Best Graphics? Single or SLI? Nvidia or ATI?

Hello I am building a machine and want your opinion on what would give me the most power for around $260. I had found this to be the best I could find:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4842982&CatId=3669

Anything better? Or possibly is it better to SLI two weaker cards together?

Need opinions! Thanks!

 

This belongs in the desktop section, but the 280 is supposed to be a fairly nice card. ATI is generally cheaper, though. SLI and Crossfire perform about the same, and 2 cards are always better than one. If you want to save money, however, 2x Nvidia 8800 GTX's run extremely nice in SLI and can still compete with the top dog gpus, and are much cheaper.

 

Wow sorry I have been using NBR for so long and this is my first desktop so that was my oversight!

 

Like ACU said, this belongs over at DTR, but as for GPUs, since the GTX 280 has reached EOL, I would go for either the GTX 275, the HD 4890, or the GTX 285 for the top end.

As for SLIing 8800 GTXs, if you can find them, I would rather go with a single better card than dual weaker cards. Multiple cards can improve performance ( though, im not sure how dual 8800s go against the GTX 285 ), but for now, the technology seems to be kind of a hit or miss. I personally do not like it, as while some games can give you as much as an 80% increase if FPS for the second card, other games can give you as low as 0%, that is to say, there is no increase. IMHO SLI is only viable if the card you already have is at the top, for example, if you had a GTX 285, and you felt your frames werent good enough, then I would advocate adding another, but other than that, a single gpu is generally more cost efficient that dual.

 

id go with dual 9800m gtx's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339
check this out
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26571182

 

I was looking at this now after hearing the 280 was EOL:

How would one of these be vs. the dual 9800s Reaper05 showed?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4635293&CatId=3669

 

If this is for a desktop, Id suggest dual 1GB 4850s, or even 4870s if you can get them within budget; and your mobo supports them properly (2 full PCI-E 16x/8x slots)

If its got to be one card; then best bet would be 4890 or a GTX275, I wouldn't bother spending much more as new cards are arriving relatively soon, and these will play anything well until then; and give you a bit of money to put towards one of the new range.
4890 and GTX275 are neck and neck dependant on games; both can clock like demons if you get lucky.

I wouldnt go dual 9800GTX anymore; they're not bad cards but if you have to fall back to a single card due to poor support; they're the weakest card going out of the ones suggested.

Single card performance:

9800GTX < 4850 512/9800GTX+ < 4850 1GB < 4870 512/GTX260 < 4870 1GB/GTX260 216 core < 4890/GTX275 < GTX 285 < 4890 Atomic or comparably clocked 4890 (1Ghz core) < 4870X2 < GTX295

 

lets say on e of the 9800gtx's dies there is still a functioning card. but if a gtx 280 or 275 dies you are out 250 bucks and no working computer.
just my 2 cents

 

That's what warranties are for; the majority of cards these days, bar bad batches tend to be strong enough to last past warranties anyway unless overclocking. Going from an SLI setup to a single 9800 would be a bit depressing too, every single other enthusiast/performance part out there offers more for your money haha

Oh, @OP... GTX250 is a 9800GTX+ rebranded...don't fall for that thinking it's better...its really not; its just another Nvidia marketing trick.

 

Many Desktop manufacturers have lifetime warranties, even with overclocking.

I have an EVGa 8800 GTS 640mb which has already been replaced once for me about a year ago. I am hoping it goes out within the next year and they give me a free upgrade to a latest generation card .

I am kind of wondering exactly what "lifetime" means, because obviously EVGa doesn't plan on supplying me with graphics cards for the rest of my life.... or do they

 

Personally I would buy a single card and get the most powerful one you can afford. In this case I would either pick up a gtx 275 or a hd 4890. You will get great performance up to 1920x1200 and then 6 months to a year down the road drop another identical card in for much cheaper if your card starts to show its age.