How "Future Proof" is 6600gt SLI

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Sorry, but SLI is usually a complete waste of money, especially with cards doubling performance or close to it every year.

The way i could ever recommend SLI is if you have to have the absolute best...

IOW, get a 6800GT or X800XL.

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

Get over yourself and your opinion. SLI is a waste unless you have to be a braggart that lives on forums and loves to brag to geeks. The rest of the real world can do without SLI or Crossfire.

It's nice you don't like me Todd and follow me around making snide little comments. You can bet I don't think about you this much.

As far as SLI being a waste goes, it's only a waste if you don't want to run modern games at 16X12 4x8X and up. If you can be happy with reduced IQ and stuttering, it would be a waste.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Rollo

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

I guess you work at it. :thumbsup:

Another quality post from Ronnn. Good job, I'm sure others care a lot about this sort of useful info.

:roll:

Going to follow it up with your opinion of 3dmark03 optomizations?

 

[fierydemise]

Rollo the point is that on the lowend cards (6600GT) SLI is a waste because for the same price (or cheaper) you can get a faster single card (6800GT/X800XL), for the highend SLI is great.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Sorry, but SLI is usually a complete waste of money, especially with cards doubling performance or close to it every year.

The way i could ever recommend SLI is if you have to have the absolute best...

IOW, get a 6800GT or X800XL.

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

Sorry Rollo, but there aren't a lot of people that agree with you & your SLI being a great value.

n7, the only people that agree with you are the people that can't afford it.

 

[Dkcode]

I would either keep you existing 6600gt and save the cash towards the X2 or try and sell the 6600gt like someone suggested and buy a 6800gt or x800xl. This will sort out your gaming needs perfect for the next 12 months or so.

 

[johnnqq]

where did you get an xl for 200?! tell me i want to buy it!

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Sorry, but SLI is usually a complete waste of money, especially with cards doubling performance or close to it every year.

The way i could ever recommend SLI is if you have to have the absolute best...

IOW, get a 6800GT or X800XL.

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

Sorry Rollo, but there aren't a lot of people that agree with you & your SLI being a great value.

n7, the only people that agree with you are the people that can't afford it.

Actually I can afford it but I haven't seen evidence of it being truly worth it. But then I generally don't care about the highest resolutions with aa and af cranked up

Regular gpu upgrade: $300
SLI gpu upgrade: $600

Performance isn't 100% over single in any benchmarks i've seen (except at said highest resolutions and aa/af eg 38 instead of 19fps in D3 @ 2048 w/4xaa - i was barely aware there was such a resolution ). I suppose it could be said that the way I do upgrades, at least gpu wise, is $300 should be roughly equal to a 100% performance boost in 16x12 at most (i played HL2 at 1280) with maybe basic aa turned on.

There is no one right way to upgrade lads

 

[nycdude]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
where did you get an xl for 200?! tell me i want to buy it!

I want to know also.

 

[dguy6789]

Running SLI is no different from running a single card really. You spend 100 bucks for a low end card, and maybe you can run at 1024 medium in games, you spend 200, you can do 1024 highest in most games, spend 400, and do 1600 highest in most games, now spend 800-1200 and run 2048 with Anti Aliasing.

People dislike the fact that SLI costs so much, but it does double the performance for double the $$$ unlike the processor market where you spend $500 for 200 more Mhz. Just because SLI costs alot of money, does not mean it doesn't deliver.

 

[VIAN]

"where did you get an xl for 200?! tell me i want to buy it! "

YEAH!

oh but it's not agp

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
People dislike the fact that SLI costs so much, *but it does double the performance for double the $$$

*at ridiculous resolutions

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Rollo

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

I guess you work at it. :thumbsup:

Another quality post from Ronnn. Good job, I'm sure others care a lot about this sort of useful info.

:roll:

Going to follow it up with your opinion of 3dmark03 optomizations?

Please as a diamond member enlighten me to my opinions on 3dmark03? Would be very useful to know. :beer:

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Sorry, but SLI is usually a complete waste of money, especially with cards doubling performance or close to it every year.

The way i could ever recommend SLI is if you have to have the absolute best...

IOW, get a 6800GT or X800XL.

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

Sorry Rollo, but there aren't a lot of people that agree with you & your SLI being a great value.

The only value in buying Sli is you have the fastest set-up possible at the moment. But you have to buy both cards at once, when they are first released, which means you are paying a premium. Waiting for prices to drop before you buy your second card is a crock. The single 7800GTX vs last gen card in Sli pretty much proved investing in (2) cards is a waste.

Computer enthusiast hardware only has value when it is first released and has it's proverbial "15 minutes of fame", after that its just another peice of silicon to be replaced by another revision.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Running SLI is no different from running a single card really. You spend 100 bucks for a low end card, and maybe you can run at 1024 medium in games, you spend 200, you can do 1024 highest in most games, spend 400, and do 1600 highest in most games, now spend 800-1200 and run 2048 with Anti Aliasing.

