Waiting on Crossfire...?

[Torsoboy]

Hi, this is my first post here, and I'm hoping to have my conflict ended...

I leave for college Aug. 17th, and this is the main reason I post this. I'll be needing a new computer for my apartment, and it seems that time is against me. Since early July I've been scouting computer parts and getting a system in mind, when I see there is a lot of choose from. I'm going to a computer school, so I'll eventually need one, but how long do I wait?


Things to keep in mind as you read:

• Building my own pc.

• Gaming computer to last a couple years.

• Price range: ~$1500-2000 fully equiped (monitor, keyboard, mouse, tower, speaker/headphones).

• I won't have my own computer after Aug 17th, but I will have access to my roommate's computers.

Ideas: (All these are my general notion about the products, but some may be very wrong).

SLI: I can get it now, yet I must use profiles and other less convinient features.

• 6800(Ultra or GT)'s - Very fast, but somewhat pricey, $550 price range, needs special power/mobo.

• 6600GT's - Affordable under $400, same SLI accessory prices.

Crossfire: I have to wait, but preferable features like on the go profile changing and all game support (ati.com also says there is $100 rebate for these systems).

• X800(XL) - Okay price, quite fast (guess), same dual video card extra prices

• x850(price depending edition) - Very fast, pricey, and pricey accessories

Single: Best part is you don't need expensive SLI/Crossfire boards/power supplies

• 7800gtx - Fast, pricey, available now!

• R520 - Pricey, Next Gen features, Supposedly faster than 7800gtx, but I have to wait again, until Sept/Oct from reports

Explanation:
So many options, but it all comes down to three things: waiting vs. power vs. price. A big thing for me to do is figure out how long I'm going without a computer after Aug. 17th. It will be somewhat difficult for me to do this, because I play games on the computer a lot, but I do have my roommates PC's to play on if I have to. If the R520 comes out in October, it kind of rules out waiting to me, because that is basically 2 months without my own computer. I could live with mid to late September of waiting for Crossfire/new Ati card, if the power and price is worth it. Also, if I wait I get to see the price drops on Nvidia and ATI cards and get more power for the price.

My roommate already has a 7800gtx PC that runs great, but he paid $2200 (a tad over my budget) and I'd like to have my own unique PC. If I wait for a month or two just to find I get a 3% performance gain over his system, for 8% less price, I don't think it is worth it at all.


I've already waited a month, and I definately can't order my computer parts until I get to my apartment, so it's just a question of how much longer to wait. I've given a lot of my thoughts here and I could really use some help deciding!!! Thank you very much for reading!

 

[gac009]

Im optimistic about crossfire myself but if I were you I would go for the 7800GTX, IT WORKS, you know it works and you can actually buy it.

 

[xTYBALTx]

Don't get a double video card solution. It does not make economic sense.

6800GT x2 = $680
7800GTX x1 = $500

7800GTX > 6800GT x2

Now, if you're talking about waiting for the R520 vs. the 7800GTX. . . just depends on whether you're a patient person or not I suppose.

 

[addinator]

with your budget, you might be better off with the 7800gtx... that is quite a beast. and besides, if you get an SLI motherboard you can always double up later if you wish as for going SLI. if you look in my sig you can see my rig specs, and i absolutely love mine. though, i must agree, economically... it hurts.. badly. also... care to mention the other inconvenient features? personally, i like the profiles. allows me to set up the games exactly as i want. and you don't have to use the profiles, you do know that? there are global driver settings that you set up, and can run any game under those settings.

 

[Torsoboy]

This is true. The 7800GTX works great, but the thing I don't know if I can stand if buying a slightly less powerful system than my roommate (because I want to spend less money) and it would kill me inside to get a 7800GTX now, and in 4 weeks have a new card/Crossfire come out that is a ton faster. Part of me says to go with the 7800GTX would be a great move, but another part of me doesn't want to step forward without knowing for sure.

I just thought of something else though... Nvidia is coming out with the Lesser 7800GTX's in this coming week if I hear correctly, would it be a good move to wait and see how these perform in SLI and go from there?

Also, I have a question: What are the limitations of SLI? From what I have read, the profiles are an inconvinience, but how does this work? Do I have to right click my tray icon and change the profile, or can I just start the game and so long as it's supported, play in SLI?

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Keysplayr]

My suggestion would be to get an SLI capable mobo and a single eVGA 7800GTX now, and then use their step up program to get a better card (if they come out with one) within the 3 months of your purchase. They give you full value of your purchase price of the 7800GTX toward a better card from them (again, if they have one.) After 3 months however, you are stuck with the card. But there are definately worse cards out there to be stuck with. And, if you are stuck with it, you may add a second one later on.

