Should it be this dang hard to figure out which graphics card to go with?

[DaveyTN]

I'm wanting to build a rig that will play games at settings designed for an LCD (1280 x 1024 native resolution) and I'm wanting to play with all the 'eye candy' turned on. Also, I'm wanting to be able to play Age of Empires III when it comes out with most everything turned on - I noticed that this game will support Direct Shader 3.0 - so does that mean I need to go with an NVidea solution since ATI doesn't support Direct Shader 3.0.

Here are the choices I'm considering. What do I choose?

1. Dual GeForce 6800GT SLI
2. Single GeForce 6800 Ultra
3. ATI Radeon X850XT

 

[imported_itr]

6800gt sli

 

[MaverickBP]

anyone will tell u to get a bentley instead of a honda if u can afford it. thing is you dont need a bentley. i got a single 6800gt and runs everything with everything on. i wouldve whooped my a$$ if i wasted money on sli...not to mention the compatibility problems ppl are running into for games that dont support it.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Which pretty sums it up saying that you should just stick with an ultra card... Though ati probably should be releasing some new cards soon so you may end up screwing your self over..

 

[fishmonger12]

seeing you only have a 1280x1024 lcd, a single 6800GT would play anything with all the eye candy on...

if you have the money, i would just get an x850xt or 6800 ultra instead of sli. Save the money and upgrade sooner when your card starts to become the mid performance level card.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
Which pretty sums it up saying that you should just stick with an ultra card... Though ati probably should be releasing some new cards soon so you may end up screwing your self over..

that'll always be the case. and i wouldnt get an ultra. its more expensive and bigger...just get a gt. save urself some money and OC to ultra specs. havent seen a single card not be able to do this.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Yeah if you're gonna go SLI get a pair of 6600gt cards that overclock well. Some of them run at or beyond Ultra speeds so it is the best way to get great performance at a good price. That or go with an x800xl...lol

 

[Ike0069]

Single 6800 GT is plenty. Especially @ only 1280x1024.

 

[larry89]

You can always wait and go super overkill with ATI's supposedly "R520"

but who knows if its going to be another Geforce 5 flop