Is 1 8800 GTX enough for a 24" LCD?

[Opterpwn]

I'm about to order all the parts for my new system which includes an e6850 processor 4GB of PC2-8500 ram, and 2 Raptor drives among other things. I'm wondering If 1 8800 GTX or 8800 Ultra alone is enough to handle a 1920 x1200 24" resolution LCD more specifically in intensive graphics tasks like gaming. Generally what FPS can I expect in the native resolution when playing current release games today such as Oblivion, Bioshock, Quakewars etc.? Would 2 8800 gtx or ultras in sli really make much difference for todays games at that res? Also, how soon do most of you think I should have to change my vidcard in order to play at a comfortable frame rate realistically?

 

[Gneisenau]

Originally posted by: Opterpwn
I'm about to order all the parts for my new system which includes an e6850 processor 4GB of PC2-8500 ram, and 2 Raptor drives among other things. I'm wondering If 1 8800 GTX or 8800 Ultra alone is enough to handle a 1920 x1200 24" resolution LCD more specifically in intensive graphics tasks like gaming. Generally what FPS can I expect in the native resolution when playing current release games today such as Oblivion, Bioshock, Quakewars etc.? Would 2 8800 gtx or ultras in sli really make much difference for todays games at that res? Also, how soon do most of you think I should have to change my vidcard in order to play at a comfortable frame rate realistically?

Sure you can use it. With older games like oblivion it will run between 32 and 35 fps outdoors with all the bells and whistles turn on. http://www.tomshardware.com/20...eforce_8800/page9.html Indoors you are looking at between 118 and 133 fps. Notice these are based on an older CPU and windows XP. At the resolution you are describing, you will be GPU bound anyway.

This review http://www.amdzone.com/modules...ticle&artid=315&page=1 shows bioshock at 1600X1200. So you should have some idea. Interestingly, there isn't a large drop in framerates between DX9 and DX10 at that resolution. Or vista and xp for that matter. Pretty slick.

IMO, SLI just isn't worth the money. You will see a noticable increase in framrates though. With those games I am not sure how much. Probably at least 25%. I don't know for sure if Vista really supports SLI yet though. So if you are using that OS beware.

 

[cputeq]

GTXs seem to run 1920x1200 just fine. You might want to do searches for 8800GTX reviews, as many sites will review games using that resolution.

Also, it isn't too horrible running LCD at non-native, depending on how good the monitor scales. While earlier LCD monitor scaling was horrible (forcing you to run native), my 24" monitor now runs great scaled.
I actually disabled my Nvidia scaling because the monitor's was better! (Gateway 24").

I'm also looking at an upgrade, as my video card is a lowly 7800GT, so framerates are important to me, and so far in my research GTX-caliber cards seem to be adequate in most situations.

 

[Opterpwn]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm thinking ill get an evga 8800gtx then use the step up program for when g92 comes out in the next few months, hopefully within 90 days cause thats how long the step up program will go to. The 8800 ultra still seems like too much even though most of the cards have dropped to the $600-$650 range.

 

[imported_spike99]

i also was in your shoes. I just order my rig with a 24" lcd and i was bent on going for 8800gtx SLI but after extensive research I now know that playing games at 1920x1200 there is no need to SLI unless you have a 30" LCD. It's not worth to get ultras acording to reviews I've read. I'm also going with evga and possibly replace them with G92 within 90 period.

 

[Gneisenau]

FYI I use a 7950 GX2 on a 24" 1900 dell. Obvlion runs just fine, and the GTX will stomp mine into the dirt.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Opterpwn
Thanks for the info guys. I'm thinking ill get an evga 8800gtx then use the step up program for when g92 comes out in the next few months, hopefully within 90 days cause thats how long the step up program will go to. The 8800 ultra still seems like too much even though most of the cards have dropped to the $600-$650 range.

Note: EVGA step up is valid for 90days only. If the card does not show up by then you are not able to step up.

 

[boglwe]

2 questions,

1. how exactly does the step up program work? (nevermind this question, i researched it)

2. My plan is to run the Sharp 32in 1080p (1900x1080) and my 24 inch monitor. The 24 will be for applications (Vent, TS, browsing while gaming). THe 32 inch will be for gaming. Will one 8800 GTX be enough, or should I go with a 8800 GTX and a smaller 8x00 card like the 8400 gs? DO they share the same drivers?