Which is better?

[Modred189]

Ok, so I have an Asus P5B Deluxe mobo (crossfire capable). Currently I have a BFG 8600 GTS OC, and like it, but the performance is just shy of where I would really like it to be.

SO, my question is, which would be a better option, two Radeon HD 2600XTs (or pros), or an Nvidia 8800 GTS OC? The crossfire option would have more video memory, but the GPUs aren't as capable as teh 8800's...

Assume the cost would be approximately the same and don't worry about how.

 

[vanilla_guerilla]

if you use this chart
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=606&model2=517&chart=199

you will see that the 2600xt (chart doesnt have 2600xt crossfire) does less than half the framerate of an 8800gts in almost any game, any resolution. so unless crossfire more than doubles the performance of the 2600xt......

i know this is not a comprehensive chart, but probably gives a pretty good idea of what the relative performance of any 2 cards are.

 

[RangerSVT]

I really wouldn't buy anything high-end from ATi at this point. Maybe their next generation cards will prove otherwise, but as of now, I think you should wait for the refresh of Nvidia that should be coming out soon.

 

[Droc]

the 2600 in crossfire will not pull against the 8800gts

Generally speaking, this is your top to bottom performance. SOme places can be debated, for for general reference this is fine

8800 ultra Sli
8800 GTX Sli
8800 GTS 640 Sli
2900xt crossfire
8800 ultra
8800 GTX
8800 GTS 320 SLi
8800 GTS 640
2900xt
8800 GTS 320

8600 sli
2600 crossfire
8600
2600
and so on

as you can see, the 8800 cards in SLi are the best, fallowed by the 2900 in crossfire, fallowed by the 8800 cards in single, then the 2900 xt, then fallowed by the 8600 and 2600 in SLi/crossfire, then fallowed in single.

8800 GTS 320 in Sli is basically on par to a single 8800 GTX
8600 in SLi cant hit a single 8800GTS 320....same with the Ati low range cards....Most would agree that the low range Ati cards fall short of the Nvidia low range cards.
You get mixed reviews with mixed results, but at this point, I think its safe to assume that 8600 in SLi isnt worth it....Thats basically the same for the ATi cards

(dont flame, I know people would often say that the 2900 in CF cant beat an ultra, and it prolly cant, but thats not the point of this post)