2 x 8800GTS v 1 x 8800GTX ?

[Baron]

Just wondering if I were to go SLI and get 2 x 8800GTS's 320MB, rather than a single card of 8800GTX 760MB.
Reason, 2 x GTS's can be had for near enough the same price as 1 x GTX.
In the real world, would I notice any difference between the two systems ?
Extra heat and noise I guess, but in the game display..............games I like are, BF1942/BF2/BF2142, C&C Gens/ZH and Tiberium wars, and a few others.
Cheers.

[zagood]

The most blatant difference would be that your memory wouldn't be able to keep up with your shaders. SLi doesn't double your video memory, you'll still only have 320mb. With full eye candy even at 12x10 I've gotten up to 550mb+ on a lot of games with a single 8800GTS 640.

And check your title, the 6600GTS? ;)

-z

[madmat]

The title looks fine to me...

[mp666]

The title looks fine to me...

It was 6600 earlier.

[madmat]

I think you're imagining things ;)

[PaulTa]

I'd go with the Single card for a few reasons-

Heat and cable management. It's easier to manage cables for one card, and the lower heat output is obvious.

Expandability in the future. Later on, when the prices drop on the 8800GTX, you can grab another to go SLI if you want. You can't grab another 8800GTS for SLI if you already have them in SLI. :p

[Baron]

Thanks all.......and thanks for valid reasons for single high end card over dual less powerfull cards.
Putting on my thinking head, if I went SLI I would have to buy another motherboard, whereas if I upgraded to a single more powerfull card, I can just whack it into my existing board.
For a brief moment I just fancied SLI, and figured on 2 cheaper cards rather than double the cost for a top card.
I forgot about needing a new motherboard....:o

Yup....I got the title wrong........getting old is not all it's cracked up to be....

[Grov]

Definatly 1 GTX is the way to go.

[SuperSix]

Definatly 1 GTX is the way to go.

QFT

MaximumPC benched the exact config you are talking about, and the single card was faster.

[Baron]

Sorted !....:cool:

Now to find out where my wife has hidden my wallet....

[Hutch]

It actually depends on the game and settings. In BF2, without full AA and AF a single 8800GTS 320MB will keep up with an 8800GTX, however, it's still over 100FPS, which means the difference means nothing. When you turn AA and AF to the max, the 8800GTS 320 starts to choke big time, because of the lack of video memory. It also depends on your monitor. If you can't display atleast 1600x1200, you'll see no benefit in getting the 8800GTX. Save the money and get yourself a core 2 on the 22nd when intel makes its price cuts.

Or save the money and get a single 8800GTS 320mb and get yourself another gig of ram. 1GB isn't enough for games like Bf2 no matter what your video card is. I have to use 1.5GB when I'm playing Bf2 or else it's incredibley choppy.

[Chozart]

The idea of saving money and getting another 1GB isn't a bad idea.

However, I'd take at least the middle road, and pick up an 640MB version of the 8800GTS :D

[Baron]

Thanks all.
For BF2142 (I don't play BF2 much these days), I find that even with my 1GB memory the game runs just fine on/off line with 4 x AA and 8 x AF with most settings on high. If I wind everything up to the max, then it does rather chug a bit....:D
My monitor is 1280 x 1024 which is also the res. I use for the game.
Just trying to get the best balance, and the suggestion of another 1GB memory + the 8800GTS either 320MB or the better 640MB seems a good idea.
Thanks again, it gives me plenty to think about.....:cool:

[Chozart]

If you go for new RAM, I'd highly recommend a 2x1GB kit, and sell your current sticks. I would not add 2 512MB sticks, since that puts a bit of a strain on the memory controller.

Here is some nice low-latency RAM for under $200:
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) Model OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227210) $192.99

If you want higher bandwidth (DDR500), it'll cost you more:
mushkin Redline 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 500 (PC 4000) Model 991493 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146034) $259.99

The cheapest 8800GTX on Newegg is $529.99, and the cheapest 8800GTS 320MB is $279.99. That's an $250 difference, and RAM will fit the budget. The cheapest 640MB 8800GTS is $369.99, but the whole combination of the video card and 2GB will still fit your budget, provided that you can sell your old RAM for a nice price.

[Baron]

Thanks Chozart.
Good idea, and I can hunt around on my UK sites for prices.
I like OCZ memory.......I used to have the Corsair TwinX (with led's) but they didn't seem to like my motherboard too much, so I changed to the OCZ stuff and they just 'feel' better.
2 x 1GB sticks is the way to go :cool:

[Bipidri]

Hi all!
I've been following the conversation and wanted to ask your opinion on a purchase I made:

I've read the madshrimps 640 vs 320 test, its 8800 GTS 320MB roundup, the AnandTech 8800 GTS 320MB roundup and Firingsquad's.

I was about to pull the trigger for Sparkle's 320MB version because I'm currently using a 19 inch screen and playing with it at 1280x1024 resolution, but reading the conclusions from the diverse reviews, I remembered that I wanted to buy a Samsung Syncmaster 226BW in 3 months time. I found this morning an ebay item lot for a Sparkle 8800 GTS 640MB for 350 euros (+8 shipping) nobody was apparently interested, so I won it this evening, was it a bad move considering that the 320MB model cost 272eur and it just payed 80 euros more only for an added 320MB ? I aim to play at 1680x1050 with the most AA and AF and other FX possible in games (75Hz if possible). I do already have a Dual link DVI cable.

[burebista]

IMO it's a good move. That memory is useful for high resolution and max. AA/AF.
Beside that some games need more graphics memory than others, so you're covered. :)

[Baron]

Bearing in mind the warranty problems with EVGA and cards bought from ebay, is it a wise move these days to buy any gfx card if it gets all poorly ?

[burebista]

Sorry man, we are in Third World here (we don't have access to ebay) and I don't know what to tell you about warranty problems. :(

[Bipidri]

Bearing in mind the warranty problems with EVGA and cards bought from ebay, is it a wise move these days to buy any gfx card if it gets all poorly ?
you are right to be suspicious. As far as I'm concerned, ebay was a medium for me, I bought it from a registered computer store. the owner confirmed to me that it was sent to me in its original factory sealed packing with its warranty (invoice/receipt from the store and not an ebay transaction print thing.

So long as it works fine during the first week, it's ok. Afterwards I won't be covered by warranty as I plan to add a HR-03+ cooler & 120mm fan and overclock it to reach same frequency or more than the GTX (GPU:580 MHz/Stream Processors:1350 MHz/Memory Speed: 1800 MHz).

[Baron]

I have bought 2nd hand gfx cards before from ebay, and not had problems with any of them.
But for the first time that I had the money to buy a brand new 7800GTX I did buy from an online store.
Either way, at the time, it never occurred to me about warranties if they conked out..................luckily none have :)