SLI.. Only if the game doesn't utilize SLI automatically, or the nvidia driver doesn't already have this game info in its drivers, do you need to create a profile which I hear takes all of 30 seconds.

X800XL. If your talking 7800GTX, the XL should not even be in your vocabulary. Good card, not a "great" card compared to a 7800GTX.

Crossfire. Sorry, I have ZERO info for you. Not out yet and no finished products to be had. You may find benches on Anandtech video section I believe. But, until it comes out, we don't have a clue.

Summary:

SLI capable motherboard
Single eVGA 7800GTX for now.
Either step up through eVGA within 3 months, or add a second eVGA 7800GTX

By the way, eVGA just recently announced lifetime warranties on their graphics products.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Try to not to be swayed by fanboys' in here.

 

[addinator]

for the profiles... its not hard. you can either set up an individual profile for each game if you wish, you can even create your own custom ones as well, or you can set up the global driver settings and run the game under those. the game doesn't even need to be supported to play in SLI, that is a misconception. you use the global driver settings. its easy. you go into coolbits and change them from there. i like them, personally.

 

[Torsoboy]

keysplayr2003:
I really like your suggestion. I can get my computer immediately, and if I need performance I can get it later, by adding another card or getting a whole new one. I'll definately be checking out the eVGA site for more info!

keysplayr2003 and addinator:
I figured profiles weren't too hard to use. It seems like ATI is really plugging their feature about support for all games, yet it seems nVidia basically has it. It's nothing new over-advertising something, because if they didn't, no one would be interested!


If anyone else has anything to add, or any other clever trade-up ideas, please reply!

 

[fstime]

I'd wait and see what happens.

We havn't seen ATI's product yet.

 

[Torsoboy]

BouZouki:
What are the ETA's for Crossfire and their new card? Last time I heard, Crossfire cards were suppose to be available in Aug. and the mobo's in June... But it doesn't look like it happened. My guess would be sometime September. As for the R520, I have no idea when that is coming out, I heard September and maybe Oct, but I'm not really sure.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Torsoboy
BouZouki:
What are the ETA's for Crossfire and their new card? Last time I heard, Crossfire cards were suppose to be available in Aug. and the mobo's in June... But it doesn't look like it happened. My guess would be sometime September. As for the R520, I have no idea when that is coming out, I heard September and maybe Oct, but I'm not really sure.

Crossfire arrival = September. Inquirer link but says confirmed by ATI

R520 = September/October according to info from various sources. And then pricing and availability is unknown.

 

[ddogg]

Hopefully it might be released in Sep/Oct but ATI has a great reputation for paper launches. If you're budget for graphics card is about $500 i suggest you wait as there are several indications that the GTX will be toppled. if you;re looking at a cheaper card i suggest you get the 7800GT for ~$450.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: ddogg
Hopefully it might be released in Sep/Oct but ATI has a great reputation for paper launches. If you're budget for graphics card is about $500 i suggest you wait as there are several indications that the GTX will be toppled. if you;re looking at a cheaper card i suggest you get the 7800GT for ~$450.

I think the whole reason ATI is waiting so long to launch is they won't dare commit a paper launch with the outstanding launch of the 7800GTX. ATI wants to have shelf stock the day of launch. I hope they can do it and "KEEP" the shelves stocked for more than a week or two. Add to this nvidias Aug. 11th launch of the 7800GT and the reported immediate availability. Judging from the 7800GTX launch and immense availability, I would say that it would be a cinch for Nvidia to have the 7800GT and anything else way more than readily available in mass quantities. (coneheads LOL/SNL. ahh memories)

 

[Munky]

I'd recommend getting a single 7800gtx - it's a fast card and will definitely do well for about 2 years. I know it's tempting to wait, because there's always something new around the corner, but the great thing is if the r520 and crossfire turn out better than the 7800gtx, you can sell the 7800gtx and get the r520. But for now, we don't know much about the next gen Ati products, so if you have to get something now, get the 7800gtx.

As for SLI, it's not as cost effective as a single card, because IMO it's better to upgrade a single more often than keep 2 cards for a long time. Same thing about Crossfire, I dont think it's a good investment to shell out money for 2 cards of the same era, although some people like having the option to do so. My motherboard can be modded to support SLI for free, but I'm not doing it anyway.

 

[bklyn1028]

I have a question, i have a single 6800GT, plays well, but a little lagging, amd 3500+, since i allready have that card, should i get another and SLI, or a single 7800GT or GTX?

 

[mindgam3]

Speaking of crossfire i just took a call with someone asking for a "multi gpu enabler crossfire board" I was like sorry man we dont have those in stock yet lol .