Major Dilemma

agmarley

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 7, 2005
Messages
449
Like my title says, I have the choice to upgrade to either a GTX 280 Tri-Sli system, or a Quad 4870x2 system. I have owned products from both company since the days of having seperate 2d and 3d cards, and I am getting a 30 incher from Dell as well. Both systems will be powered with a QX9650, and the best motherboard from either camp (already have a 790I from EVGA), or will get a x48 from ASUS or DFI. What would you choose?
 
id go for the quad setup with the x48


perf. aside the Quad setup only uses 4 slots in your case which makes it less clutterd. compared to the tri-sli using 6 slots.

so to me even if perf. was identical between them id go for the quad setup just for less clutter but im probly pretty OCD.. so your opinion on that might be diff lol.
 
well if you have a 790i already I would go with the 280. quad 4870 is pretty awesome but maybe not enough to keep your investment. and SLI 280 is nothing to sneeze at ether. then again do you really need a second 4870X2? its as fast in many games as a GTX260 SLI and it owns most everything at 2560 by 1600.

Looking at it the 280 X2 SLI is often faster then the trisli. but if your wanting the fastest setup for your resolution then the the quad crossfire is it. (crysis being the exception) You can also turn up the eye candy really well but you will want a good PSU and a possible a drier vent from your PC to the outside though
 
Are you going to get either no matter what? It would seem unless you are an avid crysis player 280 SLI or a 4870X2 would do you justice at 25xx.

In any case, be aware there are issues with DFI x48s and the 3870X2/4870X2s if you don't update the bios, there's some links to beta bios revisions if you go that route on the hardwarecanucks review at the end. I would probably go with asus myself to be on the safe side for the x48 however. From a folding standpoint however I would go with the 280s tho heheh!

Definitely check as many reviews as you can though, and maybe scour some forums for some other users comments that are using both platforms for some feedback before diving in, I know there are 2-3 here at least running tri-sli 280s, heatlesssun(sp) is one. Might have to wait a little for some quad xfire 4870X2 user feedback however. I believe driverheaven had some tri-sli and quad xfire numbers at that resolution with aa/af, anand also, but wasn't much in the aa/af dept. Good luck with your purchase in any case, sure to be a monster whatever you decide!



 
Since you're getting a 30in, I'd suggest an Asus x48.
 
with a 30incher, all you need is a 4870X2 with the x48. All reviews out there show it to be all that you really need to play at that res. Anything more is a waste of money.
 
I really would just try adding ONE 4870X2 to your current rig and see if that doesn't do it for you
 
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