thinking of going 7900GT SLI (vs. 7900GTX), but will 256MB choke the GTs?

[CHaynes112]

I am debating on buying 2 x 7900GT for SLI vs. a single 7900GTX. I know the 7900GTs will be about $100 more, but they pretty much outperform the GTX in everything (especially when extremely overclocked). I will be volt modded the cards either way I go, however, I will still be using air cooling :nono: lol... I know that 2 x 256MB cards in SLI doesn't mean you have 512MB of memory. I am just wondering if the 256MB (x 2) on the GTs will hurt performance at all vs. the 512MB on the GTX. No only now, but in a few months also (gaming wise)?

[nn_step]

I would go with the 7900GTX and get another later for upgrade.. SLi is only useful for benchmarking...

[FragTek]

Do you have a huge monitor? I'm a bit dissapointed with my 7800GTX 256's with this 30" Dell when it comes to EQ2. If I crank up the quality settings I can't even boot all the way in to the game at about 3/4 screen size without getting an "out of video memory" error and having to turn down quality settings and make the game window smaller.

512 FTW!

[J-Mag]

SLi is only useful for benchmarking...

What are you smoking man? Thats the most retarded thing I have seen you post.

SLI gives about 40-50% increase across the board in modern games at decent resolutions.

Here are a few examples: http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2006q1/geforce-7600-7900/index.x?pg=10

OP: Also I think SLI as an upgrade path is pretty stupid, mostly due to the fact that by the time you want to upgrade next gen cards are out, but to each his own.

[nn_step]

What are you smoking man? Thats the most retarded thing I have seen you post.

SLI gives about 40-50% increase across the board in modern games at decent resolutions.

Here are a few examples: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/nn_step2/bf2.gif

OP: Also I think SLI as an upgrade path is pretty stupid, mostly due to the fact that by the time you want to upgrade next gen cards are out, but to each his own.

and oh look the performance difference between a 7800GT SLi set up and 1 X1900XTX is only 1FPS.. I can live with that difference.. because it is $150 cheaper.. plus it is far more upgradable.. SLi isn't cost effective for gaming...
Yes it works fine in games but you can get equal perfromance from one great card than you can with Two good cards at an even greater price

[J-Mag]

and oh look the performance difference between a 7800GT SLi set up and 1 X1900XTX is only 1FPS.. I can live with that difference.. because it is $150 cheaper.. plus it is far more upgradable.. SLi isn't cost effective for gaming...


WTF? You are arguing something completely different now. Were we talking about cost effectiveness or even ATI cards? CHRIST! I was mearly pointing out that your comment saying SLI is only useful for benching is retarded, which it is.


Yes it works fine in games but you can get equal perfromance from one great card than you can with Two good cards at an even greater price

To retort your new rambling: Can you get one card that is equal to two 7900gtx's? NO


Edit: Also I like how you pick the oldest game of the bunch (was the Quake4, Lost Coast, FEAR or Guildwars difference only "1fps", they are showing 10-30fps) Plus you are using 7800GT's as a reference... jeezus man....

[nn_step]

sorry but I couldn't find any 7900GT SLi vs X1900XTX
benchmarks man.. SLi is nice and everything But it really isn't worth it if you ask me..
Heck the only game that Might need Two 7900GTX/X1900XTX in SLi/Crossfire is WZ21 but even then it isn't enough with the reaper mod.. Hence I say.. don't waste the money..

[J-Mag]

sorry but I couldn't find any 7900GT SLi vs X1900XTX
benchmarks man.. SLi is nice and everything But it really isn't worth it if you ask me..


Thats fine, you are entitled to your opinion like the rest of the lemmings.
Anyway 7900GT SLI scores ~ 7800GTX scores (they are close).


Heck the only game that Might need Two 7900GTX/X1900XTX in SLi/Crossfire is WZ21 but even then it isn't enough with the reaper mod.. Hence I say.. don't waste the money..

This is another lame comment, because you are leaving out the most important factors (resolution, AA, AF settings) and "need" is relative anyway. Do people "need" Phase Change? Do people "need" ferraris, DO people "need" vacation homes? Can you think beyond your own self?

