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SLI 8800gts vs. HD 2900XT 1gb

3K views 53 replies 19 participants last post by  Modki 
#1 ·
What would be the better choice? They would both end up being about the same price:

8800gts 640mb: $300 used

HD 2900XT 1gb: $650, sell 8800gts for $300.

I would like to play games like Alan Wake and Crysis maxed at 1440x900 with at least 4x aa and 16x ansio.

Thanks.
 
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#3 ·
Well if 1 HD 2900XT is comparable to 1 8800GTS 640MB then wouldn't this be a silly thread and poll? The 2nd 8800GTS 640MB would of course be the better option.
 
#5 ·
No Desp, the HD 2900XT would handle it as well as a 640MB GTS for now. If you're talking about 2x8800GTS 640MB vs 1xHD 2900XT then the better bet would be the 2x640MBs.
 
#8 ·
wait, how about just sell your 8800GTS and get an 8800GTX?...
 
#9 ·
I agree that would be the cheapest and best. Call up eVGA and initiate a step up,
 
#10 ·
I've gotta say another GTS, because if you already have one, then you'll be throwing the one that you have away if you buy a 2900XT. Or you'll sell it. I think you'll get better performance out of the two 8800GTS's in my opinion.
 
#12 ·
If he gets 2 8800GTS now, hes reaches the limit of performance he can before he gets rid of BOTH cards. But if he just sells his current one and gets an 8800GTX, he can get another in the future when theyre required, also, when SLI has improved abit. SLI can act abit strange in some games, with some actually LOOSING performance in SLI...
 
#13 ·
Yeah but if he gets one GTX now he can add a GTX later...


d'oh Cpyh beat me.
 
#16 ·
CHOZWNED!!!

Lmao
 
#17 ·
In addition, you have an SLI ready board right now anyway. IF you went 2900XT, you would never be able to crossfire it with your current board, so expandability = none.
 
#18 ·
I voted for the HD 2900XT 1GB just because I prefer single card solutions to multi-card ones. Add to this the fact that you will have a TRUE 1GB of video memory, and I see it as the superior solution.

Remember folks, SLI DOES NOT combine video memory mathematically. 640MB + 640MB of video memory on the GTS' in SLI WILL NOT equate to a 1.2 GB frame buffer. The 1GB frame buffer in the HD 2900XT does. That equates out to not only larger available resolutions, but additional eye candy as well, at those higher resolutions.
 
#19 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chozart View Post
Again,


I am getting annoyed with you just making these statements without a shred of proof.

who do i have to provide proof to commonly accepted things, i should not have to prove what has been proved already. The 2900XT is slow as hell and the 1gb version is no exception to this, and SLi 8800GTS's in every review are 20-30% faster than a signle 8800GTX and the 8800Ultra is only 7% faster than the 8800GTX, why should i provide proof. If the OP sells his card and gets an HD2900XT ill laugh and call him a moron.
 
#20 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Witchfire View Post
I voted for the HD 2900XT 1GB just because I prefer single card solutions to multi-card ones. Add to this the fact that you will have a TRUE 1GB of video memory, and I see it as the superior solution.

Remember folks, SLI DOES NOT combine video memory mathematically. 640MB + 640MB of video memory on the GTS' in SLI WILL NOT equate to a 1.2 GB frame buffer. The 1GB frame buffer in the HD 2900XT does. That equates out to not only larger available resolutions, but additional eye candy as well, at those higher resolutions.
What does it do with the second cards memory anyway? Just wondering...

Seems stupid to just abandon it.
 
#21 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Witchfire View Post
I voted for the HD 2900XT 1GB just because I prefer single card solutions to multi-card ones. Add to this the fact that you will have a TRUE 1GB of video memory, and I see it as the superior solution.

Remember folks, SLI DOES NOT combine video memory mathematically. 640MB + 640MB of video memory on the GTS' in SLI WILL NOT equate to a 1.2 GB frame buffer. The 1GB frame buffer in the HD 2900XT does. That equates out to not only larger available resolutions, but additional eye candy as well, at those higher resolutions.
that depends greatly on your render mode, AFR sure it limits but there are other render modes that would give you around 1-1.1gb of framebuffer, i dont know every SLi mode, but for instance the way voodoo used to do it, with rendering a line and then the other voodoo getting another meant it only rendered half the screen while the other rendered the other half that would equate to most of the frame buffer being used. Also with the dismal preformance of the R600 core i dont see a reason to get anything based on it
 
#22 ·
does nothing with the second cards memory. People who add the memory of cards in SLI annoys me almost as much as people who times the speeds of dual/quad core CPUs.

