Graphics To SLI or not SLI?

Hi Folks,

I'm trying to decide what might be the best option for upgrading the graphics in my system.

At present i have a Geforce 9600gt and an SLi enabed m'board and wouldn't mind a little bit more graphical oomph.

At present i am mulling over two options;

1. Procure another Nvidia card such as a GTS250 or 9800GT and run it in Sli with the 9600GT (My Psu will be fine before anyone asks) costing just under £100 for an overclocked card

2. Forget the Green cards and jump over to the new 5xxx series ATI cards and see if i can get something for <£150 that would outperform the SLI

I have a nice big Lian Li A17 case, an overclocked Core2Duo cpu and a decent 700mhz OCZ psu so I am only looking for straight up advice on the best graphics option

cheers,
Munky

 

You can only SLI identical cards & it's not worth SLI'ing a 9600GT (unless you can get another for £20 or so)

 

Remember if you're running either of those new cards in SLI with the 9600gt it won't affect your frames unless you have physx enabled, I'd say go with the 5xxx series and at least that way your future proofed when the DX11 games roll round.

 

Get an HD5850. SLI'd low end cards still give low end performance unfortunately.

 

Hear hear.

Also note the power issue - even though your PSU will run them, multi-GPU doesn't have a wonderful power consumption --> performance ratio, so over time it'll cost more than you might think.
Probably not a major concern for most gamers as they tend not to pay their own electricity bills, but worth pointing out.

 

actually to only good card from the 9xxx series was the 9600gt as it gave out better fps than a 9800gx2 which is pretty good as long as you can find a relatively cheap 9600gt

 

So the 9600gt is faster than the 9800gtx+ which currently resides in my rig? I find that VERY hard to believe

 

when you have 2 9600gt's yes they will be faster

 

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

2x 9600GT is indeed faster than the 9800GTX+.

In fact I think it is about par with GTX275s.

 

Yer but anyone with even a minute knowledge on computers would go for the GTX 275...

Anyway, back to THIS thread, I'd say that 5850 will do you fine, unless you absolutely have to, my advice would be never to SLI/Crossfire, it may look ace in your rig but.... 1 Super GPU > 2 High Performance GPUs for many many reasons

 

of corse they would as they buy the 275 staight off he is spending just £60 and getting 275 and that is a real bargin