2x 8800GTS 512 -- 2x 4850 or single 4890?

[g3force]

1) If you are going to upgrade, get something that is at least a couple of levels better.
8800GTS-512 > GTX275/4890 or better. Anything less, and you will be disappointed by a small gain.

2) I would pick a single card with a single vga chip if possible. Dual cards and dual chips do not always scale well. It is a more complex system.

3) I would stick with a Nvidia card, just because you will not have to change out drivers, and you know how the nvidia drivers work. If you already had ati, I would suggest ati.

4) Your 1680x resolution is not that demanding, so something crazy is not needed for good gaming.

4890 and GTX275 are comparable cards. Unless you have a favorite game, don't bother looking for minor differences.

Net: sell the 8800GTS and shop for a GTX275

40nm parts will launch by the end of the year. You might want to wait and see what comes.

Well, I've packed and shipped off the 8800GTS to it's new owner. I hope it will serve him well.

TBH I'm leaning towards the 4890 instead of the GTX 285. Prices are significantly lower and it will leave me the option to CF two of them in future.
As for any potential driver issues, I'll reformat and reinstall if necessary. I haven't changed any hardware with this copy, so hopefully I won't have to call MS.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to help make this decision. I will be ordering the 4890 ASAP.

 

[michaelmk86]

the HD4890 is the first GPU to hit over 1Ghz and its exremtly well priced its just a capable card, good all rounder. you get alot of card for your money. not saying Nvida cards are bad, they are just over priced.

You can hit 1GHz with the 4890 if you are lucky but in most cases you cannot pass the 900-950MHz.


From this three options (2x 8800GTS 512 -- 2x 4850 or single 4890) I will choose 4890 because 2x 4850 have similar performance with the 4890 and is better to have one good GPU instead of 2 bad GPU.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

You should Crossfire another 4890 in order to see any real improvement.
Two 8800GTS's perform slightly below a GTX285, and slightly above a single 4890.

 

[carlitus]

why havent you all connsidered two 4770 CF'd - its only 220 compared to a single 4890 at ~ 250 i beleive yet its much much better in almost all games (exept like in crysis where the 4890 is only about 5 better). Also in the TH review it clearly states that in some cases its even better than a 280. furthermore, it overclocks like crazy with 10-20% boost while keeping relatively cool.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

why havent you all connsidered two 4770 CF'd - its only 220 compared to a single 4890 at ~ 250 i beleive yet its much much better in almost all games (exept like in crysis where the 4890 is only about 5 better). Also in the TH review it clearly states that in some cases its even better than a 280. furthermore, it overclocks like crazy with 10-20% boost while keeping relatively cool.

Umm, because that would basically be no change from his dual 8800GTS's.

4850s are slightly better than 4770s. 4850s are equal to 9800GTX/GTX+/GTS250.

9800GTXs are slightly better than 8800GTS's.

So 4770 basically performs the same as the 8800GTS.