better questions

[Infamous]

1)to SLI/crossfire to not? do i need to? i know i want to, but do i ned it? how many of you are sli/crossfired up?

i love this toms hardware hierarchy list. really helps to put the numbers in place. just because it has a higher number doesnt mean its better.

2) will i miss the phhysX technology that nvida offers if i go ati? i like the performance of the 5770, its about the same price as the gts 450, which isnt as good. All of the cards are listed as single cards in test, so anything pairs up will run great. i guess the phys X is my initial concern now.

3) when going SLI/crossfire, do you just ned the same GPU type and mem size? i always thought had to be same brand and model. i was reading and a few places, guy had brand A 5770, crossfireing with brand B 5770.. this doesnt cause issues?


ive always been an nvidia guy, and up until i thought about missing the physX was all for going ATi.

[juneau]

1)to SLI/crossfire to not? do i need to? i know i want to, but do i ned it? how many of you are sli/crossfired up?

i love this toms hardware hierarchy list. really helps to put the numbers in place. just because it has a higher number doesnt mean its better.

2) will i miss the phhysX technology that nvida offers if i go ati? i like the performance of the 5770, its about the same price as the gts 450, which isnt as good. All of the cards are listed as single cards in test, so anything pairs up will run great. i guess the phys X is my initial concern now.

3) when going SLI/crossfire, do you just ned the same GPU type and mem size? i always thought had to be same brand and model. i was reading and a few places, guy had brand A 5770, crossfireing with brand B 5770.. this doesnt cause issues?


ive always been an nvidia guy, and up until i thought about missing the physX was all for going ATi.

1. No.
2. Why? PhysX is next to pointless and barely used by any games.
3. You can use different brands but it's best to stick with matching cards. Gives less chance of any issues appearing.

[Duke{CLR}]

1. I use an SLI but I certainly did not need it. In the past I have used it to buy good card at the time of the build then have a cheaper upgrade opportunity. Generally it is best to buy the best single card that you can afford.

2a. PhysX only works on specific games I think the only one I have is UT3 but you can check it out here on numerous posts about it online. Hre is one PhysX games that will benefit from a dedicated GPU - [H]ard|Forum

2b. No.

3. You can mix brands but you must have the same GPU.

[juneau]

Are your answers to questions 1&2 the wrong way round, Duke?

ah now you edited lol.

[Duke{CLR}]

Are your answers to questions 1&2 the wrong way round, Duke?

ah now you edited lol.

I noticed that after reading your reply.

[Infamous]

still just staring at choices, and now i se another post about nvida burning up cards again with its drivers....

so, i think it may be a 5770. if i like it, i can always pick up another one later. the "later" part is what had me worried, but since it only needs to be same GPU, i guess ill risk it.

this is the most thought i have put into a build in a long long time, i guess there are just that many more choices and options for me now although that smile is one of insanity because of all the reading and choises.....

fish or cut bait? hell, intel or amd, nvidia or ati, 8 gb ram vs 4, lol,,, i think ill just go fishing,. only one question then.


i was just reading nvidia official phys x list. i am almost a bit disappointed i thought it was so important. One of the games on their list though " pirates of the burning sea" was a game i played for a year or so. it was during that game play i upgraded from my single core to current duo, and upgraded vid cards to an sli set up. the phys x made that game look amazing! id still play it based on looks, but its pretty boring sailing around the world upwind all the time without mates you know/trust playing next to you.

[BlackArrow]

I have used cards in SLI in the past...but the newer single cards are great, stand on their own and are priced great.

Right now I am have been using a single Nvidia card for 3 years and I am happy...although I will be happier when I finally upgrade it later this year

[BlackArrow]

ATI cards are very good and have had a great come back in the past year...but I think it all comes down to what you use your PC for and if you dig into the individual card reviews you will see that ATI scores great for media but usually falls behind in most of the games I play...especially if you want to use anti-aliasing - which I do and which anyone would want to do (rather than dumbing down your graphics so your card can handle it).

