8800gt x 2 or 4870 x 1

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Mr_NoName111

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#1 Mr_NoName111
Member since 2005 • 1035 Posts

Hey guys, I can currently pick up 8800gt's at $149 each, with 20 dollar mir resulting in $129 each ($260 for both)

I can get the 4870 for $270

Based on performance, I saw that the 8800gt's in sli were faster than a single 4870, BUT my question is: can my corsair hx520 run 2x 8800gt? Is SLI easy or hard to set up? How will the heat be with the stock coolers?

I will be making a whole new pc, so fitting stuff with my current rig isnt important.

thanks

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muscleserge

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#2 muscleserge
Member since 2005 • 3307 Posts
Your PSU should be fine, but I would wait for a while, maybe with new drivers the 4870 will improve. but if you go just by performance the GTs are faster and consume less power at that.
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Jd1680a

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#3 Jd1680a
Member since 2005 • 5960 Posts
You should get the 4870. The reason is the card is up to date technology and if you got it you would wont be needing to upgrade for another two or three years. If you got the 2 8800 gt(s) you will probably be needing to upgrade sooner costing you more money.
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shadowcreaper

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#4 shadowcreaper
Member since 2006 • 1483 Posts
4870 no dout the GTs have older generation performance, and 4870 will inprove as times goes on. also you will need 620 PSU to support them as recommended.
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BLKR4330

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#5 BLKR4330
Member since 2006 • 1698 Posts

Why spend money? How can you not be happy with a 8800gts 512?

btw I assume you know you need a motherboard that support sli, which should be weighed in the decision making proces.

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Mr_NoName111

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#6 Mr_NoName111
Member since 2005 • 1035 Posts

I will be selling this pc to a friend, so I will be starting from scratch (only power supply and 2 sticks of ram left)

And after seeing this thread:

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26527541

I am pretty sure im goign with 2x 8800gt's. they beat the 4870, and consume less power!

Can you guys recommend me a good overclocking SLI board? I have been looking at the Asus P5N-D, but ppl seem to be having trouble getting its FSB up high. Is there a good one thats less than 150?

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Mr_NoName111

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#7 Mr_NoName111
Member since 2005 • 1035 Posts
Sorry for double posting, but also, how is SLI support in games these days? I heard that some games yield the same framerates as a single card, even when sli ing. Anyone here with an SLI setup? How's your experience been with it?
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matrixian

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#8 matrixian
Member since 2003 • 624 Posts
There are problems with video and data corruption on Nvidia mobos, and microstuttering with dual gpus. That's something to consider.
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JP_Russell

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#9 JP_Russell
Member since 2005 • 12893 Posts
Um... Why not just get a second 8800GTS 512 if you're willing to do SLI? The GTS 512 is more powerful than the GT (thus two of the former are also more powerful than two of the latter). There's an MSI factory OC'ed one for $155 after rebate at Newegg, and a BFG one (also OC'ed) for $160 after rebate (just thought I'd mention BFG since they're a more reputable brand). Costs less than either option you've mentioned and since you'll have two of them, it would outperform them both.
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JP_Russell

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#10 JP_Russell
Member since 2005 • 12893 Posts

There are problems with video and data corruption on Nvidia mobos, and microstuttering with dual gpus. That's something to consider.matrixian

Yeah, that's true. Mind you, going from an 8800GTS 512 to a 4870 or equivalent single card wouldn't really be a worthy upgrade, either. So I say his best options if he's looking to spend in the ~$250 range or less are to either just stick with what he's got for now (and wait at least until some refreshes come along later this year or early next year), or get another GTS 512 if the microstuttering isn't an issue for him.

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Mr_NoName111

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#11 Mr_NoName111
Member since 2005 • 1035 Posts

Again, i will be selling this PC to a friend, so keeping the 8800gts is out of the question.

What is "microstuttering" ?

Also, which nvidia chipsets are affected by data corruption?

I had NO CLUE about such issues, thanks a bunch, could have been makign a mistake

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matrixian

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#12 matrixian
Member since 2003 • 624 Posts

What is "microstuttering" ?

Also, which nvidia chipsets are affected by data corruption?

Mr_NoName111

Microstuttering

You can google "nvidia data corruption"
http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=460
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Confirmed-Nvidia-039-s-nForce-790i-SLI-Chipset-Causes-Data-Corruption-83748.shtml
http://www.overclock.net/hardware-news/316595-anandtech-nvidia-data-corruption.html