Does dual SLI or dual Crossfire increase performance for everything or just gaming?

[xMax]

If dual processors can only be taken advantage of when running two simultaneous programs written for a single processor or a single program written for dual processors, then can the same be said about dual SLI or dual Crossfire?

Another words, if im browsing the web, managing files and folders in windows explorer, or playing videos in windows media player, then will both video cards in a dual SLI or dual Crossfire configuration actually be used and therefore increase overall system performance, or is dual SLI and dual Crossfire only made to increase performance for games, and perhaps only specific games?

 

[RussianSensation]

I think that except for hardware acceleration in windows media player, H.264 and HD videos, having 1 billion videocards will not affect overall system performance (from the tasks you are describing). The key aspects that determine general system performance in every day use are CPU, hard drive and RAM. Of couse there are applications like CAD and Catia that make use of a more powerful graphics card, but I woudlnt call that every day use.

With Windows Vista and its aeroglass interface, all of that is about to change adding video card as another important aspect for speeding up user interfaces. Even then having more than 1 high end graphics cards for the OS alone is overkill.

 

[xMax]

From what your saying, if dual video card setups will increase performance for hardware acceleration in media players, H.264, and HD videos, which all really revolve around DirectX hardware acceleration, then that means that dual video card setups will improve performance on anything that uses DirectX, which essentially is every 3D game and not just specific ones that are written to take advantage of SLI or Crossfire.

Is this correct?

But i heard that Vista will require a DirectX9 just to run. If that is so, then that means that dual video cards will increase performance for everything in vista, including desktop performance.

Something doesn't make sense here.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: xMax
From what your saying, if dual video card setups will increase performance for hardware acceleration in media players, H.264, and HD videos, which all really revolve around DirectX hardware acceleration, then that means that dual video card setups will improve performance on anything that uses DirectX, which essentially is every 3D game and not just specific ones that are written to take advantage of SLI or Crossfire.

Is this correct?

But i heard that Vista will require a DirectX9 just to run. If that is so, then that means that dual video cards will increase performance for everything in vista, including desktop performance.

Something doesn't make sense here.

Vista will most likely be not that graphic intense, so a single card should have no problem being able to run it.

Also, I think that the hardware acceleration only uses 1 of the cards. I could be wrong though, and the might code drivers for dual video card hardware acceleration.

But it might be a while since all the major HD formats that are out today can be played even on a Athlon XP CPU without any hardware acceleration.

You'd probably see more of a performance boost in everyday applications with a dual core processor and 2gig's of ram then with any dual GPU setup. If your not an uber extream super gamer, there really isn't ANY need for a dual GPU setup, so my advice would be to just keep your 7900GTX and be happy with it.

 

[xMax]

I have no intention of getting SLI by any means what so ever. I just wanted to gain some understanding of wether SLI adds performance to all graphical processing or just hardware acceleration and even perhaps just games.

But clearly the two reponses i got from both of you are in somewhat of a contradiction.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: xMax
I have no intention of getting SLI by any means what so ever. I just wanted to gain some understanding of wether SLI adds performance to all graphical processing or just hardware acceleration and even perhaps just games.

But clearly the two reponses i got from both of you are in somewhat of a contradiction.

Ok, wasn't sure were you were going, but I just expressed my opinion.

And I think I agree with the other guy, not contradicted him, did I? lol

Just read his post and I agree 100% with it. CPU, RAM and Hard Drives affect speed way more than a graphics card would in general system performance.

You could probably throw a 6600GT in with a AMD X2 processor and it'll play any video just fine.

 

[xMax]

No problem. But so far, the idea seems to be that dual video cards does affect anything that uses DirectX hardware acceleration, which includes windows media player, when hardware acceleration is used.

I would have thought that it only adds performance to games. But since games rely on hardware acceleration, just like media players do, then russionsensation could be correct.