CrossfireX or SLI

[wtfdude]

i have been waiting on the fence for a while and still am, regarding what system to build in regards to multi-GPU performance, for me its either Intel X48 or 790i or Intel X38 or 780i i really need some advice regarding this matter, thanks what system will give me more bang 4 buck in regards to a multi gpu system for eg. either 3870 X2 + 3870 or 9800 GTX sli.

[GameSinewPCs]

How much are you looking to spend, what games/apps are you expecting to use (and at what settings), are you willing to upgrade your cpu and what are the other intended specifications of the system?

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Looks like it's down to which mobo you want. X38/X48 don't do SLI...

[flashstar]

3870x2 + 3870 is going to be faster than 2 9800gtx's in SLI.

[magibeg]

It really depends on what your price range is, at this point in the game 9600gt's perform extremely well, but if you're on the highend its a different story.

[wtfdude]

How much are you looking to spend, what games/apps are you expecting to use (and at what settings), are you willing to upgrade your cpu and what are the other intended specifications of the system?

I am intending to run the following components

Intel Core2Duo E6750 (would change when new ones are launched)
DDR3 1600MHz
and the graphics is down to the mobo i choose.

[GameSinewPCs]

You'll save yourself money by going with an X38 motherboard and X-fire with comparable performance versus 3GTXs on a 780i board. For example, a Gigabyte X38 with Sapphire 3870X2 and a Sapphire 3870 will run you roughly $850 after parts are shipped, an eVga 780i board with 3X8800GTXs will run you roughly $1500 with comparable performance to the HD3870's.

Edit: That E6750 should OC fairly well, I recommend ( if you weren't going to already) installing a good after market cooler such as a Thermalright Ultra or a Zalman 9700. I'd expect an OC of around 3.6+Ghz depending on the chip. Also, you could save yourself some money and go with some DDR2 800 or 1066mhz ram. Maybe add a couple of GBs as well?

[wtfdude]

I have seen somewhere i cant remember that the 3870's dont do well when AA is enabled, and come behind a 9600 GT. but i am not aiming to go tri sli with 8800 GTX's may be 8800 GTs would do the job. what i choose, i am really sitting on the fence here.

[ShadowFold]

Get a X38, HD 3870X2 and a HD 3870. My HD 3850 only loses around 4-10fps with 2x AA but I dont really use it that much.

[GameSinewPCs]

Two 8800GT(s) in SLI are great on a 780i board. But I'd just as readily say go with a 3870X2 on a x38 board with the option to add another 3870X2 or a 3870 in the future. Both are priced and will perform similarly.

Edit: Again, if we know your specific budget it really helps.

[magibeg]

I have seen somewhere i cant remember that the 3870's dont do well when AA is enabled, and come behind a 9600 GT. but i am not aiming to go tri sli with 8800 GTX's may be 8800 GTs would do the job. what i choose, i am really sitting on the fence here.

9600gt's are very powerful, but they're not better than 3870's. Although you are correct about the whole ati cards suffering with aa+af and such, they do seem to take a bigger hit.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3235

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nvidia-9600gt-review.ars/2

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/21/nvidia_geforce_9600_gt/index.html

[GameSinewPCs]

Also take into consideration that a single 3870 is usually identical in price to a single 9600GT. There are advantages/disadvantages to each. 9600GTs tend to run quieter and draw a little less power than 3870s.