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Geforce 9-series question

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I've been looking around the forums for more info on the higher-end 9 series card and I am wondering about a few things.

I know there is a 9800GX2 coming in March with dual GPUs, which is apparently two 8800GTS's on one card, but is there a more powerful 9800GTX card coming out too? I've seen a mention of this on the forum but I can't find anything conclusive.

Also, I am getting a new Q9450 based system in March and I've been offered a second 8800GTX (if I buy the initial one) for free from a family member for an SLI setup, the other option is to split the cost of a 9800GTX in half with him and get that instead (I'm assuming half the cost of a 9800GTX will be roughly the cost of a mid-8800GTX).

Which option would see the best performance gain? (I know this can't be entirely accurate given limited knowledge of the 9800 but a rough guide maybe?)

I am not a frequent upgrader (as my sig shows ;p) and I'm looking to keep this system for 2-3+ years so I want the best I can currently get, especially seeing as I want to get back into gaming.

Thanks :)
 
So is in common consensus that an SLIed GTX setup would most likely outperform all the offerings of the 9 series? (given it is just a refresh and not new architecture)

Does that also mean the next 'real' generation will be the Geforce 10 series? If so, given the gap between 8 - 9 series, it would be better to go for the SLIed GTX's? (assuming my 10 series assumption is correct)
 
I see, in that case is it possible the 9800GTX would bring a performance level on par or higher than two SLIed GTXs or is enough known to know that no new architecture will be involved?

It seems my choices are to get the SLI set up (with one card free) in March, or buy a cheap card now and get a 9800GTX in June (paying only for half of it)
 
I was under the impression that aside from the Ultra's, the GTX's were the next best card? Or are they not worth it at the moment due to pending releases of the 9800GX2 and the 9800GTX?

What is the next 'real' generation of cards likely to be? Will the 9-series benefit from any new architecture at all or is this unknown?

Because if it is the case, I may get a cheaper option now and wait.
 
I think I will get one 512Mb 8800GT for now, and then when a 'real' next gen card comes out, I'll hold the family member to his offer and hopefully he'll pay for half of it. The GTS seems to be able to cope with most offerings fairly well to date, and I assume will do so for a while.
 
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LoadsaMoney said:
It makes perfect sense, theres no way hes gona find 2x 512mb GTS's for £280, that would mean getting the GTS's for £140 each, and the GTX's would be better in everything due to the bigger bus, at high res with AA/AF the GTS's aint gona touch the GTX's. :)
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I should have mentioned, the native resolution on my current monitor is 1650 x 1080, so the GTX may be overkill for that.
 
I think I'll use the "buy a second card or pay for half an expensive one" offer on the next-gen card that I will eventually upgrade to. So I shall only be getting one card for now.

An 512MB 8800GT seems like it will last me well till a 'real' next gen comes out, given I've seen reviews saying it can max out Call of Duty 4 at 1650 x 1080.

I'm not a regular upgrader and I don't fancy the idea of spending about ~£280 on a card as a 'stop-gap', especially one that I don't think will sell that well, given by the time I sell it, the 9800GX2 will have been out for a while, and possibly even the 9800GTX will have been out or a while (if it later turns out not to be a 'real' next gen).
 
Trunks9486 said:
Two of them for that price will last you a LONG time. The difference in price between a GT and GTX aint that high, and for the GTX you are getting two of them! The next highend is going to cost at least £350 when nVIDIA decides to launch it (Q3 soonest)
Click to expand...

Is this a new high end card as in new architecture? I thought it was entirely unknown when any 'real' next-gen cards would be avaliable?

Also, what do you define as a long time? I do not upgrade often at all, so I am looking to keep any set up I buy for at least 3 years (I'm still on a Radeon 9600XT now).

Is it common option that two SLIed GTX's would be equal to any proper next-gen card that nVidia (or ATI) offer in 2008?

I'm more inclined to use the family member's offer on a next-gen card when they come out, and have brand new tech, rather than use it on a year old tech. If I use the offer on a high-costing next-gen card (~£400 I'm expecting), he'll pay half of it, so in that situation, wouldn't I get one new card, that is on par (or better than) the SLIed GTXs?
 
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My resolution won't go higher then 1650 x 1050 for a few years, but what you say seems to make sense. I am also waiting for a card to blow away the Ultras (which is what I assume the proper next-gen cards will do).

I might take a look at the 512Mb HD3850 instead of the 8800GT as a stop gap then. To be honest I doubt I will be playing COD4 or Crysis or the lastest round of games yet because I have quite a few games that I have yet to play.

Any other suggestions of a good stop-gap card? I've heard all the other Geforce 8 cards below the 8800GT aren't so good. So in ATI the way to go as a lighter purchase before I invest heavily when a good card comes along?
 
How would the X1950Pro fare at 1650x1050 with AA/AF? (I'll probably be playing the likes of Quake4, SWAT4, FEAR, Gears of War, Half Life 2, Doom 3 (old I know ;p)) It's a much better price for a stopgap card, and one would be willing to get to last me till Q3-4 '08/Q1 '09
 
triggerthat said:
I'd recommend you get the GTX and sell both of them. And then see what's available in March when you're about to buy your computer. If you need something to cover you, keep one GTX.
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March is when I'd be buying all my components anyway. So as it stands it is when I'd be getting the X1950.

The problem is if I get my family member to buy the second GTX now, I wont be able to afford the new next-gen card when it emerges, so I'd rather use his help for that card and only get a single card myself in the mean time.
 
I thought you were being sarcastic for a second there, but then I remembered your advice earlier :D

Yes, this way works out best in the long run, which is what my build is for; a long term solution.

Thank you to all for your help/opinions :)
 
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