Simple question: SLI v 8800GT/similar?

[SteveP]

Hi,

Hopefully this is a simple question for those in the know - I've not really kept up with all the hardware progress over the last few years.

I've got an Abit KN9 SLI (6400+ CPU), currently with an ATI Radeon x1600/x1650 (not sure exactly which).

I want to get a good framerate out of "RaceDriver:Grid", and there's some slowdown in the demo that I've tried. For me, framerate is more important than extra fancy visuals, so I'm considering the following on the basis that I'm willing to chuck about £90-£100 at this:

1. Get another x1600/x1650 and run it in SLI mode (if this is at all possible).
2. Get a pair of SLI-able cards at the £45-£50 mark each, and run them as a pair.
3. Get a card for £90-£100 that will give better performance (8800GT based?).

If the existing Radeon is being taken out of the equation, then whatever I could get for it on eBay could be added to the budget (a tenner?).

The only other requirement (probably not an issue) is that I have two monitors, so the card has to have 2xDVI outputs.

Can anybody make a suggestion as to my best course of action?

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[Pilky01]

Sli is only for nvidia cards.
Ati have sli but its called crossfire, and you need a crossfire motherboard for that, you have an sli one.

Wait a few weeks for the new cards.
The ati cards are going to be very good value mid range cards.

 

[Tooks]

Option 3 I think.

The single 8800GT will out perform any Crossfire/SLI setup involving X1650's and Nvidia cards around the £50 mark (8500/8600GT's basically).

You'll easily get a new 8800GT for £100 plus whatever you get for you X1650.

 

[RobertN]

my 9600gt (slightly slower than 8800gt handles grid very smoothly)



as said above maybe worth waiting a few weeeks as there may be pricecuts or a better value alternative

 

[SteveP]

Thanks for all the info.

I take it that we are expecting a new batch of cards in the next few weeks, are we?

The problem I have with that strategy is that:

a) I'm impatient
b) It's my birthday next week, not in a few weeks.

Is it likely that we are going to see a price crash with the new cards, or something that's going to be a better bet than a £80-£90 8800GT card?

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[pugheaven]

Of any of the new gen cards, you won't pick anything up "cheap"... so if you haven't got say £250 quid in your pocket I'd just go 8800GT... you'll be perfectly happy, let all these new cards battle amongst themselves and sort drivers out as they're usually a load of ole' rubbish with new cards, then in the autumn, if you feel you're laggy in games, upgrade when prices have dropped.

I run a 8800GT and run everything at 1920x1200 100% fine to me, bar Crysis, but there isn't a card on the planet that runs that well! Even these new ones will struggle when AA is implemented I reckon...

Cheers Pug

 

[TheRealDeal]

Of any of the new gen cards, you won't pick anything up "cheap"... so if you haven't got say £250 quid in your pocket I'd just go 8800GT... you'll be perfectly happy, let all these new cards battle amongst themselves and sort drivers out as they're usually a load of ole' rubbish with new cards, then in the autumn, if you feel you're laggy in games, upgrade when prices have dropped.

I run a 8800GT and run everything at 1920x1200 100% fine to me, bar Crysis, but there isn't a card on the planet that runs that well! Even these new ones will struggle when AA is implemented I reckon...

Cheers Pug

I don't think any of ati's cards bar the 4870x2 are going to cost anywhere near 250. That kind of price is where nvidias new line up will come in. The new ati 4850 card should come in around 130 maybe a little higher on launch according to all the pricing rumours that are out atm and should be faster than an 8800gt.

To the op the only worth while option of your 3 is going for the 8800gt or wait until ati's new cards hit as they should be pretty cheap and deliver better performance than a gt.

 

[SteveP]

Thanks guys - I've plumped for the 512Mb Gigabyte 8800GT with the 700Mhz core. Hopefully a decent enough purchase.

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[TheRealDeal]

Don't think you will be dissapointed nice card.