Upgrading from a 8800gts: Sli 260's, or 4890?

[JDZL]

Hi everybody,

So I've got a few questions and I was hoping to get some of your input :)

I'm currently running on a q6600 at 3ghz with 4gb of ram (vista64), and an old 8800gts 640mb 112stream processors. For those who are unfamiliar with this gpu, it's pretty much on par with the 8800gt 512. I have a 24" monitor, so I play at 1920x1200 when I can

Now, my videocard is starting to show its age. I've had to downclock it to reference speeds (from evga's ssc clocks) as well as crank the fan to max everytime I play a game.
I've been thinking about getting an upgrade, and I'm not sure which path to take...


One option for me is to utilize my 680i (asus p5n32-e sli) board and run a pair of nvidia cards. The 260 216(65nm) runs for about $200 after MIR on ncix when you can catch it on sale.
I was thinking about getting one now and throwing a second card into my rig later this year... Perhaps when sc2 comes out?
From what I've seen, the price:performance of the 260 is pretty fantastic at $200.

My other option is to get a 4890 and overclock it as much as possible. To me, the 275 isn't quite worth it, as the cost is (slightly) higher than the 4890, but the performance is less when overclocking is taken into consideration.


There are several things for me to consider:

1) How does the price:performance of sli 260's compare to an overclocked 4890?

-A single 260 is about a 50% performance increase over my current gpu.
-An oc'ed 4890 is roughly a 30% increase over the 260, but 50% increase on the price
-Does the price:perfomance ratio between the 260 and 4890 change when you take sli scaling into consideration?

2) Can my psu even support sli 260's?

I'm running off:
-q6600 g0 stepping, oc'ed to 3.0. I can run at about 3.3, and can probably push it to 3.4 if I optimize everything.
-2x 2gb dimms of ddr2, patriot memory. It's overclocked a bit as well, but I can't remember the voltage
-A bundle of 120mm fans at different speeds. Maybe, 7/8 all together?
-1 dvd burner
-A cheapo soundcard that came with my mobo (it doesn't have onboard sound)
-A primary sata2 hard drive at 7,200rpm, and two older ide drives at the same speed.
-The older two drives I can cut from my rig if need be.

I have a corsair hx620 power supply and I'm not sure if it's enough to run a pair of 260's.

Now I suspect that the sli 260's yield a better price:performance than the 4890. Even if they don't, a pair of 260's should perform better than the 4890. (And closer to the fps that I'm looking for in crysis )
However, if an upgrade to a new psu was necessary, it would pretty much throw off that price:performance ratio right off.

I'm sure either of these cards will handle starcraft 2 on max easily. Left 4 Dead and UT3 aren't an issue either.
It's crysis that I'm somewhat fixated upon. I would like to play crysis at 1900x1200 on tweaked high settings with an average fps of about 40.

Also, I'm looking forward to the crytek3 engine

What do you guys think?
Any sort of input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance
-JD

ps. Silly question. Is it possible to run an nvidia, secondary gpu for dedicated physx when your primary is an ATI card? Probably not, but I thought I'd ask.

[CTA]

i believe gtx 260 sli > hd4980... (wait for newest review from skyml)

and i am sure your hx620 can support sli.... my hx620 supported 9800gx2 without any problems...


you already told us about resolution... anyway i assume both of video cards will do job... but gtx 260 sli will do it better... please correct me if i am wrong...

[YukonTrooper]

Gtx260 sli > hd4980

P.S. Auto lowercase is annoying.

[Realityshift]

+1 to 260s, 2 260s would kick the stink out of a single 4890 id say, 2 260s would be somewhere near the 4870x2 range in performance which would probubly be fine pushing your 24" monitor at its native resolution. Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 1GB Review no need to wait for a review theres been one posted for days, as you can see the single GTX 260 isnt that far behind the 4890 but when SLI you gain about 80% more performance in most situations. Another thing to think about is the fact that EVGA now allows their GTX cards to be over volted via software so theres quite a it of head room on the GTX 260 c216s.

If you look at the crysis benchmarks though it doesnt look like a single 4890 is going to be able to handle that resolution with much eye candy turned on =(

[Sagath]

Wait, I'm confused. You're talking about SLI gtx260's vs a 4890 for performance, but then saying you cant justify the extra 75 bucks for a 4890 over a (single) 260? Wouldnt you be dropping 400+tax on SLI, vs the 270+tax on a 4890?

I realize you said "maybe later this year", but all your points pro/con are directed at the SLI being now instead of later.

NOW: 4890oc'd>>>260
LATER IN SLI: Madcashdrop SLI > 4890

*scratches head*

IMO: Get the best bang for the buck now (which is probably a core216 or 4890) and dont worry about 'later'. By the time later happens, everything will have changed, making your possible SLI pritty irrelavent.

[JDZL]

Originally Posted by Sagath

Wait, I'm confused. You're talking about SLI gtx260's vs a 4890 for performance, but then saying you cant justify the extra 75 bucks for a 4890 over a (single) 260? Wouldnt you be dropping 400+tax on SLI, vs the 270+tax on a 4890?

I realize you said "maybe later this year", but all your points pro/con are directed at the SLI being now instead of later.

NOW: 4890oc'd>>>260
LATER IN SLI: Madcashdrop SLI > 4890

*scratches head*

IMO: Get the best bang for the buck now (which is probably a core216 or 4890) and dont worry about 'later'. By the time later happens, everything will have changed, making your possible SLI pritty irrelavent.

Sorry for the confusion. It wasn't the total price I payed that mattered to me, but rather the price/performance ratio.

For example (and these numbers aren't necessarily accurate)
Crysis
A single 260---> $200:33 FPS
A stock 4890--> $300:42 FPS
Sli 260's ------> $400:62 FSP

If the sli scaling is that good:
A 4890 is a 30% increase in performance compared to a 50% increase in cost.
A second 260 is a 80ish% increase compared to performance a 100% increase in cost.

SLI 260's may cost more than a 4890, but they have more value. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck here.

[Il Duce]

whichever offers the lowest dollar/fps

[upcoast604]

Go with one gtx260 now then grap another later for even less$.

[YukonTrooper]

I know for awhile the GTX295 offered great bang-for-your-buck when compared to the top end, single GPU cards; however, that's changed since all these insane price drops and the arrival of the GTX275/HD4890.

Sorry. Random, useless fact.

[Realityshift]

The fact remains that your running an SLI motherboard, youd probubly be better off going with the GTX 260 now and another later. You go ATI and youve painted yourself into a corner and if you decide the 4890 isnt powerfull enough then you gotta factor in a new mobo + the 2nd card =(