1x9800gtx or 2x8800gts SLI

[BMOSound]

Just a quick question, what would be faster one 9800gtx (512MB) or two 8800gts (320MB) in SLI?
Also im running Intel E2180 (Overclocked to 2.6-2.8Ghz), would my cpu bottle necking any of the GPUs?

Thanks,

 

[Maziar]

2 8800GTS 320MB are faster in most games but having only 320MB memory will hurt the performance in most games.So I'd recommend going with 1 9800GTX.
Your CPU won't bottleneck either of the cards unless you play at low resolutions

 

[iam2thecrowe]

i would just use the 512mb 9800 agree 320mb is not enough now. I disagree with the above post, your cpu will bottleneck either configuratin. Its an older architecture without much cache, it really needs to be at the 2.8ghz minimum.

 

[Maziar]

If the OP plays at resolutions higher like 1080p,he'll be fine because higher resolutions are more dependent on GPU not CPU;whereas, lower resolutions benefit from a faster CPU.
But overall,upgrading to a faster quad core CPU will give the OP a great boost in performance.

 

[megamanx00]

I say go with the two 8800GTS 320 cards.

Of course as Mazair points out the 320MB would be a problem in some more modern games especially at higher resolutions, but not all games will suffer from that. Games that are straight console ports, for example, tend not to use as much vRam since they were designed to accommodate the limited memory on the 360 and PS3. Not all games need so much vRam that two 320 cards would run slower than one 512MB card. Just depends on what you play.

 

[coozie7]

Those 320Mb cards use the old G80 core, not the G92, as does the 9800, so they handle AA terribly, tend to run hot and burn quite a lot of power for their performance and you'll have to deal with the problems inherent with SLI as well. For those reasons I'd opt for the slightly slower 9800GTX.

As a side point, why such old hardware? Current cards are far more efficient.

 

[Maziar]

I say go with the two 8800GTS 320 cards.

Of course as Mazair points out the 320MB would be a problem in some more modern games especially at higher resolutions, but not all games will suffer from that. Games that are straight console ports, for example, tend not to use as much vRam since they were designed to accommodate the limited memory on the 360 and PS3. Not all games need so much vRam that two 320 cards would run slower than one 512MB card. Just depends on what you play.

True but on resolutions like 1080p,320MB RAM isn't enough

 

[omnisome]

Maziar is correct, 640MB (8800GTS SLI config.) would simply not be comfortable at 1080p but the E2180 is quite an obstacle.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Maziar is correct, 640MB (8800GTS SLI config.) would simply not be comfortable at 1080p but the E2180 is quite an obstacle.

2x 320MB does not equal a 640MB SLi config.

 

[ionut19]

I also say go for the 9800gtx.