New GPUs and the EPIC difference it has made - and why everyone needs GTX 460s in SLI

[JakAttack]

Ok, so I had 1 x ATI 4870X2 running off an HX620 power supply, fair game, it ran everything I wanted to and was quite good. But an upgrade was needed, I felt it deep down.

soo.... I bought 2 x NVIDIA 1GB GTX 460 graphics cards in SLI. With a shiny new TX850W PSU.

Here is the Vantage score from the 4870X2. (bear in mind a 4870X2 is pretty much 2 x 1GB 4870 cards in one card, internally Crossfired.

Please bear in mind, nothing else has changed, CPU and memory clock are the same on eah test. The GTX 460's have not yet been overclocked.

And here is the 2 x 460's results. EPIC.

 

[Matt]

Nice scores man, congrats.

Vantage makes use of Physx right?

Perhaps run some benchmark that doesn't use that so we can get an idea of how much faster those gtx460's are on a level field.

 

[JakAttack]

they do support PhysX, but as most games now use the PhysX engine, it would be unfair to see how good it is compared to ATI 'on a fair playing field', when the ATI's are missing a vital element of modern gaming

 

[Matt]

they do support PhysX, but as most games now use the PhysX engine, it would be unfair to see how good it is compared to ATI 'on a fair playing field', when the ATI's are missing a vital element of modern gaming

Haha, come on. What about, umm i dunno 3dmark 06 or something?

Or any of the games that are not on this list.

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_physxgames_home.html

EDIT, i just looked through that list, and the full Physx list and could not find one game i play that supports it.

However, I'm definitely getting Mafia 2 and that will be my first Physx game on an ATI card, hope it will run ok.

 

[JakAttack]

Aye, but most general physics elements are being taken over by PhysX.

I'll run 3DMark 06 if I can be arsed downloading it.

BTW, just got another 1K as I realised my Pc was doing a virus scan in the background

 

[Matt]

Aye, but most general physics elements are being taken over by PhysX.

I'll run 3DMark 06 if I can be arsed downloading it.

BTW, just got another 1K as I realised my Pc was doing a virus scan in the background

Np man, don't worry about it. I know they are faster, i just wanted to know how much faster on a general setting.

 

[steveuk87]

grats dude thats awsome!! i want 2

Steve

 

[LDUK]

My brother will get another GTX 460 when he runs into a game that needs it lol. Otherwise its just framerate candy lol.

 

[Timbercottage]

I just recently purchased and installed my 1GB GTX 460 and am amazed with the results, I haven't yet found anything that causes it to struggle so the idea of getting another and getting them SLI'd seems a bit overkill to me! Is there any real benefit to be gained from having SLI'd 460's at the current time, or is it more or less a future-proofing solution right now?

 

[LDUK]

I just recently purchased and installed my 1GB GTX 460 and am amazed with the results, I haven't yet found anything that causes it to struggle so the idea of getting another and getting them SLI'd seems a bit overkill to me! Is there any real benefit to be gained from having SLI'd 460's at the current time, or is it more or less a future-proofing solution right now?

Definately plan B. The GTX 460 is perfect for nowadays. There isn't really much reason to have two other than to show off, get great Vantage scores, or simply for future proofing. The beautiful thing about the GTX 460 is that you have to option of adding another one in the future.

 

[JakAttack]

I did it for the Vantage score

 

[Meds]

Stop tempting me!!!! I want to upgrade soo bad but fund just aint there, it'll set me back around £400 -£500 just for mobo, CPU, RAM alone!

I'll get them one day I'm sure... hopefully before the Nov LAN.

 

[Timbercottage]

Haha I see, you're simply doing it to compensate for something are you? I'll stick with my single card for now I think

 

[LDUK]

I did it for the Vantage score

Ha ha ha! You child you!

Haha I see, you're simply doing it to compensate for something are you? I'll stick with my single card for now I think

I would say that's the smart choice for now. Always room for the other in future.

 

[JakAttack]

Well it was either that or a GTX 480, but the heat and noise issue concerned me, and I'm far too lazy at the moment to get my self a proper W/C loop like Gorman. So 2 x GTX 460's seemed the bets bet.

 

[PaulH]

Also, please remeber, its the Graphics card score you should be looking at, PhysX inflates the CPU score, nothing more, it has no bearing AT ALL on the GPU score

 

[Matt]

Just downloaded this. Scored 15749.

Going to run it again and get a screen shot shortly.

 

[Matt]

Just downloaded this. Scored 15749.

Going to run it again and get a screen shot shortly.

As promised.




Alternate Link




Specs

Q9550 @3.75ghz
4 gig Corsair Dominator
HD 5850 Stock (40Mhz increase on core only)

 

[Matt]

Ran 3dmark as well.






Alternative Link

 

[Pontington-Smythe]

Definately plan B. The GTX 460 is perfect for nowadays. There isn't really much reason to have two other than to show off, get great Vantage scores, or simply for future proofing. The beautiful thing about the GTX 460 is that you have to option of adding another one in the future.

So basiclly your thread of thought is PC Specialist only sell top grade Cards in computers in SLI Mode to people that want to show off or should they only sell a lower spec card in SLI Mode so as not to keep up with the Jone's :-(