Dogwood
Premium
join:2001-01-14
Texas
clubs: 
| Which way to go
I Have an Intel chipset MoBo that is Crossfire Ready, and I have one nVidia 8800GTX.
Which do you think would be better route to add another GPU?
Buy 2 ATI 3000 series cards or get a nForce MoBo and another 8800GTX?
Cost seems to be very close with these options, I just don't know much about ATI card or nVidia MoBos.
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ | providing you have the psu for it just go with a 9800GX2 and you will get 2 cards in one |
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BA
The Old Man's Gonna Roll the Hard Six
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-24
Vancouver, BC
clubs:
| reply to Dogwood
A new nForce 780i motherboard is probably the better path. Choose a reference 780i design such as one from EVGA or XFX rather than Asus as those tend to be more stable.
A pair of GTX cards should be faster than any combination of 3 series cards in most cases. |
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TK421
Premium
join:2004-12-19
Canada
1 edit | reply to Dogwood
9800 GX2 seems like a good choice. Current games and benchmarks don't show much incentive to spend tons of money on multiple cards. A single GX2 either outperforms or is very close to most sli/crossfire combos without all the issues affecting sli/crossfire according to what I've read so far.
See this recent article where they tested a crazy array of multi-gpu configs: »techreport.com/articles.x/14524 |
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The Flash
You don't win friends with salad
Premium
join:2002-10-17
Toronto, ON | reply to Dogwood
What are your other specs |
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Dogwood
Premium
join:2001-01-14
Texas
clubs:
| reply to Dogwood
I like the the idea of the 9800GX2, no motherboard change, and I have a 900W PSU.
Do you all have any problem with MSI, and I've never heard of Palit video cards before?
»www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi···er=PRICE
I have always liked MSI's video cards, and have their 8800GTX now.
So if I go with a new card, anyone want to buy a 8800GTX 768mB, 610mhz, Model NX8800GTX-T2D768E-HD OC ?? 
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eX_NihiLo
Here's Your Something For Nothing
Premium
join:2003-08-05
Louisville, CO | Palit is the parent company of Gainward of Golden Sample fame.. |
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Dogwood
Premium
join:2001-01-14
Texas
clubs:
| said by eX_NihiLo  :Palit is the parent company of Gainward of Golden Sample fame.. There was a time when Gainward was the best manufacturer of nVidia based cards, but they faded into oblivion a few years ago.
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The Flash
You don't win friends with salad
Premium
join:2002-10-17
Toronto, ON | a lot of cards these days are reference, so they're all made by a few companies. |
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eX_NihiLo
Here's Your Something For Nothing
Premium
join:2003-08-05
Louisville, CO
| said by The Flash :a lot of cards these days are reference, so they're all made by a few companies. That is certainly true, Palit is a big enough company to come out with non-reference designs such as their 9600GT. There technical expertise is unquestioned but I can't vouch for their customer support ala EVGA, XFX, BFG etc. |
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jouno53
Palin 2012
join:2006-03-04
United State | reply to Dogwood
Just get another 8800GTX so you don't have to spend even more money. |
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Dogwood
Premium
join:2001-01-14
Texas
clubs:
| said by jouno53 :Just get another 8800GTX so you don't have to spend even more money. Just so you understand............
If got another 8800GTX, I would also have to get a new nForce motherboard so that I could run SLI.
Another 8800GTX does me no good without an SLI capable MoBo.
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The Flash
You don't win friends with salad
Premium
join:2002-10-17
Toronto, ON | reply to Dogwood
If you don't need it now, wait for the GT200 or the improved G92.
»fudzilla.com/index.php?option=co···temid=34 |
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BA
The Old Man's Gonna Roll the Hard Six
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-24
Vancouver, BC
clubs:
| reply to Dogwood
www.firingsquad.com |
said by Dogwood :said by jouno53 :Just get another 8800GTX so you don't have to spend even more money. Just so you understand............ If got another 8800GTX, I would also have to get a new nForce motherboard so that I could run SLI. Another 8800GTX does me no good without an SLI capable MoBo. You would be wasting a bit of money by buying a 9800 GX2. The GX2 is a glorified pair of 8800 cards sandwiched together. You *already* have an 8800 GTX. Why spend $550+ just to get the second card?
With a 780i motherboard, at least you're getting some newer technology like ESA and PCIe 2.0. And, you're more future-proof since the 780i supports triple SLI so you have the option of a third 8800 GTX.
EVGA 780i + EVGA 8800 GTX = $549.98
EVGA 9800 GX2 = $589.99
It's easier to just replace your 8800 GTX, but a new 780i board and a second GTX will give you much more value in my opinion. Besides, a pair of GTX's should perform better than a GX2. |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
| there is also other things to consider as well,being does he have a big enough power supply for a 8800GTX SLi set up?the other is if he does get the 9800GX2 he can sell off the 8800GTX and recover half the cost at the same time while using less power and creating less heat and saving room
both option will be a good upgrade for you but when you way all the benefits and down sides IMO the 9800GX2 has the better upside |
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jouno53
Palin 2012
join:2006-03-04
United State
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to Dogwood
said by Dogwood :said by jouno53 :Just get another 8800GTX so you don't have to spend even more money. Just so you understand............ If got another 8800GTX, I would also have to get a new nForce motherboard so that I could run SLI. Another 8800GTX does me no good without an SLI capable MoBo. Oh, right. I saw that but I thought you simply wanted a better motherboard. |
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Somnambul33t
L33t.
Premium
join:2002-12-05
Mullica Hill, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to Dogwood
What are you other system specs and what games do you play? what res is your monitor?
if you play any game but Crysis at 1680x1050 res or less and have a semi-recent C2D or Quad a single 8800GTX should max out almost every game on the planet.
even my 8800GT maxes out UT3, Tf2, latest Painkiller, World in Conflict, Red Alert 3, Bioshock, and almost maxes Assassin's Creed (all max except 4x FSAA)
if youre running a 24" or higher LCD, i cand efly see the need for SLI or GX2, but if youre running 22" or smaller, i fail to see how it improves overall gameplay performance.
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Konceptz
45nm Here I Come
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| reply to BA
said by BA :A new nForce 780i motherboard is probably the better path. Choose a reference 780i design such as one from EVGA or XFX rather than Asus as those tend to be more stable. A pair of GTX cards should be faster than any combination of 3 series cards in most cases. Ditto |
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