dakayus

Hi I'm looking to basically drop about $800 or so maybe $900 for just graphics cards.
I'm open to all options and I don't care that the new 55nm nvidia is coming out. I just want what's best now and that'll last me about 1.5 years to 2 years of decent gaming.
I plan to either buy a Q6700 or E8500.
Crossfire or SLI definately.
Basically I have about 2 months of good gaming for the summer until I'm off to med school (so no time to play) then back for winter for a few weeks, and then 2 months off in summer again (then I'll most likely stop playing games).
Either way I have about $2k I'm planning to use on this rig, so what do you guys think would be best?
I think I'm going to go all air cooling since the WC blocks are pretty pricy.

I'm primarily thinking about 3870x2 cf, but suggestions for absolute max performance for my budget is all the matters!
Thanks!

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DjQurt

seems like a waste to spend that much on graphics cards. i would suggest 3870 x2's though

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darksideleader

4850 GDDR3 is coming out at the end of this month
800-900?
2 3870x2's will sum out to be 800.
3 9800GTX's will sum out to 900 if you can get em on sale. I seen the 9800GTX@ 250 but you can commonly find it @ #300

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F3t1sh

the HD4XXX series is where my money would go if I wasn't such an impulsive buyer :P

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dakayus

4850? Wouldn't that be, presumably, a lower end card much like the 3850? Can the 9800gtx tri sli?

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NrGx

You have 3 options for that budget:

2 x 9800GX2
2 x HD3780X2
3 x 9800GTX
HD3870X2 + HD3870

Personally though, for that budget I'd go with a HD3870X2 and a HD3870 as I've been extremely impressed with how they scale. You could go the 9800GX2 option but I haven't ever been impressed with SLI. As for tri-sli, all I can say is "lol". The scaling sucks, it looks stupid and it eats power.

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The_Rocker

2 9800's gets my vote

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Different GFX set up (Possibly 5870's)

dakayus

Wait aren't the 3870x2's only $379.99 on newegg? *including tax and shipping about $400 each*
I know the 9800x2's are faster, but I'm just not sure how much and even if they're faster, I know the SLI isn't as efficient.
Would you guys say sli 9800x2's or 3870x2's would win?

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dakayus

Oh yeah I plan to run games at 2560x 1900 *at least that's what I think my resolution is*

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Dells are great for girls,
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iampoor

SLI 9800Gtx2's

Better hadwear specs. The drivers just need improvement, which will come in time.

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