8800GT - to SLI or not to SLI?

[0ptimus]

I have the Gainward 'BLISS' 'Golden sample' 512 8800GT. Running a Q6600 2.4, Abit IP35E motherboard, 3GB corsair RAM, XP-pro 32. Hope that's enough info for now... I have a coolermaster cosmos mk1 case incase you're interested

Currently considering buying another 8800GT as mine is struggling, but this is my first gaming rig I've built myself and I don't really know what I'm doing with regards to SLI (like whether I need to find another 'golden' sample to match). I managed to fry some RAM putting the thing together setting voltages, my system is finally stable after getting infected with malware and doing a reinstall, the last thing I want to do is break it again! Not even sure whether I'll get a decent performance boost having done nothing like this before...

I'd like to start gaming at my native res (1680x1050) perhaps even with a little AF/AA, not currently doable with newer games. Ideally would like Crysis to run smooth - is that even possible yet? I had originally thought SLIing two of these cards would be a good way to upgrade without splashing out on a brand new model, now I hear talk of using an old one as a physix GPU, selling the 8800GT to buy a new 260 etc.

Some advice would be appreciated.

Thanks y'all!

[Helios1234]

Your motherboard won't support sli so you might as well get the gtx 260. I'm not sure if you'll be able to use the second card as a physx card on a non sli motherboard though.

I say sell the 8800gt and get a gtx260 216.

[cptwhite_uk]

Crysis doesn't respond well to SLI. So if that's your primary focus I'd look at upgrading the graphics card.

Having said that, anything below a GTX280 for £230 at OCUK I don't think is really worth the upgrade. Crysis is just a really demanding game and even a HD4870 will only net you about an extra 5-10 fps.

Personally, I'd stick with it for the next 6 months and upgrade when the new generation of cards is released.

[Helios1234]

Shame that card is out of stock already on ocuk.

[0ptimus]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I'll wait a while, to be honest the 8800 is still performing well, just not quite as well as I'd like at my native res. Should be interesting to see what happens with the new releases this year in terms of physix support etc, I may even consider getting vista for dx10...

I'm having some issues with stability at the moment , so am going to take my time and get my system working in its current state before I start buying new stuff for it!