SLI 8800 GTS 640 vs. SLI 8800 GT 512?

[terencek]

So, right now I have an XFX 8800 GTS 640 MB and would like to upgrade. My question is which would be better, buy another GTS, or just get 2 GTs for SLI. I'd like to know which would be better for performance on playing games like Crysis. If I got the 2 GTs, then I got one of my Christmas presents done for my little bro. (He's got a 7900 GS right now.)

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

 

[JustaGeek]

You have a fine Video Card.

It's not the time to upgrade from 8800GTS right now. Wait a month or a few for the new NVidia offerings in the GTS and GTX category.

 

[MarcVenice]

I think I agree, sli isn't all that good ya know. Better of to wait if you ask me, because like he said, you've got a pretty good vid card allready ...

 

[MTDEW]

And sli is running like crap in Crysis right now.

Although with sli you get a better avg fps than a single card, theres is a lot more "stuttering" with sli....it just simply doesnt run as smooth as a single card.

Everyone is hoping for a patch to fix sli in crysis......I personally wouldnt hold my breath...

 

[Syntax Error]

I'd wait for the new offerings Nvidia's coming up with in early December, and if it's a good performance boost, jump for those cards instead.

 

[terencek]

OK, guys, thanks for the input. Never having SLI before, I wasn't sure if there were HUGE benefits to it or not, but I don't like the sound of having "stuttering" because of SLI. I'll wait til the next gen GTS and GTX come out. I also heard that the GTS that I have was skipped for DX10.1 updates, so I was looking to see if I could go upwards. I read about the 8800GT, but I'd like to get the higher end of the G92, so I'll wait. I was getting a little anxious to get something better, but I think a little patience will work out well for me.

Thanks again, everyone for the good advice....So you think that when these next cards come out, it'd be better to go single card over SLI? I always thought SLI would give a person a great boost in performance. I think I'll research a little more on SLI before I plunk down the cash...

 

[JustaGeek]

You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

 

[MTDEW]

If you ask anyone who's ever owned an sli setup most will tell you its not worth it.

Cons..
Not all games support sli
Some games actually run slower in sli
Extra Heat
Extra power consumption. (you NEED a good PSU)
Theres usually a single card released that beats an sli setup 6 months or after you bought the SLI setup.

Pros...
When a game supports sli right its a nice performance boost
Sli really improves your 3dmark scores....LOL (yes, thats a joke)

I personally hope sli improves and becomes a very viable option over the next year.

But speaking personally from a guy who's done Sli and Crossfire, it simply is not worth the hassle right now...it just simply doesnt give enough benefits for the extra $$$ you shell out for an extra card.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

 

[spittledip]

If you want a toaster oven for a computer get 8800GT in SLI

I agree with MTDEW up there.. unless you hve the cash to blow and you are dying to blow it.

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

The 8800GT is DX10. It's just not DX10.1

Not that there's much use to DX10.1 right now (or ever), but only the HD 3850/3870 currently support it. nVidia will surely have support for it in their G100 architecture or whatever is coming next.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Extelleron

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

The 8800GT is DX10. It's just not DX10.1

Not that there's much use to DX10.1 right now (or ever), but only the HD 3850/3870 currently support it. nVidia will surely have support for it in their G100 architecture or whatever is coming next.

http://www.fudzilla.com/index....=view&id=3741&Itemid=1

http://www.fudzilla.com/index....view&id=3479&Itemid=34

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Extelleron

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

The 8800GT is DX10. It's just not DX10.1

Not that there's much use to DX10.1 right now (or ever), but only the HD 3850/3870 currently support it. nVidia will surely have support for it in their G100 architecture or whatever is coming next.

everybody seems to be downplaying 10.1, but it's kind of funny how 38x0 does much better vs 8800gt in newer dx10 games. I wonder if the 10.1 items are helping 38x0 a little bit?

 

[JustaGeek]

I'm just happy that ATI has come up with a competitive product...

I have been using NVidia exclusively for my gaming computers, but without ATI we would be paying through the roof for the new Video Cards.

Now let's hope that the big parent, AMD, does the same in the CPU category...

 

[Mucker]

Luckily I was able to step up my 640 GTS SC to a GT for $24 total. If I wasn't able to do that, I would have never bought a GT but would have waited instead for the newer cards.

 

[terencek]

Originally posted by: Extelleron

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

The 8800GT is DX10. It's just not DX10.1

Not that there's much use to DX10.1 right now (or ever), but only the HD 3850/3870 currently support it. nVidia will surely have support for it in their G100 architecture or whatever is coming next.

OK, so just a question: is the 8800 GTX 10.1 compatible? (Just wondering if it is. I read that the XFX 8800 GTS 640 that I bought wasn't, so is the GTX?)

Also, how much better is a GTX over a GTS 640MB? Is there a very good difference? Would a 8800 GT be better?

 

[RussianSensation]

For someone with an 8800GTS 640, your next upgrade path is R700 or GF9.

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, don't bother going to anything until the next high end comes out. if you're dying in jan/feb then you could look at r680 or its g92 equivalent, but realistically you'll be better off waiting for r700/g100 in mid 08 as those should show the next real performance jump.

 

[TC91]

you should just overclock your current card using rivatuner or your favourite oc'ing tool. most 8800gts' if not all should hit 600core, 1500shaders, and 1800memory for sure. your gts would only be about 10% or so slower than a stock 8800gt, and that is not much of a gain to justify getting a new card.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: terencek

Originally posted by: Extelleron

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
You haven't missed much in terms of DX10.1 - the 8800GT is not 10.1 compliant either.

Since when? Nvidia's site claims the GT can do DX10 all over the place.

The 8800GT is DX10. It's just not DX10.1

Not that there's much use to DX10.1 right now (or ever), but only the HD 3850/3870 currently support it. nVidia will surely have support for it in their G100 architecture or whatever is coming next.

OK, so just a question: is the 8800 GTX 10.1 compatible? (Just wondering if it is. I read that the XFX 8800 GTS 640 that I bought wasn't, so is the GTX?)

Also, how much better is a GTX over a GTS 640MB? Is there a very good difference? Would a 8800 GT be better?

No, it is not. Only the latest ATI 3800 series offerings are DX10.1 compliant.

But DX10.1 as such does not exist, and there are no DX10.1 games yet, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I would recommend not to look or think about any Video Card on the market today.

Again, you have a fine card. Just wait for the new ones...

There is a lot of "Christmases" ahead, and perhaps you will be able to enjoy a revolutionary product by Easter 2008...?