Have you ever had an SLI rig?

Btw, how old are you? ( I am assuming you are under 20, because that's the age range that tends to complain about cost effectiveness) This is Xtremesystems not CostEffective systems (to quote another yet unkown XS member).

[nn_step]

over 20 and lets just leave it at that.. and I suggest cost effective.. because I'm not rich and niethier are most the people here.. I work for a living and wasting money is something that I was raised not to do..
and yes I have had an SLi rig.. a 6600GT SLi rig...

[J-Mag]

over 20 and lets just leave it at that.. and I suggest cost effective.. because I'm not rich and niethier are most the people here.. I work for a living and wasting money is something that I was raised not to do..


Again, it seems you can't see things from other perspectives, as "wasting money" is relative to the individual.

Let me ask you a few questions...
Do you have cable TV?
How much a month do you spend on gas?
Do you ever go eat a restaurants?
Ever go to bars?

Considering the above, would it be unreasonable to pay $40-50 a month for the most powerful graphics system available to be purchased via retail a waste?


and yes I have had an SLi rig.. a 6600GT SLi rig...

HAHAH, now that was a waste of funds and probably the reason why you got soured on SLI.

[nn_step]

Again, it seems you can't see things from other perspectives, as "wasting money" is relative to the individual.

Let me ask you a few questions...
Do you have cable TV?
How much a month do you spend on gas?
Do you ever go eat a restaurants?
Ever go to bars?

Considering the above, would you consider paying $40-50 a month for the most powerful graphics system available to be purchased via retail a waste?


Cable TV: Yes
Gas: Zero I bike
Restaurants: only if the GF wants to
Bars: No need

and I forgot to add the X1800XT set that I got :D.. for folding of course :D

[J-Mag]

Cable TV: Yes
Gas: Zero I bike
Restaurants: only if the GF wants to
Bars: No need


I think it is cool that you bike man, I want the US to get off OIL dependance.
:toast: I try to carpool myself...

Anyway my point is that I can bet most Americans spend more money on various other wasteful things than one would spend on high-end SLI set ups. Everyone has different priorities.

Here is my math:

I purchased two 7800gtx 256mb back at the end of JULY. I will be selling them in a week or so when my 7900GTX's arrive.

I purchased each for $475 each and can probably get $300 a piece now.

950 - 600 = 350

350 / 7months = $50

In essence I spent $50/month (not including inflation or even possible gains if I had invested the money instead, which is minimal anyway) to have sli'd 7800GTX's.

[topaimz]

I gotz a Samsung Syncmaster 240T and its 244T coming in later this month, so I think I after reading what ya guys said, 7900GTXs in SLi is right fo me? Righteo?

P.S.
Do ya guys think a single 7900GTX, watercooled (buying the Black Pearl if it comes out) would do the trick with a 240T or 244T monitor?

[Orangeman]

I would have a hard time sinking much into a SLI setup with DX10 cards in sight. Maybe a nice 7900GT to hold me over...

[en4cer]

I would have a hard time sinking much into a SLI setup with DX10 cards in sight. Maybe a nice 7900GT to hold me over...

Good Point....



With DX10 on the way why would anyone buy high end SLI right now. Those vid cards will loose a lot of functionallity.

I'd say go for one GTX 512

[Jarrod1937]

Again, it seems you can't see things from other perspectives, as "wasting money" is relative to the individual.

Let me ask you a few questions...
Do you have cable TV?
How much a month do you spend on gas?
Do you ever go eat a restaurants?
Ever go to bars?

Considering the above, would it be unreasonable to pay $40-50 a month for the most powerful graphics system available to be purchased via retail a waste?



HAHAH, now that was a waste of funds and probably the reason why you got soured on SLI.
i think you're missing his point. sli is good (and does help) and two x1900's sli'ed=really good but why spend more money on one sli system when you could simply buy one card that performs the same for cheaper? to me this would be a waste of money.
and the waiting for dx10 thing is kind of an opinion of what a person wants. if they think they won't care (like if you're using it for a workstation) then there really is no reason to not spend as much as you can for a high-end sli system while if you want to update to a dx10 compatible system then it would be wise to not get a high-end sli system if you're simply going to be updating to dx10 later on, however... its all opinion.

