Newb needs GPU selection advise

[lations]

Hey, I am getting my first desktop and need some help with what graphics configuration to get.

I will game some with this, but I won't spend too much extra for awesome speeds and graphics on that level. I mainly want perfect display of a 2560X1600 monitor with blue ray and pretty much anything other than perfect gaming or video editing type stuff.

Right now I am looking at the GTX285 2gb. (Possibly get another later if I get into more graphics stuff)

Is there a better configuration for me at this time based on price or if you think I need more power etc.?

Any opinions and help would be great.

Also, does motherboard with 3-way SLI support mean it can take 3 of the 285s? As I understand it, some cards like this are essentially 2 cards in one and take up more slots. So would that mean 3-way SLI can only take one 285 2gb?

Thanks a lot guys.

 

[Raidur]

The 285 is a single GPU card. 3-way SLI means it has 3 slots so you would be able to run 3 GTX285s. Some cards have 2 GPUs in one like you said, meaning technically the board could take up to 6-GPU-SLI.

BUT.... I would go for the GTX 275, and at that resolution if you plan to game and want the best possible gaming experience in the gamers world go with 2 of them. The 285 is very overpriced because it is the fastest single-gpu (only ~5% faster than the 275) card to date, so you pay quite a premium for it.

 

[lations]

OK, so I see that the 295 will cost me the same from cyberpower as the 2x 275s. Would you say it is smarter to go with the 2 275s (or one 275 with expansion in future?)

 

[lations]

Forgot...would one 275 be enough for great performance on the 2650 x 1600 monitor for everything other than gaming?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

What are the systems, mainboard, CPU, PSU, etc?

 

[Raidur]

I would probably start with a single 275 instead of a 295 but some people might have a different opinion on it. 275 SLI does out-perform a 295 but not by too much (~10%).

Oh and yes a single 275 should do fine at that resolution for everything but gaming. Considering you have tripple sli on your mobo I don't really see the need for a GTX 295 since you will probably never need 6-gpu sli. The highest people usually go is Tri-SLI (some do quad but it barely shows a benefit).

 

[lations]

I was just looking at the monitor I want and it requires dual link DVI. I am a bit confused about what is necessary for that.

Does that mean I need either 2 video cards or at least one of the 2 in one deals?
Or does something like the 275 have the ability to put out dual link?

 

[lations]

Oh, and my other components are like this IslandsBoy:

i7 920 OC by 20%
GigaByte GA-EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Chipset
6GB @ 1600 (maybe up it to 12 later)
2 300GB velociraptor in raid 0 And 1.5 TB 7200

 

[Mousemonkey]

I was just looking at the monitor I want and it requires dual link DVI. I am a bit confused about what is necessary for that.

Does that mean I need either 2 video cards or at least one of the 2 in one deals?
Or does something like the 275 have the ability to put out dual link?

Don't get confused over dual link or single link, it refers to the type of DVI port and the cards you are thinking about will most likely have two ports both of which are dual link.

 

[frozenlead]

You didn't mention your power supply. Make sure it's up to the task of Tri SLi before you take the plunge.

 

[lations]

Was going to go with the standard 800 watt Cyberpower power supply. Even as I say that it sounds sketchy to me.

51 bucks more gets me 850 Thermaltake

79 more gets me 900 Apevia Warlock

Goes up from there...Would I need over 900 for tri-SLI?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Start with one GTX 275 and see if it satisfies your gaming experience requirements at the resolution of 2560X1600. If it's too slow, go for the 2nd and try the SLI. I doubt there are games out there that would show a significant performance gain with tri-sli.