Dual graphics cards. Are 2 lower spec better than 1 higher
Discussion
I am looking to upgrade my PC, which is mainly used for gaming. I am looking at an SLI board and I am considering either 2 7600 GT cards, both 256MB or alternatively a 7900GT card with 512 MB.
Both set ups would work out approx the same costs wise.
Anyone with any experience/advice on which would be the better option, or any alternative suggestions?
Both set ups would work out approx the same costs wise.
Anyone with any experience/advice on which would be the better option, or any alternative suggestions?
Definatley go with the single high end card, IMO SLi/ Crossfire is only for when you've reached the peak performance from a single card solution.
This is because faster cards scale performance nearly 100%. Dual card solutions rarely get anywhere near this as some of the work is duplicated on both cards and there is an overhead to using dual cards too. On top of this only a limited number of games make considerable use of Dual CPU's and again only under limited conditions, many games just don't get much of an increase in performance.
Another thing to consider is that SLi/Crossfire motherboards are generally more expensive than those with a single PCI-e slot.
If you are considering the 7900GT also take a look at the ATi 1950Pro/ XT as these have also been very well reviewed.
This is because faster cards scale performance nearly 100%. Dual card solutions rarely get anywhere near this as some of the work is duplicated on both cards and there is an overhead to using dual cards too. On top of this only a limited number of games make considerable use of Dual CPU's and again only under limited conditions, many games just don't get much of an increase in performance.
Another thing to consider is that SLi/Crossfire motherboards are generally more expensive than those with a single PCI-e slot.
If you are considering the 7900GT also take a look at the ATi 1950Pro/ XT as these have also been very well reviewed.
Personally, I'd go for the single most potent card you can buy that is SLi compatible, ATi's system is Ok but having had one too many bad experiences of their drivers... I can't recommend them.
SLI is an odd thing. It's part drivers, part hardware on the cards. The game itself doesn't really know it's running on two GPU's all it knows is that the end user has cranked the options up, the drivers and hardware basically send 50% of the frame to one card and 50% to the other,
That being said a very strong CPU is required as if your running twin or quad cards you're going to be seriously pounding on the physics engine (by virtue of the 'turn it all on' approach) and unless you have a PhysiX add-on card and a game that can use it it'll be pure CPU mussel handling that area.
SLI is an odd thing. It's part drivers, part hardware on the cards. The game itself doesn't really know it's running on two GPU's all it knows is that the end user has cranked the options up, the drivers and hardware basically send 50% of the frame to one card and 50% to the other,
That being said a very strong CPU is required as if your running twin or quad cards you're going to be seriously pounding on the physics engine (by virtue of the 'turn it all on' approach) and unless you have a PhysiX add-on card and a game that can use it it'll be pure CPU mussel handling that area.
That and by the time your say 7950 is unable to play anything other than at 800x600 with everything off... The 9000 or 10k series will be available (probably higher than that). It'll still in all likelihood be PCI-Express based as well as like PCI and AGP the PCI-E standard doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
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