Dual GPU vs single

[Dorkenstein]

I've pretty much settled on Nvidia for my next graphics card, now I just want to know if its better to get one of the huge 2x gpu ones with a gig of memory or just a single gpu card. Anyone own the 2x gpu card? Thanks.

 

[nitromullet]

The GX2 is basically an all SLI set in a "single" card, so you don't actually get 1GB of shared video RAM, but 512MB for each core. It pretty much works like any other SLI cards in that it works great for the most part, but occasionally has issues with v-sync. Having used a GX2 and a number of singe and SLI setups, I prefer the single card or SLI setup. The GX2 really doesn't have any advantages over an SLI set unless you plan on going Quad-SLI, but it has the drawback that it runs hotter than two seperate cards (less OC headroom) and can't be split or sold seperately down the road. The best bet for would be one or two 7950GT's. I would suggest eVGA this late in the generation becasue you might get the chance to step-up to next gen should they get released before 2007.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Only have 1 pci-e slot in my micro atx board at the moment, but when I upgrade next year I might get a SLI board. Still go with one card? Thanks for your reply.

 

[Polish3d]

What resolution are you running

 

[Dorkenstein]

1024x1280, but thats only out of necessity with my current card.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

you should.. upgrade you monitor before upgrading video card, theres no use for high end gpu's @ 1280x1024...

 

[SpeedZealot369]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
you should.. upgrade you monitor before upgrading video card, theres no use for high end gpu's @ 1280x1024...

He said he games at that resolution because his card can't handle any more..



OP - What monitor do you use?

 

[Dorkenstein]

22" Mitsubishi CRT, moving towards a good lcd hopefully. Found a nice one at newegg.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Whats your PC specs?

 

[Nightmare225]

A 7900GS or 7600GT should pull you over nicely.

 

[Gstanfor]

SLI is a nice thing to have. I prefer two seperate cards to one on the sandwiched together cards, for all the reasons given above. I wouldn't be in any great hurry to purchase an LCD considering the superb CRT you currently own - LCD's definitely aren't all they are cracked up to be. Their sole advantages IMO are size and manufacturing cost (benefits maker, not consumer).

 

[Dorkenstein]

PC is a socket 754 motherboard (Biostar T-Force) and an Athlon 64 3700+ and 2gb of ram, value stuff. I am dying to upgrade this thing.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
I wouldn't be in any great hurry to purchase an LCD considering the superb CRT you currently own - LCD's definitely aren't all they are cracked up to be. Their sole advantages IMO are size and manufacturing cost (benefits maker, not consumer).

I second that ,be sure you buy the LCD from somewhere that allows refunds , Just in case.

 

[BFG10K]

I would not be dumping that fabulous CRT you have.

It still amazes me how quickly people are willing to dump superior technology and run to inferior LCDs.

As for the 7950 GX2, make sure your new motherboard is on nVidia's support list if you're considering it as not all motherboards can run it.

 

[moonboy403]

I ONLY like the light weight of LCD and its crystal clear text displaying capability.

Otherwise, CRT > LCD!!!! (though i'm using dell 2005fpw)

 

[akshayt]

For playing currenty games you need a high end card even at 1280X1024 for most of the games if you want to run perfectly fine with AA and AF. With some games you migth need to reduce the res further or remove AA. By high end I mean 1900XT/XTX or Geforce 7900GTX.

 

[hmorphone]

I would go with the 7900GTX, you can SLI it later if you decide there's a need, and if there's a need than you'll probably make use of the extra speed of the GTX's over a GX2.

 

[nitromullet]

This is pretty much my position on the whole dual vs single card issue... ATI for single cards and NV for dual.

I think if you wanted to populate your single PCI-E slot with the best thing you could, I would suggest either a 7950GX2 or an X1950XT. While certainly not a bad single card by any means, the 7900GTX is usually limited to 4xAA (8x is too much in most cases for a single card), whereas an X1950XT can run 6x. This pretty much leaves you with all the negatives of NV, such as worse AF than ATI and no HDR+AA. The GX2 makes up for that IMO (since it is an SLI card) by allowing you to run much higher levels of AA giving you much better AA IQ than the Radeon. Basically, by opting for a single GTX you get less performance/IQ in most cases than with a single X1950XT.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I would not be dumping that fabulous CRT you have.

It still amazes me how quickly people are willing to dump superior technology and run to inferior LCDs.

As for the 7950 GX2, make sure your new motherboard is on nVidia's support list if you're considering it as not all motherboards can run it.

CRT is the inferior technology. There, I said it .

It's definitely not as cut and dry as one tech as "inferior", one as "superior" at any rate. It's more about what you like.

I find LCD via DVI's razor sharpness, increased brightness and perfect geometry more pleasing to the eye than CRT's ultra-fast response times and more accurate colour representation.

To me 8ms or less displays no ghosting, and I just generally find CRT's to be a bit dim after having used LCD for awhile. Not to mention CRT is tougher on the eyes with the scanlines, vs. LCD's pixels.

And I just hate the bulk of CRT's (and their heat dissipation). A massive CRT just plain wouldn't look good on many people's desks these days, as people often don't have the depth necessary to place the CRT adequately far away from the eyes.