Which of These Cards...

G_Mach234 · 10-20-2008, 08:15 AM

My budget is €250 (under $350). (flexible too)

9800 GX2?
2 of something else?

Any answer, suggestion or shared knowledge is appreciated...

**wrench97** · 10-20-2008, 06:01 PM

What Motherboard and PSU do you have?

G_Mach234 · 10-21-2008, 06:39 AM

This is for a new build so neither at the moment.
Whichever card i get id be planning on using a second one in SLI if i ever want to upgrade.
I had my eye on the GX2 for ages but in some direct comparisons people went for the GTX 260 instead so im a bit shaken :P (similarly priced too i believe?)

**wrench97** · 10-21-2008, 11:27 AM

To SLI you need a Nvidia chip set, Have a look through this > http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...arts,2020.html

G_Mach234 · 10-21-2008, 12:41 PM

ahright perfect thanks, they seem to support the GTX 260 and after some research on its noise being an issue i feel quite comfortable with it being my new 'gonna gettit, just wait' card :D
would it be wrong of me if i asked for the same kind of info in regards to motherbords? id start a new thread but ive had terrible luck getting attention :(
Just some comparison links like above or knowledge :P

**wrench97** · 10-21-2008, 12:49 PM

Biggest problem I see are that the 7xx series boards are buggy, hard to set up and very memory picky(I've seen the same spec/brand not work on one but work on another??)
You sure you want to SLI it's an expensive path to a small gain usually only 10-20% over a single card?

G_Mach234 · 10-21-2008, 12:52 PM

hmmm, i knew there'd be a small increase in performance but now that you mention it, would i be saving much by going with a motherboard that gave me just one p imped out PCI-E slot to work with?

**wrench97** · 10-21-2008, 01:55 PM

The price of the second card alone is enough then there is the larger Power Supply for 2 GTX 260's you're looking at 850w minimum and that's going to be struggling down to a 750w for a single card that will run right in it's 60-80% of load sweet spot.

G_Mach234 · 10-21-2008, 03:27 PM

great so im perfectly happy with having just one card, being the gtx 260 so i wont need a tricked out power supply to run two in SLI but could you help me out with motherboards, ive only really looked at nvidias chipsets like the 780i then the 680i after i heard about 700's problems but since i really only need one good slot can you recommend some boards/chipsets? :S :P

**wrench97** · 10-21-2008, 04:20 PM

My current favorite is the P5Q E but any of these work well> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128344

G_Mach234 · 10-21-2008, 05:21 PM

sweet thanks, the P5Q E seems the a good choice from that bunch especially along with a recommendation

. ill look at some reviews for it tomorrow and maybe see if it leads to any other boards (or not).
i guess i shouldnt stretch into too many other components since we're in the video card section but this help is very much appreciated.

thankyou.

10-20-2008, 08:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Which of These Cards... My budget is €250 (under $350). (flexible too) 9800 GX2? 2 of something else? Any answer, suggestion or shared knowledge is appreciated...

10-20-2008, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,505 OS: Win7	Re: Which of These Cards... What Motherboard and PSU do you have? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-21-2008, 06:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Re: Which of These Cards... This is for a new build so neither at the moment. Whichever card i get id be planning on using a second one in SLI if i ever want to upgrade. I had my eye on the GX2 for ages but in some direct comparisons people went for the GTX 260 instead so im a bit shaken :P (similarly priced too i believe?)

10-21-2008, 11:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,505 OS: Win7	Re: Which of These Cards... To SLI you need a Nvidia chip set, Have a look through this > http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...arts,2020.html __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-21-2008, 12:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Re: Which of These Cards... ahright perfect thanks, they seem to support the GTX 260 and after some research on its noise being an issue i feel quite comfortable with it being my new 'gonna gettit, just wait' card :D would it be wrong of me if i asked for the same kind of info in regards to motherbords? id start a new thread but ive had terrible luck getting attention :( Just some comparison links like above or knowledge :P

10-21-2008, 12:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,505 OS: Win7	Re: Which of These Cards... Biggest problem I see are that the 7xx series boards are buggy, hard to set up and very memory picky(I've seen the same spec/brand not work on one but work on another??) You sure you want to SLI it's an expensive path to a small gain usually only 10-20% over a single card? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-21-2008, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Re: Which of These Cards... hmmm, i knew there'd be a small increase in performance but now that you mention it, would i be saving much by going with a motherboard that gave me just one p imped out PCI-E slot to work with?

10-21-2008, 01:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,505 OS: Win7	Re: Which of These Cards... The price of the second card alone is enough then there is the larger Power Supply for 2 GTX 260's you're looking at 850w minimum and that's going to be struggling down to a 750w for a single card that will run right in it's 60-80% of load sweet spot. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-21-2008, 03:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Re: Which of These Cards... great so im perfectly happy with having just one card, being the gtx 260 so i wont need a tricked out power supply to run two in SLI but could you help me out with motherboards, ive only really looked at nvidias chipsets like the 780i then the 680i after i heard about 700's problems but since i really only need one good slot can you recommend some boards/chipsets? :S :P

10-21-2008, 04:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,505 OS: Win7	Re: Which of These Cards... My current favorite is the P5Q E but any of these work well> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128344 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-21-2008, 05:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
G_Mach234 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 61 OS: Windows XP Professional	Re: Which of These Cards... sweet thanks, the P5Q E seems the a good choice from that bunch especially along with a recommendation . ill look at some reviews for it tomorrow and maybe see if it leads to any other boards (or not). i guess i shouldnt stretch into too many other components since we're in the video card section but this help is very much appreciated. thankyou.