I run bf3 with everything on ultra etc etc except msaa off. When msaa is on I get in the 40s sometimes. I would love to get another 580 because I am a technology junkie like most people here, and the thought of seeing 2 580s next to each other on my mobo kind of makes me drool , but its really hard for me to justify dropping another 500 for 4Xmsaa. If BF3 is the future of graphics, and a 580 handles it with flying colors, shouldn't it be able to handle games at highest settings for a looooong time? Lets face it, most PC games are console ports anyways and are a joke to run on a 580 (cept the metro people) and even companys like dice who take the time to maximize the eye candy as much as possible, the 580 still cuts through it like butter. I guess the most logical way of thinking is that most companies wont update the graphics to really test a 580 until the new consoles are released, but even then I feel like a 580 will still be better then the next version of 360/ps3. Keep in mind I am only talking about the 580 @1920x1080p and I have no plans on getting a higher res monitor or using 2 for gaming.

I have 1 but I lust for another

Overkill is in the eye of the beholder IMHO.  I run 2 580s myself, and they do great.  If you are playing CS 1.6, then yeah, thats just "because I can" however that should get your settings up to where you want them in BF3.  I think it will give you the performance you want, but I can't tell you if it is worth the money for you.  I can say it was for me, and no regrets here.

I think were all just limited by money...lol otherwise overkill or not, we would all run the max number of gpus just because we can.

Little Sister 

one thing to note is that you may want the 3gb version, since alot of games seem to be pushing the vram max past 1.5gb now. I would say get as many 580 3gb

 
I have the 1.5 gb version. You do make a valid point about the vram issue. So if I get another, and lets pretend that a game need 2 gb of vram for ultra settings, will 2 580s cover that ammount of vram? Like will one cover 1gb of it and the other handle the other gb of it?

peeler05

Little Sister 

one thing to note is that you may want the 3gb version, since alot of games seem to be pushing the vram max past 1.5gb now. I would say get as many 580 3gb

I have the 1.5 gb version. You do make a valid point about the vram issue. So if I get another, and lets pretend that a game need 2 gb of vram for ultra settings, will 2 580s cover that ammount of vram? Like will one cover 1gb of it and the other handle the other gb of it?

a 1.5gb gpu will only ever be 1.5gb no matter that fact you have 2 gpus at 1.5gb or not. im sure you will be fine with 1.5gb 580's, but many of us have seen issues with vram limitations lightly with them. SLI does not scale the vram, so you would not have 3gb of vram in sli.

sengutso

Little Sister

1 580 will handle most all games. 2 580s would be prefered to own any game in sli. one thing to note is that you may want the 3gb version, since alot of games seem to be pushing the vram max past 1.5gb now. I would say get as many 580 3gb gpus you can and have fun junkie.

teaser...lol  :)  and there all 3gb gpus

I say go for it, they look so damn pretty :)

not as pretty as u are Lil sis ;)

off topic, but TY

Little Sister

peeler05

Little Sister 

one thing to note is that you may want the 3gb version, since alot of games seem to be pushing the vram max past 1.5gb now. I would say get as many 580 3gb

I have the 1.5 gb version. You do make a valid point about the vram issue. So if I get another, and lets pretend that a game need 2 gb of vram for ultra settings, will 2 580s cover that ammount of vram? Like will one cover 1gb of it and the other handle the other gb of it?

a 1.5gb gpu will only ever be 1.5gb no matter that fact you have 2 gpus at 1.5gb or not. im sure you will be fine with 1.5gb 580's, but many of us have seen issues with vram limitations lightly with them. SLI does not scale the vram, so you would not have 3gb of vram in sli.

 
nVidia will optimize the drivers to work with the game regardless the amount of vram.  That is why many are not having a issue with two 550's in SLI @ 1080p on BF3.  I am running two 580's 1.5gb versions nVidia drivers never made use of the vram above 1.5 @ 2560X1600 which is close to double 1080p.  It was steady between 1.3 and 1.4 vram usage.  Ran butter smooth on highest game settings (not nVidia Control panel settings).  Many with 550's, 560's 570's in SLI's are not having any issues. 
 
That said, SLI is the sweet spot for smoothness.
 
Go with 3gb version only is you are going to have 3 monitors in nVidia Surround or doing 3D gaming.  That is where the 3gb is really needed as nVidia will optimize the drivers for the game in question.

go for an another 1.5g,  3gb is overkill for 1200p or 1080p
 
bf3 run at max ultra and 4*msaa as the 3gb version , exact gameplay, graphics ... no benefits from the 3gb just more e penis :)
and 1.5gb is a little faster compared to 3gb at 1080p

Zibri

Little Sister

kalyyy

go for an another 1.5g,  3gb is overkill for 1200p or 1080p

bf3 run at max ultra and 4*msaa as the 3gb version , exact gameplay, graphics ... no benefits from the 3gb just more **DELETED** :)
and 1.5gb is a little faster compared to 3gb at 1080p

not e penis...lol (which dont apply to me, hmmmm wont what mine would be :P)
if you run 3 monitors then its a must.

Ironically you have one of the biggest **DELETED** here :)

nothing is overkill, in 2-3 years it will barely be enough to play games at medium

And folks... Keep it clean. Some of you need to read the TOS again

kalyyy

yes but  it's not the case for 1080p or 1200p.

Sorry man. You are not correct in this comment. I have tried to help. Everyone can have a difference of opinions. Facts on the others hand are facts...
 
 

ok i said i will take a screenshot of BF3 (ultra + 4*MSAA) with a 1.5gb version and a 3gb version we will see if there are some graphics differences. But when a 1.5gb max his vram (around 1500mo not 1536mo) on BF3 and a 3gb hit 1600-1700mo at the same place i will take a screen and ask the bf3 dev Rep on twitter ;) It's just a memory leak, no real benefits from the 3gb and the settings will not be reduced (we will see on the screens..)