Best SLI rendering mode?

[samusaraniv]

I just downloaded and applied the Coolbits 2.0 registry patch from guru3d.com. Before doing this, in the Performance & Quality section of the Nvidia ForceWare control applet, there were only I think 3 types of SLI rendering modes: Single-GPU, Multi-GPU, and Auto-select (I think).

Now I have Auto-Select, Alternate Frame Rendering, Split-Frame Rendering, Alternate Frame Rendering 2, Single-GPU, and SLI Antialiasing. Can someone give me a rundown of what each effectively accomplishes? Which one is the best?

I've noticed that when I switch from Auto-select to Alternate Frame Rendering (this is what I am assuming Multi-GPU Rendering was w/ standard Coolbits), my RTHDRIBL framerates drop DRASTICALLY. Auto-select or AFR2 gets them back up to par. I turned on the Display Load Balancing option and when I set the SLI rendering mode to Auto-Select, the load balancing bar looks like Auto-Select actually = Split-Frame Rendering. Also, in either Auto-Select/SFR, the bar tends to stay towards the bottom of the screen -- is this right? Does this mean one card is working harder than another, and if so, does this mean that one card is "better" than the other?

Any insight would be appreciated!

BTW, I'm using two eVGA 7800GT SEs in SLI.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Just leave it on Auto Select unless you are playing an older game and wish to use the 16x SLI AA.

The Auto Select determines whether AFR or SFR will be better for the current game you are playing.

As for the balance slide, i would say that it is suceptible to bugs and what not. It isn't going to be in the middle because of the rendering types that are typically used (A Pixel where shading and FP Blending, and Gamme Correction has to be applied, will be much harder to render than a solid or static pixel).

-Kevin

 

[TheRyuu]

Just use Auto-Select. It'll choose the rendering mode that it needs for the game your playing.

If it doesn't have a profile (i think) it will automatically use SFR if it's set to auto select.

 

[samusaraniv]

Thanks, do0ds.