Hey everyone. First post here. I have a pressing question and figured there would be alot of good opinions here. I'm currently building a new system and have most of the products purchased except for a video card and processor. Would it make more sense to go with an AMD FX 53/55 and a 6800 U/GT or a 3800+ and 6800gt SLI. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Fast CPU or SLI
- Thread starter Lizzy729
- Start date
neither. wait a week or so, buy a Venice core 3200+. OC like mad to 3 GHz with some good cooling like the copper XP-90c, and get a 6800 GT. Hope you got the DFI Ultra-D.
SLI is a waste of $800+ IMO. in 2-3 years there will be new vertex/pixel shaders, etc... it's like playing HL2 with DX 7.0.
honestly, they are both a waste of money. An FX-55 costs $800+, and performs maybe 33% faster than a 3000+, which costs $140. In fact, when you OC them both to their max, you end up with a difference of like 10% (FX hits 2.8ish with 1MB cache, 3000+ hits 2.6-2.7ish with 512MB cache). Is it worth more than a 500% markup for that performance boost? Hell no. FXs are worth it if you A) have tons of money to burn or B) just HAVE to impress your techie friends for 3 months until one of them gets something faster.
SLI is the same way. You pay an extra 100% for the extra card, plus an extra $50-100 for the SLI mobo versus a simple Ultra board, and the result is gains that range from 70% down to like 10% in some games. Plus, even those games with huge gains don't really need the gains to begin with. After all, if a single Ultra can play Doom3 or HL2 at 16x12 with 4xAA/8xAF at 50FPS, is your experience gonna be that much more enjoyable at 80FPS? By the time you need that performance, and games are out that really push it to the limit, then the cards that are out will be just as fast or faster, and will also have better features (R520 will be WGF 1.0 certified, as will G70, I imagine, and both will likely be 512MB cards). After all, you could spend $100 extra on an SLI mobo + 2x6800 Ultra for $500 each = $1100. Or, you could buy a single 6800GT for $400 (or X800XL for $300, since they perform almost the same), and then upgrade to an R520 or G70 for $500 in the future and sell your old card for like $200. That would save you $300-400 bucks, and you'd end up with a better single card than an SLI array.
SLI is the same way. You pay an extra 100% for the extra card, plus an extra $50-100 for the SLI mobo versus a simple Ultra board, and the result is gains that range from 70% down to like 10% in some games. Plus, even those games with huge gains don't really need the gains to begin with. After all, if a single Ultra can play Doom3 or HL2 at 16x12 with 4xAA/8xAF at 50FPS, is your experience gonna be that much more enjoyable at 80FPS? By the time you need that performance, and games are out that really push it to the limit, then the cards that are out will be just as fast or faster, and will also have better features (R520 will be WGF 1.0 certified, as will G70, I imagine, and both will likely be 512MB cards). After all, you could spend $100 extra on an SLI mobo + 2x6800 Ultra for $500 each = $1100. Or, you could buy a single 6800GT for $400 (or X800XL for $300, since they perform almost the same), and then upgrade to an R520 or G70 for $500 in the future and sell your old card for like $200. That would save you $300-400 bucks, and you'd end up with a better single card than an SLI array.
But you cant buy G70 now, you can buy SLI now.
And you can SLI G70 later... I dont see whats so hard to understand.
If you want the fastest now, and lose the whole "bang for buck" mentality, then SLI is the way to go.
I do understand that a very fast CPU is important in this situation, but wouldn't you consider a 3800+ to be able to fit the bill? I did do some research on SLI systems and noticed that 2 6800 Gt's performed almost on par with 2 ultras. I just don't know whether it would make a huge difference at the moment. An FX-55 with an Ultra seems like a powerhouse, but something keeps pushing me slightly toward a 6800gt SLI setup. One other question: Do the BFG 6800GT's come with a molex power connector or PCI-Ex six pin connector?
FX does not hit 2.8, at least not on air from what I've heard. Anyway, I'd go 3000+ with zalman 7700cu, single 6800GT w/bios flashed to ultra. Then I would wait about 6 months when the 6800GT prices have dropped some and SLI is compatable with more programs AND I would wait till I dropped a frame on the highest settings on at least one game. Personally, I can run everything on the highest settings with the second highest resolutions and I only run a 6600GT. I would not waste the money on the FX, just spend $150 now and $150 on a new dual core next year and every year after. Being on the cutting edge is point less, but being close consistently is priceless. IMHO
A 3800 will be more than fast enough. If you must do sli, get the 3500, and dual 6800gts, because it will be much cheaper than the 3800 yet you will loose almost no performance.
What problem? In order to improve your video performance you're best bet is to focus your attention on the GPU first, and the CPU second. In this case the difference between a 3800+ and an FX55 is negligable compared to a single Ultra and SLI'd GTs.
