Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

**Sir. MatDef** · 03-21-2006, 08:18 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

For the proc, might as well go for the x2 version, only 20 bucks more. The A8N Sli is a good board, so stick with that. You have to spend money on a good psu, otherwise a bad one will just take out your entire system. I'd just get a 1 gig stick and buy another one later, that way you won't have to populate all 4 slots to get 2gb. Scrap the sli plans, sli is either an all or nothing kinda thing. Either you get both now, or spend the same amount to get a single better card that is faster than both of the 7600gts combined. I'd just go with a 7900gt now, it'll still be as fast as two 7600gts.

**Laike** · 03-21-2006, 08:23 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

My concern matdef, is that the x2 has performed lower at gaming currently as most games are not optimized for dual core. I am the type that will squeeze every last FPS out of my system with out over clock it, even if it requires grabbing it by the neck and smashing it

Second of all, dual channel ram is much more efficient that a single stick of 1 gig. I rather have 3 gig, or donate 2 sticks of 512 to my younger sister than lose that little smidge of efficiency.

SLI, well, I'm still deciding. I just can't jsutifying dropping 700 dollars canadian on a graphics card all at once :)

**Blak_Phoenix** · 03-21-2006, 08:51 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

I dont think that a 3800+ will bottleneck 2x 7600's. And yes you would be looking at a 500W+ for SLI 7600's.

Im getting a very similar set up but im getting the X2 3800+ and 2 gigs of RAM. but the rest is almost the same (including getting a 7600 nor and another later on).

**imported_Wreck** · 03-22-2006, 12:52 AM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Why not just get a single 7900 GTX? It gives you the same amount of ram, and probably better performance on most games. Using SLI on mid range cards just doesn't make any sense to me.

Get 2Gb of system ram.

**kaheiyeh** · 03-22-2006, 01:22 AM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

If your going for SLI 7600GT-s, you might as well get 2GB of RAM to let you play with textures on High, or at least 1.5GB.

**knghtwhosaysni** · 03-22-2006, 01:42 AM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

I wouldn't suggest getting SLI with mid-end cards either. I think the best choice is to get a nice high-end card and then sell it to get a newer one when it comes out. There will most likely be new technology and more efficient shader architecture in the next gen cards that would make one of them more appealing than two older ones.

And definitely get some dual channel 2gb ram if you want to play BF2 on high.

**UNDIESRULES** · 03-22-2006, 02:51 AM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

You go for it mate. I had 2 x 6600GT's and im still sat on the fence as to whether the 7800GT i have now is any better. Benchmarks are about the same for me and aside from COD2 the in-game performance was better on 2 mid-range cards than it is on this card. They cost me less for a pair as well.

**Laike** · 03-22-2006, 05:45 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

You see, I'd love to get a 7900GTX right now. But if anyone read, money in the short term is my greatest concern. It's all about bang for the buck. If I had 1500 kicking around, I'd love to go for 2 gigs of RAM, shoot with 7900's in GT mode. But sadly, 1 of my job isn't the greatest of pay, and the other one doesn't even pay. I can't afford 2 gigs of ram and a 7900 right now. My little sister needs a new computer soon. My thing is I need the best bang for the buck, and I need that NOW, not when the G8 series cards come out. Plus, 7900 GTX prices are ridiculous here... and 7600's in SLI outperform a 7900GT in general, which iirc, at the local store is still more expensive than 7600's in SLI. Money is a huuuuge concern here.

The 2 gigs of ram is indefinatly in the plans, but that won't happen until I buy a second 7600 some time in the summer.

Now, I may be able to steal one of my sisters sticks of ram temporarily and walk around with 1.5 for the time in between. But don't tell her I want to do that

And the SLI hating... well, my logic is now that SLI is getting bigger, people will start programming more to optimization of SLI, just like how games will slowly drift towards optimal gamign on dual core systems

**R0man** · 03-23-2006, 10:55 AM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Originally posted by Wreck

...Using SLI on mid range cards just doesn't make any sense to me...

I'm of the same opinion, but then I see comments like this:

Originally posted by UNDIESRULES

You go for it mate. I had 2 x 6600GT's and im still sat on the fence as to whether the 7800GT i have now is any better. Benchmarks are about the same for me and aside from COD2 the in-game performance was better on 2 mid-range cards than it is on this card. They cost me less for a pair as well.

I have a really hard time believing that 2 x 6600GT's come close to a 7800GT based on the benchmarks I've seen; equal to a 6800GT maybe. But it is interesting to see this sort of comment, because benchmarks aren't everything.

**imported_Wreck** · 03-23-2006, 01:19 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

^^^^Exactly, benchmarks have little to do with real game performance. SLI will sometimes net you less FPS than a sigle card in the SLI setup.

**Laike** · 03-23-2006, 06:09 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Anyways, steering back onto the topic of my computer upgrades :P

Apparently, the 550 PSU I wanted to buy has been crapping out on waaay too many people. You think one of these Enermax EG-565P-VE FMA V2.0 AIO (24P) 535W will hold me up? it is about 15 watts lower, but I'm hoping it's enough. The price is about the same and people aren't complaining as loudly about those units on SLI.

**LoD** · 03-23-2006, 06:20 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Originally posted by Laike

Anyways, steering back onto the topic of my computer upgrades :P

Apparently, the 550 PSU I wanted to buy has been crapping out on waaay too many people. You think one of these Enermax EG-565P-VE FMA V2.0 AIO (24P) 535W will hold me up? it is about 15 watts lower, but I'm hoping it's enough. The price is about the same and people aren't complaining as loudly about those units on SLI.

Only thing that really matters is the total ampage on the 12V rails. You want 34 and above for SLI, any 450+watt PSU from a good brand that has 34+ amps will work, though SLI certified, or having 2x 6 pin PCIe connectors is ideal.

**Laike** · 03-24-2006, 05:35 PM

Re: Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Well, the PSU is LSI approved, so I'd hope it has enough on the rails :P

I'm just more concerned on the grounds I have two hard drives really

Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

Comptuer Upgrade time, Suggestions/Answers wanted.

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