....and not so much a case of buyers remorse (got the second card for about 115), but was wondering if anyone else has done so recently instead of going high-end single GPU.

If so, what do you think? If not, let me know your thoughts anyway

A pair or GTX280 in SLI should be around as fast, if not faster than a GTX480 at stock. Let's assume your own GTX280 and the one you got both value at £115, that means it only cost you £230 for the same/similiar performance as a GTX480 which cost around £350+. Sure you are missing out on dx11, but to be honest there's nothing spectacular with the current dx11 effects in the current range of dx11 games...they hardly look any better than dx10.

Thanks for the reply. In terms of value, I paid 250 for my first GTX 280 (from OCUK last year) so all in all we are looking at a cumulative spend that is equal to a GTX 480.

Pretty powerful combo but how hot are they?

Nick1881 said:

Pretty powerful combo but how hot are they?

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Sorry haven't installed the second one yet as its still winging its way over. Will let you know as soon as its here!

I'm using 2 x 275 and they are VERY nice... I have not seen a game that has taxed them 100% yet

Stelly

Random Guy said:

Sorry haven't installed the second one yet as its still winging its way over. Will let you know as soon as its here!

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Well... can't really comment on Buyers Remorse yet then, as you've not had time to regret the purchase after it melts* the inside of your PC

(*this may or may not be an over exaggeration)

HeX said:

Well... can't really comment on Buyers Remorse yet then, as you've not had time to regret the purchase after it melts* the inside of your PC

(*this may or may not be an over exaggeration)

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Lol! I guess I would have to call it pre-buyers remorse or something. I have a large case so hopefully will not be a problem. Of course, if it irritates me enough I will have to sell the cards on.

Random Guy said:

Thanks for the reply. In terms of value, I paid 250 for my first GTX 280 (from OCUK last year) so all in all we are looking at a cumulative spend that is equal to a GTX 480.

Click to expand...

I think you misunderstood what I meant. I meant you should consider your own GTX280 current value only worth the same as what you paid for the 2nd hand GTX280, meaning £115 each

Doh! I see what you mean

Running gtx 275's in sli here, pretty decent combo, first card was an rma replacement for a broken gtx 280, company was originally gonna refund me £123.00, haggled at them till i got a new replacement card, second identical card was purchased from the members market here for £120.00 iirc.

I have run 280gtx SLI for ages now....

Has served me well & keeps pace with my brothers 5970

Handles pretty much every game you throw at it!

Somehow think that is won't keep up with a 5970 rofl, maybe a 5870 wishful thinking

It won't do that badly against a 5970 tbh... depending on game - tho it won't keep pace with it in many games unless he doesn't have crossfire enabled (but then you'd beat it).

My heavily OC'd GTX260 SLI was mostly a good bit faster than a stock GTX480, so a well overclocked 280/285 setup in SLI should be even faster again.

Moving to a GTX470 - even with a heavy overclock is mostly a step down - but I plan on going GTX470 SLI eventually anyhow. While I don't exactly have regrets - I wouldn't be in a hurry to upgrade from a 200 series SLI to a single 400 series card.

GTX 280 SLI really does keep up with 5970 - especially in DX9 titles.....

When setting my bros rig up I was using mine to compare against to check that I was getting results uggesting both cores were active on the 5970

I don't think the current generation of gfx has been all that massive a leap over the last - partly because games haven't really moved on far in the last few yrs. Titles are still optimised for consoles which are all still dx9

I've been running a pair of GTX280s for about a year and a half now. Very pleased.

Awesome replies! Really looking forward to it now - [going high end last gen] + [same card now for less monies] = [high end performance for this gen as well] (I hope)

Yeah GTX280-SLI is no slouch and not a bad upgrade path. The key thing is the GTX280 has no weaknesses (other than lack of DX11) - clockspeed, memory speed, number of SP, memory bandwidth, VRAM etc are all decent.

Obviously if you want to be running crazy res like 2560x1600 or something then maybe 1GB VRAM will show it's age and not really be suited for that much power, but at 1920x1200 or below it's hard to beat.

Is the difference between the 295 and a pair of 280's really that much of a difference? All the benchmarks even with release drivers showed the 295 neck a neck just about with a 5870?? Surely the 65nm 280's haven't got a 50-60% advantage over a 295 have they to keep up with a 5970? I'm not saying your wrong but it just seems rather far fetched. Iv no doubt a pair of the 280's will beat a 5870, what games have you seen your 280's keep up with a 5970?

edit: Just been perusing the numbers attainable for the money, most impressive for around £230

Off the top of my head GTX295 is about 15-20% faster than a 5870 - remember 5970 isn't 5870x2 tho - and GTX280 SLI is about 10% faster than a GTX295... so close but no cigar.