My first SLI attempt

[shizz]

Okay I am making a new build it will be running the i5 intel processor with the mobo

ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131405

And this gpu

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433

Can you tell me would i be able to run Crysis on max settings?

Also can I use Windows Xp for OS, or do i need Vista?

If i do need vista please give me a site with the cheapest price. I would like to keep Windows Xp but if i need to get vista to SLI i will.

 

[hunter315]

Of course you will be able to run crysis at max, assuming you are willing to play at 1024x768. Crysis at max is an incredibly expensive and stupid way to choose your GPU, even the latest 5870 can barely run crysis on ultra high while getting better than 40FPS at 1680x1050. We need to know your monitor resolution to be able to tell you what level you will be able to play at.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5870,2422-13.html

You can use XP, but you can get vista home for $110 off newegg with an upgrade coupon to windows 7, thats the method i would suggest, windows 7 is much nicer than XP and can do far more, especially with DX10 and DX11 support.

 

[shizz]

Rite now i play at 1280x1024 and i was just giving a example to run crysis at max i would probably run it at medium but did i make a good chose in gpus? or can i get better for the price. I only like NVIDIA.

 

[mindless728]

well, if you are doing sli, i am assuming you are getting two of those GTX260's

for that price you are better off getting one ATI Radeon HD5870 (and being able to crossfire later)

 

[hunter315]

A GTS250/HD 4850 is normally plenty to play games on high at that resolution. A GTX260 for that price however is a rip off, especially for two of them. Since you can only use the MIR once you can get a 5870(which is massive overkill for that res) for $10 more, or if you dont use MIRs, you can get 2 4890s for that price.

 

[shizz]

i dont really like Crossfire tho..... I dont know your going to have to convince me XD

 

[baddad]

You wont be able to run the game in full max out setting, but there is no need to do that either. I could turn on 4xAA and still get 35 fps at 1920x1200 but I found I couldn't see any difference so what would be the point.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

i dont really like Crossfire tho..... I dont know your going to have to convince me XD

Crossfire and SLI are very similar, on a hardware level crossfire is more advanced. That said they are both basically the same when it comes to scaling and performance. Also, while they usually take longer to come out, ATI's drivers tend to have fewer problems than nVidia's since nVidia just produces copious amounts drivers at a whim. Again, that said they tend to be equal. The largest difference between ATI and nVidia are the extras. With nVidia you get Physx, which is 100% useless, and CUDA, which helps with slower processors, but your i5 will do fine without it. With ATI you get Eyefinity (5XXX series), which is basically the most advanced multi-monitor process out there but again it has limited uses. With ATI you also get Havoc, instead of Physx, which again is basically useless. Finally, when going to ATI route, you get not only DX 10.1 support (4xxx series), but now you get DX11 with the 5xxx series. That will allow you to stay up to date for years and will allow you to play any game that is produced in the near future. Note that when DX11 is enabled in a mainly DX10 game it will add a performance between 20%-50% over any non DX11 card. In DX11 based games it will, of course, do far better even if the game has a DX10 mode, as long as it is based on DX11.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

You wont be able to run the game in full max out setting, but there is no need to do that either. I could turn on 4xAA and still get 35 fps at 1920x1200 but I found I couldn't see any difference so what would be the point.

Same here, I am running 3 4890s which is a very powerful setup and I can max Crysis out at 1920x1200 with 4xx AA. The problem is that it doesn't look any better than at high, assuming the texture quality is ultra high so you don't see pop-ins.