[deldrice]

I will be purchasing a new computer soon and I am wondering which would be a better choice. Both prices are the same on both.
1. Single 896MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260
2 Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800 GT

I'm interested in better gaming performance so I would assume that the dual cards would be better, but I've also read that some games do not benefit from SLI. I'm just looking for some feedback

[serverguy]

If you have that much money to throw at graphics cards, I'd suggest you think about Crossfiring two ATI Radeon 4870s.

[deldrice]

I'll look into it, but out of those two, which would you say is better for gaming performance?

[Xeon]

I wouldnt dual / SLI two Nvidia graphics cards in my opinion.
Through experience they give you less performance than buying a single high performance graphics card.
Your best off just saving a little more money, considering your 3/4 the way there with those choices and getting a higher specification card such as the:
BFG NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX OC 768MB PCIE
Just an Example BTW
This is just my opinion though, see what other people have to say first before choosing

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by Xeon

and getting a higher specification card such as the:
BFG NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX OC 768MB PCIE
J

This card was outdated about a year ago.

Buy a 4850 if you're at a low resolution, buy a 4870 if you're at a high resolution, or if you really have to spend that much get a 4870X2.

[thingie2]

I second Carbon

[deldrice]

Thanks for the feedback, but this is my dilemna. I was looking into buying from alienware, as for $1500 I could everything I needed and the price seemed to fit the components better than what I thought they would.(Normally they were always overpriced by a lot) One of the systems had a stock single 896 gtx or dual 512 9800s. The other system which had a slower processor, but more options for graphics cards would cost me quite a bit more. However,I am definitely willing to buy everything separate and build one myself but I doubt my ability to do it well. I don't want to turn this into custom pc help thread, but if I come up with a list of components should I post them here or on another subforum?
>.< sorry for the wall of text

[serverguy]

The General Hardware thread would be better.

I really really urge you to build yourself. Not only will you get a lot better system, you will also save a bunch of cash.

Have a look at Carbons sticky at the top of the General Hardware forum, and then start a new thread there, and we can give you more advice.

I can guide you through building the PC from start to finish, if you so desire, and it really isn't that hard. Just use common sense and take your time, and make sure you do your research before you buy, not after

[deldrice]

Sounds good to me, I know a tech place that can put it together for me for like 50 bucks and they add some software aswell as get it all tuned and everything, its just the matter of picking out the right parts that will all work together =D