I have been thinking about upgrading my graphics in my system as I have recently begun playing COD 4. I currently have a non-sli mobo but want to upgrade. When I get a new SLI mobo, I want to upgrade my graphics. I currently have a single 7950GT with 512mb. My question is, would I be best getting another 7950GT and run them in SLI or sell my 7950GT and get a 8800 series (I cant afford 2 8800's in SLI). I am using Vista and the 7950GT is listed as both SLI and DX10 compatible.

Advice please.

Not sure I can offer the most accurate info on this, but last time I looked which was a fair while ago, I believe not everything benefitted as well from SLI as one might hope.

I guess the best thing is to look at various benches on the various games and see what the results tell.

Personally, I'd go for a single 8800. Also, make sure your PSU is up for it

The 8800 series is streets ahead of the 7-series stuff.. youd be better off selling up and going for a 8800GT or above

I recently upgraded my PSU to a sli one running about 800w.

ANy idea what kind of res I could run COD 4 at with a 8800gt?? I have a Core2 Duo E6300 and 3gb ram

I recently upgraded my PSU to a sli one running about 800w.

ANy idea what kind of res I could run COD 4 at with a 8800gt?? I have a Core2 Duo E6300 and 3gb ram

Probably full res/detail

The 8800GT is a performance bargain.. offers over 90% the performance of a 8800GTX, even more when overclocked!

Heres a rundown of the cards on Crysis (the most demanding game out there currently)

actually neo after looking around the 512mb GT out performed the 640mb GTX at most things

go for a single 8800gt seeing as you can always get another later

i recently bought one from ebuyer for £145 delivered i think

COD4 does not use DX10, so ignore that if thats all you are basing the cards on.

I'm pretty sure the 7950 is DX9 only, so not much help with Vista and upcoming DX10 games.

Then again, I just bought a 7950 GX2 as I don't run Vista and not that bothered about DX10 just yet.

Would definately go with the 8800 series.

The only nvidia cards to suport DX10 at the moment are the 8800 series ones... nothing lower will.

I currently have an 8800GTX and its absolutely mind boggling.

I used to have a core 2 duo E6300... but found it to be a little sluggish (100% usage on both cores in Bioshock) and have since upgraded to a core 2 quad Q6600 (all four cores running between 20% and 50% in Bioshock).

But seriously... get an 8800 seires card...

no point in upping the cpu power really for modern gaming as 90% of it is down to the GPU and physics engines on the graphics card, just like you said your E6300 was used 100% and your Q6600 is only used 20-50%.

Yes.... but going from E6300 to Q6600 incresed my frame rates and got rid a lot of lag in demanding games before i had changed my graphics card.

But its still a pretty capable processor. I think the thing that lets it down is its smaller cache.

But... GET AN 8800!!! lol

I'm currently looking at several 8800's on ebay, cant decide between an 8800GT or an 8800 GTS 640. I think a GTX is a tad expensive though.

I was faced with the same question a few months ago (well actually almost a year ago now) when I built myself a new PC.

In the end I did exactly what everyone here is recommending, and bought a single 8800 card instead, an 8800GTS. Still not found a game it struggles with, although I haven't tried Crysis yet!

get the GT, in most tests its quicker than the 640mb gtx.

get the GT, in most tests its quicker than the 640mb gtx.

I've just been looking at the prices of GT's. They look like great value for money compared to the GTX's and GTS's. Not really looked into it since I bought mine, GT's weren't available then.

hang on, i meant gts not gtx, the gtx rocks.

I ran a pair of 7950's in SLI, they performed well, one is still going strong in cardiff and the other in my brother in laws machine. They where replaced by a BFG 8800GTX Ultra and I have got some benchmarks kicking about but the GTX is pretty much faster everywhere.

I was going to go SLI with a pair of 8800's (tested it for a while) but sold the other to my Brother in his new system as it was a bit overkill, not to mention power hungry and noisy as feck.

At the moment I have not found anything that's caused problems (not tried Crysis yet) and Bioshock at 1920 x 1200 16x ansi 8 x aa is very playable and smooth as is COD4.

I would go for an 8800 to be honest,

yeah, i meant 8800gts not a gtx, the gtx is the 768mb uber one.

Yeh i think.. bang for your buck would be an 8800GT... they came out after the GTX and aren't too far behind it but a fair bit cheaper..

Unfortuantely i had bought my GTX before the GT otherwise i probably would have just gone with the GT.

But if you're wanting a top performer without shelling out for a GTX... the GT is a winner!!!

EDIT: Just about to install Crysis so will let you guys know how i get on:

Intel core 2 quad Q6600 2.4Ghz

2GB OCZ DDR2 800 ram (should i upgrade to 4gb???)

Abit Fatal1ty mobo

8800GTX

All at standard clocks

one is still going strong in cardiff

Yes it sure is :thumbup:

And I think he's talking single 7950GT cards not 7950GX2 double hard ba5tard cards

Yes it sure is :thumbup:

And I think he's talking single 7950GT cards not 7950GX2 double hard ba5tard cards

True true .... 7950GT is a bit ........................... gay

Does it matter which board partner you buy from, ie BFG, XFX, Asus, or are they all pretty much of a much?

It doesn't really matter... the only thing you will find different is the cooler on the card and maybe some manufacturers may overclock the cards slightly.

Personally i just went for an Ebuyer extra value 8800GTX and put a Thermalrite HR03 cooler on... and if i want to overclock i can do!

Ok thanks. I wouldnt know where to start with overclocking.

Update...Got myself a Inno3D 8800GT and it's awesome! Splashed out on a Q6600 processor at the same time. Upped my 3dmark 06 score from 4500 to 12100 now. Tweaked them slightly too. Got the q6600 running at 2.7ghz and a 10% overclock on the 8800GT. As a bonus, the 8800GT card

was £170 and I've got the old 7950GT on Ebay for £50 with 2 days to go.