Help Upgrading From 9800GT to what?

[iLEktron]

So I'm ready for an upgrade. I need a card(s) that will handle high resolution gaming and photo editing.


Is it better to go with 2-way sli or tri?
I was thinking of GTX 280 1GB 2-way SLI, $200 X2 = $400


Or just buy the VISIONTEK Radeon HD 4870 x2 2gb ddr5, $350

Thanks for your input.

 

[crimson117]

For photo editing, any decent video card is fine; spend money on a better CPU if your photo editing is too slow.

For gaming...

AMD/ATi just came out with a new set of cards, the 5850 and 5870. Read Anandtech's review here.

If you're interested in SLI then I'd recommend getting a crossfire board and buying 2x 5850's or just 1x 5870 now and add another once their price comes down.

Definitely don't do the 4870 x2 at this point. Buying 2x GTX 280's locks you into two older cards with no upgrade path.

Personally I'd choose the 1x 5870 plus a crossfire motherboard.

If you need more specific recommendations, then be more specific about your setup (what resolution? exactly what games? how often do you like to upgrade? what power supply do you have? what cpu? remember that a great video card can be dragged down by a crap cpu.)

 

[v8envy]

How about the 5850 for $260 instead? It'll be a bit slower than the 4870x2, but it's a single GPU. Far fewer problems to deal with. And if the performance is lacking and you really want the multi-GPU agony then just plop in another one.

Depending on the software you run for photo editing the difference between an on-board intel video and a quadfire 5870 will not be perceptible. Make sure the software package you use supports GPU acceleration, and if so which GPUs.

 

[toyota]

OP are you even aware that newer video cards are out? also could you please list ALL your current specs of your pc?

 

[iLEktron]

i7 920
evga classified
6gb ddr3 g.skill storm
1tb
750 watt M12D



FYI that VISIONTEK Radeon HD 4870 x2 2gb ddr5 is ONE card only. not 2

its like having 2 4870 in one card!!

THANKS

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: iLEktron
i7 920
evga classified
6gb ddr3 g.skill storm
1tb
750 watt M12D



FYI that VISIONTEK Radeon HD 4870 x2 2gb ddr5 is ONE card only. not 2

its like having 2 4870 in one card!!

THANKS

what is your obsession with wanting two gpus? its ALWAYS much better to choose an equivalent single gpu card solution. there is ZERO reason to buy a 4870x2 when you could but a 5870 and get the same performance with better features and no multi gpu issues.

 

[iLEktron]

Thanks for everything. i think I'll go with the 5870 or 5850.

 

[alcoholbob]

This is why you don't want dual cards:

4870X2
http://steelforest.net/video/4...280_files/image002.gif

GTX295
http://www.pcgameshardware.com...arSky_MikroRuckler.png

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: iLEktron
Thanks for everything. i think I'll go with the 5870 or 5850.

good move since you have a really good system to put it in. if you are at 1920 or above then certainly go for the 5870 if the extra cost over the 5850 isnt a concern.

 

[iLEktron]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
This is why you don't want dual cards:

4870X2
http://steelforest.net/video/4...280_files/image002.gif

GTX295
http://www.pcgameshardware.com...arSky_MikroRuckler.png

ohh wow, thanks for that. Really opened my eyes.

 

[alcoholbob]

I'm not saying SLI doesn't have it's uses. Let's say there's a game you play that runs at 60fps with a single card? And you want that performance with 8XAA/16XAF? SLI/CF will get you that.

If you are playing a game that's so demanding that you are barely eeking out 20-24fps, dual GPU is not going to help you much there.