New computer for Xmas

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
Gnoad,

The nVidia GayForce 6800 Ultra PCI-E SLi compatible card comes out in January, if I remember correctly.

My friends would get awfully angry/envious at my "show off" SLi 6800 Gt's/Ultra's so it would be beneficial to use a single card x850 in order not to angry them or what do you think

Well, you think they would be mad at you running all your games in 1600x1200 with 8xAA, 8xAF?

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: jvarszegi

Originally posted by: Gnoad
If you want to save about $400, drop the FX-55 for a 4000 or a 90nm 3500. Both will OC to FX speeds but be much cheaper, saving you lots of money. Even if you could OC the FX-55 to a higher level, the performance difference will be very small compared to upgrading to SLI 6800GT.

Gnoad, I am what you would call an uber-newbie when it comes to most of this stuff, so forgive me in advance before reading the next questions.

I've been doing lots of reading lately, and lots of people on boards are saying that systems using the latest cards experience a processor bottleneck. Does this mean that to get the full worth out of a top-end SLI setup you'd need the absolutely best processor(s) going? Even then, is there the possibility of a processor bottleneck?

I just answered that question. Hope it helps.

 

[GungSeng]

jvarszegi,

I am/was getting a ATi card in order to paly HL2 well. In fact it would be my first ATi card ever. But if I want to get nForce 4 (PCI-E only) and Geforce 6800 ultra PCI-E then I would have to wait until January when it comes out (like I said many times before). But x850 comes out then as well so I need choose between SLi 6800gt's, x850 xt pe or 6800 ultra (and a another 6800 ultra later in the year so i can put them in SLi).

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
jvarszegi,

I am/was getting a ATi card in order to paly HL2 well. In fact it would be my first ATi card ever. But if I want to get nForce 4 (PCI-E only) and Geforce 6800 ultra PCI-E then I would have to wait until January when it comes out (like I said many times before). But x850 comes out then as well so I need choose between SLi 6800gt's, x850 xt pe or 6800 ultra (and a another 6800 ultra later in the year so i can put them in SLi).

If it were up to me, I'd opt for the dual GTs, as they are $100 cheaper than the ultras, yet usually OC to Ultra speeds. A for HL2, yes, ATI had the slight edge when using just 1 card, but as of right now, SLI will outperform anything. Now I have to take a break because I've done nothing but type responses for the last 2 hours. Fingers hurt.

 

[GungSeng]

Good Job Gnoad,

I'm going to look at SLi vs. ATi benchmarks for a coupla mins and then post new stuff here so stay tuned.

Thanks

 

[jvarszegi]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
jvarszegi,

I am/was getting a ATi card in order to paly HL2 well. In fact it would be my first ATi card ever. But if I want to get nForce 4 (PCI-E only) and Geforce 6800 ultra PCI-E then I would have to wait until January when it comes out (like I said many times before). But x850 comes out then as well so I need choose between SLi 6800gt's, x850 xt pe or 6800 ultra (and a another 6800 ultra later in the year so i can put them in SLi).

Right. So what I'm basically saying is, as a newbie it sounds like to me that the best setup possible, even though it's slightly over your budget, would use two 6800 Ultras and SLI. You can buy one of them now (or in Jan. anyway), and it's not like HL2 will be unplayable! I mean, you're upgrading from a P2, you should already be pretty goddamned happy at that point. Then when you get your next paycheck, you can add another card.

I understand (again as a newbie) that there is the id/Valve engine competition going on right now, and each is optimized for a specific architecture more than the other. This makes the future game support for both cards uncertain. I'm also keeping in mind that you said this is specifically a rig for playing HL2, but I can't believe that it's the only game you'll ever want to play on your rig. The 6800 supports Shader Model 3 in hardware, but ATI cards don't (unless I'm mistaken). Two 6800s in SLI are most likely powerful enough to best the top-end ATI contender right now, even on ATI-optimized games.

All of these facts, swimming in my head at the same time, give me the strong common-sense intuition that especially since you've picked an SLI motherboard, the 6800 Ultra coming out in January is your best choice; it's what I would pick myself. I won't clutter up your thread any more, and it'll be interesting to see what you pick.

 

[Gnoad]

Here's Anandtechs SLI info Hope it helps.

 

[jvarszegi]

Here I go, with another piece of clutter: I noticed in Anandtech's x850 review that the GeForce 6800 Ultra consumed 237 watts under peak usage. Take this into account in your power-supply choice if you choose SLI, since two of these beasts might consume up to 470 watts or more, leaving less than 100 watts for the rest of your system!

Edit: Sorry, I didn't see Gnoad's post. It looks like two SLI'ed Ultras at peak would consume 329 watts. This is still more than the 257 for the X850 XT Platinum Edition, but not nearly as scary as 470.

 

[GungSeng]

hmm I've read the SLi thingy a couple of times.

jvarszegi, the OCZ Powerstream 520w should be enough, dont you think?

Guys, if you can find me a comparison where SLi 6800GT's beat x800 xt PE in HL2 with 8x AA and 8x AF im definately going for SLi then.
Thanks.

So far I haven't found any comparisons.

 

[jvarszegi]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
hmm I've read the SLi thingy a couple of times.

jvarszegi, the OCZ Powerstream 520w should be enough, dont you think?

Guys, if you can find me a comparison where SLi 6800GT's beat x800 xt PE in HL2 with 8x AA and 8x AF im definately going for SLi then.
Thanks.

So far I haven't found any comparisons.

