Please help me choose mb/GPU combo

[Sterling19]

I plan to build a new system over the next few weeks. My machine is used mainly for gaming, photo editing and web surfing.

Case: Coolermaster CM690 (have already)
PSU: Corsair TX750 (have already)
Video Card: EVGA 9800GTX+ SSC (have already)
Monitor: 24"
HD: not determined

Proposed memory: Mushkin Redline PC8000 4GB
Proposed CPU: E8500
Proposed OS: Vista64

Here is the dilemma:
Motherboard/GPU:
EVGA 780i FTW/9800GTX+SCC 512MB (SLI) $560
vs.
EVGA 780i FTW/GTX260 core216 896MB (SLI) $783
vs.
ASUS P5Q-E/4870 1GB (single) $540

Prices are in Canadian $ so don't freak out over that

I plan on overclocking moderately (no water cooling or anything crazy).

I expect to have this computer in use for the next 2-3 years.

Reviews for the 780i seem to be mixed, but I'm wondering if the ability to go SLI would provide significantly better gaming performance than I could expect with the P45/single 4870 rig? Also, would the GTX260 SLI be significantly better than a 9800GTX+ setup? Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

 

[DSF]

What size monitor are you using?

 

[Sterling19]

Oops. 24" monitor @ 1920x1200.

 

[Denithor]

Get the G.Skill DDR2-1000 instead, plenty of speed for overclocking and much cheaper.

SLI GTX260 would be significantly faster than SLI 9800GTX and the single 4870 1GB. But it's also more expensive. 9800GTX is somewhat hampered by the limited memory (wow, cards have come a long way in the last couple of years!). With a frame buffer of 512MB you will run short in some games even today at 19x12 let alone in a couple of years. You are going to want at least the 896MB on the GTX260 if you seriously plan to keep the same card for that long.

 

[Sterling19]

Thank you for the comments. I will look up the G.Skill memory.

After reading more reviews and forum comments, I have decided against going the SLI route and have ordered a GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard. It seemed to be a toss up between it and the P5Q-E but the UD3P was a little cheaper and seems to have a lot of happy users. I just wasn't seeing a lot of love for the Nvidia chipset and it doesn't sound like it would be worth it just to get SLI. I'll just stick with my 9800GTX for now and upgrade to a better card when I need to.

 

[Denithor]

Then I would say go for either a GTX 260, 4870 1GB or a GTX 280. The 260 is plenty of horsepower for today's games and cheaper by a good margin.

You would be better off spending $200 today on a 260 and $200 in 18 months on another top midrange card than $300-400 today on a top end card and trying to make it last 2-3 years.