View Full Version : 1 or 2 GTX 480's? (Planning new build)
JDawggS316
03-25-2010, 03:11 PM
I am currently planning my next build and am awaiting the arrival of the GTX 480 to purchase.
I've never gone SLI before and was thinking I might this time.
Are 2 GTX 480's worth it? Or is 1 all I'll ever need?
Thanks all!
martindh2005
03-25-2010, 03:12 PM
Sigh... no ones knows man. Just wait 24 hours and you will get your answer.
JDawggS316
03-25-2010, 03:39 PM
Well, now with the specs being released, and with me being a very casual enthusiast, I was wondering if anyone had any advice.
zanzabar
03-25-2010, 04:10 PM
Well, now with the specs being released, and with me being a very casual enthusiast, I was wondering if anyone had any advice.
the benches are out tomorrow, and from the pre nda ending chatter it looks like the 5850 is still the best choice
perkam
03-26-2010, 05:34 PM
Based on the numbers than have come out, 5850 is now the best bang for the buck.
However, if you wish to go with the Nvidia, get two 470s, not two 480s. The 480 is 40% more expensive than the 470, with performance that never provides justification for the difference in price.
Two 470s should run you $700 flat when they come back in stock, and should be as fast or faster than a 5970, especially with overclocking.
Perkam
d4rk_ch1ld
03-26-2010, 10:27 PM
Yeah 2 of those could be nice if u have 3 nice displays at your table and nuclear reactor in your case :D
zalbard
03-27-2010, 05:06 AM
Don't get SLI unless you're planning to watercool.
I don't suggest getting any Fermi card at all, but this is more of your choice...
Olly_K
03-27-2010, 05:09 AM
Get 2 5850's CF. Or maybe one 5870 now and add another later. the 4xxx series has been a real disappointment to me.
voltaire2030
03-27-2010, 06:02 PM
ATI is the VGA king right now ... 5850 is the way to go unless some price drop from Nvidia...
Back, what 3 years ago, 8800 from Nvidia was the king of the VGAs.. Now it's ATI-AMD turn's... But at the end we ALL loose because with now competition we have to pay more ...
BringerOdeath
03-27-2010, 07:25 PM
Uhhh, I sold one of my GTX 295's and held back on the ATI cards because of some driver problems I have had in the past with their cards. I was hoping the GTX 480's were a bit stronger although they still look good, but now I can't decide...I play at 2560x1600 and this is what's important for me. Now i don't know if I should get 2 GTX 480's or wait to see how the 2GB 5870's do....Power for me is not an issue as I have I have a 1500 watt psu....
zshadow
03-27-2010, 07:25 PM
Depends what resolution you plan on running at..
@ 1920x1200 a single 470 or 480 is enough.
@ 2560x1600 SLI is a must
I would hold off and see wait ATI has to offer. Gap between the 5870 and 480 is rather small, a 10-15% perf difference at most. They could easily come out with a 5890 that gives the 480 a run for its money. It'd probably still use less power, too..
BringerOdeath
03-27-2010, 08:14 PM
Yeah, i know that SLI or Crossfire is a must, since I play at 2560x1600. I just want to see if I am going to go with 2 GTX 480's or 2 5870 2gb cards....
merkk1
03-27-2010, 08:42 PM
Well if you game at 2560x1600 than you mite want to ready through this http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-5970-review-test/22 and this was done way before the new 10.3 drivers so no telling how well they work in crossfire now . just something to think about.
sniper_sung
03-27-2010, 09:17 PM
I strongly doubt about the temperature of two gtx480 if they are close to each other in the case.
BringerOdeath
03-28-2010, 05:41 AM
I strongly doubt about the temperature of two gtx480 if they are close to each other in the case.
They will be watercooled.....so no problem...:D
hennyo
03-28-2010, 09:47 AM
Yeah, i know that SLI or Crossfire is a must, since I play at 2560x1600. I just want to see if I am going to go with 2 GTX 480's or 2 5870 2gb cards....
If you are watercooling and have a 1500 watts PSU, and the power bill doesn't bother you, go ahead and go the GTX 480 SLI route. Go check around and look at minimum FPS numbers on 480 SLI, and it is really amazing, the 480's scale amazingly with SLI, better than anything that has existed before.
If cash is a concern tho, I couldn't exactly recommend it, as it will set you back at least a 1000 dollars, before the water blocks.
Frag Maniac
03-28-2010, 01:16 PM
Seriously, I think anyone who was planning on a possible Fermi SLI setup as a build, upgrade, or upgrade path should really consider being a bit more patient and wait to see if better aftermarket cooled versions emerge or even wait for another die shrink, which supposedly is expected around late fall to early winter. I myself am considering a low priced card meantime to put in my new build, even if it's not a DX11, because I refuse to stay on ATI after all the disappointments with their lousy driver and customer support. Their refusing to include the X1950Pro I have in their driver support back when the Cat 9.4 came out was the last straw for me ATI wise.
570091D
03-28-2010, 05:32 PM
Well, now with the specs being released, and with me being a very casual enthusiast, I was wondering if anyone had any advice.
a single 480 will be more than enough, sli and x-fire set ups are for the masochistic... i know, i had quad-sli for a time :(
imersa
03-30-2010, 09:26 AM
single would be enough for sure... but 2 would be more fun...
JDawggS316
03-31-2010, 09:11 AM
My resolution will be at 1680 X 1050.
My resolution will be at 1680 X 1050.
A single GTX480 or even a GTX470 will be fine. You really only need two for high AA/AF setups on a high resolution.
CryptiK
03-31-2010, 09:28 AM
At 1680x1050 it would be very hard to justify SLi GTX470 or 480's. Totally unnecessary. Want is a another matter though.
JDawggS316
03-31-2010, 10:27 AM
Or what about the 400 series in general? Not too many good things about these new GPU's from NVIDIA.
I was thinking possibly even going the route of 2 ATI 5870's.
Or what about the 400 series in general? Not too many good things about these new GPU's from NVIDIA.
I was thinking possibly even going the route of 2 ATI 5870's.
Like I said in one of the other threads, if you get a GTX4xx, you are buying into a card that may or may not pan out. Power and heat issues aside, this card is currently about 5-10% better than the HD5850/HD5870 and those percentages could increase in the next few months as the drivers improve and as new games come out that are built for this platform. Or, the drivers may not improve and you may end up with a hot, power hungry card that performs the same as its ATi counterpart.
You have to decide for yourself if it is worth the risk.