Using 2 Graphics Cards

[Messen216]

As of right now, I am not looking to upgrade my graphics card. But with out question that day will come. My question is, should i get a second of the same card or just upgrade completely. How much performance will I get from doubling the same card vs just replaceing it all together with a new one.

My current set up is:

Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard
Athlon FX/Athlon X2/Athlon 64/Sempron, Socket 939, nForce4 SLI, ATX, 4GB DDR, 1GHz Bus

AMD Athlon 64 4000+ Processor
2.4GHz, 1MB, 1GHz, Socket 939

BFG Technologies GeForce 7800 GTX OC Video Card
256MB, PCI Express x16, Dual DVI, VIVO

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum

Corsair 1GB PC3200 DDR DIMM Memory
Corsair - TWINX10243200C2PT

Antec SmartPower 2.0 500 Watt ATX12V v2.0 PSU PCIE Ready Model SP500

Antec P180 Silver Mid Tower

Used an old hardrive, DVD rom drive out of older computer when i upgraded to this one. Thanks

[xelnanga]

Welcome to TIMO!

First, hotlinking is not allowed in TechIMO.
I would say that it would be best if you get another 1 gig of RAM if you are going to dual graphic cards.

[Messen216]

Oh sry....was just pasting for background reference is all.

[xelnanga]

It's okay. I know. Posting into photobucket/imageshack,etc. can be a pain in the ankle.

I think your graphic card right now is fine!

[carl33p]

Im not sure if your power supply could handle SLI, two 7800GTX OC'ed. Proly not.

Do you not get the performance you desire? Whats your reason for wanting SLI?

IMO(in my opinion) your money would be better off going towards a second gig of ram and maybe a Dual Core CPU(especially how cheap they are ATM)

Edit: DX10 cards will hopefully be out be early next year. And you will most likely want to upgrade then, so think it over.

[Messen216]

I am not looking to upgrade my card....I was more or less thinking of future desires. Graphics and cards change so fast, was just wondering if it would be worth using that option, or if it would just be better to just upgrade all together when the time comes

[carl33p]

Upgrade to a single DX10 card when they come out.

Reasons not to use SLI:
1. Need a pretty good PSU. $$
2. Need a SLI board. $$
3. Usually the cost of the two cards can be beaten performance wise by a single card. Although that becomes untrue when you get up into the 7800-7900 cards which are top notch.
4. Added heat from 2 GPU's side by side. $$ from buying extra cooling.

IMO, SLI is more of a way to "show-off" and say "Ive got SLI", rather than looking for performance gain.

[#43 fan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl33p

Upgrade to a single DX10 card when they come out.

Reasons not to use SLI:
1. Need a pretty good PSU. $$
2. Need a SLI board. $$
3. Usually the cost of the two cards can be beaten performance wise by a single card. Although that becomes untrue when you get up into the 7800-7900 cards which are top notch.
4. Added heat from 2 GPU's side by side. $$ from buying extra cooling.

IMO, SLI is more of a way to "show-off" and say "Ive got SLI", rather than looking for performance gain.

What you said, I agree with.
IMO, I'd wait for a new card.