Two better than one?

[mattyc]

This is my first post so hello everyone!:P

I am looking to get a new graphics card to go in my pc, i only have £400 to spend and i was thinking would it be better to ger two £200 cards rather than one £400? :confused:

My pc spec is,

Processer: intel i7 920 @3.0Ghz
Mobo: Gigabyte UD7
Ram: DDR3 6gb Patriot Viper
Gfx card: 9800 GT
Power: Coolermaster 700w
OS: Windows 7 Pro x64

Cheers

Matt

[Umar]

This is my first post so hello everyone!:P

I am looking to get a new graphics card to go in my pc, i only have £400 to spend and i was thinking would it be better to ger two £200 cards rather than one £400? :confused:

My pc spec is,

Processer: intel i7 920 @3.0Ghz
Mobo: Gigabyte UD7
Gfx card: 9800 GT
Power: Coolermaster 700w

Cheers

Matt

Thats a fairly sizeable budget for a graphics card and you have a good setup already. You'll find that in the long run a single card solution is always better. Some games don't use more than one card and it can be more hassle to set up a crossfire/SLI config. Personally I'd buy a single high end card with your budget.

Umar

[wonderlust]

What screen are you running? Size and native resolution?

[mattyc]

i have two screens one is a 22'' res 1680x1050 and the other is a 19'' res 1280x1024

the 22 is my main screen.

Thanks for the replys

Regards

Matt

[Terbinator]

I'm with Umar - get the best singe card with your budget.

[zeameth]

more cards = more power needed and more heat and less upgrade options if u need them down the line. also i would imagine easier to sell than 2 together if u upgrade the lot later best single card is the way to go

[Aaron]

I'd vote for the best single card possible too, expecially with that budget! :)

[mattyc]

Thanks for your replys,

my next question is what is the best card could i get for my cash?

Regards

Matt

[Terbinator]

Nvidia GTX 480 - maybe ?

[nft99]

Always try get the best single card u can :D

This is well within budget :thumbsup: http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5800+Series/XFX+ATI+Radeon+HD+5870+%22AVP+Edition%22+1024MB+GD DR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=39616

[marsey99]

im with nft99 but i would got for the vx

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5800+Series/Sapphire+ATI+Radeon+HD+5870+OC+%22Vapour-X%22+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=38857

better cooler and higher clocks, the only real other option is the 480 and hope it performs better than the ati in dx11 games when they come out. which on paper it seems it will do but its still a gamble on when the games come out that will use it.

[mattyc]

i was thinking i might hang on for a bit and maby get one of these if the nvidia isnt up to the job,

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5900+Series/Sapphire+ATI+Radeon+HD+5970+OC+2048MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=38835

the alternative is two of these, http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5800+Series/Sapphire+ATI+Radeon+HD+5850+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=38116

Cheers

Matt

[Aaron]

Why not go for one of the 5850s which should do really very well in games for a long time, and then either buy a better single card solution when that one starts to struggle, or THEN buy a 2nd 5850 when they are much cheaper and save a whole bunch of money!? :)

[miamiman]

My vote would be for the Vapor-X 5870, dammed good price.:)

[Iaink]

can i throw a wild card into the mix and suggest 3 or 4 of these:
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5700+Series/XFX+ATI+Radeon+HD+5750+512MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=39072

or 3 5770s

[ro888]

I agree, 1+1 is not always = 2 in terms of graphic power. Get the best single card for sure.

[RDRUNR]

I think it's always better to go with 1 than 2. With 1 it allows you to upgrade later, use less wattage and 1 should cost less than 2.

[El Wayneo]

My HD5750's beat a HD5850 all the time and a HD5870 some of the time and cost less than both.

[wuyanxu]

I think it's always better to go with 1 than 2. With 1 it allows you to upgrade later, use less wattage and 1 should cost less than 2.
agree. and this is why GTX480 is selling so expensive, it's the best single card out there.

always buy the best single GPU you can afford.

