Which Card Setup???

tiltrotor22

Tiltrotor22
Vista Pro
I am currently running 1 Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTX. I have been thinking about upgrading but im stuck. I have been looking at 3 options and I would like some opinions.
First, I could just get another 8800 GTX and put them in SLI.
Second, I can buy 2 9600 GT's and put them in SLI.
And third, I can buy one 9800 GX2.
All the setups I have chose have their ups and downs, so I cant
decide on what to do next.
I was looking at the specifications for the individual cards and they all are good in some ways, and worse in other.
For instance, the 9600 GT has a core clock of 700mhz and a memory clock and shader clock of 2000 and 1790 mhz in respectivly. But it only has 64 stream processors.
The 9800 GX2 only has a core clock of 600mhz and a memory clock and shader clock of 2000 and 1512 respectivly. But it has 256 stream processors.
The 8800 GTX has 128 stream processors, but a lower core, memory, and shader clock than the 9600 GT.

So with all these ups and downs, I cant decide. Should I be looking mainly at the stream processor amount?
I have always wanted an SLI configuration, but I would skip 2 9600 GTs if one 9800 GX2 performs better.

So, whats does everyone think? Does anyone currently run a 9800 GX2 or 2 9600 GTs in SLI?
 

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Given nVidia's history in releasing cards and the quality of what you're currently running, I'd wait a month or two or three and wait for them to get the 9800 clocks up to something repectable (geez, I think that's below the ATI HD 36xx series). My feeling (yes, I'm an ATI user, but take it for what it's worth) is that nVidia was a little surprised by the success of the HD 3870 x2 and had to hurry something a bit. I also don't know how their drivers are at this point, but from what I've seen, that's likely to be a problem, too.

The 9600 is an alright card, but at the moment it is way more expensive than it should be for what it is (compare its specs to HD 3870s and then compare prices and you'll see what I mean). Your mobo kinda shows you want to stick with nVidia. Given that, I'd strongly recommend you wait until nVidia has their niche (high-end cards) firmly under control. The last thing you'd want to see is someone who spent the same on a mid-range card but bought ATI outperforming you. ATI has already said they're looking to go for lower-cost, efficiency, and mid- and low-range cards and is pretty much leaving the realm of the 8800s and 9800s to nVidia. Kind of puts them both where they naturally ended up anyway. For what it's worth.

If you can hold off until June, rumors abound (or maybe it was announced) that ATI would be launching the HD 4xxx series. That might drive nVidia prices down a wee bit.

By the way, if that's a picture of you for your avatar, thanks for your service to our great nation.
 

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