2 4870's 1gb or 3 4850's or 3 gts 250's?

[tacoslave]

i got 300 bucks to burn on graphics so i was wondering what was the best i could get? oh and my current build is phenom II 940 @ 3.6ghz 4gb of ram @ 1066 and a DFI LP DK 790FXB-M2RSH AM2+/AM2 so any suggestions? plus i dont care where i but it from i'm open to pretty much anything but i would prefer newegg.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

Here is my ranking of them. I'd say the GTS250 and 4850s in triples will give you slightly more performance, but it's more of a hassle, has worse scaling, and requires a bigger power supply.

So overall, I'd say they are about equal.


1x 9800GTX/GTX+/GTX250 or 4850 = 1
2x 9800GTX/GTX+/GTX250 SLi or 4850 Xfire = 1.8
3x 9800GTX/GTX+/GTX250 Tri-SLi or 4850 Tri-Xfire = 2.4

1x 4870 1GB Xfire or GTX260 216 = 1.3
2x 4870 1GB Xfire or GTX260 216 SLi = 2.34

If you already have a GTS250/4850, get tri-fire. If you're starting from scratch, get 2x 4870s or 2x GTX260s.

 

[FallenSniper]

I would recommend this one if you really want to spend all $300.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143190&cm_re=gtx_285-_-14-143-190-_-Product

I don't really like the idea of buying two cards at the same time for SLI/Crossfire. If you spend some money now to get a very good single card, then you can spend even less later to get another one for SLI/Crossfire. Here's how I think about it:

Buy a single card that puts you in the top 10% as opposed to buying two cards that put you in the top 5%. When your cards get older, buy another of your original card to keep you in the top 10%, as opposed to those two cards you could've bought together before that are now down to the top 20%. Sure you could upgrade those but now your paying even more again.

Either way you should wait for the 5 series to lower some prices and then make your decision.

 

[tacoslave]

sweet thanks because im the type of person that likes to maximize their budget and i got a pretty beefy power supply (corsair 850 watts) two 4870's 1gb would be 280 and 3 4850 512 would be 255-300. but i would prefer an intense array of graphics but thats just me.

 

[tacoslave]

hmm the 285 not as powerful as the 2 4870's yet more expensive but you do have a point about the 5 series and i still got a trusty 3870 to hold me off till then so i guess ill wait and get a monstrous 5870.

 

[FallenSniper]

hmm the 285 not as powerful as the 2 4870's yet more expensive

My point was that a single 285 is not as powerful but 2 285s is more powerful.

 

[invisik]

If you could wait and see what ati next gen of cards offer. The 5850 is rumored to be as strong as a gtx285 with a 299$ price tag.

 

[Mousemonkey]

There is no point in even considering having more than one Nvidia card on that CROSSFIRE board.

 

[FallenSniper]

I expected you to say there's no point in having more than one 285! Buying a card right before the 5 series would be just plain silly... And also something I would do

 

[Mousemonkey]

I expected you today there's no point in having more than one 285! Buying a card right before the 5 series would be just plain silly... And also something I would do

Put down the credit card and step away from the keyboard. :lol:

 

[FallenSniper]

too late

 

[Mousemonkey]

Oh no, what have you gone and bought this time? not another 3xxx Ati card surely?

 

[darkvine]

So yes, that is a Crossfire only board so not point in even talking about SLI.


Also just wait for the 5 series. If you are planning on spending enough money to get tir-fire you can get a 5870 which beats a 4870x2.

 

[croc]

i got 300 bucks to burn on graphics so i was wondering what was the best i could get? oh and my current build is phenom II 940 @ 3.6ghz 4gb of ram @ 1066 and a DFI LP DK 790FXB-M2RSH AM2+/AM2 so any suggestions? plus i dont care where i but it from i'm open to pretty much anything but i would prefer newegg.

And your monitor is what res?

 

[g3force]

So yes, that is a Crossfire only board so not point in even talking about SLI.


Also just wait for the 5 series. If you are planning on spending enough money to get tir-fire you can get a 5870 which beats a 4870x2.

Last time I checked there weren't any benchmarks out for the ATI 5XXX series.

 

[FallenSniper]

Oh no, what have you gone and bought this time? not another 3xxx Ati card surely?

Oh of course not... I have a Core 2 Extreme now though... lol -_-;

 

[Mousemonkey]

Well that's not so bad, I hope it wasn't at an 'extreme' price though.

 

[FallenSniper]

Indeed it's not so bad. And at least it's not a downgrade like last time. QX6700 for $150.

 

[darkvine]

Last time I checked there weren't any benchmarks out for the ATI 5XXX series.

There is one from ATi themselves that shows it getting higher frames in Crysis with 4xAA then a 4780x2. How real is that since it is from ATI? Who knows but if it is at all possible why not wait off when you are clearing willing to drop some cash on a CF/SLI set up.

 

[Mousemonkey]

There is one from ATi themselves that shows it getting higher frames in Crysis with 4xAA then a 4780x2. How real is that since it is from ATI? Who knows but if it is at all possible why not wait off when you are clearing willing to drop some cash on a CF/SLI set up.

Ati are really going to say that their new card is slower than anything in their last series, what manufacture would ever say that?

 

[darkvine]

That is why I said "how real is it". While I am sure it isn't going to be quiet that could if it is even close to being that powerful it is worth the wait a few weeks.

Why blow 300+ on a tir-fire set up when a single card might do the job in less then a month, plus DX11, plus latest card.

I am fairly sure a tir-fire would beat it even if it is as fast as ATI claims but with all of this other perks there is no reason to blow that much money on something at the moment until you see some numbers on the 5000 series.

 

[bige420]

Theres no debate, it would be unwise to buy anything other than a 5000 series card. I'm sure that 2 5870s, or even 5850s would destroy and tri-fire system that you could put together currently.

 

[FallenSniper]

Wish. Saying it would be unwise to buy anything other than a 5 series is wrong... What if you want a midrange card?

 

[tacoslave]

well what i meant to say was this 5 series = win and as for me buying anything from nvidia = no. i guess i should wait besides i might end up buying a 5870 then upgrading later.

 

[croc]

well what i meant to say was this 5 series = win and as for me buying anything from nvidia = no. i guess i should wait besides i might end up buying a 5870 then upgrading later.

OK, you ducked my first question, so I'll ask again: What resolution is your monitor? Now I'll add a second question: What PSU do you have? And now for a third question: How many LED's, and other assorted winky-blinky 'accessories' are in your case?