£500 - Your opinions?

Morthoseth · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:36

Gaming at 2560x1600, and am currently using a 4870X2 which, while it will still run most things is relatively loud and also, not being able to turn all the bells and whistles on makes me a little sad! So, with £500 - below are my current options.

1)2x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-104-MS
2)2x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-190-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866
3) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-072-GI&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1812

Now then, the only thing that concerns me about the dual cards is whether they will be louder than the single card I have now or not.

Which would you go for if you had the chance? These will be running with an i7 920 @ 4ghz

Tute · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:40

I'd wait. The 6900 series are right around the corner, not to mention the GTX570.

kmufc77 · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:44

For your res definitely a 580 for the extra Vram,which will be needed for some games at that high res.

If the new 69** cards have more than 1gb of vram then wait till then,but im not sure what memory they will come with?

Mr Krugga · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:45

Tute said:
I'd wait. The 6900 series are right around the corner, not to mention the GTX570.

I second this. Both HD6950 xfire and GTX570 sli should fit in the budget, more or less.

Morthoseth · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:46

580 = 1536
470 x 2 = 2560
6870 x 2 = 2048

That is part of my dilemma :-)

reiyushin · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:48

Morthoseth said:
580 = 1536
470 x 2 = 2560
6870 x 2 = 2048

That is part of my dilemma

Not quite as the SLI/Crossfire cards only have the vram on 1 card as a buffer so it's:

580 = 1536
470 x 2 = 1280
6870 x 2 = 1024

The new 69XX cards will make things more interesting, I'd wait!

psychas · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:48

you dont add memory if u crossfire or sli it still going to use only 1 gig or 1.28.

just wait for 69** they will have 2 gig of memory

Morthoseth · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:49

Really? Shows what I know then, lol!

Thanks for clarifying that for me :-)

Looks like waiting is the best option then, just hope they are actually coming out before christmas...

straxusii · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:52

I'd go single 580 now and add another when you can afford it and if you need it.

kedge · 2 Dec 2010 at 10:53

Morthoseth said:
4870X2.

I have used the 4870X2, still got it as new. I use a 5970 and they both sound about the same when gaming.

Mr Krugga · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:09

straxusii said:
I'd go single 580 now and add another when you can afford it and if you need it.

GTX580 costs £390, he'd be better of with a pair of second hand GTX480s for around £500. Or even GTX470s SLI.

easyrider · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:10

I would wait and see what the 6900 series brings.

If you want to buy now then 2 x 6870 will beat GTX 580 for less. They scale really well and are cool and quiet and efficient.

straxusii · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:12

Mr Krugga said:
GTX580 costs £390, he'd be better of with a pair of second hand GTX480s for around £500. Or even GTX470s SLI.

I couldn't recommend 480s due to noise, pair of 470s would be a good alternative.

easyrider · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:13

470 in sli use a hideous amount of power .

We had this discussion in another thread. There is really no real world gains in going SLI 470 over 6870 in xfire.

rolypolyman · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:14

Wait a couple of weeks for 6970\50 and see how good or bad they are.

arc@css · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:19

Wait.

xtremedetailz · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:23

easyrider said:
470 in sli use a hideous amount of power .

We had this discussion in another thread. There is really no real world gains in going SLI 470 over 6870 in xfire.

you mean besides the better and more stable nvidia drivers

to the op, id wait to see what the 6900 series brings, the least it will do or should do is bring prices down a touch.

easyrider · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:25

xtremedetailz said:
you mean besides the better and more stable nvidia drivers

.

No I mean there is nothing to gain in going 470 sli if you don't already own a 470

Morthoseth · 2 Dec 2010 at 11:27

Thanks for all the responses guys, my gut was resting with the 2x 6870's originally (although with the same Frozr II cooler than it son the 470's I linked)

However given the amount of shouts to wait, i'll see what happens in the next fortnight and see what kind of benchmarks the new ATI products provide.

Cleeecooo · 2 Dec 2010 at 12:05

69XX are supposed to come out on the 13th.