Second GTX 480 or wait?

[Ferzerp]

Games are starting to require a few too many options disabled for 2560x1600 resolution to appear smooth to me. I currently have a GTX 480. I'm trying to decide if I should wait until the next gen cards, or add a second.

I'm not really a big fan of SLI (or Crossfire), but it seems that that will be the best bang for the buck upgrade.

Am I missing something here?

 

[batmang]

If you can find a GTX 480 on the cheap, I say jump on it. 480's are awesome cards alone and really shine in SLI. As long as you have the capability to power it and can afford a second, might as well do it. You will definitely see improvements in games that utilize SLI properly.

 

[Red Storm]

Winter is coming.

You could use the heat.

 

[Ferzerp]

Winter is coming.

You could use the heat.

That's another concern.

I should be OK on power at least. I have a corsair 850W unit (850TX).

 

[batmang]

Your temps will definitely go up in your case, but that's typical with any dual card setup.

 

[boxleitnerb]

If you get it really cheap and don't mind the noise, go for it. However, the next generation is due in the next couple of months. Usually I don't recommend waiting, but the cycles are so long now (2.5 years) and due to the skip of 32nm Kepler/SI will be a larger step than usual.

 

[lavaheadache]

I would say no. I think sli and crossfire suck. Microstutter is a major draw back if you are sensitive to it. Don't take anybody's word for it, including mine. Go find somebody or someplace with a setup and see what you think. If you aren't sensitive too it GREAT! Go get another card. If you are, GREAT! You just saved yourself time, money and frustration.

 

[Ferzerp]

That's a concern as well (stuttering).

In regards to the waiting for a new generation. I'm thinking the chances of a single card offering that beats 2 GTX 480s is pretty slim. Or am I totally off base here? I don't follow video cards that much.

 

[JAG87]

Actually new architectures usually bring nearly double the performance of the previous, so you can expect the flagship Kepler card to be almost as fast as two 480/580.

Microstuttering is not a concern if you use vsync, which you should even with a single GPU.

Try to find a used one for cheap ($200 or less). When the new cards come out you can sell your used 480 for nearly the same price you paid now.

 

[bryanW1995]

Even better, you can hold out for another sale on 480's in the next month or two. Several of us paid less than $200 to get one the other day, and then newegg sold a lot more for $225 AR. Noise/temps on these newer 480's are a LOT better as well.

 

[JTsyo]

BF3 was seeing 85% boost from SLI, that's an awesome jump. I would still hold out for the price drop when the next series comes out. Also might want to wait for benchmarks of the next set of cards.

 

[Genx87]

That's a concern as well (stuttering).

In regards to the waiting for a new generation. I'm thinking the chances of a single card offering that beats 2 GTX 480s is pretty slim. Or am I totally off base here? I don't follow video cards that much.

Nvidia has offered a single card solution that matches the previous generations dual card. In this case look at the GTX 590 for what you can expect the next generations top end card to produce.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Microstuttering is not a concern if you use vsync, which you should even with a single GPU.

Not true. Maybe you mean, if you have 60fps, then I would partially agree. Depending on framerate, CPU speed and game engine, microstuttering can always be a problem.

However, if one is around or above 60fps it's not that much of an issue - yet these 60fps will most likely feel different than 60fps on a single card.

But there is a remedy:
Using a fps limiter basically eliminates microstuttering, but is has drawbacks of course, capping the framerate. But because many people play with vsync to avoid tearing, this is a non-issue.

 

[JAG87]

Not true. Maybe you mean, if you have 60fps, then I would partially agree. Depending on framerate, CPU speed and game engine, microstuttering can always be a problem.

However, if one is around or above 60fps it's not that much of an issue - yet these 60fps will most likely feel different than 60fps on a single card.

But there is a remedy:
Using a fps limiter basically eliminates microstuttering, but is has drawbacks of course, capping the framerate. But because many people play with vsync to avoid tearing, this is a non-issue.

Microstuttering is never a problem with vsync on, but always a problem with it off. Although vastly more noticeable with multi GPU, there is still variance in frame rendering times with a single card. Vsync + buffering is the only way to address these variances and make sure that frames are delivered in consistent intervals to achieve a true to the frame rate feeling.

 

[BD231]

But there is a remedy:
Using a fps limiter basically eliminates microstuttering, but is has drawbacks of course, capping the framerate. But because many people play with vsync to avoid tearing, this is a non-issue.

How is that a remedy? Wouldn't that negate all the performance gains you get from SLI??

 

[Puffnstuff]

Your ps isn't up to the task of two cards and if you do buy another without upgrading the ps you'll be sorry soon.