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Looking at getting a "future proof" gfx setup(need help)

Jake0

Jake0

Jake0

Associate
Joined
28 Sep 2009
Posts
14
hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a new machine, and want to get a gfx setup that will last me a good few years.. so not massively bothered about price, but it's always nice to save on something that isn't 100% needed.

So I'm a little confused about what setup to get that's going to be worth the money/life time.

Is it worth going the full hog and getting 2x 480's, or will 2x 470's hold up for a while for the cheaper price?

or even SLI at all?

Or even go with the ati equivalent?

Sorry if this has been answered in full before, there's a fair few threads here but i'm still left confused :confused:

cheers!
 
Personally I dont beleive there is any value in going sli or crossfire.

Technology moves to fast, to justify spending huge amounts on twin cards, which in two years time are out dated.

Im guessing that with Windows 8 due in 2012, Microsoft will release dx12... so already the cards will not have support for the new dx.. mind you thats a complete guess.

If I was you, Id wait to see what ATI are going to do with the release of the new cards in November/December.

If money is no object pick up a 480. I recently picked up a 5870, and it completley outclasses my cpu which is a qx9650 @ 3.7ghz.

Even if you can afford to buy 2 top of the range cards, I would rather buy one now, and then upgrade again in 1 year or so, I think thats the better way to do it. Keep options open rather than stumpping up the cash.

The only reson why I say 480 over the 5970, is becuase Im finished with crossfire sli setups, and all their issues and drivers quirks.
 
Thanks for the reply dude
That's making sense i guess, i was a little confused about any possible problems with sli/crossfire also, and whether it can bring extra hassle?

As i don't mind spending the money if it's going to be worth while/long lasting.. but if not i'd much rather save.
 
If you want future proof, do not go with a multi card set up. Buy the single best graphics card you can afford. Then when it starts to struggle in 2-3 years, you can then buy another one for really cheap to boost performance.
 
Lots of people make the mistake of spending loads to make their rig good for many years when it is just better off to gradually upgrade throughout those years.

Unless you are an enthusiast ofcourse, and buy everything that arrives on the market ;)
 
Technology rule #1: Todays top end is tommorrows bargain bin Ebay filler.


SLI or Crossfire will buy you 18mths to 2yrs of high playable frame rates at maxed out settings.....

After that even such dual card setups require compromises to made on resolution and in game gfx detail settings. Its always been the same, otherwise there is no progress and gfx card makers would go out of business...

If you really want to go dual card, right now i think the best price/performance ratio out there is Nvidia 460 Sli....
 
I have a 8600GT which came put in 2006, yet I am still able to play GRID and L4D2 on decent settings.

It's true that the hardware will outdate, but it's still possible to use your parts for that bit longer.
 
I would hold out for the new ATI cards if your not planning to upgrade for a while. The first round of DX11 is pritty much over now.
 
just get something like a gtx 480, then a year down the line, when the next generation is out, get another one to use in SLI.
by then, the price will be a lot lower, so overall will cost you less, as most games dont need SLI to work fully, unless u run some insane res and/or 3D, etc
 
I just ordered a pair of 460s. Quiet and more power than a single 480. Worked out cheaper too.

And here's a big one people rarely consider - a lot of options when it comes to selling. You can choose to flog em both or hang on to one etc...
 
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