People dislike the fact that SLI costs so much, but it does double the performance for double the $$$ unlike the processor market where you spend $500 for 200 more Mhz. Just because SLI costs alot of money, does not mean it doesn't deliver.

SLI only makes sence for high end cards, if you want to play at insane resolutions. There's absolutely no reason to get SLI'd 6600gt, when you can have even better performance at high resolutions with a single 6800gt. Dual 6600gt might be as fast or faster than a 6800gt at modest resolutions, but once you crank it up to 16x12 + AA/AF, they almost always lag behind a single 6800gt, and you can forget about 2048, with or without AA, 128mb vram is not gonna cut it at that resolution. So instead of one good card, you have 2 midrange cards, still only half the memory, and not all games even support SLI, AND it's slower at high resolutions. Plus the fact that in a best case scenario SLI gives you about an 80% improvement, not double, even though you pay 2x the money. Doesn't sound like much of a deal to me.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: dguy6789
People dislike the fact that SLI costs so much, *but it does double the performance for double the $$$

*at ridiculous resolutions

Higher resolution benefits image quality greatly. There is nothing "ridiculous" about wanting to run at 16X12>.

 

[yekim]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Rollo

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

I guess you work at it. :thumbsup:

Another quality post from Ronnn. Good job, I'm sure others care a lot about this sort of useful info.

:roll:

Going to follow it up with your opinion of 3dmark03 optomizations?

So this waste of Anandtech's storage space is how Diamond members get their 'status?'



When you SLI two cards, you ~ get equal performance to the next one up.

SLI is a good upgrade path IFF $2xSLI << $1xNextUpgrade.

Example 1:

$(2 x 6600GT) << $(1x 6800GT)

Example 2:

$(2 x 6800GT) << $(1x 7800GTX)

Right now, 2 x $300 6800GT == 1x $600 7800GTX. So there is no point. Now, if you could get a 6800GT for $200, then $400 << $600.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Running SLI is no different from running a single card really. You spend 100 bucks for a low end card, and maybe you can run at 1024 medium in games, you spend 200, you can do 1024 highest in most games, spend 400, and do 1600 highest in most games, now spend 800-1200 and run 2048 with Anti Aliasing.

People dislike the fact that SLI costs so much, but it does double the performance for double the $$$ unlike the processor market where you spend $500 for 200 more Mhz. Just because SLI costs alot of money, does not mean it doesn't deliver.

SLI only makes sence for high end cards, if you want to play at insane resolutions. There's absolutely no reason to get SLI'd 6600gt, when you can have even better performance at high resolutions with a single 6800gt. Dual 6600gt might be as fast or faster than a 6800gt at modest resolutions, but once you crank it up to 16x12 + AA/AF, they almost always lag behind a single 6800gt, and you can forget about 2048, with or without AA, 128mb vram is not gonna cut it at that resolution.

Sorry Munky, I'm goign to have to disprove what you've said.

HL2
6600GT SLI beats single 6800GT at all 16X12 benches, including the two 16X12 4X16X.

Doom3
Uhoh- 6600GT SLI faster than a 6800GT at D3DM4 16X12 4X16X too!

Halo
Nooooo! 6600GT SLI way faster at Halo 16X12 4X8X.

HL2, Far Cry, and IL2 at 20X15!
Waaassssssupppp Munky?!?!? 6800GT beat by 6600GT SLI, at a resolution you said it couldn't even run!

Last but not least:
People who'actually USED a 6600GT SLI (like me) say different

Almost across the board, the 6600 GT SLI delivered a better quality gaming experience than did a Radeon X800Pro or a GeForce 6800 GT. There is more bang for the buck value in a GeForce 6600 GT SLI configuration than anything comparable.

The point? 6600GT SLI gets a bad reputation from people who've never used it and largely don't know what they're talking about. USUALLY the settings where a single 6800GT beats a 6600GT SLI are ones neither can run, the rest of the time if you run the 6600GT at 2X AA instead of 4X, it will be faster. (on SLI supported games)

That is the TRUTH about 6600GT SLI. I have a 6600GT SLI set, as well as a 6800GT set, and can/have back up anything I say with benches.

Before you feverishly put together benches that contradict me with other games/settings, I realize this can be done. The point is that it's not a case of "6600GT SLI suxorz at all high res gaming".

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: yekim

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Rollo

How can a diamond member here be so wrong????????

I guess you work at it. :thumbsup:

Another quality post from Ronnn. Good job, I'm sure others care a lot about this sort of useful info.

:roll:

Going to follow it up with your opinion of 3dmark03 optomizations?

So this waste of Anandtech's storage space is how Diamond members get their 'status?'



