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Difference between 9800 GX2 and 2 x 8800 GTS SLI

Darkman

Darkman

Darkman

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9 Nov 2002
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Aside from the SLI mainboard requirement and price are there any other differences between the two (essentially the same hardware) options?

I'm looking to watercool, which looks well nigh impossible without a custom block as the GPUs are too close together. As I've got 2 x Swiftech MCW60R waterblocks already I'm looking to use them (I've already got one on a GT which works extremely well and has a buyer ready).

If the performance will be identical (I'm assuming either option would use the same drivers) the price and ease of watercooling seems to make the 2 GTS SLI solution a no-brainer, and worth paying the bit extra for an SLI mainboard to go with my 9450 (when it eventually arrives - preordered at 199.99 from OcUK so can't be arsed changing to OEM and paying extra to get it a few days early ;) ).

Am I missing something?
 
Imo the only use for the card, is to provide quad sli and to provide the best "single slot" gpu on the market for peeps without a second pcie lane at x16, or an sli mobo.
 
GX2 = 1x 16x PCI-e split between 2 cards, if you have a SLI motherboard with dual x16 slots then you have a x16 slot for each card with 8800 GTS SLI... tho tbh the performance difference is marginal unless you play at highres and very overclocked.

The real problem is... most SLI boards are horrendous... the only one I've had any joy with is the Gigabyte N650i DS4L and that only does 2x 8x PCI-e in SLI mode anyhow... not tried the 790i boards tho yet.
 
Thanks for providing more clarity.

Whatever I get I'll overclock anyway, but better to start from a faster core clock IMHO, so the BFG OC GTS on offer this week looks good. I'll be gaming on Dell 24" monitors, so 1920 x 1200 is my preferred resolution.

790i SLI boards have been getting great reviews, but I'm not convinced I'll see much ROI from DDR3 while it's so pricey. I'm not sure if the 780i is as good though as it's newer cousin.
 
Darkman said:
Thanks for providing more clarity.

Whatever I get I'll overclock anyway, but better to start from a faster core clock IMHO, so the BFG OC GTS on offer this week looks good. I'll be gaming on Dell 24" monitors, so 1920 x 1200 is my preferred resolution.

790i SLI boards have been getting great reviews, but I'm not convinced I'll see much ROI from DDR3 while it's so pricey. I'm not sure if the 780i is as good though as it's newer cousin.
Click to expand...


You're not going to see any ROI on any kit if you're only using it for games. ;)
 
Damn, I've been rumbled :o

Don't tell the missus ;)

If I'm not going to get a noticeable performance increase with DDR3, and it's going to cost a lot of extra dollar it doesn't seem worthwhile to me.
 
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