Thinking of going SLI

I am concidering of going to SLI on my system, but am new to SLI so.......any comments, Suggestions Helpfull hints welcome:confused

I am running Abit IP35PRO motherboard
Intel core 2 quad (Q9650 ) 3.0 Ghz
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit
2 VelociRaptor 300 gb hard drives in raid 0
Thermaltake toughpower 850 watt power supply
want to go with
2 BFG Nvidia Ge force GTS 250 OC 1 Gb Gddr 3

 

I can't add much except to say that if you have the money then get a pair of GTX260-216's instead. The 250's are just rebranded whereas the 260 is actually new tech.

All I can say is that would be a sweet system.

 

Thank you Ill go look at that and see if i can budget it in

 

wow only 20.00 more each I think that is Possable! thank you
Dose anyone know if the SLI bridge comes with or is it a seperate purchace??
was told it usualy comes with motherboard but it didnt come with mine and Abit is now gone so...... hope it is findable. :confused

 

That's a fair question. I can find most of the ATI 5xxx series have the XFire Bridge and yet the gtx260 216's seem to be missing?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Image... x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

I would shoot newegg of an email or 2 and ask.

 

Ya, never got a bridge with my 9800GT's or the 260.

 

Bridges come with the motherboard.

I SLI'd a pair of 8800GTs for a while until I did a motherboard upgrade. Mos games still do not suport SLI officially, and some will work worse with SLI than without.

Personally I found SLI to be a waste of time, but then I do not play really high end games.

 

I've only ever had 3 mobo's but I "never" got a SLI/XFire bridge with them. A Bridge is only ever associated with >1 Video Cards so why would a mobo maker ever include one and reduce their profit range?? Meanwhile the 3 ATI Cards I have bought came with one (to encourage consumption of another )!

 

Sorry, I will rephrase my answer:

The only motherboard I ever got that had SLI came with an SLI bridge and a nifty device to keep it from falling out.

 

well time for more info digging!! will relay what i find, Thank you all

 

Well after reading the destructions more :-o I find it is desined for two video cards but no mention of SLI :cry but it did mention 2 monitors?? So i guess I am going to just go with 1 Really good card and save SLI for next rig i build
ok new question one good card 450.00 dollar range What do you all suggest??

 

Well your right the mobo won't do SLI:

http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/moth...pPRODINFO=Specifications&fSEARCHTEXT=IP35 Pro

You could always get a mobo that will and then buy the cards.

For a single card here are comparison charts:

ATI

nVidia

Without "fanboyism" I would be selecting an ATI 5xxx series to take advantage of Dx11.0 in Win7.

For your price range I would be considering a 5870:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE
Possibly this beast:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102861
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Image... x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

If you are thinking of going down that path please search for "technical" reviews and take any newegg comments with a grain of salt.

 

Now that was some cool info thank you will take some time to sort through it but that is good ( and I do look at at least 5 different reviews before making a choice ) but thank you

 

Personally just to throw this out there, i look at cards that have over X number of reviews. (for me its at least 25 to 50 reviews, hopefully lots more though)And i read the hater's reviews first.

I just bought a 1gig HD4850 (ati-made my MSI). After i did i found out that the card, at least this one on newegg, was discontinued. The only thing i can figure is they sold great, but for little profit as this card absolutely kicks butt. I can play 90% of my old games on Ultra settings @1200X1600 or better. I can play newer games on at least Very High settings. (my processor is the only thing holding me back now....well that and the machine is a dell. )

The price point was 100 bucks so for your price range id say a single high end card will kick some major butt. I am also of the opinion that Sli is pretty overrated for the most part with all the decent cards out there. (and that most games dont even support it well yet)

I was a "fanboy" of Nvidia for a long time and an Ati hater until this card. (mostly because i find Ati's drivers suck to install)

 

well i am down to two possable cards now and from the different reviews they are both really good but see what you all think

EVGA 02G-P3-1185-AR GeForce GTX 285 2GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

or

EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Leaning more toward the 2 GB card but as you can see I like EVGA
never had problems with there cards and I like to stay with what I know
but am open to opinions