I hope that 520w is enough, but I'm just getting ready to build my first system myself from scratch. You certainly seem to have made some nice choices, but I haven't totalled up the power requirements for all the parts. I do think you should try to leave some headroom so your system can grow over the next few years, but that's just common sense. From that perspective maybe your first choice would've been better.

This page has some SLI stats, but with a difference in AA rate (4x vs. the 8x you wanted):
http://www.anandtech.com/video...oc.aspx?i=2284&p=7

This page shows the X850 early benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/video...oc.aspx?i=2290&p=3

These benchmarks seem to indicate two things: that the 6800 Ultra in SLI is comparable with the X850 XT for HL2 at high res, not beating it hands-down as some people are claiming. They both seem awesome to me for that game, but the 6800 Ultra SLI will be more expensive, which is what you said in the first place. All your options are expensive, though.

The 6800 SLI would probably beat the pants off the X850 for lots of games, though, specifically future ones using id's Doom 3 engine and all current games optimized for the Nvidia architecture. It will probably play future games using the Valve engine about as well as the X850XT.

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

here is an SLI benchmark
and here is the X850.

I know its not the exact same benchmark but at least it gives you a general idea. And its not 8x AA but 4x is the max I could find.

And a Powerstream 520w will work fine for an SLI setup.

 

[GungSeng]

Thanks guys

Jeesus Christ!

I compared those two results where the 6800 ultra got 55 fps on both benchmarks and then I compared the x850 and the 6800gt SLi. The 6800gt's got 82 frps and the x850 xt pe got only 62 fps. Now that is what I call ownage.

It sure looks like I am going for the dual 6800gt's

Thanks. Have you found any other results?

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21

Originally posted by: Gnoad
On a side note, I was under the impression the 6800ultra is NOT SLI compatible, so the highest end was the 6800GT. Am I wrong?

Yes, you are incorrect. The 6800NU and the 6600 Vanilla will be the only cards in the 6800 lineup that will not be SLI compatible.

The standard 6800 does have the SLI connector:

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/vie...msi6800pcie&page=3

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Here I go, with another piece of clutter: I noticed in Anandtech's x850 review that the GeForce 6800 Ultra consumed 237 watts under peak usage. Take this into account in your power-supply choice if you choose SLI, since two of these beasts might consume up to 470 watts or more, leaving less than 100 watts for the rest of your system!

Edit: Sorry, I didn't see Gnoad's post. It looks like two SLI'ed Ultras at peak would consume 329 watts. This is still more than the 257 for the X850 XT Platinum Edition, but not nearly as scary as 470.

That is for the entire system, not just the video cards. A 6800Ultra uses about 72W maximum:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ati-vs-nv-power_2.html

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
Thanks guys

Jeesus Christ!

I compared those two results where the 6800 ultra got 55 fps on both benchmarks and then I compared the x850 and the 6800gt SLi. The 6800gt's got 82 frps and the x850 xt pe got only 62 fps. Now that is what I call ownage.

It sure looks like I am going for the dual 6800gt's

Thanks. Have you found any other results?

I told ya. SLI currently can't be beat. I swear there were more benchies done here at anandtech, but I can't seem to find them.

 

[GungSeng]

Now it is final.

I am getting dual XFX 6800GT's in SLi (isn't XFX the best nVidia manufacturer there is?) for my next computer.

Thank you everyone! You sure can influence people.

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: GungSeng
Now it is final.

I am getting dual XFX 6800GT's in SLi (isn't XFX the best nVidia manufacturer there is?) for my next computer.

Thank you everyone! You sure can influence people.

I wouldn't say one brand is really better than the other unless there are actual differences in the card. Like BFG OCs the core speed by 20mhz in their 6800 cards, Leadtek uses a massive copper heatsink, etc. Other than that the manufacturers basically use Nvidia reference cards.

 

[GungSeng]

Well can you tell me the differences, that you know of, between the card manufacturers and what is your personal favourite and what do you think about XFX?

Thanks

 

[Gnoad]

Never used XFX, though I have no reason to think their cards are bad. I say try to look for BFG as you get a slight OC out of the box, guarunteed to work. My agp 6800gt is evga, no problems with it, basically a reference card. Really just look for the cheapest one you can find as nothing will be worse than the stock nvidia design, just make sure its not like a 6800gt EZ version or some other dumbed down version.

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

I personally like BFG as they are OCed right out of the box and carry an awesome lifetime warrenty

 

[GungSeng]

Right now it seems that BFG doesn't make any 6800 GT's in PCIe, yet atleast.

I've been loking at other manufacturers and I've noticed that PCIe 6800 Gt's are actually pretty scarce. I wonder why.

Thanks anyway.

Any idea when BFG 6800 GT PCIe comes out?

 

[Gnoad]

Oh, its out, but unfortunately supply and demand troubles have made it scarce for now. I imagine once nf4 gets here that many more people will be looking for pci-e and many more manufacturers will jump on and things will be ok.

 

[GungSeng]

Are you sure. I don't seem to able to find it in the BFG website. Oh well, maybe I am just stupid & blind.

I better check newegg.com.

Can you provide any links to shops that actually sell them?

Thanks

EDIT: Newegg.com didn't have them at all. Are you still sure that they are out? I just emailed them about the PCIe 6800 GT.

 

[tbates757]

This is all you need to know: a single x850 XT Platinum Edition beats 6800GT SLI in Half-Life 2. Get the OCZ Powerstream (or Modstream) 520W PSU. Other than that it looks good.

 

[GungSeng]

tbates757

Hi there. Can you actually provide benchmarks to prove your point? If not then I am afraid that it is going to be hard convincing me. Anyway it is good to have different opinions.

Thanks for your point.