opinion on dual graphic card laptops

I'm planning to buy a new gaming laptop and and I'm not sure if its worth getting dual graphic cards (7970m or 680m). I'm gonna play a wide variety of games from old to new ones. So I wanna know about:

Stability of the cards and drivers, do they have more problems than single cards in running games, especially the older ones?

If problems occur due to running the two cards, is it possible to switch off one card temporarily to make the laptop run as if it had one card only?

Is it worth investing in the 680m? Its price is really high, but I've also read that the 7970m crossfire drivers have a lot of issues.

 

over the last 5 years there has been hiccups with sli cards reported on here but as always forums only show the complaints about problems and im guessing this is only a very small %
if money is no object then go for it but to be honest these are the top of the range graphics cards so one is plenty for now.

 

alright thanks, I guess if a single card can max out recent games then there is no need for 2 cards.

 

Dual cards will bring the worry free of graphic. But then there are hiccups.
Like Flickier with ATI Cards
And SLI with AA.

But once you get those fixed all it works it self out.

 

I see a single powerful card as the perfect compromise, however, Ive never experieinced Dual.

 

well you can always buy dual and use one if needed haha.

 

do you want to have a powerful, love/hate relationship with your hardware? Get two graphics cards.

 

Its still kind of gimmicky to me. I mean, I love the idea of 2 video cards which is why a lot of people do it, it sounds cool like having a twin turbo car, but in this day and age if you have 1 top of the line card you are pretty much set, at half the price no less. Yes 2 cards is more 'futureproof' but by the time your new card needs replacing, you can replace again, at half the price.

 

i certainly wouldn't get 2 graphics cards with the idea that it will make you futureproof. only get them if there is some use for them immediately (ultra-high resolutions, multiple monitors are the general reasons)

The best way to future-proof yourself is to keep your money in your wallet.

 

I don't recommend it either, too many hiccups experienced. One powerful card is the way!
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I think that is bollocks. I haven't had a single issue just of "dual" graphics, usually you run into a problem with drivers themselves, but not because of SLI/Crossfire.