Help me understand SLI/CrossFire, please.

[xboxist]

I'm trying to piece together a new gaming rig to last for the next 2-4 years, and I keep seeing "SLI/CrossFire" pop up when I'm researching for parts to buy.

I'm out of the loop. What is SLI/CrossFire? My current videocard is a 6800GT, and I've never heard of these new terms.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tsuwamono]

SLI or Crossfire allows you to pair two graphics cards up on the correct motherboard to support it in this mod. When you do this each card does half the work therefore giving you a higher FPS at higher resolutions

 

[Bobthelost]

SLI and crossfire are two different implementations two graphics cards in one computer working together. SLI is the nvidia approach, Crossfire the ATI.

Now go check the wikipedia articles on them.

 

[imported_shader]

also performancewise you using sli/crossfire your max fps in games will not go up signifigantly (or in some cases at all), but your min & average should go up greatly. increasing the max fps is not very noticable, but greatly increasing the minimum will be very visible

 

[tatteredpotato]

Make sure you buy a board with a chipset that supports either SLI or Crossfire, as they are not interchangeable.

 

[xboxist]

Thanks for the responses.

After reading your comments and checking out the Wiki on this, it seems that using a 2-card configuration would be more of a luxury than anything? I mean, another $300+ for a second card, and you won't necessarily see huge improvements.

I'll research more, but my gut tells me to just go with a single, powerful GPU.

 

[xboxist]

As a side thought: I'm definitely going for a Core Duo rig. Do any of those available MBs work with both Conroe and SLI/CrossFire?

 

[Howard]

I hope you mean Core 2 Duo. 😉

The ASUS P5W DH Deluxe supports Core 2 Duo and Crossfire.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: Howard
I hope you mean Core 2 Duo. 😉

The ASUS P5W DH Deluxe supports Core 2 Duo and Crossfire.

Heh, yes. Thank you.

 

[jlbenedict]

SLI was awesome back in the Voodoo 2 days. 3Dfx was the originator of the concept and technology.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

i got a question bout this as well, i got the x1900 CF edition, im just wondering if i get the x1900xtx, it'll work right, due to the fact that the crossfire edition card is clocked lower.