[Peptobismol165]

Hello!
I got a graphics card a while back, a GTS 250 (512Mb), and I love it! Christmas is coming up and I want to upgrade my system. Everything is perfect on my system, but I would like to upgrade my graphics card. I was curious though. Which would be best for me:
To SLI my current graphics card (ASUS GTS 250) http://usa.asus.com/...UWnVZ&templete=
or buy a completely new card (A NVIDIA Fermi 450,460 or a ATI Radeon HD 5830)

My current system:
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
4Gb of DDR3 RAM @ 1600
Intel Core i3 @2.93 Ghz
NVIDIA GTS 250 (512Mb)
850 Watt Power Supply
ASUS P7P55 SUPERCOMPUTER


Any graphics cards you recommend? I like to:
Play games like the Sims 3, STALKER, Crysis.
I only use 1 monitor, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to use more!
I do a lot of multi-tasking, but I don't multi-task while I play games.
I want something that will last me a long time and then some.

Edited by Peptobismol165, 13 November 2010 - 10:26 AM.

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SLI is useful if you're using 2 high-end graphic cards to achieve the best performance. However, technology advances so fast in the graphic card market, that SLI is generally not a very good upgrade path. You can usually get better performance, and use less power (and generate less heat) by getting a new single card. A GTS 250 will cost you about $100. However, a single AMD HD 6850 will outperform it by a wide margin, and be more efficient for as low as $180. Sell your used GTS 250 for $40, and you have a nice upgrade for ~$140.

[admin]

SLI is useful if you're using 2 high-end graphic cards to achieve the best performance. However, technology advances so fast in the graphic card market, that SLI is generally not a very good upgrade path. You can usually get better performance, and use less power (and generate less heat) by getting a new single card. A GTS 250 will cost you about $100. However, a single AMD HD 6850 will outperform it by a wide margin, and be more efficient for as low as $180. Sell your used GTS 250 for $40, and you have a nice upgrade for ~$140.

[Peptobismol165]

Thanks a bunch! I'm in a conflict between ATI and NVIDIA. Which do you prefer or does it not really matter?

[admin]

AMD has had the advantage for well over a year. nVidia may still have a slight edge when it comes to drivers, but AMD has superior hardware.

[Peptobismol165]

Awesome. Thanks!

[mkau]

AMD has had the advantage for well over a year. nVidia may still have a slight edge when it comes to drivers, but AMD has superior hardware.

In that range, up until the GTX 460 came out I'd agree with you. That card is a beast and overclocks like nothing else.