[RDRUNR]

My HD5750's beat a HD5850 all the time and a HD5870 some of the time and cost less than both.

But what is the wattage like vs the 5850? Is it "worth it" in electricity bills?

[ZodiarK]

uses roughly the same powa mate.
my 5770 do the same.

[Tolmandary]

Thanks for your replys,

my next question is what is the best card could i get for my cash?

Regards

Matt

I would personally go with an ATI 5870. The new 400 series Nvidia cards are interesting, but really power hungry and run really hot so I personally wouldn't risk one until they get the thermal load under control.

[mattyc]

i did have a nvidia XFX 9800 ultra XXX which went bang after only 3 years which is a lot of money to just go up in smoke. i dont know if i trust another nvidia card not to do that again. i am thinking of the Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5850 Vapor-X 2048MB . then adding another when i get more money. what do you think?

[wonderlust]

What make was it? Some card manufacturers offer a life time warranty.

[mac124]

XFX, RMA it.

[dbobz]

no need for the 2gb version if your going to be buying another 1 later on to xfire it with.
2gb versions only become useful on much higher res than what u are using or 2+ screens in eyefinity hense it being called the eyefinity version ;)

hope this helped.

[mattyc]

i did check the warrenty but it only had 24 months, and the card had just hit 3 years. i will be using the eyfinity with the monitors i have until i upgrade them.

thanks for all your help i am going to go for the sapphire hd 5850 card.

[enzoferrari]

Ati is a good idea. But may be keep your old Nvidia card for doing the physics?

[Mr. Strawberry]

NEVER buy a sapphire 5800 card. they have cheaped out on the PCB and you can't OC it
and the 2gb cards are limited edition so they wont be around unless you buy second hand.
if you are going to buy a 5800 series card then get the asus EAH5850 directCU it is the best 5850 by miles or the msi HD 5870 lightening :D

[enzoferrari]

Oh ok. Didn't know that. But what about the toxic version of the sapphire 5850?

[NickCPC]

NEVER buy a sapphire 5800 card. they have cheaped out on the PCB and you can't OC it
and the 2gb cards are limited edition so they wont be around unless you buy second hand.
if you are going to buy a 5800 series card then get the asus EAH5850 directCU it is the best 5850 by miles or the msi HD 5870 lightening :D
Disagree. I installed a 5870 Vapor-X into a friend's system and got 920 core, 1350 memory - dead stable with torturing on several tests and games and he's not had any trouble since I installed it 3 months ago.

[Mr. Strawberry]

that was before they went cheap though

[WiryRocketeer]

get this..it has 2GB of memory and amazing "Vapor-x Cooling" so you can always be sure, if your system starts overheating, it's not your GPU

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+5800+Series/Sapphire+ATI+Radeon+HD+5870+Vapor-X+2048MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=40342

[RDRUNR]

How about a powercolor brand?

[callumburns]

would the XFX 5870 not be best? either that or the vapour-x 5870 :|, i would be stuck between those two :p

[RDRUNR]

would the XFX 5870 not be best? either that or the vapour-x 5870 :|, i would be stuck between those two :p

The Asus CU core gets great reviews at Newegg

[Mr. Strawberry]

the asus EAH5850 directCU i have is a awesome card :p
though if you get 5870 the asus one is best to get :D
then XFX

[Terbinator]

XFX have a better service in the USA also.

[Toonshorty]

XFX has awful warranty in the EU. I still buy there cards for looks though ;)

Sign my petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/xfxwrty/petition.html

Don't get the HD 5870, it's only 5% quicker than the HD 5850. Get two HD 5850's.

[Broadsword1976]

XFX has awful warranty in the EU. I still buy there cards for looks though ;)

Sign my petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/xfxwrty/petition.html



Totality just signed that - I've been labouring under the apprehension that the double lifetime warranty was open to us here in the EU! My 2 old 7600GS are still in my circle of friends though after 6 years of service! based on that.

I ran SLI once for bragging rights when I had more disposable income, I wouldn't do it again. as most others suggest ^ - best single card you can afford.