Graphics card choices, to SLI or not to SLI

[Pacfanweb]

Okay, I'm going to build a new computer. There was a period, for a few years, when I kept up with what the latest of the latest in all the components was. So I'd know what was the best "bang for the buck" in everything.
That's important to me...I usually don't just buy the absolute, bleeding-edge, latest components. I like to step down a notch or two, get 95-98% of the performance, but save lots of money.
Anyway, I've let myself go as far as keeping up with the latest and greatest, so I'll see what the AT graphics wizards can tell me.

My first step is figuring out what to do about a video card(s). It seems that the 8800 GTX is the best way to go for a single card, from what I've read. Most of the performance of the top card, but much cheaper.
I'll decide on my video card setup and build around that.

My question is this: since the SLI thing is popular again (I still have a pair of Voodoo 2's I used in SLI mode), do I have the option of maybe buying 2 much less expensive cards, SLI'ing them, and getting the same performance?
Or does it not work that way?

I figure with all the rigs at Anandtech, someone must have crossed this bridge before.

What I'll use the computer for: Surfing, gaming. I don't use really high resolutions, since I don't like having to put my face practically on the screen to see things. I currently have a 19" CRT Viewsonic Pro that I only use 1024x768. I will eventually get a larger, widescreen LCD. So I'll want my card to be able to do a higher res. to match whatever monitor I end up with, so I guess I'll need my setup to scream at least at 1600x1200 or so.

Suggestions?

 

[jeffw2767602]

I dont have an SLI rig, nor do I have any experience with it, but I was researching SLI and decided against it, even though I have a 24inch lcd with a native res of 1900x1200. In short, two 8600gts's in sli will not perform on par with one 8800gts. Those were the 2 options I was exploring. In some instances, one 8800gtx performed better than 2 in SLI. It really depends on the game or application. In addition, you have to use an nVidia chipset which is known for its poor stability and bugs. Anyway, I would say the best bang for you buck it buy an evga 320 or 640mb 8800gts model and use the step up program to grab one of the mid range g92 models that come out in november. Thats my plan anyway.

 

[Munky]

This question has been debated for a long time, and every time the general consensus comes out that a single high end card beats 2 midrange cards. Given that at this time new midrange cards like the 8600gts are not performing as well as older generation cards at the same price point, you stand no chance of matching a single 8800gts in performance with two 8600 cards, nevermind matching a 8800gtx.

 

[imported_Filbert]

If you ask me SLI is only worth it for those who want better performance than the most expensive cards can offer (by buying two of the top of the line), or those who already have a card and want a cheap performance boost to give them a little more time before upgrading is necessary. If you buy a single card that serves your needs now you should be able to get a second in a year or so for almost half the price and get much better value than a new lower end card. That's what I did with two 6600GTs to skip over the Nvidia 7000 series.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Filbert
If you ask me SLI is only worth it for those who want better performance than the most expensive cards can offer (by buying two of the top of the line), or those who already have a card and want a cheap performance boost to give them a little more time before upgrading is necessary. If you buy a single card that serves your needs now you should be able to get a second in a year or so for almost half the price and get much better value than a new lower end card. That's what I did with two 6600GTs to skip over the Nvidia 7000 series.

That's what I did to skip the G8x series. I got a 7950GT a while ago and paid $300 or so for it. I recently just picked up another 7950GT for $150. That's the price of an 8600GT(S) and my 7950GT 512MB SLI set-up kicks the &$#@ out of it. I'm just waiting now for the G92's, which I'll do the same thing, pick up a 9800GTS, wait, pick up another later, and skip out on the next gen cards after that.

 

[Pacfanweb]

So if my goal was 8800 GTX performance, there's not two lesser cards in SLI that would equal that performance, for less money than the actual 8800?
Just doing some quick looking at Toms Hardware's VGA charts, it looks like the two lesser cards it would take to equal an 8800 would cost about the same or a bit more than just getting the one faster card. I see what you guys are saying...might as well just get the one faster card, then add one more in SLI when the price really drops.

My current system is an Athlon 64 3200, and a Radeon 9700 Pro. When I built this system 5 years ago, the 9700 was the absolute top of the line video card. Now it isn't even on any of the VGA charts.
I've avoided buying much in the way of FPS games the last couple years, because I have Doom 3, Far Cry, and Serious Sam 2....and none of them would run smoothly at even medium detail on my rig. So I simply refused to play them. Just don't see the point in buying the latest, best-eye-candy-type games, just to turn all the detail off so it'll run.
But I would like to eventually play those games, and others. So I'm building a new machine.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The other drawback is that every game needs a SLI profile to get a sizeable boost in performance. There are some cases in which the extra overhead causes you to lose performance.

 

[Pacfanweb]

So I'm thinking I'll be okay with an 8800 GTS. That's a good bit cheaper than the GTX and still has good performance, and I see it probably has some overclocking room to boot.

Is this a pretty good choice, or should I really step up to a GTX?

 

[Rage3kMoiz]

SLI is not worth it unless you're willing to spend extra cash on better cooling and a beefy PSU. Not to mention the fact that you need to have a large screen capable of an ultra-resolution such as those beyond 1600x1200, which is where SLI really shows it's worth.
The 8800GTS is a good card and will be able to run all the games out there at high settings and resolutions quite comfortably. So it's the best bet. If you get an 8800GTX, you'd need to have at least an E6600 so as not to bottleneck it.