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GTX 275 2 in SLI or single ATI 5870
I'm doing a new computer build and kinda stuck on which video card setup to do. I will be playing AoC, dragon age, fallout 3 as well as other high end games and would like to have them at max settings DX10 or as close to max settings as possible.
I would like some information from people who own these cards. I have already looked at tomshardware.com reviews and articles as well as benchmarks. The two 275s perform better I know that. Before I purchase one or the other I would like some personal experience information on software/hardware support for these cards and how they perform on a day to day basis.
My new build is going to be: Core i7 920, 3x2gb DD3 1600 in triple channel, (one of the two vid card setups mentioned above), 1tb WD caviar black 7200rpm HDD.
Please don't reply with personal opions of games I mentioned. I just need hardware information, also please don't post speculation about the hardware if you don't own or haven't used it. I have done my research and really just need some personal expierence information.
Thank you for the help.
Comments
Gtx 275 in SLI mode hands down, now as for personal experience I can tell you that these cards perform VERY well. I'm able to run most games easily and at max settings with at least 30+ fps on almost every single game. Including: Crysis, Dragon Age: Origins, Mirrors Edge, Crysis Warhead, F.E.A.R. 2, etc, etc.
The only issue with these cards might be the fact that they do get a little hot, so you're gonna wanna make sure that what ever case you're using has some decent air flow, or perhaps some liquid cooling if you can afford it. If not, a few fans should easily be able to keep these things cool. I'm using EVGA cards, so I'm not sure what brand you'd be going with. I've come to find that the heat sinks that EVGA uses tend to get dust in them pretty easily and it can clog the thing from allowing the own video cards fan to properly cool it, just make sure that you keep them clean with some canned air and what not and you should be good to go.
One last thing, I'd recommend checking out: Over Clockers Club, it's a website that's dedicated to stuff like this. These forums, at least in terms of helpful Hardware Information (And MMOs most of the time) is pretty useless.
5870 is way better route. May not always beat SLI 275's but you get guaranteed single GPU performance instead of spotty SLI performance and microstutter. Any current game the 5870 will absolutely destroy, and the 275's won't run future DX11 games that may actually put that horsepower to use.
Just no reason to limit yourself to last gen tech when the 5870 performs just as well or well enough and cheaper.
Thanks, I will have to check out the overclocker's club when I get some time. I do have a case that has great airflow. I am using the Cooler Master HAF 932 full tower case.
The GTX275 in SLI will nearly always perform worse then 1 HD5870. Only exceptions are games that hard cap ATI hardware.
an SLI 275 is basically a GTX 295,which does perform better than an ATI 5870 (but not much, and sometimes only situational.. but overall it does outperform it)
I think you may run into issues with games not utilizing SLI optimally though, which makes the 5870 a better choice.. plus the 5870 is DX11 ready and also requires much less power. Oh, I forgot to mention it will be cheaper as well.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
either way i think you will be happy with uber performance. however the next nvidia series is supposed to release soon and i'd say if you can wait until that comes out. will save you money and you'll have the newest tech
die.
Yeah, the ATI will be more worth it in the long run with DX11 support. It's a good idea to early adopt on a tech like that so that you won't need to upgrade for quite a while.
5870 without a doubt
1) DX11 ready
2) Cheaper
3) Less Power Consumption
4) you can always get a second 5870 to literally melt faces in the future
You can always check out www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-cards-charts-2009-high-quality-update-3/Sum-of-FPS-Benchmarks-1920x1200,1702.html for benchmarks.
The 5870 performs very closely to GTX 275x2 and your saving around $100, power, and a PCIe slot. Personally I own a 5850 and I am extremely satisfied with it. Looking to get a second 5850 towards the summer time.
Like I said before, you are only going to get worse out of an HD5870 on games that hardcap ATI performance. Crysis Engine and Unreal 3 engine. This will include Far Cry 2 and The Last Remnant. You will also get innaccurate scaling on some benchmarks that use PhysX as part of the equation instead of an open and more widely used physics architecture like Bullet or Havok.
Even in those games it plays at sufficient enough fps, and there is no way the next gen engines will hard cap out ATI as it will have the performance and price crown for atleast the forseeable future.
So far I have this selected . I already have a mouse, monitor, headset and tower that is why they are not in the list.
I love my ATI 5870, makes my old GTX 285 seem like a kitten in comparison. Personally, I have never like SLI. It comes with a lot of problems with game compatibility, requires specialized cooling solutions, whether it be liquid or 4different fans directed at the cards and even then you can have heat issues. As far as I'm concerned, the performance boost isn't anywhere near worth the headaches or the purchase price or the utility bill.
I prefer not to go SLI if at all possible.
If you can wait a while, Nvidia's new Fermi/Tesla cards should be out in a few months. I saw some actual comparisons for, among other things, gaming. The one tested ( the GF100 model) just smoked anything out there. Not by a mere 10-20 % but huge!!!
See Hardware Canucks, link: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/27892-nvidia-s-geforce-gf100-under-microscope-13.html
The GT3 and 400s are soon to be a reality to. Also on Canucks. I just put my build on hold cause I think i need one of these puppies.
Yea, I'm sure it's gonna be faster than the 5870 but not gonna put any stock in nvidia's own bench, they both always make themselves look really good in their own presentations, shocking.
I don't have a gaming rig right now at all. I can wait for a week if the card releases but there is a potential that the GF100 cards won't hit the market for another month. I guess I could always order a card now and take advantage of the 30day return policy thing and just return it when the GF100 cards are released.
It's a good bet that you will know when the cards are coming out on March 2nd. That is when Nvidia partners are allowed to start showing their cards based on the GF100.
I'd say if you can wait and don't have a specific game to play then wait. Even if fermi isn't the greatest or far to expensive you will get the ATI cards cheaper.
Yea, I bet the HD5870 drops to $300 once the GF100 is released. They are only priced at a premium because they have no competition. Fermi is late by several months and the HD6870 is going to be early by 2 months.
1280x768 =any 1 year old graphic card selfrespecting will outdo max.as log as you fps is higher then 32 fps your good
even the lowest dx11 card will be able to be set at max setting at thev resolution i mention(thats the recommended resolution from most game!)
Two graphic cards are good for 3d glasses technology.
Tbh, I'd choose none of your options. I know you want some decent quality in redering, but if I was you, I'd wait a month or 2 until nVidia releases their new cards. I know it's hard to wait, but I'm doing it myself now. I sold my GTX295 and was wondering whether to buy an ATi HD5870, but looking at the benchmarks, I think they are not worth their current price. Although they are capable of running DX11, I think they perform terrible at it. nVidia released some internal benchmarks of their cards a few weeks ago, and they stated that their cards outperform ATi's HD5870 in every segment of DX11 by even 4.8 times in some features. I'm not saying that what they released in those benchmarks is true, but if they are, you probably are going to regret the choice you made.
If you look at the Heaven Uni-engine benchmarks of the HD5870, I think those results are a bit dissapointing for a top-notch DX11 card. I would wait for the some benchmarks of the GTX470 and GTX480 before you choose to pick and ATi or GTX275 SLI setup.
Just my 2 cents...