1 GPU or 2

[twlawrence]

If i were looking to spend around 300 dollars on a new GPU for my system, would i get better performance out of 1 higher end GPU, or 2 lower ones in a Crossfire/SLI configuration?

 

[shrkbay]

probably you'll get more from CF/SLI, especially from CF due to good scaling on latest series, but having SLI/CF is a bunch of issues, so that's why i recommend having 1 higher end GPU

 

[wolfram23]

Slightly better performance from, say, CF 6850s or SLI 460s than a single 570 or 6970, but you also won't be able to upgrade it. I'd get the single better card now and then in a year or two if you want more performance or get a bigger screen or go multimonitor, you have to room to upgrade by just adding a card.

 

[beltzy]

Go single card- a GTX 570, HD 6950 (2GB BIOS flashed to 6970), or HD 6970 are all good choices. The 6950 is the only one of those choices that is going to come in under $300, but the other two are still great cards if you can come up with the extra dollars.

What resolution are you playing at and what types of games? You may be looking at more muscle than you need. Another thing to consider is PSU (can your psu support a dual card setup- typically requires more connectors etc) and mobo (is it crossfire/sli compatible)?

 

[twlawrence]

Thank you for the replies. This system is actually for my friend and the truth is, the entire system is massive overkill, but he insists on spending this much and having a system that will be amazing for the next couple of years. Right now the only game he plays is WoW, but he says he is preparing for the next big title that he will switch to.

The system has this CPU/MB combo going in to it. Which card(s) would you recommend for this combo? Also, the power supply he has is 850W.

MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K

Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Kkkk1]

Go single card- a GTX 570, HD 6950 (2GB BIOS flashed to 6970), or HD 6970 are all good choices. The 6950 is the only one of those choices that is going to come in under $300, but the other two are still great cards if you can come up with the extra dollars.

What resolution are you playing at and what types of games? You may be looking at more muscle than you need. Another thing to consider is PSU (can your psu support a dual card setup- typically requires more connectors etc) and mobo (is it crossfire/sli compatible)?

I have to disagree slightly regarding more power than you need. I personally don't think you can ever have too much power in a realistc scenario. It just means a super powerful card will last longer if you are playing at an average resolution.

 

[shrkbay]

@beltzy, i'd also add 560Ti, it comes for around 260$, but is also worth a try, OCs like a beast and reaches 570s levels, but 6950 outperforms it and is cheaper...

for this system i'd go with 6970/570 doesn't matter, which one, both run head to head and have more or less same amount of +s and -s, well maybe 6970 a bit more, but it'd be really a great system...