I appreciate the responses so far. One problem I have is that in all the years that I have built PC's (around 13 years or so) I have never really felt great about OC'ing anything. Maybe I need to get with the times. In reference to the 3800+ and 3500+ I have had both and I felt I had a decent performance boost. I just don't know if that same boost is seen when you step up to the FX's. I'm alright with either choice: faster CPU or SLI I just don't know which one will offer me a better boost of performance. I generally don't last very long with any one computer (maybe 3-8 months). I'm just trying to build something that would kinda break that trend. BTW I just sold a rig with a 3800+, Asus a8n SLI, 1GB Corsair XMS 3200pro, dual 74GB raptors, x850xt, and a Pioneer 109. I'm just trying to improve a little on that with the profit I gained from the sale.
Regarding the power connections, I asked the same type of question a while back.
My eVGA 6800GT came with a six-pin adapter (2 4-pin molex connectors from PSU connect to single 6-pin connection on graphics card). Your power supply might also have a PCI-E connector. I've got the OCZ PowerStream 520 and it has one PCI connection.
My eVGA 6800GT came with a six-pin adapter (2 4-pin molex connectors from PSU connect to single 6-pin connection on graphics card). Your power supply might also have a PCI-E connector. I've got the OCZ PowerStream 520 and it has one PCI connection.
damn he beat me.... i would take the 3000+ for sure...... 512mb cache.... whoa... enough right there
RussianSensation
Elite Member
- Sep 5, 2003
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Yeah but no one in the world will notice the difference between FX53/55 and A64 3800+ at 1600x1200 4AA/16AF. Even if you are cpu limited at lower resolutions, no one buys SLI and doesnt play at 1600x1200 4AA/16AF. At this resolution and settings, you will literally become 99% gpu limited, in which case SLI is infinitely better. People should stop worshipping cpu performance in games. It has become simply ridiculous on these forums. SLI gives you 80% improvements in games. In order to get 80% improvement in gaming performance, you'd need to go from AXP1600+ to A64 3000+. And still for games, it's always better to have more gpu power than cpu power, unless you are playing on a 233mhz.
wait a week or so for a venice core with many improvments it would perform better then current wichester cores
just get a 6800gt because when new graphics cores hit the streets they will cost the same but are expected to be double the speed
just get a 6800gt because when new graphics cores hit the streets they will cost the same but are expected to be double the speed
I've been reading up on the Venice and San Diego core procs. It seems like I'm buying at the right time. If the price is right I may be able to go with a 3800+ Venice core with 2 6800gt's or if the difference is great enough I'll jump up to a faster proc based on the new cores. Thanks for that info Hi. I wasn't aware of these new procs.
Keysplayr
Elite Member
- Jan 16, 2003
- 21,211
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I sure hope you own these products seeing how confidently you talk of them. As far as I can tell, you have an Athlon 64 running at 1800MHz. How would you even begin to know the performance of a 3800+ A64? And I noticed you have a X800XL. Last I checked, that wasn't an SLI setup either. Whoa, I'm seeing a pattern here. You don't have any experience here yet you spew forth gobs of information. How? And don't say you heard it somewhere.
OP, do yourself a favor and ask Rollo. He has a 3800+ and as many SLI setups as you can shake a stick at. Word.
Boy if that was a prerequisite, I would expect we wouldn't see you much at all then....
Anybody taking advice here should always take it with a grain of salt. There is nothing wrong with a person researching and being well read on a topic (multi instances) and then being able to put forth that info.....he very well may have seen some personal reviews and reviews elsewhere. You do not know his expertise on any one topic, so you should probably be quiet!!! ***unless you hava data or experience that can refute it***
Pr0d1gy
Diamond Member
- Jan 30, 2005
- 7,774
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Well, let's hope this mess is overwith. I would suggest going with a 3800+ Venice and SLI 6800gt's. You could do that or wait for the 512mb vid cards due out soon & use it in an SLI board so you could upgrade down the road. So you could do something like a FX-57/512mb nVidia/SLI mobo combo. In gaming performance, any of these would keep you running at high levels for the next few years at least.
-Oh and just so we're all clear on this, I have a MSI Neo4 Diamond SLI & a 6600gt. I'm not rich, but given the option it would be a no brainer for me.
-Oh and just so we're all clear on this, I have a MSI Neo4 Diamond SLI & a 6600gt. I'm not rich, but given the option it would be a no brainer for me.
Keysplayr
Elite Member
- Jan 16, 2003
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I told him to go see Rollo didn't I? Straight to the guy with the exact hardware the OP is contemplating. What could be better than that? A review site? I think not. If I didn't know where to send the guy for info, rest assured Duvie, I would keep quiet. Why you felt the need to tell me so I don't really know.
As you might see I was typing my reply as you edited yours with that comment....hence why I dont have it in my quote. Rollo would be excellent reference for this point...
However I resent the fact you think a person has to own something to comment on it....Your comment was lame regardless if you tried to point him to more data later. Just say you disagree, dont invalidate his right in the forum to give advice as he sees it...
However I resent the fact you think a person has to own something to comment on it....Your comment was lame regardless if you tried to point him to more data later. Just say you disagree, dont invalidate his right in the forum to give advice as he sees it...
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