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SLI XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog + ???
Since I only play MMOs (Lord of the Rings online now and TERA later on) and DX11 is too expensive for now (nVidia's DX11 will be around $550), I want to boost my DX10 experience.
Right now I have a factory overclocked XFX 8800GT card (512Mb memory), and I'm looking into SLI options for the card and am looking what other card I can SLI this one with. My XFX is 100% working a-okay, and guess it'll be the "leading card" is there is something like that in SLI (I'm real noob to SLI).
I've seen a 2nd hand card identical to mine already for 50 Euro, but want to know if I can get more FPS with any other card. I also would like to know if I can SLI with an other non-8800 series card.
Comments
Has to be a matching card and you need them to have the sli spot and the connecter. Oh and enough power to run em like 1000 min.
Hi, for sli you just need two cards with the same gpu and the same amount of memory. So two 8800 GT cards both with 512mb of memory will sli just fine. Probably need a minimum of 600w PSU too.
You can only SLI the same model so only 8800 GT's doesn't matter if one is overclocked and the isn't they will just default.
I would look into maybe a cheap ATI DX11 card or wait a few months (Autumn/fall) for Nvidia's scaled down variants. Probably then that LOTRO will become DX11 anyway.
Oh... I forgot about the power... *checks the GPU box* It sais 500W for 1 and 600W for SLI.
I know that my old 300W PSU barely could run the card, so I figure the 500X/600W are a bit overdone and I took a powertest on http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
This sias that with 2x 8800GT I should have only 368W..? I do have a CoolerMaster 520W PSU said to support SLI...
Normal 500 watt psu is much more than enough for that sli.
Cheapest dx11 cards are ati's.
I used to have 2 overclocked 8800 cards in SLI too. The problem is that few MMO supports SLI and the gain from having 2 cards just isn't that great.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/gaming-graphics-cards-charts-2009-high-quality-update-3/Sum-of-FPS-Benchmarks-1920x1200,1702.html
As you can see here, 2 SLId 8800 gives you an average FPS of 156 (and this is for FPS games that actually supports SLI) , almost exactly the same as a GTX 260. That is the 512 mb version like you have, the 768mb is actually a lot higher (197 or 219 depending on the model).
My single 295 gives 275 FPS and it will keep it's speed when you play MMOs which SLI wont in most games.
So basicly you would do as well in FPS games with a 260 and a lot better in MMOs ( a single of your cards will give 92 FPS in the same test).
As a MMO player you really should use a single card instead. Look on the chart and get the best you can afford, you can probably get a good deal on a 280 or 295 when the new Nvidia card comes out, if nothing else someone you know will most likely upgrade. Or you could get a ATI card.
Check if your games have SLI support at all. If they don't you really don't have a choice here. And check the chart to compare your options in any case.
Personally I will get the new card as soon as it comes out, I did look on the ATI cards but I have bad experience with them in the past so I decided to wait and check when Nvidia releasing their card. It seems like the 480 will be the best and if so I will get it when it is out and I seen a good test of it.
Single gpu card is always the better choice.
If you are going for an Nvidia card, it would be best to wait a few months until they bring out some mid range 400 series cards in DX11. You will get more for your money and a future proof (DX11) card.
As long as you are running LOTRO ok, TERA will not be out this year in the west so wait a bit IMO, I imagine TERA will support DX11.
I read somewhere here that Turbine is working on Dx11 support for LOTRO. Dunno if it is true but it do sounds logical, they even added dx10 for DDO before.
But I agree, a 460 or similar mid range Nvidia card will be the best for the OP. Another 8800 is just a waste of time and money in most games.
I heard the same thing, and Turbine said they had something BIG coming up for LotR and DDO this year. Only logic tells me it'll be DX11.
But I'm not sure if I'll get a mid-range DX11, or I´ll have the same problems I had like the geForce 7600 a while back - too mid ranged to play LotR (or any game) nicely. But I'll wait with a new GPU for now I think. Aside from LotR, I also have to see what TERA will do (DX10 or only DX9?)...
You should keep an open mind about trying ATI. Right now their cards are much better for the price and the 5XXX series supports DX 11. Trying to with two cards give you a lot of headache when games don't support SLI/Crossfire, and Nvidia really is behind at the moment and way too expensive for their real world performance.