Second Geforce 460 GTX for 2d surround?

[foulowl]

All I want to do is play half life 2 on three monitors. I currently have a 460 GTX and a 6600 GT. The 6600 GT is obviously way past its lifespan, so I want to get a second 460 GTX.

However, some folks have suggested that even the 460 GTX is too outdated! I don't want to have to get two new video cards though.

Should I just get the 460 GTX? (I might want to play Crysis on 2d surround too but I am fine with lower resolution or graphics settings)

Thanks!

 

[striker410]

A pair of GTX 460s is slightly above a GTX 580. GTX 460s (especially overclocked) offer incredible performance for the price, even now. Certainly not outdated.

The thing that's going to kill them at that res is AA. If you turn off AA (FXAA is fine) you should be just fine.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/314

Cheers!

 

[foulowl]

Could I do like 2xAA? Or would high quality AA work in say HL2 but not Crysis? Thanks!!

 

[striker410]

I'm not sure, I have a single monitor setup. Here's the thing. Multi monitor setups have a much higher resolution, which taxes the VRam. What takes up even MORE of that Vram? AA. I'm sure it depends from game to game but AA is best left off on taxing games. Newer games like BF3 can use the MUCH less taxing FXAA. If the game has that, use it. I think it 2x AA will be alright. Maybe 4x. Just derp around with the settings until you get a good mix.

Keep in mind, Source does not support SLI (I think), so you'll basically be running off a single GTX 460. Things could turn into a slideshow.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:

$ 125.00 460-768 MB (314/592) $ 0.40 - $ 0.42
$ 450.00 580 (616/953) $ 0.73 - $ 0.94
$ 480.00 7950 (603/NG) $ 0.80 - ERR
$ 560.00 7970 (675/NG) $ 0.83 - ERR

So for $125, ya gonna get 592 fps..... compare that with .....

$450 for a 580 and 616 fps .... 4% more performance for 3.6 times the price
$480 for a 7950 and 603 fps .... 2% more performance for 3.8 times the price
$560 for a 7970 and 675 fps .... 14% more performance for 4.5 times the price

I'd say you're good with the 460.

 

[foulowl]

Awesome, thanks a lot guys!!

I think I'll snag that second 460 then.

I definitely want to play 2d surround, which I think requires SLI. Does that mean HL2 won't work with surround?

Thanks again!

 

[striker410]

Nah Surround will work, you just might not get the extra performance of the second card. It could be that the second card will essentially be a pipeline, as opposed to a double in performance. This would be specific to HL2/Source games/any game not supporting SLI. Most modern titles support SLI.