9800GT SLI VS 260GTX

[jakepalmerd13]

9800GT SLI VS 260GTX witch one would give me the best quality and gaming performance
a 260GTX or 2x 9800GT SLI?

Thanks
Jake

 

[impaledmango]

I'd prob take the 9800gt sli, but only if they are the 1gb versions.

 

[thacondor]

yea make sure you get the 1gb versions. i have the 512mb and they run most games on nearly maxed settings. (fc2, bmaa; only new games i have lol, but they rock!) keep in mind im only running at 1280x1024...

 

[warmon6]

The 9800 GT (in sli) and the GTX 260 actually run about the same and with GTX 260 able to run in sli as well. i would recommend GTX 260.

http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_charts_3dmark_vantage_06/

 

[BruceOTB]

The 9800 GT (in sli) and the GTX 260 actually run about the same and with GTX 260 able to run in sli as well. i would recommend GTX 260.

http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_charts_3dmark_vantage_06/

In real games, even 9600gt sli would outperform a gtx 260.

 

[brockh]

I'd get the GTX 260. They're roughly around the same performance if the 9800GTs are both 1GB, if not it leaves a bit to be desired.

 

[jakepalmerd13]

if i had 2 512mb 9800gts would that give me the total of 1gb, aslo thanks for the post i am getting mixed feedback look like it gonna be a close one

thanks
Jake

 

[Mousemonkey]

If you have two 512 9800GT's then you will have 512 not 1GB.

 

[impaledmango]

if they are the 512mb versions then they wont really give great performance at higher resolutions. As Mousemonkey said it's really just 2 512 cards, not one 1gb card. I'd still recommend 2 9800gt 1gb over the gtx 260 because they give better performance then a 9800gx2 (2 9800 512mb). But then again it depends on how much you are getting them. If they cost over $170 for both i'd recommend the 4890 or 5770 instead, or just pick up the gtx 260.

 

[thacondor]

lol yea i could have sworn this started off between a 9800gt and something else (like a gx2 or ??), not a 260; anyways... I'd take the 260 all the way... its cheaper then both 9800 gts-- 140$/ea vs. 200$ gtx260 and you can add 1 more later unlike if you get the 2 9800gts...

edit: just looked up my 3dmark 06 score and compared it to the gtx series cards and at 1280x1024 the 9800gts keep up no problem; but anything above that and the gtx takes over... so really depends on what your resolution is...

 

[impaledmango]

lol yea i could have sworn this started off between a 9800gt and something else (like a gx2 or ??), not a 260; anyways... I'd take the 260 all the way... its cheaper then both 9800 gts-- 140$/ea vs. 200$ gtx260 and you can add 1 more later unlike if you get the 2 9800gts...

edit: just looked up my 3dmark 06 score and compared it to the gtx series cards and at 1280x1024 the 9800gts keep up no problem; but anything above that and the gtx takes over... so really depends on what your resolution is...

Well I was just using that as an example because I didnt want to look up benchmarks for comparisons, and we already know the 9800gx2 = gtx 280 = 4890 in most cases, give or take a few frames, though the 9800gx2 wasnt really a good card anyways.

Bottom line in my opinion is that the 9800gt 1gb in SLi wins in performance, but $200 price really isnt justified for two gen old sli cards. If you must get one of those 2, i'd personally get the 9800gt, but there are better options out there for that price like the 4890.

 

[impaledmango]

9800gt in sli is BETTER PERFORMANCE WISE then a gtx 260, i wouldnt even call them comparable.

http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/printpage.php?id=636

Remember this benchmark only shows the 512mb versions of the cards (1gb werent released at that time) and the drivers at that time were really really premature.

 

[OvrClkr]

Dual GTX+ = GX2 = PWNZ the 260

 

[jakepalmerd13]

at the moment i currently own a 9800gt 512mb if i got another 1gb version would i be able to sli them and gave me 1gb memory?

 

[Mousemonkey]

Yes you can SLi them, but you will still only have 512MB of video RAM available to you.

 

[invisik]

Im not a big fan of doing sli with 2 low/mid-range cards. Had a 9800gx2 a while back and at 1920x1080 it struggled due to the 512mb. If your going to sli get 2 gts 9800gtx/250 (1gig).

 

[nforce4max]

I can help you on this one since that is what I use. I got two 9800gt 1gb in sli on my game rig and they can pull their weight when gaming. Here is a few vids of mine so just click the link be sure to leave feedback if you wish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1IJr1kqVZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdU1YV5DCM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIGKX0VBXM8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgSs8rujFAs
Note this was before a cpu and cooling upgrade so things are not as they are now.
Plus one of the best perks of sli is being able to use aa models greater than 16x up to 32x aa and quad it is even better. Have a full gb goes a long ways when playing GTA IV and oblivion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vNT9g3pQ4M Note that 32XQ sli aa is enabled in forceware only and has to either be enhance aplication settings or forced.

 

[jakepalmerd13]

Thanks a lot dudes, i am also wondering if it is worth plugging my old 8600gts in as a physx card will speed up my graphics?

 

[brockh]

I can help you on this one since that is what I use. I got two 9800gt 1gb in sli on my game rig and they can pull their weight when gaming. Here is a few vids of mine so just click the link be sure to leave feedback if you wish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1IJr1kqVZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdU1YV5DCM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIGKX0VBXM8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgSs8rujFAs
Note this was before a cpu and cooling upgrade so things are not as they are now.
Plus one of the best perks of sli is being able to use aa models greater than 16x up to 32x aa and quad it is even better. Have a full gb goes a long ways when playing GTA IV and oblivion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vNT9g3pQ4M Note that 32XQ sli aa is enabled in forceware only and has to either be enhance aplication settings or forced.

It's important to note you're running at 1280x1024. This can be a big factor of differentiation if you're running at a higher standard resolution like 1680x1050 or 1920x1080.

 

[jakepalmerd13]

i am running at 1680x1050

 

[brockh]

i am running at 1680x1050

I'd say you'd probably need to end up getting 1GB versions at that resolution if going for 9800GTs. 512MB drops off about 1440x900. I'd still recommend a single GTX 260. You can always add another one later if you need more performance which will equate to roughly a GTX 295 which can run pretty much anything today still.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I'd say you'd probably need to end up getting 1GB versions at that resolution if going for 9800GTs. 512MB drops off about 1440x900. I'd still recommend a single GTX 260. You can always add another one later if you need more performance which will equate to roughly a GTX 295 which can run pretty much anything today still.

I'm running a pair of 512MB 8800GT's @ 1980 x 1050 and have yet to have unplayable framerates.

 

[invisik]

^ Enable aa on crysis and let me no how playable it is. My 2 gtx 260 sli are showing slight sign of struggle in games with high amount of aa at 1920x1080. Newer games will only cause more struggle.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I did Crysis a couple of years ago @ 16 x 10 and whilst it was playable it is not the standard by which all else is measured by as far as I'm concerned, you can if you like but I've moved on from that title myself.

 

[nforce4max]

Get the 1gb versions if you can avoid the low power el crapo pos cards. If that is all they got look and see if you can track down a 1792 mb 260 then it should hold up better to aa at most res. Keep in mind if you do the sli setup overclocking makes a big difference with any card & setup. Good luck and enjoy.