2x gpu's vs ss drive and new os

[axlrose]

So I put away $60 a month for computer upgrades and I was planning to purchase two new gpu's to replace my gtx 280ftw this spring (maybe two 6950's or something comparable). It has come to my attention that the 4gb of ram i've had in my most recent build is not being used well with vista 32 and that upgrading to 6 or 8 gb on this setup would be even more stupid, so...

Now I'm wavering and thinking maybe I should add a solid state boot up drive and windows 7 64 instead (and then add another 2b of ram to make 6gb).

Thoughts? the 2 gpu's are so much more sexy and my system is a gaming system first and foremost...

thanks.

 

[Why_Me]

So I put away $60 a month for computer upgrades and I was planning to purchase two new gpu's to replace my gtx 280ftw this spring (maybe two 6950's or something comparable). It has come to my attention that the 4gb of ram i've had in my most recent build is not being used well with vista 32 and that upgrading to 6 or 8 gb on this setup would be even more stupid, so...

Now I'm wavering and thinking maybe I should add a solid state boot up drive and windows 7 64 instead (and then add another 2b of ram to make 6gb).

Thoughts? the 2 gpu's are so much more sexy and my system is a gaming system first and foremost...

thanks.

How much do you have saved...and yes a 32bit OS will only see 3 gigs of RAM.

 

[axlrose]

I'm thinking about $600-ish.

 

[Why_Me]

I'm thinking about $600-ish.

I don't know your current set up, resolution, etc... but personally I vote for Windows 7 and hold off on the SSD for now...maybe Windows 7 and one vid card for now.

Unfortunately you can't use the "Windows 7 Upgrade" for going from 32 bit Vista to 64 bit Windows 7. Your going to need the full retail version.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-Full-PC/11331571 Online $179.99 List Price: $199.82 You Save: $19.83 (10%)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716 $179.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full

 

[batuchka]

If u game on a 30" or are thinking Eyefinity then 2 x high end GPUs makes sense hehe

 

[axlrose]

Yeah, I have 30" gateway xhd3000 with 2560x1600 native, so that's why i'd like to jump up to two cards this time with maybe 4gb of ddr5 in the 6900 series. I'm just worried I'm still running on 3gb of ram then though...

yorkfield quadcore, 4gb of ram (3 usable i guess?), vista 32 home premium, gtx 280ftw, evga board to go with the evga card, 1000W zalman psu

 

[Guest]

all games are still 32bit programs so they only use 2gb sometimes 3gb max.... you're fine still. I really feel like all the pc gamers right now with 64bit os's and 8-12gb of ram are still a bit silly because of this. 4gb is fine right now.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/windows_7_gaming/ <------ Benchmarks 32 bit vs 64 bit in regards to gaming.

 

[axlrose]

http://www.computerpoweruser.com/Images/SmartComputing/DigitalIssues/CP____1102__/pageflip.html

p. 26 if you can access it.