Name: Descendo Date: November 1, 2007 at 17:43:20 Pacific Subject: Upgrading, need suggestions OS: XP Pro X64 CPU/Ram: 2.3Ghz 64x2 / 2GB 4000 Model/Manufacturer: Custom
Comment:
I am wanting to upgrade my computer, but am having trouble finding a good motherboard that supports what I want. But heres a list of the components that I have selected.
I am wanting to crossfire these cards, so the motherboard will have to be crossfire ready, and must have (2) pcie x16 slots. If you think you can find a better graphics card for that price range, post it. I'll take a look.
BTW, I agree with OtheHill...CrossFire & SLi are a waste of money. You obviously have to spend more for two cards, plus you'll need a high quality/high wattage PSU to be able to handle the added load of the two cards. Two cards will add more heat to the case, plus more noise. And unless you go high end with your Crossfire or SLi combo, there is almost always a better single card that will beat the dual. Not to mention, ATI CrossFire chipsets aren't known to be the best performers.
If you wish to do SLI, than do it. The performance gain is roughly 50-100% in SLI mode. The only thing that I do not like about SLI is that it requires(currently) an nvidia chipset equipped motherboard(bad taste from nvidia chipsets still) and that sucks.
I would LOVE to see how two 8500GT's perform in SLI mode lol. It would be interesting at the very least.
Remember, it is not the point of "why", but rather "why not" when it comes to experimenting and tinkering. It creates variety and knowledge.
Nvidia chipsets generally outperform ATI equivilents.
Unless the landscape has changed ATI has a very limited selection of cards that are compatible with thier Crossfire technology.
I won't reiterate what jam has already stated but will add that the main reason most users would select SLI or Crossfire would be gaming performance. Just like all new technology the software curve is behind the hardware. This means most games are not coded to take advantage of this. Be the time that happens hardware you pay a premium for today will be obsolete.
Outlander, it would be of interest to all if you could show some real world benchmarks to substanciate your claim of 50 to 100% gains.
Seems to me everytime jam makes a statement Outlander says the opposite. Also seems to me that Jam is correct 99% of the time. The OP does not want to experiment and tinker they want an upgrade solution. 50-100% performace gain is pure fantasy. The answer is to get a single card, the 8800 gts is that card.
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