480 SLI the value choice?

[RavenXXX2]

^^LOL, enjoy the fireworks...muhaha

 

[kylew]

The vagueries of non-like-for-like, CPU-limited and occasionally VRAM-limited scaling results don't interest me, but this bit does:

"I knew this 800W 80 PLUS Gold unit would be fine for a pair of GeForce GTX 480s, but I was unsure if it'd handle a trio. Despite power numbers that crested 900W from the wall, it did its job well, and never exhibited stability issues, even in the packed HAF 932 enclosure."

That's an 800w PSU handling TRI-SLI 480s! Bang goes (heh) the "you'll need a new power supply" argument, I guess. Reviews say the Corsair TX850w I've got maintains nigh-on 90% efficiency at 100% load, it could run two overclocked 480s with ease. I already knew it could take it, this just confirms to me that it wouldn't even be stressed.

The chances of me making an insane impulse splurge have just increased.

That 800w PSU was definitely not running 3 GTX480s.

2 GTX480s will have a TDP of 600w, that's 200w for the rest of the PC.

 

[cavemanoc]

...
"I knew this 800W 80 PLUS Gold unit would be fine for a pair of GeForce GTX 480s, but I was unsure if it'd handle a trio. Despite power numbers that crested 900W from the wall, it did its job well, and never exhibited stability issues, even in the packed HAF 932 enclosure."
...
That's an 800w PSU handling TRI-SLI 480s! Bang goes (heh) the "you'll need a new power supply" argument, I guess....

Yikes You may well get away with running your PSU [well] beyond it's power envelope for short periods, but it's certainly not a sound strategy for the long term survival of your rather expensive kit as anyone who's had a PSU blow, taking other components with it, will tell you...

 

[unknownsock]

Its funny that most of the games of that list are optimised for Nvdia.
I could make my own list if i could be arsed and use ATI optimised games but that would be pointless.

I havn't trusted toms for a while anyway, they seem to be quite biased.
And i didn't get this conclusion from graphics cards.

 

[Marvin]

If using UK prices, I wouldn't be comparing 5870s to GTX480s. Ok, they are both the single GPU flagships of either brand, but considering that the cheapest (not in stock) GTX480 is at £450, and the cheapest 5870 (in stock) is £320, I would think it more reasonable to compare 2 GTX480s to either two 5970s (~£50 more per card), or a 5970 and a 5870. Then we'd have a nice fair comparison in the 'see what my money gets' wars...

 

[gurusan]

TBH I don't think the 5870 is that great value if you are going for a multi-gpu setup.

The 5850s as below makes far more sense to me and it's quite obvious to me that the 480 is silly. Even with 470s you only save around 50ish quid and you get 3 5850s vs only 2 470s.

 

[rypt]

WHO THE **** needs SLI or Tri-Fire for those cards ffs

 

[Gerard]

WHO THE **** needs SLI or Tri-Fire for those cards ffs

People playing with eyefinity that have the fsaa cranked up? Or people with 30" screens with the fsaa cranked.

 

[gurusan]

peeps with monies

 

[Cd0gz]

The heading might as well have read-17 SLI'ed GTXs 480 are faster than 17 Xfired 5870! Everyone sell your house now so we can give all our cash to those money grabbing bas***ds.- I wont buy more than one top end card because as we all start heading down that road we will be heading toward 17 cards as soon as 'they' think they can get away with it.

 

[gurusan]

failcards tbh

 

[Tute]

I'll pass.

1. My case won't take it.
2. My PSU won't take it.
3. My cooling won't take it.

 

[widnesjohn]

Theres no value in buying two 480's and i guess that doesnt include the power supply, soundproofing your case needs now as well and the extra cooling for your system unless you watercool the cards as thats the only way to sort out the heat and sound

 

[Tweaker]

I think something has been happening the last few months, since when did paying £500 for a single card become the norm, and when SLI and the word "value" become usable in the same sentence. Remember the Radeon 4870, £180 for near nop end performance, anyone?

You have to wonder if "gamers" are using eyefinity, or people with too much time and money on thier hands.

 

[JeffyB]

Hugs my cf5770's, really have been fantastic performing cards for me and no need to change psu or cooling. Still yet to find a game i want to play that gives them problems and if the only game to really matter for the 480 as it seems is metro, i really dont care, its average anyway. For that sort of money i'd rather trifire 5850 or some other 5xxx xfire option.

 

[Aedus]

Take out Metro 2033 and it will be the other way round.

 

[AMG]

i ll pass, I got a X48 mobo

plus I have the nasty tendency to put my foot behined the PC as there is no were else to put them

also i can't warrent their price

 

[Hotwired]

WHO THE **** needs SLI or Tri-Fire for those cards ffs

These are gaming cards, no one needs them at all.

People want them for various self gratifying reasons which don't have to be justified to anyone else. Heck, one reason can be the attention gained from spending outrageous amounts on hardware.