[Infamous]

yeah, i think i am going to wait perhaps till first week of april till i can read toms new hierarchy list. the 560 ti( which i think is a typo on their site, all i can find is 550ti) isnt rated on there yet, so maybe its a 5770, or one of those Ti somethings.

currently i only run 512 mb total of video. And the 8600 gts is WAY down ther on the hierarchy list. they said do not upgrade if you are not more than thre tiers below, and hell, i am 10 or 11 depending on which cards i go with, so no matter what, i suppose ill be fine. just a lot harder when it is your money being spent. ( i actually have to earn this stuff lol)

all that being said, shogun2 is still being purchased this weekend. ill play it on low crappy setting at first if i must.

[juneau]

Take a look at the Nvidia GTX460. These are great cards at a great price point.

[Infamous]

been looking at those too. searching for a vid card is a total pain in the a**( unless money is no object, or you just dont care)

it seems that the gtx460 is a monster. i got all side tracked by topics stating for how only a mere extra ?? i could get this, or that. I have always told myself, dont spend more than 100 on a card( i have to now, there isnt anything i would by below 100 unless it was w/ rebate right now)

i also think i am going to go with the 5770 or the gtx... both not that new, bot both dominate my old sli set up. plus, i can always go buy new vid cards next tax rebate when the " bad boys" of today will be 100 less than they are now, so things like gtx 560's etc will be game.

i have been doing TONS of reading, and later i plan to post a thread with some of the awesome charts and graphs i have found. they basically break all GPUs down to an apple vs apple comparison. i also have a few that set the standard of whatever card you are looking for to be 100% and rates other cards in terms relative to it.

[juneau]

been looking at those too. searching for a vid card is a total pain in the a**( unless money is no object, or you just dont care)

it seems that the gtx460 is a monster. i got all side tracked by topics stating for how only a mere extra ?? i could get this, or that. I have always told myself, dont spend more than 100 on a card( i have to now, there isnt anything i would by below 100 unless it was w/ rebate right now)

i also think i am going to go with the 5770 or the gtx... both not that new, bot both dominate my old sli set up. plus, i can always go buy new vid cards next tax rebate when the " bad boys" of today will be 100 less than they are now, so things like gtx 560's etc will be game.

i have been doing TONS of reading, and later i plan to post a thread with some of the awesome charts and graphs i have found. they basically break all GPUs down to an apple vs apple comparison. i also have a few that set the standard of whatever card you are looking for to be 100% and rates other cards in terms relative to it.

Try not to do too much reading, it'll just confuse the matter further. Just look at a couple of good reivew websites and pick a card.

[BadHabitz]

I use the GTX460 now and it runs great. Got mine for $200 from Amazon with free shipping, about a month ago. When I build a new rig before BF3 I'll rip out the 460 and put the older 9800 back inside and hand that computer down. Then I'll put the 460 in the new case SLI'd with another 460. By that time the price will come down enough where buying a second one would be worthwhile in my eyes.

[Duke{CLR}]

Try not to do too much reading, it'll just confuse the matter further. Just look at a couple of good reivew websites and pick a card.

I would add that it's also good to pick a company that has a good support reputation.

[Infamous]

I use the GTX460 now and it runs great. Got mine for $200 from Amazon with free shipping, about a month ago. When I build a new rig before BF3 I'll rip out the 460 and put the older 9800 back inside and hand that computer down. Then I'll put the 460 in the new case SLI'd with another 460. By that time the price will come down enough where buying a second one would be worthwhile in my eyes.

the only thing i dont like about the 460 currently is the 768 mb.. they have a 1 gb version, but i feel they are sticking it to you. this is sort of the card i want. ( based choice off performance of gts 450 as a minimum.) its much better than the 5770, but the 1 gb versions are just like 40-50 out of what i want to pay for a card.

lamest thing about all this is i had my rig figured out last night. didnt buy it thoguh as bestto sleep on it, and not buy stuff while tired and buzzed. sales ended yesterday, my rig went up 100$, gha!!! time to try and find alternatives ...