6600GT SLI Benefits?

[frx218]

So I am going to be purchasing a new graphics card and SLI has been an option I have been thinking about. I know that two 6600 GTs will not run as fast as say an 6800 Ultra, but is there any reason to get two of them around $400 instead of say a x800XL or 6800 Ultra? Will running two of them have an advantage over running one card not just in performance but usefulness?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

i cant see how 2 cards, ending up slower than a 6800U is useful, they take up more space and make more heat to achieve nearly the same result

6600GT's in SLI arent really all that to be honest.....6800GT's in SLI is another matter though. seriously i wouldnt waste my time with a 6600GT set up. 256Mb cards or not, they still only total 16pipes, they still only have 128bit memory bus plus the over heads from SLI system

id buy a 6800GT instead of 2 6600GT's ...yes even the 6800GT will be better than 2 6600GTs most of the time

 

[frx218]

Hmmm yah I didn?t think there would be any real usefulness to them

Thanks

 

[imported_Kensai]

They're good if you don't have access to anything better..
I myself ran a 6600GT SLI before getting my little hands on 6800s which I unlocked, flashed and overclocked.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Kensai
They're good if you don't have access to anything better..
I myself ran a 6600GT SLI before getting my little hands on 6800s which I unlocked, flashed and overclocked.

see the 6600GT's only got used as a stop gap till Kensai got his grubby mits on some 6800 series cards

 

[frx218]

Makes sense so there is no other benefit to running dual video cards? Do you think in time there will be more games and apps that take advantage of it, some what like dual core processors?

 

[hans030390]

SLI=faster...very very buggy

just save the money and get a 256mb 6800GT and OC it to an ultra (do not get an ATI card...don't make me start using the number 3 in my posts).

 

[frx218]

lol makes sense

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Well, for 6800GT performance with PCI-E, 6600GT SLI is the cheapest option. 6800GT PCI-E cards are still $370. You can pick up two 6600GT PCI-E cards for $160 or less each and you're also getting a working video processor. Sure it's only $50, but it's still $50 and the 6600GTs will be worth more, proportionately, than the 6800GT will at resale. Why do I think this? The 6600GT is such a good bang for the buck value that it has made everything from ATI below the X800XL totally non-factors.

Additionally, I don't think we've seen everything from SLI yet. Sure the combined specs of two cards are equal to a 6800GT, but you have to remember that you have TWO GPUs working and each is handling half the load it typically would. In theory, 6600GT could outperform a 6800GT...in practice it might and it might not, but, in the meantime, you've got 6800GT performance and saved yourself $50.

 

[frx218]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Additionally, I don't think we've seen everything from SLI yet. Sure the combined specs of two cards are equal to a 6800GT, but you have to remember that you have TWO GPUs working and each is handling half the load it typically would. In theory, 6600GT could outperform a 6800GT...in practice it might and it might not, but, in the meantime, you've got 6800GT performance and saved yourself $50.

This is what interests me it seems to make more sense that two is better then one.
Though I have read they can be buggy and don?t work with all games in time I would think games and applications would be able to utilize two GPUs

 

[frx218]

*Bump*

no ones going to see this topic anyway

 

[Munky]

Bottom line: 1 6800gt will almost always be faster than 2 6600gts, even more so if the game doesnt support sli. Also, you get 256mb of memory, which you wont have with the 6600gt unless BOTH cards have 256mb (the memory doesnt add up in sli)