Graphics Cards - Help Needed ! :)

foomonkey · 1 Nov 2009 at 15:12

hey all.

could someone give me an explanation to whenever its better to Xlink 2x graphics cards or is it better to just have 1x larger graphics card?

i'm looking to spend £150~£250 on graphics card(s) on a new build i've thought up but i'm unsure what make/model of graphics card(s) to get to give me optimum performance for my price range.

could anyone help out and explain to me which i should go for. apparently there is little difference between NVIDIA and ATI as brands but when it comes to which model to go for i'm confused.

cheers

demonfatality · 1 Nov 2009 at 15:20

xfire is a good gaming setup

if you could stretch to £280 id go with these wee puppys

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-124-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1403

i bought 2 and i lovem

manbearpig · 1 Nov 2009 at 15:22

i would just buy one larger card, like the ATI 5850 which is £220

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-113-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1502

foomonkey · 1 Nov 2009 at 15:57

2 different opions there but could you give any reasons why you would go for Xfire or just go with the 1 graphics card ??

Kennysevenfold · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:00

foomonkey said:
2 different opions there but could you give any reasons why you would go for Xfire or just go with the 1 graphics card ??

If you have £250, it is stupid to get 2 cheap cards and then you are stuck with them, spend it on a 5850 which gives you the option to xfire them later on.

marley82 · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:05

Kennysevenfold said:
If you have £250, it is stupid to get 2 cheap cards and then you are stuck with them, spend it on a 5850 which gives you the option to xfire them later on.

This

foomonkey · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:21

cheers.

any other opinion on what card i could get for roughly £200 (ATI and NVIDIA) which will give me the best performance?

no going to bother going for Xfire since the last 2 posts gave a very good reason why i shouldnt bother

Kennysevenfold · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:34

If i were you. I would get THIS

foomonkey · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:53

Kennysevenfold said:
If i were you. I would get THIS

why?

Kennysevenfold · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:55

foomonkey said:
why?

Because its rubbish?

Best you can get for under£200.

foomonkey · 1 Nov 2009 at 16:57

the price doesnt nessessarily need to be under £200 .. it could be over as i did say i was prepared to go up to £250 earlier.

Kennysevenfold · 1 Nov 2009 at 17:05

foomonkey said:
any other opinion on what card i could get for roughly £200 (ATI and NVIDIA) which will give me the best performance?

Kennysevenfold · 1 Nov 2009 at 17:06

If you want to go over, then THIS

BigRazer93 · 1 Nov 2009 at 17:19

Monkey, I was in the same boat as you was about 1 month back. I want to get the 5870 but I don't know. in the end I thought "If i get a 4890 and corssfire them, that means it will beat the 5870 by a long shot and It will last me 2-3 years". And thats what I've done. The 4890 in cf beats the 5870 by miles and cheaper.

Trust me mate, the 4890's will last you 2-3 years, it can play every game max with 1 single 4890 (except crysis). You will not be disapointed.

shadow_boxer · 1 Nov 2009 at 17:49

If as you say budget is no issue, I would go for the 5850 card and then later down the line consider a Xfire setup. On the other hand if you are playing very demanding games at high resolution and you need top notch performance right now go for a 4890 Xfire setup.

demonfatality · 1 Nov 2009 at 21:22

the 4890 xfire is giving me 92 fps in wic and 65-70 fps in crysis @Max settings 1680x1050 res ...there the ticket to good gaming