Two 256 7800 GTXs or One 512 7800 GTX?

[BroadbandGamer]

Here's the deal.

I can add another 7800 GTX and run SLI for $510. Or I could buy one 512 7800 GTX for $750 and sell my 256 7800 GTX for around $400 on ebay.

So what do you guys think? one 512 or to 256s? The two 256s will end up costing me more.

Isn't two 256 7800 GTXs faster then one 512 GTX?

 

[Polish3d]

I'm waiting until Jan... we have similar systems, same GPU and monitor... given that ES Oblivion is delayed and no other games really tax my GPU, I'm waiting to see about R580 myself

 

[Elfear]

I know this isn't an option you mentioned, but SLI'd 7800GTs are faster than a 512MB 7800GTX and you can find a pair for around $550-600. If you sell your current 7800GTX for $375-400 you wouldn't be out that much. From what I've seen, SLI'd 7800GTs will do 90% of what SLI'd 7800GTXs will. I was in the same boat as you and decided to go that route.

 

[lopri]

99% of people will say two 7800GTXs, or better yet two 7800GTs are the way to go. (Not sure why you even bothered to ask in the first place) But here is a different point of view. I know the 512s are overpriced, and they don't scale for the price when it comes to performance, but I still went with the 512s. (Hey at least I didn't pay $750, but $699. And got Call of Duty 2 for free!) But the thing is, this GTX 512 is different. Sky-high clock speed, and RAM which is also sky-high clocked and scarce - We don't pay for everything in proportion to everything else. Besides which, everytime I feel sluggish in a brand new game, or can't get the setting to max on my monitor (1920x1200), I might think "there is something better(GTX 512)". And start thinking about tweaking, upgrading, and selling/buying, etc..

Well, by going with GTX 512s, I let all the above just go. I know I have the best available and enjoying everything that current crop of graphics technology can offer, and I don't have to look for upgrade or worry about performance. At least for 6 months, I guess. That time and effort, equals to money for me. I don't have to think about getting better performance out of games, and I can just enjoy the games and the graphics then get back to work. Of course, my e-pen1s is bigger than anyone else's so that's also satisfying. Not a big deal as playing game 'the way it's mean to be played', but still not a bad thing.

lop

 

[Sentry2]

If you're thinking about getting a GTX512 they'll probably be a lot easier to come by at the end of December.

 

[RussianSensation]

Sell 7800GTX for 400 like you said. Add $200, get 2x $300 7800GT => total cost of upgrade = $200

To get 7800GTX 512, total cost is $350. Saving $150 and getting faster performance than 1 512mb card in all current games? Sounds like a no brainer to me.

 

[GOREGRINDER]

just get a second gtx and rock your games,..the only thing faster will be 2x512mb 7800gtx's sli

 

[BroadbandGamer]

Originally posted by: GOREGRINDER
just get a second gtx and rock your games,..the only thing faster will be 2x512mb 7800gtx's sli

I think this is what I'm going to do. I really don't want to hassle with selling my GTX and buying two GTs etc..

 

[Zenbeatnik]

Originally posted by: lopri
99% of people will say two 7800GTXs, or better yet two 7800GTs are the way to go. (Not sure why you even bothered to ask in the first place) But here is a different point of view. I know the 512s are overpriced, and they don't scale for the price when it comes to performance, but I still went with the 512s. (Hey at least I didn't pay $750, but $699. And got Call of Duty 2 for free!) But the thing is, this GTX 512 is different. Sky-high clock speed, and RAM which is also sky-high clocked and scarce - We don't pay for everything in proportion to everything else. Besides which, everytime I feel sluggish in a brand new game, or can't get the setting to max on my monitor (1920x1200), I might think "there is something better(GTX 512)". And start thinking about tweaking, upgrading, and selling/buying, etc..

Well, by going with GTX 512s, I let all the above just go. I know I have the best available and enjoying everything that current crop of graphics technology can offer, and I don't have to look for upgrade or worry about performance. At least for 6 months, I guess. That time and effort, equals to money for me. I don't have to think about getting better performance out of games, and I can just enjoy the games and the graphics then get back to work. Of course, my e-pen1s is bigger than anyone else's so that's also satisfying. Not a big deal as playing game 'the way it's mean to be played', but still not a bad thing.

lop

Hehe...exactly what I'm planning to do. Very well put lop. :thumbsup:

 

[Relion]

SLI FTW

 

[vikingblade]

ok...SLI does look like the way to go performance wise.

Now...what are the negatives. requirements, potential problems...

Need SLI Motherboard..obviously.
What kind of PS are we talking about here...will a Fortron 450 be adequete?
How about cooling issues...is SLI alot hotter? Will a standard decent case be ok..Antec SLK-3000??

Im seriously considering going SLI, but being a first time builder and disabled, i cant deal with alot of hassle, headache.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
ok...SLI does look like the way to go performance wise.

Now...what are the negatives. requirements, potential problems...

