To run a computer game, their is a standard API, Application Programming Interface, set of rules to make 3D applications and games run properly. An ATI 3870, 4870, 5870, AMD 6970, Nvidia 295, 480 and 580 are high end video cards, so older high end cards are just as good as new high end cards, new cards just have newer extra features, Direct X 11 etc.. What is the weakest link in any Cross Fire or SLI (3Dfx = SLI ?!?! ) system? Answer; minimum FPS (frame rate), frames per second, no matter how many gpus, video cards you string together in 3D complex situations minimum fps is the same (one gpu vs two or more), (reason it is the same gpu/gpus), only in simple/ medium 3D situations of game does fps increase using multiple gpus or cards. Yes AA etc. does reduce fps, if you want quality 3D your fps goes down, if you want performance fps goes up, high end cards. It is very complex to get jaggies straight ( lines ) at certain screen angles, the way monitors are designed. High End cards are designed for quality images, jaggies are hard to clean up. jaggies are seen like stairs to a building and the hand rails do not look straight, jagged (lightning bolt). A Great Bench Mark is Just Cause 2, Concrete Jungle, duration time, quicker better, a high end video card can run this bench mark in around 93 to 94 seconds, look on you tube, you will see high end video cards old/new running test @ 93 to 94 seconds. Another great bench mark is Mafia 2 ( demo ) bench mark, it shows minimum fps, on you tube you can see that the same gpu cards, same multiple cards all have the same minimum fps. Also note that a frame rate of 24 fps or higher is great, your eyes can not see a difference between 24 fps and 2000 fps. It is more important in bench mark to run through it in the least amount of time, without stuttering or crashing, than have more fps. My Sapphire 6970 can run Just Cause 2 Bench mark at low settings (performance) in 93.60 seconds @ 44.85 fps , and High settings (quality) 94.12 seconds @ 23.74 fps. When I play games high end cards, I run everything for Quality I get lower fps, but as long as the game doesn't stutter or crash, I will run it, great picture quality. In first person shooters multiple gpus, faster speed in seconds, performance will help in shooting your opponent faster if they have slower card. My Sapphire 5670 (budget card) for example maxed card, optimal, default,medium to low settings game, Just Cause 2 Concrete Jungle Bench Mark does it in 109.78 seconds @ 19.65 fps, as you can see it takes time to get through bench mark. Bench markers know how to test high end video cards, they then post the highest fps, because the public thinks/ wants the gpu card with highest fps, but really duration time of benchmark, quickest at 24 fps plus is more important, set all for quality.