reply to ombadboy
ombadboy   05-04-2009 at 03:41:18 PM
- 0 +

decided to go for the 4890...

any brand you would recommend?

I love ASUS.. but would you guys recommend any other brand?

Reply to ombadboy
EXT64   05-04-2009 at 04:28:35 PM
- 0 +

Are there any non-reference boards out? If not, Asus is a fine choice. Some people have preferences for one over the other, but if their special coolers aren't out yet they are all about the same.

------------------------------ New Build : Intel Core i5 750 > Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P > 2x2GB GSkill 1600MHz CL7 1.65V > Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB >
Antec 300 Illusion > Asus 4850 512MB w/AM Cooler > Corsair 650HX > CM Hyper 212 Plus > Other: PII 940/Gigabyte 790GX/4850 1G

 

Reply to EXT64

ombadboy   05-05-2009 at 12:10:14 AM
- 0 +

non-reference?

ive seen a PowerColor OC version of the 4890, with a ?custom? cooler.. not sure about that..

http://www.overclock3d.net/news.ph [...] _hd_4890/1

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ombadboy
bonanzaguy   05-05-2009 at 12:58:31 AM
- 0 +

Sapphire is releasing their non-reference cards this week.


Message edited by bonanzaguy on 05-05-2009 at 12:59:08 AM
------------------------------ This planet will burn good. It has lots of critters on it. Critters burn good...

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/552078.png

 

Reply to bonanzaguy

ombadboy   05-05-2009 at 11:07:45 AM
- 0 +

ye thats the one i was talking about.. i thought they called it OC though..

u reckon i should go for that one? or even wait for the saphire one? prices should be approximately the same as the current 4890 released i guess too right?

Reply to ombadboy
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