Need SLI Motherboard..obviously.
What kind of PS are we talking about here...will a Fortron 450 be adequete?
How about cooling issues...is SLI alot hotter? Will a standard decent case be ok..Antec SLK-3000??

Im seriously considering going SLI, but being a first time builder and disabled, i cant deal with alot of hassle, headache.

I believe 28A on the 12V line is considered kind of the minimum for SLI'd 7800 series cards (excluding the 512MB beast). It also depends on the rest of your setup but as long as you aren't running 4 scsi drives and 20 fans you should be all right with that number. Seems like total power output for a system with SLI'd 7800GTs was around 330W and about 20-30W higher for 7800GTXs. There's an article someone linked to in another thread if you search for it.

SLI does run hotter but as long as you have adequate case ventilation than you'll be fine.

 

[vikingblade]

The Fortron PS Im lookin at has dual 12V rails with 18A on each rail. For a total of 36A

Dual rails are the way to go right. Do I need 2 24 pin power plugs for both cards in SLI? Will that come with the power supply?

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
The Fortron PS Im lookin at has dual 12V rails with 18A on each rail. For a total of 36A

Dual rails are the way to go right. Do I need 2 24 pin power plugs for both cards in SLI? Will that come with the power supply?

You need one 6-pin plug for each card. If the PSU only comes with one 6-pin connector your video card will have an adaptor with it that will work fine.

I've heard a lot of speculation on dual rail PSU's. Seems like Nvidia has given SLI certification to some dual rail PSUs so they must work fine. I've also heard that if you like to oc a lot that a big beefy single rail is better. Biggest thing I think is going with a good quality PSU which it looks like you're planning on.

 

[vikingblade]

Elfear...I see that youre running SLI'd 7800GTs. Can you share your experience. Ease of Set up, Performance etc... Anything else I should be aware of before making a final decision to go SLI. tHANKS

 

[RampantAndroid]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I'm waiting until Jan... we have similar systems, same GPU and monitor... given that ES Oblivion is delayed and no other games really tax my GPU, I'm waiting to see about R580 myself

Well, when you're done with that GTX, could you send it my way?

 

[RampantAndroid]

Originally posted by: BroadbandGamer
Here's the deal.

I can add another 7800 GTX and run SLI for $510. Or I could buy one 512 7800 GTX for $750 and sell my 256 7800 GTX for around $400 on ebay.

So what do you guys think? one 512 or to 256s? The two 256s will end up costing me more.

Isn't two 256 7800 GTXs faster then one 512 GTX?

Well, you COULD just either wait for prices to drop (not like you can find a 512 GTX in stock anywhere...) and live with that GTX, then once prices settle use the money you saved to buy 2x 512 mb GTX...

 

[pol II]

If you're going with a dual-rail PSU, make sure it is on the approved vendors list if possible. Those two cards plus some peripherals will be running off of one of those 12v rails (the other feeds CPU). I would simply go with a single-rail PSU with beefy 12v capacity.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Dual rail is much better...two independantly regulated 12v rails...that's much better than 1 single rail....two rails means if one is overloaded, the other won't be affected...do something to that single rail PSU, and everything will suffer.

 

[vikingblade]

Dual 18A Rails On the Fortron 450 gives me 36A Total. Its tough to find a single rail choice better than that.. But, is it as simple as add the rails..

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
Dual rail is much better...two independantly regulated 12v rails...that's much better than 1 single rail....two rails means if one is overloaded, the other won't be affected...do something to that single rail PSU, and everything will suffer.

I'm not sure that's true- why all the highend server PSU's are single rail ($400 Zippys, sparkle etc) - why overclockers prefer single fat 12 - why alienware pick fat 36A single rail PC power and cooling 510 for thier SLi rigs if dual rail is much better??

I found them to be worse personally but I've only tried a couple.. playing with a seasonic 500 now.. trying to keep it running while overclocking.

 

[Zebo]

OP course we both know by now two GT's is way to fly with rebates knocking combo down to $550... wish they had that card when i got my GTX.. anyway I'd say add another GTX and it's not $520 but $450

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe...roductCode=326025&affiliate=pricewatch

 

[BroadbandGamer]

Thanks for the input guys!

I should get my other 7800 GTX from newegg.com today.

 

[Ackmed]

I got my second GTX two days ago. There was no way I was paying $700+ for a 512mg GTX. I was hesitant on getting SLI with the current cards, but I got a killer deal on my second BFG GTX, so I went with it. CoD2 is much faster, and now I can continue playing it. I stopped playing till I got more frames.

Now just to educate myself on the different rendering types. Is there no vsync in SLI? It doesnt seem to be working. Guess Ill have to research that as well...

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
Dual rail is much better...two independantly regulated 12v rails...that's much better than 1 single rail....two rails means if one is overloaded, the other won't be affected...do something to that single rail PSU, and everything will suffer.

Dual 12V rails mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=23916

P.S. Hey, Ackmed, were you able to turn Ultra-D to SLI?