Your opinions, please, 3 - XFX GeForce 8600 GT XXX 256MB PCIe cards

[sirwriter]

I just bought a new mobo by Asus, M3N-HT Deluxe I'm intrigued by the thought of using three video cards. What do you all think of using 3 XFX GeForce 8600 GT XXX 256MB PCIe
cards?

The system will be using an AMD 5000 BE, 2 x 2048 Patriot 800 ram, a Cooler Master Extreme 500 watt psu, (worried about having enough power, might upgrade to an 800 watt), Currently using an Artic Freezer 64 Pro for the processor, although this new board has the MemPipe, (not sure which is the best way to go on cooling yet, I run the processor at 3.0 Ghz all the time and it stays cool). If the Phenoms ever get to where I want them to be I'll switch the 5000BE, if not, I may go to a 6400.

This system will be used for gaming mostly, but maybe some HT too. I'm using a WD 500 gig SATA hard drive and it's all in an Ultra Aluminus mid tower black case. So, what'cha think?

Sirwriter

 

[DOM]

im not sure but I think its only the high end cards you can tri sli

and theres not much performance gain with it also

 

[sirwriter]

Well, that's not encouraging! I thought 3 cards would be pretty good. So...would I be better off using two sli cards?

Sirwriter

 

[DOM]

So you just have one 8600GT right now ?

 

[sirwriter]

Actually I don't have one even; I was reviewing reviews and since I just bought this motherboard and am putting it together, I thought 3 of those cards might kick a**. You have a better idea?

Sirwriter

 

[Deleted member 3]

Well, that's not encouraging! I thought 3 cards would be pretty good. So...would I be better off using two sli cards?

Sirwriter

It's math

Say the performance of a 860 is 10, the performance of 3 is 30 (if it would scale perfectly)
The performance of a 8800 for example is 20, 2 of them equals 40.
This basically goes for any card, you're mostly better off with a single faster card. In practice it won't be 3x10, it'll be like 2x 10 or something, same with the faster cards, it might be 1.5x20. Either way, going for multiple slow cards isn't a smart move.

 

[sirwriter]

Well that makes sense. Hadn't looked at it that way. Thanks for your responses!

Sirwriter

 

[oli_ramsay]

I think you should just get a good 8800gt and overclock it.

 

[lyricalgamer]

you can use tri sli for only the top end cards from nvidia,not the mid range 1s.i suggest u get a 8800gts,has excellent performance for its value,and it'll suit your power supply fine as long as the +12v rail has 28 amps on it.