graphics card question

[DW_ImAnArmyMan]

Becuase i bought a new SLI motherboard and when im buying my new graphics card im gonna purchase 2 of them and connect them together.

[noxiousCaitSith]

hmm...i don't have an sli compatible board. i'd rather just get the next new gpu instead of buying 2. not really that much of an enthusiast. i would get the GTS but i'm not sure if my power supply is even able to do the 8800gt. supposedly it can cause other people have stuff similar to what i have...i guess i'll find out. i'm just happy that i finally have what i need to finish my computer. it's been at least 3 months since i started buying everything.

also, i've heard that the 1GB 8800gt actually does worse than the 512MB. i'm not sure why, but i'd go to somewhere like anandtech.com and aks cause that's where i get a lot of my information from.

and i have to flash my motherboard apparently cause it doesn't support the new CPU right out of the box...stupidness...cause on gigabyte's website it says that my motherboard does support the q9450. that is slightly deceptive. now i have to find a lga775 cpu and put that in first so i can flash the mobo unless there's some other way. i have no clue.

[zeus]

Ehh.. SLI is a marketing thing. In my opinion the return on it is minimal. You already have a fast card.

What are you trying to accomplish?

[zeus]

Sorry.. I got a couple of the posts above confused. Thought you already had an 8800 not an 8600.

Still think that SLI is not worth the money.

[Trowa]

Yeah, I agree. SLI is not worth the money. The gains aren't that significant for the cost. Better off to purchase the fastest single card you can afford.

Even 2 9800 GX2 SLI don't give that much of an improvement to warrant the cost of $1200.

Save your money and put it towards a PS3 or Wii.

ImanArmyMan, look into the 8800 GTS G92. it's a nice card that keeps pace with the GTX/Ultra at half the price.

[KillaDEATH]

I've noticed through the years how people will read someones experience with a situation and try to apply it to their own. In computer hardware upgrades, it doesn't apply. You have to look at what you want, need, play, and can afford before buying what we call enthusiast computer parts. Many people will buy the nVidia motherboard and never get a second card. The full blown nVidia motherboards run from $250 on up. If you never get the second card to SLI you might have been better off saving $150 with an Intel motherboard and spending it elsewhere. SLI makes sense to me when the games you play at the resolution your monitor supports will see a noticable gain. Not that long ago 2 8800 GTS 320s in SLI were faster than the GTX alone while being over $100 cheaper. Prices change and newer models come out to change the results in bang for the buck but in the end it always comes down to a single card running less power is better than 2,3, or even 4 cards when the price and performance is the same total. Don't forget that you lose Dual monitor support while SLI is active and just because you have them installed doesn't mean they're active. Resolution is also a big key to reading online test results. When your LCD runs at 1680x1050 but the latest and greatest graphics card or SLI results start to show their benefit at 1920x1200 on up, you are wasting your money. There was a time when SLI made sense by buying one card now and upgrading later if neccesary or money came in but that simply doesn't work anymore. 6 months from now there will be a better card for less money and/or your current card wont even be available. The AMD CrossfireX solution is better in this area because it allows you to mix and match with cheaper or even better cards later. You still have to purchase the motherboard that supports it so you should always add the increase in motherboard cost that supports multiple slots into the equation over the single card with single card slot motherboard.

What would I get if I wanted to play COD4 at 1920x1200?

You can't beat nVidia in this game and the 8800GTS 512 can be purchased for under $250 today. You can still run dual monitors with this card and it does have the SLI connector if you just have to have it.

Just so you know I do own this card along with the SLI motherboard, an Intel P35 motherboard, as well as 2 of the older 8800GTS 320 in SLI. I'd be willing to test either config with a Q6600 in a game for you when I get home in a couple of weeks.

[noxiousCaitSith]

indeed. crossfire sounds better...upgrade and keep your old card. i'll stick with just one though. mainly cause i don't have that kind of money.

also, newegg finally got the q9450. it's OEM and still about $370 which is kinda too much...considering i got the x3350 for about $50 less.

[XAeonFluxX]

i am running a q6600 with a water cooler tower so i have it matching that quad core zeon of yours and the great thing is no fans!!!!!
i only am running a 8600gtx those so i have not taking the plunge to 8800 yet im waiting for them to get the 9600 working right then ill by one of them