8800GTS 640 SLI vs HD 3870 CrossFire

[DoubleT]

I got a 8800GTS 640 now, but when I buy a new MB some day I wonder if I should buy a MB that supports CrossFire or one that supports SLI. If buy a MB with CrossFire-support, I think I'm gonna buy a couple of HD 3870s, but then I have no use for the 8800GTS I already have. But would two HD 3870s beat two 8800GTS'?

Thanks

 

[badge]

Radeon 3870>8800GTS 640 generally speaking.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=315

 

[L1qu1d]

Dont look at 3D mark. Look at over all Frames, The 640 has the extra ram that should give it the advantage at high Resolutions

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=318

Prey
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=301

Warhammer
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=305

battlefield
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=277

Dark Messiah
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=282

It only looses at 3Dmark and Doom3. And not by alot!

 

[DoubleT]

Ok, thanks. Sry for double-post btw..
I'm using a 22" monitor on 1680x1050 now, so I don't know if there will be a hole lot difference between 640 and 512MB.. Maybe with lots of AA/AF..?
And who got the best drivers for multi GPU setups..?

 

[outlw6669]

Radeon 3870>8800GTS 640 generally speaking.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=315

Sorry but over all, the GTS still comes out on top.

As far as SLI/Crossfire goes....
I would prefer the Crossfire setup.
I believe that the GTS SLI and 3870 CF will perform similarly but I have a dislike for nVidia's motherboards.

Before you replace anything, why don't you try to overclock your GTS?
I am running a GTS 640 on a 22" also and can personally attest to the performance gains to be had.
If you still want to spend some cash, wait till the 4xxx series comes out before you make a jump.
Only another month or two left so might as well.

 

[San Pedro]

If you wait another month or two, the new ATI cards should be out, which would be better than either two cards you mention.

 

[L1qu1d]

You can't assume look what happened witht he 9800 GTX

 

[Mousemonkey]

If you wait another month or two, the new ATI cards should be out, which would be better than either two cards you mention.

Just like the 2900XTX 'GTX Killer', oooh I can't wait.

 

[mihirkula]

After the 2900 fiasco and the 9800 fiasco ATI would do its homework for sure

 

[sailer]

Just like the 2900XTX 'GTX Killer', oooh I can't wait.

Do you mean the XTX 2900 that was never produced because it ran so poorly? I'm looking forward to the ATI 4xxx series cards myself, but I'm making no judgments until the actual benches are out.

@OP- I have owned the 8800 GTS 640 and now have a 3870. They perform almost identically, but the 3870 seems a bit more stable (better drivers?) and the 3870 is a lot quieter, which I like. Since you have a 8800 GTS 640, I'd wait until the new ATI 4xxx series cards come out before buying something new. Even if the 4xxx series don't perform as well as expected, the 3870s should come down a bit in price, thus making the purchase even better. Your monitor is the same size as mine and Crossfire would help in some games and not in others. A larger monitor and I think Crossfire would be the way to go, but at 1680x1050, the monitor size seems right on the edge of whether or not its worth it.

 

[DoubleT]

Thanks for replies
I would have waited a couple of monts anyway, and now I got even more reason to do that. Someone know if there are major changes on the 4xxx?
Btw outlw I run the card on 650/950

 

[scooterlibby]

I had the 640mb 8800GTS in SLI @620/900, and, before one card failed, the performance was stellar, I was really impressed compared to my experience with two 7600 GT's in SLI. Now I have a single 9800 GTX @800/2000/1185) which beats the old 8800GTS SLI setup in some games (Crysis), but not in others (ET:QW, COD4). I haven't played with the 3870 in CF but my personal experience was ace with two 8800GTS models in SLI (this would be a hi res testimonial at 1920x1200, so I don't know how it would play out at your res) was good.

 

[Heyyou27]

Radeon 3870>8800GTS 640 generally speaking.

I]http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1060&model2=707&chart=315

I have a HD3870 in my second PC and it's WAY slower than my 8800GTX at stock.

 

[Tknockers]

I also have a 8800 GTS 640 in Sli @612/1404/900 and it's worth it, specially now when you can get old GTS for cheap. BTW I'm playing at 1680x1050 same as you and the difference between one card and SLI is huge so I would say go for it.

 

[badge]

I have an 8800GTS 640 PCIE 16x, but I prefer my Radeon 3870 PCIE 2.0 at 16 x 10. If I were to SLI/Crossfire, I would choose the X38/48 chipset in Crossfire over any nvidia SLI chipset available. Just my preference.

