SLI or Single GPU

[IFeaRZz]

Should I get two graphics cards or a GTX-770 or GTX-780 depending on what I can afford at the time? 

[nishank93]

Single card is better. Lower power consumption, lower noise output, better compatibility.

I'd only go for SLI/CrossfireX if I'm already at the highest GPU tier and need more powerrrr!

[IFeaRZz]

Well I'm mainly going to be gaming in 1080p until I've got enough to get a 1440p monitor so I'm not sure which would be the better option. Graphics cards wise I want one or two which will last a few years.

[Joeytyndale]

If you're only using one or two HD monitors there's no need for two cards. But if you want to game on several monitors then you might look into getting two. It depends on what you're gonna do but for the most part a single card is better.

[Apollo]

As someone running two 660 Ti's in SLI, I suggest going for the single GPU. It's not worth noise, power consumption, heat, and occasional trouble with games, in my opinion. I find that a surprising number of games barely support SLI or don't support it at all anyways. I don't regret my 660 Ti's since they were the best option at the time and still run very well, but now that a card like the 780 is out, a single-card setup the best option in my opinion.

[IFeaRZz]

If you're only using one or two HD monitors there's no need for two cards. But if you want to game on several monitors then you might look into getting two. It depends on what you're gonna do but for the most part a single card is better.

I'll be getting more monitors as I get more money it's just the big bang of building the pc first which is expensive. 

 

As someone running two 660 Ti's in SLI, I suggest going for the single GPU. It's not worth noise, power consumption, heat, and occasional trouble with games, in my opinion. I find that a surprising number of games barely support SLI or don't support it at all anyways. I don't regret my 660 Ti's since they were the best option at the time and still run very well, but now that a card like the 780 is out, it's easily the best option in my opinion.

I was going to go with 2 760's or 770's depending on the price at the time. 

[SpamBrie]

Go single and you will have far less issues

[JoshM]

Go a single GTX 780 and if you either have the money to or need the second card purchase one later!

[bluepoodleguy]

With multiple GPU builds there is the possibility of micro stuttering. From Wikipedia:

 

"Micro stuttering is a term used in computing to describe a quality defect that manifests as irregular delays between frames rendered by the GPU(s), causing the instantaneous frame rate of the longest delay to be significantly lower than the frame rate reported by benchmarking applications, such as 3DMark, as they usually calculate the average frame rate over a longer time interval. In lower frame rates when this effect may be apparent the moving video appears to stutter, resulting in a degraded gameplay experience in the case of a video game, even though the frame rate seems high enough to provide a smooth experience. Single-GPU configurations do not suffer from this defect in most cases and can in some cases output a subjectively smoother video compared to a multi-GPU setup using the same video card model. Micro stuttering is inherent to multi-GPU configurations using alternate frame rendering (AFR), such as nVidia SLI and AMD CrossFireX but can also exist in certain cases in single-gpu systems."

 

  A single expensive card may be a better choice than setup with two cheaper cards.

[mr_pants66]

I have 2x7970 and it has been nothing but trouble, i am just waiting for something to come along and trump Titan so i can buy one of those and just be a single card person again.

[WildTurtle]

Should I get two graphics cards or a GTX-770 or GTX-780 depending on what I can afford at the time?you se

your budget seems to be a huge range. GTX 770 costs $399 and GTX 780 is $649 and your deciding between two lower cards?

Personally, if you can afford a 780, you get a 780. Fact of Life.

[Lays]

I love having 2 cards, I haven't had many issues yet so far, a few game crashes, but I think it may have just been new nvidia drivers, and not the SLI's fault. 

 

Also had an issue with 1/10th of the frames I was normally getting on League of legends, but it was a patch update that was the culprit.

 

But honestly the heat output roasts my room and it does get somewhat noisy while gaming.

 

 

1 card is a lot less heat to deal with, less noise, and its a lot easier to figure out whats wrong when there is an issue, because you have less to rule out.

 

I'd say get a 780, and maybe in a couple years upgrade or get another

[IFeaRZz]

your budget seems to be a huge range. GTX 770 costs $399 and GTX 780 is $649 and your deciding between two lower cards?

Personally, if you can afford a 780, you get a 780. Fact of Life.

I've ordered some stuff today I'm just waiting to see what I have next month for the graphics options. But I'm just thinking because I'm only using 1080p 

your budget seems to be a huge range. GTX 770 costs $399 and GTX 780 is $649 and your deciding between two lower cards?

Personally, if you can afford a 780, you get a 780. Fact of Life.

My budget overall is £1200-£1400 depending.

[TERAFLOP]

SLI drivers are a nightmare, get a single card.

[jjtoutt]

I very rarely have problems with my 2 770's  :D.

[totjup5]

I would go 780, even though the 770's would be more powerful. Since you are only on one monitor you won't need the extra horsepower, so SLI would just add more work and glitchyness. i personally run an sli setup but i can't recommend it in this case

[MetroP]

Go for single GPU.

[mgsstar]

I would get a single GPU since it causes less problems in games and you could expand on it if you really had to in the future.