nVidia vs. ATI

M

Matt

Hey guys. Since I'm getting a mtoherboard based on the X48 chipset, if
I wanted to use two graphics cards in parallel, I have to go with ATI.
This isn't ideal :(

Therefore for my new build, is their an ATI card with similar
performance to the nVidia 8800GT (as this seems to be about the right
price) that I could get now?

The benefit would be that as soon as this ATI card starts to fall
behind, I can stick a second identical card in and get better
performance.

Kind Regards,

Matt
 
M

Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k)

Matt said:
Hey guys. Since I'm getting a mtoherboard based on the X48 chipset, if
I wanted to use two graphics cards in parallel, I have to go with ATI.
This isn't ideal :(
Therefore for my new build, is their an ATI card with similar
performance to the nVidia 8800GT (as this seems to be about the right
price) that I could get now?

Intel's latest chipsets have built-in CrossFire, ie, ATI standard. But
NVidia seem to be in the leading edge....
The benefit would be that as soon as this ATI card starts to fall
behind, I can stick a second identical card in and get better
performance.

4850 (and 4870) are really bargain deals.... Do you really need to use 2
VGA cards? You need good ventilation to keep the whole system cool.
Also, a big fan means the loss of a PCI/PCIe slot per VGA card.

--
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P

Paul

Matt said:
Hey guys. Since I'm getting a mtoherboard based on the X48 chipset, if
I wanted to use two graphics cards in parallel, I have to go with ATI.
This isn't ideal :(

Therefore for my new build, is their an ATI card with similar
performance to the nVidia 8800GT (as this seems to be about the right
price) that I could get now?

The benefit would be that as soon as this ATI card starts to fall
behind, I can stick a second identical card in and get better
performance.

Kind Regards,

Matt

Have you been reading the recent product announcements and
benchmark results ? And the resulting pricing on the cards ?
You'll probably find something, for the amount of money you
have to spend.

There are some cards with dual GPUs, either in a single
card or a dual card form. The card has one connector sticking
out of it. A PCI switching chip sits on the card, and that is
how two GPUs can share the same PCI Express slot. And that is
how you'd run two GPUs from a single slot, like the single
good PCI Express x16 slot on a P35 motherboard.

July 14, 2008 ATI 4870 X2
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3354&p=2

Personally, I'd never go for Crossfire or SLI, and instead
would try to buy a single card of some kind, that meets a
decent number of game requirements. I wouldn't even bother
restricting my motherboard selection, to something with a pile
of PCI Express x16 slots. The thing is, there is no room left in
most computers, once you put a couple high end cards in there.
The box ends up hot and with a huge power supply (think about all
the PCI Express power connectors you'll need). In some cases,
you might not even be able to fit a good PCI sound card.
Using just one video card, even if it happens to be
a double slot design, should be enough.

SLI and Crossfire do not support perfect scaling. Which means
you won't always be getting your money's worth that way.
Check the benchmarks to be sure.

Paul
 
G

geoff

Tom's Hardware has video charts, comparing performance, price/performance
ratios, etc.

--g
 
M

Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k)

geoff said:
Tom's Hardware has video charts, comparing performance, price/performance
ratios, etc.

The big chart is not listing 48xx nor 98xx the last time I checked it.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 8.04) Linux 2.6.26
^ ^ 12:20:01 up 2 days 15:46 2 users load average: 4.02 2.79 1.81
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G

geoff

tomshardware.com
select 'desktop vga . . .' from the chart menu
scroll to the bottom and open the 'add a product' dropdown
add the 8800 gt
the ati 3800HD is the closest in terms of performance
or the ati x1900 xt cf

The reason I use ATI is I go for price/performance to a certain degree
rather than pure performance. I would not use ATI just to use it.

--g
 
M

Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k)

The reason I use ATI is I go for price/performance to a certain degree
rather than pure performance. I would not use ATI just to use it.

I bought a 4850... :p

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 8.04) Linux 2.6.26
^ ^ 14:08:01 up 2 days 17:34 2 users load average: 1.00 1.04 1.19
? ? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa/
 
M

Matt

I see the price point for good 8800GT cards at $150-180 at newegg.  At that
price point the ATI 3870 is equivalent.  I have bought a Visiontek and 2 HIS ATI
cards, and am impressed with the HIS "IceQ3" cooling solution -- quiet and
efficient (mine is a factory overclocked 3850).  For optimal cooling you
probably want a dual-slot card that exhausts out the backplane.  The answer is
then this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=201038...

HIS has several versions of the 3870, all Crossfire capable, so you can shop by
price, clock speeds and any other minor differences.


Am I right in thinking that even though the 8800GT and ATI 3870 are
roughly the same price, the 3870 is ahead in terms of performance?

Kind Regards,

Matt
 

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