Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

As above: what would be the best (in terms of price / performance) pair graphics cards to go for?

I'm thinking about upgrading the mobo (at long last) and want to jump up the league in terms of performance but don't want to spend silly money doing so.

I'm looking at the Asus A8n SLI with an AMD dual core of some description. I just need to decide which pairf of cards to get.

Oh, does the A8N have the problem with the new power connectors?

DrEvil

New power connectors?

I'm running the A8N-SLI premium with a Noisetaker 600W SLI - works very well

bang per buck for SLI, the BFG cards are out n out winners at present, out of the box factory overclocked, so either:

2x BFG 7800 GT O/C = approx £470
2x BFG 7800 GTX O/C = approx £670

a single 7800GT scores around 6800-7000K in 3Dmark05, a GTX 7600-8500K,
obviously depending on which model you have.

XFX 7800GTX EE scores circa 8500K in 3Dmark05 with 2.4Ghz AMD64 skt 939 chip.

DrEvil

PS. price will go down again next week (potentially) when Nvidia release the 7800GTX 512MB - if benchies come out well, I'll be ordering the XFX EE versions

Scooby Dooby Blue

twin 7800's are all fine and well in a 'money's no object system' but if you want to balance price and performance you'd be wise to consider two 6600 pp ultra's at about £220 for the pair.

I would recommend paying the extra few quid for the A8N SLi Premium over the Deluxe as you can switch between SLi in the bios instead of physically turning around the card on the board (requires removal of one VGA card).

It may be worth considering an FX chip instead of an X2 depending on what the machine's for.
Do you need multi-tasking capabilities or is it a games system?

Also, if you're on a budget, the San Diego 4000+ is a locked FX-55 and represents excellent VFM (IMO) at circa £240

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

the new power connectors refer to the 24 pin connectors for the new mobos that use sli (or so I heard)

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

If you're using the SLi feature, then you need a 24 pin connector from your PSU. Otherwise you can just use the 20 pin one in the 24 pin socket. It just doensn't use the 4 pins on the right.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Ah. **** - So if you want to use SLI you need a new PSU as well?

DrEvil

Nope, you can alledgedly use a 20pin in the 24 pin slot (has to be put in a certain way, leaving the last 4 pins unused), then ASUS have added a on-board molex connector which you can plug a normal power lead into, which makes up for the lack of the 4 pins... Big thread on OCuk forums in motherboards about this - although don't have the link to hand.

Thing is, if you going SLI you probably need a 500-600W PSU anyhow, so will have to upgrade (assuming you current PSU is 400W ish).

Re the 6600GT SLI, sorry but a single 7800 would be a better option than that, imo.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

There is no point in going SLI unless either a) you already have one of the cards, or b) you plan to two 7800GTXs. This is because no SLI cards consistantly out-score any card which they cost less than, if you see what I mean. Thus, as DrEvil says, you're going to get better performance from a single 7800GTX than from two 6800s in SLI. SLI is a gimmick, and really only any use for when your current gfx is getting on a bit and you can't afford the latest gear. But if you need two new cards it isn't worth it.


M

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for that

My card is unfortunately an AGP card so I can't SLI it but as to the pointer regarding one high card as opposed to TWO SLI thanks very much

So what single high end card would you recommend then? (circo £250 ish lets say)

DrEvil

M - thanks, put in a much more descript way than I could manage between meetings

GTX's in SLI is great if you running 1600x1200 res or higher in the latest games, but you are still CPU limited, so does have its uses - but its bloody expensive considering the % gains.

7800GT hands down for £250 ish, cheapest is around £235

DrEvil

PS. the Enermax Noisetaker 535W SLI PCI-E PSU is on special this week at OCuk

Scooby Dooby Blue

I've always liked the Antec Neopower for big CPU systems.
Comes with 20/24pin molex for SLi or standard boards and it's got the PCI-e cables too.

Now sub £70:

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...7727&GroupID=0

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

That'll be 3 more thanks then

DrEvil

FYI - 7800GTX 512Mb launch is definitely next Monday (7 Nov) - so GTX 256 and GT prices could drop slightly next week!

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Good time to buy then!

Hmmmm..... processor, processor, processor.....

DrEvil

X2 wise - 3800 (2x 3200 effectively) or 4400 (2x 3700 effectively)

3700 (170 ish) or as Scooby Dooby Blue says the 4000+ is outstanding value at 240 ish.

Especially considering I paid 550 for FX53, which doesn't clock and doesn't support SSE3 and is 130nm... Hmm... you've got me thinking again now about CPUs...

lightning101

Or a set of ati crossfires

DrEvil

Don't you mean 'virtual' crossfire config

(kidding - I know they're out soon)

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Note Asus's faq on 20 pin :
http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.asp...N-SLI%20Premium
Page 4 of the faq
"what is the purpose of the 4 pin power connector near the pci express x16 slots"
"The connector is an ASUS patented feature called EZ Plug. It serves as a dedicated power source for PCI Express devices.
Benefits of the connector:

- Enhance system stability: Dedicated power support for the high power consumptions of the VGA cards.
- Flexibility: Users don't need to buy a 24-pin PSU when they setup a SLI system. A high-wattage 20-pin PSU will work just fine.
- Compatibility: The dedicated power support for PCIvExpress slots preserves the integrity of power signal, and upholds the compatibility of PCI Express and PCI devices."

So, you don't NEED a 24 pin PSU (on the ASUS board at least), but looks messy IMO without The same does not necessarily apply to other boards with SLi.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

So, in summary:

a single 7800GT(X)
Antec Neopower
Asus A8n SLI
4000+

Right off to Komplett we go! thanks folks

(don't worry I *will* wait 'til next week to buy everything)