 

[badge]

Sorry but over all, the GTS still comes out on top.

Installed in my system my Radeon 3870 performs better than my 8800GTS 640.

 

[closed_deal]

I adore my 3870 crossfire setup on a X38 mobo. I'm running them on a 24" Sam'y and get minimum 60Fps with all my games (inc COD 4) maxed bar of course Crysis. Plus i think Crossfire has a better driver support and works with most if not all games generally better than SLI.

Single card head to head nVidia. But i would say Crossfire over SLI unless using gt/gts/gtx.

 

[L1qu1d]

Its a well known fact that sli is alot better than crossfire, escpecially since the crossfire had alot of compatibility issues.

I'm not saying that to bring any1 down, but its realistic, if I find the article again for you guys I'll post it. you guys are free to look into it.

As for the 3870 vs the 8800 GTS 640, I'm a little skeptical because now that I look at it, the 9600 GT is a better card than the 8800 GTS (G80) and it still doesn't outperform the 3870 (with out AA on).

I'd say from estimates that, the 3870 would be around equal to with filtering on, while with out filtering it would surpass it.

Either way the 3870 is a better investment. I noticed that the charts on THG are out of date with the drivers.

 

[badge]

I have 3 SLI systems in SLI running. I use two of them every day. I'll take my X38 with the 3870 over the three put together. It towers over them.

Oh yeah, I paid $310 for my 8800GTS 640 about 6 months ago. I bought my Radeon 3870 for $139 after rebate a couple of months ago. Call it even if you want.

 

[L1qu1d]

thats weird I wouldn't, 3 way sli is flawed thats a given. You'll only see improvements at higher resolutions. While 2 way SLI has been known to get even 90% increase. If you ask me thats really good!

 

[badge]

I have three seperate SLI systems. I have run Nvidia SLI since NF4. So, the 8800GTS 640 is not a damn bit faster, better looking, epenis or burp your baby better than a Radeon 3870. My 512 DDR4 at 2300MHz is kind of epenis happy. I guess if you have 8800 you get the chicks, rag ugly or whatever your trip is.

 

[FrozenGpu]

You can't assume look what happened witht he 9800 GTX

maybe you didn't know about this one liquid but as soon as I figured out it was a G92 core, and it was practically common knowledge way before it actually came out, most ppl knew it was just a renamed 8800gts 512, or a G92 core, so that one was not surprising, maybe it surprised you, but that could be because of you reluctance to see the 9800gtx as the gay-ness that it truly is....

 

[FrozenGpu]

Its a well known fact that sli is alot better than crossfire, escpecially since the crossfire had alot of compatibility issues.

I'm not saying that to bring any1 down, but its realistic, if I find the article again for you guys I'll post it. you guys are free to look into it.

As for the 3870 vs the 8800 GTS 640, I'm a little skeptical because now that I look at it, the 9600 GT is a better card than the 8800 GTS (G80) and it still doesn't outperform the 3870 (with out AA on).

I'd say from estimates that, the 3870 would be around equal to with filtering on, while with out filtering it would surpass it.

Either way the 3870 is a better investment. I noticed that the charts on THG are out of date with the drivers.

dude you musty be hallucinating over all that lead poisoning :lol: , the SLI does not scale better than crossfire, its actually vice-versa, you must not be reading many reviews to have come to that conclusion. besides ati really needed the crossfire to work well b/c there GPU's are not strong enough to take on Nvidia one on one, so that being established you should really read some of the reviews made at andandtech, maybe even do some of your own reviews, since you can actually control the quality of it..if not you shouldn't be lyig to others b/c all that does is spread an un-truth which hurts newbies the most, for the love of good will anybody think about the newbies???? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[DoubleT]

Hehe, this isn't easy you know, half of u says the SLI-setup is the best while the other half says CF is better.
Remember I already got one GTS, so it would be slightly cheaper for me to buy another GTS. But then, two HD3870s are, believe it or not, nearly the same price as one 8800 GTS 640 d:

 

[L1qu1d]

I'm not lieing its what Pc maximum says ever read their reviews? W.e I dont really care to be honest wit u. I know what I saw. And I'm not that worried but I kno for sure sli is supported alot more than crossfire. No1 can say anythigna bout that.

People need to stop being fanboys! I might look like 1 but I'm not!