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Which graphics cards?

GoogalyMoogaly

GoogalyMoogaly

GoogalyMoogaly

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I'm thinking of getting 2 GTX 680s, but not sure what's best to get.

I'm currently looking at:
Palit GeForce GTX 680 Jetstream 4096MB

Would that be good for SLI or would I be better off with reference design cards like the EVGA FTW cards?

Have Gainward ruined there 680 Phantom by making it triple slot again?

My other option is to go with 3 x 7950s, but I'm worried about airflow when air cooling 3 of them.
 
there aren't any reviews of the FTW cards yet to be able to comment

the jetstream's are quite good cards although OCing them seems to be hit and miss (E.g. one reviewer says they hit 1380ish but another says high 1200's only, e.g. no better than reference models)

I assume you have a 3 monitor setup to be wanting 4GB models

3 7950's would be a good fast setup if you are happy to contend with AMD's crossfire drivers
 
I don't have a triple monitor setup, but was planning to get one, which was the reason behind going for the 4GB 680s.

I think I'd prefer the 680s, but the 7950s do seem to offer better value, which is why I keep coming back to them. The trouble with 3 air cooled cards is that it would cover up all the PCI/PCI-e slots on most motherboards. Also, it'd leave virtually no gap between the cards.

Do the reference 7950 cards have the fan in the middle?
 
GoogalyMoogaly said:
I don't have a triple monitor setup, but was planning to get one, which was the reason behind going for the 4GB 680s.

I think I'd prefer the 680s, but the 7950s do seem to offer better value, which is why I keep coming back to them. The trouble with 3 air cooled cards is that it would cover up all the PCI/PCI-e slots on most motherboards. Also, it'd leave virtually no gap between the cards.

Do the reference 7950 cards have the fan in the middle?
Click to expand...

They have the fans at the back

My personal preference would be 680 4gb SLI as you have fewer cards and many say the nv have better multi card drivers.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-013-KF&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2255
 
GoogalyMoogaly said:
Didn't realise the Jetstreams were triple slot coolers either, that might be awkward in SLI.
The KFA2's look nice though. I looked but couldn't find any reviews.
Click to expand...

neither could I. But KFA2 is a very good company with UK based RMA.

I think it's a new card design. They're known for some... odd designs
 
With the Asus Rampage IV Extreme the two graphics cards would go as shown below (setup recommended by Asus).

Both cards will be in x16 speed PCI-E 3.0 slots then.

A PCI-E sound card would then fit in one of the remaining slots between the graphics cards.

You can use a sound card in the larger slots.

If you use the very bottom slot then the second graphics card slot will run at x8 speed, not that it would make any difference.

 
Yeah, that's why I was think of going for the Rampage (despite wanting a P9X79 DELUXE).

As for 4GB, I'm hoping to run 3 x 1080p 3D monitors. So I'm thinking 4GB might be neded, even if I don't actually run in 3D. It's also why I want to run gboth graphics cards in 16x PCI-e 3.0 slots.
 
Surveyor said:
You need 3D monitors with dual link DVI connectors.

You can then use 2 dual link DVIs from one graphics card and 1 dual link DVI from the second.

Nvidia Surround Configurations
Click to expand...

DP also works :)

Surveyor said:
With the Asus Rampage IV Extreme the two graphics cards would go as shown below (setup recommended by Asus).

Both cards will be in x16 speed PCI-E 3.0 slots then.

A PCI-E sound card would then fit in one of the remaining slots between the graphics cards.

You can use a sound card in the larger slots.

If you use the very bottom slot then the second graphics card slot will run at x8 speed, not that it would make any difference.
Click to expand...

+1 for the rampage. it's a great board with by far the best features on the market IMO


I'd hget the KFA2 over the EVGA as EVGA are useless unless you want to apply some aftermarket cooling to them. No point spending more for what is essentialy an inferior card.
 
3 things that bother me with the Rampage IV Extreme:

1) the amount of power connectors the board needs (and their location)
2) lack of SSD caching
3) fan on the southbridge(?) that I haerd can be loud.
 
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