One graphics card or two in SLI?

[jon310]

I know this has been asked many times before, however when reading the questions that were asked the answers really focused around the entire build, it seemed like there was no generic answer.

I would like to use this rig for performance gaming, So I am wanting this to last for at least 3-4 years with only minor upgrading required.

I want to stick with nvidia / Intel, but anything else is fair game for suggestions, same price range please, I am trying to spend ~ 1k for the entire thing sans hard drives/peripherals.

Here's the build I put together last night. I am not a pro, so there may be better options all around.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card x2

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400

Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD38G1333ELK x2 for a total of 16g

I don't have a single card in mind, but more a price range. 250-280 range. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been moved from the section Graphics & Displays to section Systems by Mousemonkey

 

[gkay09]

Some suggestions -

CPU - As you intend to keep the build for 3-4 years, then keep the overclocking option open as it is one of the option to get more from your PC,... So get the 2500K,...

RAM + Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.714150

Graphics card - IMO for that price range you can get the GTX 560 Ti(), a little bigger PSU, so that you can go SLI later on say 6 months- 1 year after, thus even more improving the performance,...

 

[jon310]

Some suggestions -

CPU - As you intend to keep the build for 3-4 years, then keep the overclocking option open as it is one of the option to get more from your PC,... So get the 2500K,...

RAM + Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.714150

Graphics card - IMO for that price range you can get the GTX 560 Ti(), a little bigger PSU, so that you can go SLI later on say 6 months- 1 year after, thus even more improving the performance,...

Thank you for the direction. I took the advice on the ram/mobo combo and also found a cpu/power supply combo that saved me even more.

I'm getting the single GPU and also upgraded to the 2500K CPU with the money saved on the combo's. Thanks for the help! I cant wait to put it together.

 

[gkay09]

^ Which PSU have you chosen ??

 

[jon310]

^ Which PSU have you chosen ??

grr wrong link sec..

CORSAIR Professional Series HX850 (CMPSU-850HX) 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

It had the best reviews out of all the combo'ed PSU's

 

[gkay09]

You wont need an 850W PSU,... Get the 750HX,... It has all the power you would need for 560 ti SLI and still have some headroom,... Also this one too is highly rated,...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.707903

 

[jon310]

Thanks for the heads up. Really appreciate the guidance.

 

[jon310]

Best answer selected by jon310.