8800 SLI dilema

[Spyder]

I'm loolking to put together a new system and am having trouble deciding on whether to go nuts and go for 8800GTX SLI...

Part of the problem is that I'm looking to add a 24" LCD to my pair of 1600x1200 monitors and use all three for photoediting type work - overkill but I like the idea - and switch to SLI for gaming.

I suspect that there's very little out there that's going to stress the cards for gaming even at 1900x1200 but if I take the more cost effective solution of a single 8800 it'll mean staying with two monitors. No tthe end of the world but you know how it is.

Looking at the specs I don't think it's a wise move to go with twin 8600 or 8500.

So what do you experts think... any point in having 8800GTX SLI at the mo'? Needless to say it'll be hooked up with an OC'd C2D.


All input welcome

daveR

 

[Tute]

I might be wrong but I thought SLi disabled any kind of muli-monitor support (i.e only one of the connectors worked).

You could have a single 8800GTX and pop something like a 6200TC in to support the extra monitor?

Also your sig needs fixing, you can have either a picture (400x75) OR 4 lines of text, but not both.

 

[V|per]

i think he meant he would disable SLi for when he wanted to use all the monitors..

But i agree, dont bother with the SLi and get a 2nd cheapy gfx card, like mentionned above, or possibly a 73gt if you awnt something with a little more power...

 

[Spyder]

Thanks for the ideas - I hadn't thought about going with "mismatched" cards... could be a good comprimise.

Any pointers to a currently available lower specced card with twin DVI output?

 

[Tute]

Thanks for the ideas - I hadn't thought about going with "mismatched" cards... could be a good comprimise.

I wouldn't use different makes, e.g an 8800 and an X1300.

It would mean installing two different kinds of drivers, and from past experience they would most likely conflict.

 

[V|per]

Again as above, definately stick with a 2nd nvida card, don't want bother sets of drivers trying to kill each other

 

[jaykay]

Get the 7300gt as the second card
worlds cheapest price @ OCUK

 

[Spyder]

Get the 7300gt as the second card
worlds cheapest price @ OCUK

But alas only one DVI and my FP2000s though old deserve DVI

I suspect I'd be looking at:

BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)

 

[V|per]

if ** using 3 screens, cant you use bothe dvi's on the 88?

 

[Tute]

if ** using 3 screens, cant you use bothe dvi's on the 88?

Yup, then a second card with at least one DVI port would seal the deal.

 

[Spyder]

Yup, then a second card with at least one DVI port would seal the deal.

My bad, you're quite right of course. Def looking like a plan.

 

[Bounc3]

Again as above, definately stick with a 2nd nvida card, don't want bother sets of drivers trying to kill each other

Fight fight fight...
In this corner we have the ATI catalyst drivers...lol
The ultimate showdown between nvidia and ATI

But anyways, as cool as it sounds I really think GTX SLi is overkill.
You'd have to get games that supported SLi, then youd probably only see
a 20-30 fps increase.
Now ask yourself, is 20-30 fps worth another 400quid? Surely you could spend
that 400 on something else.
Get yourself some nice curtains or something...How am I supposed to know what you spend your money on