The OP should just get a flipping 8800GTX. I dont see why there is a debate about this. His current card is better than a 2900XT so thats out of the question, SLI is uneccasery ATM, so a single more powerful card is in order.
 
#23 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyph3r View Post
does nothing with the second cards memory. People who add the memory of cards in SLI annoys me almost as much as people who times the speeds of dual/quad core CPUs.

The OP should just get a flipping 8800GTX. I dont see why there is a debate about this. His current card is better than a 2900XT so thats out of the question, SLI is uneccasery ATM, so a single more powerful card is in order.
your statement is one based on idiocy, there is a point where certain programs take use depending on the way the program was written. Take multi threaded apps, now run it on a dual core 2.6ghz, now disable one of teh cores and run it agian, you should get 35-40% preformance loss. Same with SLi if you render it where both cards render the same frame you have more fram buffer availble to you.
 
#24 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by shellofinsanity View Post
who do i have to provide proof to commonly accepted things, i should not have to prove what has been proved already. The 2900XT is slow as hell and the 1gb version is no exception to this, and SLi 8800GTS's in every review are 20-30% faster than a signle 8800GTX and the 8800Ultra is only 7% faster than the 8800GTX, why should i provide proof. If the OP sells his card and gets an HD2900XT ill laugh and call him a moron.
It's only 'commonly accepted' by you. The 2900XT isn't 'slow as hell', and the lastest reviews show that it is competitive with a single 8800GTS.

And if you say 'commonly accepted', it's also 'commonly accepted' that lack or performance is caused by immature drivers, just like with the 8800's when they were first introduced.

Yes, I agree that SLI-ed 8800GTS's are faster than any single card solution right now, and thus they get my vote.

Again, blanket statements about the lack of performance of the R600 core without proof. The only card that has been thoroughly tested is the 2900XT 512MB, and that one stacks up reasonably well against the 8800GTS (which is directly competes against).

Show me a recent review of the 1GB version...
 
#25 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chozart View Post
It's only 'commonly accepted' by you. The 2900XT isn't 'slow as hell', and the lastest reviews show that it is competitive with a single 8800GTS.

And if you say 'commonly accepted', it's also 'commonly accepted' that lack or performance is caused by immature drivers, just like with the 8800's when they were first introduced.

Yes, I agree that SLI-ed 8800GTS's are faster than any single card solution right now, and thus they get my vote.

Regarding the issue of video RAM: indeed, you cannot stack the amounts of RAM on top of each other. Since each card basically does half of the work, each needs its own RAM for their job.
im not, but between both cards, if they render the same frame they are using the both sets of ram and can achive higher frame rates and res than 1gb of ram on any card could do, there is more ram availble. And given the fact that the 2900XT is over priced for its preformance, it is slow compared next to the cards its priced agiasnt. Unless ATI can release drivers that are acceptable or drop the price 200 bucks, its a POS, and ill gladly say it, because someone needs to.

You wont find a 1gb review they are under NDA, there offical specs arnt even known yet, email AMD's ATI divison and ask them, they wont tell you, the card is under NDA, the only 1gb versions for sale are not ATI cards but vendor versions, that most likly do not fall under ATI's spec or naming conventions and are more kin to the few 6600GT 256mb cards than ATIs real card i would imagine.
 
#26 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by shellofinsanity View Post
im not, but between both cards, if they render the same frame they are using the both sets of ram and can achive higher frame rates and res than 1gb of ram on any card could do, there is more ram availble. And given the fact that the 2900XT is over priced for its preformance, it is slow compared next to the cards its priced agiasnt. Unless ATI can release drivers that are acceptable or drop the price 200 bucks, its a POS, and ill gladly say it, because someone needs to.
Again, where is your proof???

The HD2900XT performs on PAR with the 8800GTS 640MB, and is only $30 more expensive. Price difference is negligible, and performance difference is nearly the same, both cards giving and taking some of the benchmarks.
 
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