When NVIDIA first introduced SLI, we really weren't financially able to jump on the bandwagon, and later when we could have, we weren't interested, as most of our friends that did were fairly disappointed at the results they saw from having dual video cards. Though we mean, it was great, but it just didn't live up to their expectations. Earlier this year, we were in a position to try CrossFire with a pair of Radeon HD 3850's. Our first attempts was much less than satisfactory, due to the limitations of the Intel P35 chipset. It seems to us that CrossFire is too dependent on how well the game developers worked multiple video cards into the game and also very depending of the chipset in the end. - ThinkComputers

ASUS Extreme AH3850 X2 1GB Edition Board Review

So after some experience with multiple video cards, we still tend to agree with the comment that we've seen over and over, you are better off with one higher-end video card than a pair of smaller ones. Recently, ASUS was among the first companies to put a pair of Radeon HD 3850's on a single graphics card, for a more affordable dual-GPU experience. We checked a Radeon HD 3850 earlier this year, and we were very impressed with it. The performance is just shy of a GeForce 8800 GT at about $100 less. A pair on one card should be an awesome experience. But will it meet our dual Radeon HD 3850 expectations?

The Extreme AH3850 X2 comes in the current style of sleeved box that ASUS is putting their video cards in. There are a few features listed on the box, but not a lot. Open the box, and we see that the video card is in its own protective foam compartment, and is in a static-free bag. Before opening the box, we really hadn't thought about what the Extreme AH3850 X2 edition, would look like, really not yet taking into consideration that with two GPU's, there would be two fans, with a real potential of loudness. The fan shroud is black anodized aluminum, and very open, allowing ample flow of the exhaust air.

The Radeon HD 3850 isn't a particularly hot running GPU, but we are really not sure if this is enough cooling for two GPU's and a gigabyte of memory, as cooled by the same heatsink. Overall, the ASUS Extreme AH3850 X2 card would be an excellent upgrade from a single Radeon HD 3850, a GeForce 8800 GT, or any earlier midgrade video card. Looking at the numbers it outperforms the GeForce 8800 GT, and is just below the performance level of the GeForce 8800 GTS. Both are still around, though the GTS version is getting harder to find, and prices on both range from just under $200 to just over $300.

The factory overclocked GeForce 9800 GTX definitely outperformed the Radeon HD 3850 X2, and it is safe to assume that the stock GeForce 9800 GTX would too, but to a lesser extent. An ASUS Extreme N9800 GTX runs $340, exactly the same as the Extreme AH3850 X2. The Extreme N9800 GTX TOP edition isn't on the market in the US yet, but it likely will cost a little under $400. So, the question is, is this Extreme AH3850 X2 a value, considering you could get a GeForce 9 series card by the same brand for the exact same price that gives better performance? Or a GeForce 8 series card with equal performance for less?

We consider the ASUS Extreme AH3850 X2 version an gotta have one item. You either must have a dual-GPU video card, or not, and it really doesn't matter if you can get a slightly better performing card for the same price or less. You're not going to be happy unless you have a card with two GPU's.