[Heretic]

SLI/Crossfire has its real world use....namely insanely high res gaming. If you have one of the larger LCDs, you'll want a system powerful enough to run games in its native resolution. Now, for the most part, SLI IS pretty useless, especially for those running 1600x1200 or less. I'd also recommend that if you're going to go SLI, you go with 2 high end cards at the same time or not at all. As an upgrade path, SLI is rather pointless.

Now, as for the OPs situation, I'd use http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2717 as a guide to what you need. Basically pick the resolution you'll be playing at and see the differences between the 2 solutions in the games anand benched.

[Kappy]

I would go with the 7900GTX and get another later for upgrade.. SLi is only useful for benchmarking...

yep, i would go for the 7900GTX and upgrade later.

[Makubex_GB]

Yes, go for one 7900GTX. Plus this way not only will you have great performance you'll still have room for another in case you ever want to. But I would just get one and wait for the DirectX10 cards.

7900GTX
-Saves space (and leaves room for another)
-Less Power Consumption
-Probably more stable than SLI
-Cheaper
-You get 512MB of GDD3
-About same performance of two 7900GT in SLI
-Less fans = less noise

[Repoman]

I purchased each for $475 each and can probably get $300 a piece now.

I doubt you will get $300 for those cards considering the 7900GT is $300 and faster than a 7800GTX :(

Disappointing, I know, I was looking to sell mine as well, but if I only get like $200-$250, whats the point

[J-Mag]

I doubt you will get $300 for those cards considering the 7900GT is $300 and faster than a 7800GTX :(


Have you looked at completed ebay listings? I have seen some used cards go for $350 as of yesterday.

[nn_step]

Then you better sell your cards well you still can..

[J-Mag]

Then you better sell your cards well you still can..

Yeah I agree, I would sell them if Monarach wasn't taking their sweet freaking time shipping out my new cards.

ANyway,they will sell no matter what it is just a question of how much I will get for them that's all...

[nn_step]

well, you can live for a day or two on a PCI graphics card... be hard but doable..

[Richdog]

Thats fine, you are entitled to your opinion like the rest of the lemmings.
Anyway 7900GT SLI scores ~ 7800GTX scores (they are close).



This is another lame comment, because you are leaving out the most important factors (resolution, AA, AF settings) and "need" is relative anyway. Do people "need" Phase Change? Do people "need" ferraris, DO people "need" vacation homes? Can you think beyond your own self?

Have you ever had an SLI rig?

Btw, how old are you? ( I am assuming you are under 20, because that's the age range that tends to complain about cost effectiveness) This is Xtremesystems not CostEffective systems (to quote another yet unkown XS member).

Goodness grief have you actually stood back and read your posts? You sound like a complete and utter arse, please do yourself (and us all) a favour and extract your head from your rear. I am approaching 30 and I will complain about cost-efectiveness. Why? Because being a member of a forum called Xtremesystems does not automatically mean you have an Xtremewallet, and I imagine around 90% of members here DO have to stick to a budget. Besides, being "Xtreme" is not about how much cash you can throw at a rig like some people nowadays mistakenly think, it's what you can do with the kit you have... no matter how modest.

SLI can give a good boost yes, but a single card such as the X1900XT which can now be had for a great price will always be the better choice, as will the 7900GTX when it drops in price over the next few weeks.

Before you go around labelling peoples posts as "retarded" like some sort of immature kiddie take a look at your own stinky attitude, because if you talked to me in real-life like you talked to him you'd be sitting down very quickly... but that's the beauty of the internet I suppose, you can say stay stuck behind that computer screen and say whatever you like.

Sheesh.:slapass:

[3NZ0]

hi there,

personally i would go for 1 fast card over 2 cards that are equal to 1 fast card.

Why bother with 2x the heat, power consumption etc.

also, bar kinc, hipro and all the other xtreme pro's all of us have to stick to a budget, i mean sure, an fx60 etc. would be nice, but that would mean i wouldnt have money for a high end grfx card & mobo...

lol this is the reason we overclock, to make up for our not-so-infinite-budget :fact: