Best card for use in SLi?

[Spartan9206]

In terms of use, I have a 22" monitor and most of the time browse and use CS4 but more then often I like to break out and try some of the latest games on the forefront and I like to enjoy them on "high" if not the "highest" settings.

Also I am not looking for latest, greatest and most expensive card out there which I'm sure in this case most people would easily recommend me the GTX280 in SLi. No I am simplying looking for something that attacks the price/performace ratio and when combined in SLi will almost challange a 8800 or the 280 of the likes.

Any info/help will be greatly appreciated!

EDIT:

Specs -

Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit
2048mb Ram (Corsair 2x 1024mb)
Intel Core 2 CPU 6600 @ 2.4GHz
Nividia GeForce 8600 GTS x2
Asus Commando ROG Edition
Samsung 2233SW+ 22" 1080p

Budget -

Preferably around $300 per card.. although I'm not entirely fussy about budget, just i believe 600+ is overboard for a GPU.

[BlackSniper87]

I would recommend either the GTX 275 or GTX 260 in SLI if you are intent on going in that direction.

[MrSmoke]

i would just get a single card because

1. That screen's res isnt that big
2. SLi is a bitch (some games dont like it, jerky at times)
3. More power used
4. More heat

[oohms]

or a gtx295

[Spartan9206]

hmm MrSmoke you raise a very convinceing point.. with that in mind what would you recommend?

EDIT:

Also I am led to believe that GTX260 models are DDR3 and PCI-E 2.0 only, having been out of the loop for awhile I have never heard of those specs for a GPU. What's the difference and with my given system would I have any compatability issues?

*Note: The Commando is a PCI - E board.

[flu!d]

The 275 is faster than the 280, the 280 is an older card. I run two overclocked GTX275's in SLi and in many cases my 275's are able to outrun GTX285's. I have never encountered compatibility issues, jerkiness or microstuttering with my SLi setup.

[Spartan9206]

Well you've convinced me to still go SLi then haha :P

I seem easily swayed..

[Concept CBF]

i got gtx260's in sli and they are a very good cheap buy on here 135-150 each and they will max out every game for at least another 2 years i would say excluding dx11 but from what i have seen like dx10 it adds nothing.

[Benno1988]

Originally Posted by Concept CBF

... they will max out every game for at least another 2 years i would say ...

Not a chance in hell. They'll be struggling to run games coming out mid this year on max i'd reckon.

[Spartan9206]

Well as MrSmoke suggested, what single GPU would do the job just as efficently?

[Alba]

Originally Posted by Spartan9206

Well as MrSmoke suggested, what single GPU would do the job just as efficently?

Since your looking at $300 per card, that $600 will get you a HD5870 which is faster than most of those 2 card setups, will use significantly less power, run much cooler and near dead silent, plus you get DX11 and eyefinity.
It will run any game at the absolute highest settings without breaking a sweat.

Now that's an ATi card, but if you have to go with nvidia then choose one of the older options mentioned above.

[terrastrife]

Originally Posted by flu!d

The 275 is faster than the 280, the 280 is an older card. I run two overclocked GTX275's in SLi and in many cases my 275's are able to outrun GTX285's. I have never encountered compatibility issues, jerkiness or microstuttering with my SLi setup.

this is bullshit.

the 275 is slower where it counts... 1920x1200+ with fsaa and af

if youre running say 1680x1050 the 275 will be faster though.

it has a smaller number for a reason

[2_stroke]

heh if i was you i would hold out to the dam 300 sereis if ya cant C/F. Since ya using a pissy 1920x1080 res (same as me) you are best with a single card. If ya had a screen which was pumping high res sli would be the way but it doesnt scale well at lower res's. Bang for buck nvidia way the 275gtx is the best if your going ahead with it but personaly ya CPU is ganna hold ya back i think before gpu, also we dont know what psu your using which could be another problem power wise. Personaly go a single ati 5870 or wait for the 300 series, if ya hell bent and wanna experiment with sli buy some cheap 250's for kicks and ya can always sell off for a lower loss if ya dont find it your thing.

The 280 doesn't really cain the 275 with the works on and he did say he overclocked his cards , he also runs that config in real life and doesn't just read shit and repeate it. Wizz the core up on a stock 275gtx from 633 to 700 yourself and then speak XD also see how much you can milk from a 280 and compare

[3Tone]

Why not just get an ATi HD5850? For thwe res you're gaming at it will be more than enough. It should be on par with 2x GTX260 in SLI. Use less power and out put a shitload less heat.

[flu!d]

the 275 is slower where it counts... 1920x1200+ with fsaa and af

Ummm, actually, no....

The GTX 275 is defiantly 'not' slower at 1920 x 1200 when compared to the GTX 280, as stated, the GTX 280 is the older card - If you like having a bigger number in the name, get a GTX 280, if you like speed at a good price, get the 275.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nvidia_gtx_275/

Since your looking at $300 per card, that $600 will get you a HD5870 which is faster than most of those 2 card setups

Has anyone actually compared a 5870 to 2 x GTX275's in SLi (taking into consideration the higher clocks of the GTX275 compared to the GTX295)? Because I don't actually know whether the 5870 'is' faster, from the reviews i've seen the 5870 is about even with a GTX295, in many benchmarks the 295 is actually faster....

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...r5-review.html