Well with a new wave of games I want to play quickly approaching, I am considering a minor/major video update. I'm running on a 8800gt right now. Should I go with an SLI setup using a pair of 8800s or update to something else? (I'm almost certain I want to run a SLI setup though, I have this monster PSU I bought and have yet to really put it to use.)

personally I'd stay away from the dual card setup because there will be instances where you won't get the 80% performance increase and your money will be wasted.

I'd look at the 4850 which isn't that much more expensive than another 8800gt and will give performance that I wouldn't expect to be all that much less than a 8800gt SLI setup. Couldn't find any numbers to confirm this on a quick check but that's my gut feeling anyway.

Or just get yourself a 4870 or one of the new 260's coming out in a few days, long term one of the newer generation cards should give better performance as games scale. SLI and xFire are known to be bad at scaling in certain games.

Frankly, I'd hold off until you really feel you're being held back. By the time some serious games come out that will run the 8800GT in the ground, a new generation of cards will be out again.

Well, I primarily want FarCry2 to run well, and I'm starting to think one 8800GT isnt going to pull it as nicely as I want.

I agree with Cool Matty. Hold off on getting a new card. Your 8800GT should run games fine until the next gen is out.

I myself am using an 8800GT and there's no way I'm shelling out another 200$+ for another video card until next gen. Right now the performance gains aren't big enough for me.

I'd been doing a lot of research on Far Cry 2, and it seems the 8800GT should run it just fine. (Let's hope I'm right! :D)

Mass Effect already rapes the 8800GT. It won't be long CM, it won't be long...

If you have a good CPU, go for an 4870 now; it's best to buy a new card at the beginning of a generation rather than at the end.

start by not ever listening to obi

NoESC is bad and wrong.

My setup handles Mass Effect fairly well (with the exception of the Citadel) I don't think I ever dropped below 45ish FPS.

Granted I didn't run it in a huge res, but the details were all on high.

Well in the day of LCD monitors, the resolution is pretty much set if you want it to look even decent. I know the 8800GT doesn't come close to handling it at 1680x1050, though that's the 256mb version granted. Getting a 512 as an upgrade soon.

I agree with this. While I would guess the difference between a 8800GT and 4850/9800 (any midlevel card) is significant, you would probably end up being a little disappointed that performance is only marginally better.

A 4850 would probably be significant enough, but certainly not anything in the 9 or 8 generations. The point is it's good to buy at the beginning of a generation, and with prices as low as they are, you might as well spring for something good.

Yeah, buying cards at the beginning of a generation is a good idea, and anything else is a waste of money.

But like Triscuit said, the performance is only marginally better. If you don't mind spending another 200$ for a video card right now (4850 can be had for around 179$ with sales around here, fantastic price) then by all means, go ahead, the performance might not be huge, but if you're playing at high-resolutions you shouldn't have a problem.

Keep in mind though, according to sources (friends, reviews, etc.) Crysis Warhead runs absolutely perfect on the 8800GT. Cut the settings down to High and you've got buttery smooth FPS. Far Cry 2 should be even better as long as you're CPU can keep up with the rest of the game.

My CPU should do alright I think, Intel C2D E6750.

I really dont play games in max res (def not 1050)... I usually like to have all the visuals maxed, even if im not in a popular resolution. However, that doesn't mean I want to go below 1024x768

im still running a radeon 9800 pro T.T

Your processor won't hurt you at all

If you are ok with gaming at 1280x1024, then the 8800GT is perfect for the time being. My friend tried Crysis Warhead on his 8800GT at 1680x1050 and he got pretty solid results. So far the only game I can think of that's more demanding then Warhead is the original Crysis. And even that seems to run pretty good, especially multiplayer.

Just wait for a game that crushes your video card (besides Crysis) before upgrading (And make sure you get your new card near the beginning of it's lifetime, nothing frustrates more then buying a video card for 200$ right before the next wave comes out, and you're card drops to 100$ and the new on is 200$. :P)

Cool thanks. I wasn't sure if Far Cry 2 was going to be as big of a footprint on the system as Crysis was. I never actually got into Crysis... it just didn't seem like my kind of game. Then again, neither is Bioshock. I'm waiting on that one to be cheap on steam or something.

Thanks again!

you missed that boat...

Yeah I know I missed it on a weekend special... but it'll be cheap again. My friend (some friend he is) bought it on the special and didn't even bother to tell me.

Warhead is better. It's got all the things the first one was apparently lacking (I liked the first one though.)

Yeah I'm looking forward to Far Cry 2 as well, and if it doesn't work on my system, I'm going to get frustrated and buy the PS3 one

Console FarCrys have been turds... one after the other.

If a console can run Farcry 2, I don't understand how an average graphic card can't do the same.

From source (a.k.a Ubisoft themselves) the PC version and Console versions don't have a huge visual difference. The difference is there but it's not insanely huge, like Crysis would be.

Besidse, Far Cry 2 seems to be a much more processor intense game, as opposed to Crysis, a GFX card intense game. I wouldn't worry about it.

Wait for the Far Cry 2 demo, or wait until the game comes out. exercise some restraint. IF IF IF the 8800gt wont handle FC2, THEN buy a new card.

I couldn't agree more

Unfortunately, though, there won't be a FC2 Demo

You'll have to buy it first.

Kop. I have some good new for you.

I just played Crysis Warhead on my bro's PC. It ran (on almost everything set to Enthusiasts (Very High) - he got 25 - 40 FPS (That's fantastic.)

Guess what the cool part is...

He has an 8600GTS.