9800 GTX SLI vs GTX 285

[PauL]

So with Father's Day around the corner my brother and I decided to get my father a new videocard(s).

My dad's computer is fairly new, about 2 months old, and the only piece of hardware that is really holding him back is his videocards. Currently he is running 2 8800 GTS in SLI from when they were first released. All his other hardware is current.

He is running a 24" Widescreen Dell Monitor 1920x1200. I was unable to find any info that is directly related to this size monitor.

What would be better to use on that size/quality monitor, 9800 GTX in SLI or a single GTX 285?

He plays a lot of Crysis and Far Cry 2 so I want to get he best out of the cards.

Thanks for any info and help!!!

[Indybird]

My friend is running a 9800GX2 and that gets an average of 26fps in Crysis @ 1920x1200 (No AA). Since a 9800GX2 is essentially dual 9800GTXs, and a 9800GX2 is just slightly worse in Crysis than a GTX280, a GTX 285 should yield higher framerates than than two 9800GTXs in SLI. Furthermore, SLI still has issues with microstuttering, graphics glitches, and large amounts of power usage.

I personally would recommend the GTX 285.

-Indybird

[Datech]

I would go with the single GTX 285 as well unless you find a really good deal on the 9800. As Indy said SLI still has a bunch of issues, and a lot of developers don't bother optimizing for SLI usage.

[Spawn-Inc]

i third the GTX285 unless you can get a really good deal on 9800GTX's.

[PauL]

Okay that's what I was expecting but my brother disagrees. Unfortunately he ordered the cards before I really did any research so we already have them so we may return them depending what my dad wants to do.

Here are the cards we got.

Thanks for the help.

[Datech]

It's good that you ordered an EVGA one because their cooling system and product warranty's and product registrations are usually the best. I still say one GTX is a better option if you can afford it, but the 9800 is by no means a bad card.

[Spawn-Inc]

and step up if they don't work out 2 GTX 285's SHOULD... be enough