When you SLI two cards, you ~ get equal performance to the next one up.

SLI is a good upgrade path IFF $2xSLI << $1xNextUpgrade.

Example 1:

$(2 x 6600GT) << $(1x 6800GT)

Example 2:

$(2 x 6800GT) << $(1x 7800GTX)

Right now, 2 x $300 6800GT == 1x $600 7800GTX. So there is no point. Now, if you could get a 6800GT for $200, then $400 << $600.

You speak like this because you've never used any of the cards in question and are unfamiliar with their performance. I happen to have all of these cards, and can tell you that you are wrong.

There is no "Black and White" this deal is better than that deal. It depends on the game, setting, and your pocket book. I currently own a 6600GT SLI set, 6800GT SLI set, 7800GTX SLI set, and a 6800NU. I'd be happy to test any single/double card scenario you think justifies your position, or link to what justifies mine?

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: ender11122
You are missing the point. I just need something that will work for stuff. I have a 6600gt right now, and it runs BF2 at reasonable settings. In the future, if I am making due with just one 6600, will another help if I maintain the same settings I have now. I want to avoid having to swap out to new cards all the time.

You'd be better off buying R520 or G70 midrange card for $200 or so in 6 months when you plan on getting another 6600GT. I'd probably sell 6600Gt now for say $100 and get X800XL for $250 PCIe. That's only $150 more.

 

[yekim]

Originally posted by: Rollo
I'd be happy to test any single/double card scenario you think justifies your position, or link to what justifies mine?

Tom's V

First and foremost, this guy has a 6600gt now, and isn't crying about 13 fps in BF2. I feel safe in my assumption that he isn't running a 21" CRT @ 1600x1200 4xAA 8xAF. Maybe I am wrong.

In most cases with 4xAA & 8xAF, I am right to within +/- 7%.
1024x768 Doom3: 6800GT > 6600GT-SLI by 1%
1024x768 HL2: 6800GT > 6600GT-SLI by 2%
1024x768 FarCry: 6600GT-SLI > 6800GT by 7%
1600x1200 FarCry: 6800GT > 6600GT-SLI by 3%

But I'll give you that at higher resolutions, this does not always hold water.

1600x1200 Doom3: 6800GT >> 6600GT-SLI by 15%
1600x1200 HL2: 6800GT >> 6600GT-SLI by 20%

 

[yekim]

Aghh... moral of my 'story' is they are close enough in performance, if you can get a hot deal on 2 cards to SLI, its probably worth it in most cases. Or you can just buy 1 of everything like Rollo ;-)

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Sorry but anything below 50 or minimum of 45 frames is not smooth enough for gameplay.

HL2
6600GT SLI beats single 6800GT at all 16X12 benches, including the two 16X12 4X16X.

In d1_canals_12, both cards are equally as fast at all resolutions. And no thanks to your 1600x1200 4AA/16AF at 0.1 frames faster with 6600SLI, still measly 34.8
In d3_c17_02, the only playable resolution of 1280x1024 4AA/16AF, 6800GT wins at 55.2 vs. 52.2 frames (still same exact playability)

Doom3
Uhoh- 6600GT SLI faster than a 6800GT at D3DM4 16X12 4X16X too!

Uhoh - 6800GT is faster at every setting in Hellhole
The only other playable setting for d3dm4 is 1280x1024 where 6800GT gets 58.4 frames vs. 50.1 for 6600SLI

Halo
Nooooo! 6600GT SLI way faster at Halo 16X12 4X8X.

Xbit labs - "Because of using specific rendering methods, the game doesn?t support full-screen anti-aliasing." Which means firingsquad benches mean squat. Xbit gets 54.1 frames with 6800GT no AA/AF and 52.8 with 6600SLI at 1600x1200 yet firing gets 65.1 frames at 4AA/16AF? I dont think so.

HL2, Far Cry, and IL2 at 20X15!
Waaassssssupppp Munky?!?!? 6800GT beat by 6600GT SLI, at a resolution you said it couldn't even run!

IL2 - "IL-2 Sturmovik would be an excellent demonstration of the benefits of SLI technology, but to our regret it is in this game that we encountered troubles with the quality of the picture. The water surface suffers the most, so you?d hardly like to play that, even though you can get an almost twofold performance gain by enabling the multi-GPU mode."

Besides the performance at 20x15 is so slow, you'd hardly wanna play any of the games you mentioned with 6800Gt ot 6600SLI
Last but not least:

There is more bang for the buck value in a GeForce 6600 GT SLI configuration than anything comparable.

Probably the stupidest statement someone ever said in the video forum. When 6800Gt came out at $399 and you bought it the same day, you enjoyed that fast performance 6 months before 6600GT was available at $199 msrp + 2 more months of $200+ sli boards + bugs that took forever to get worked out. Now 6800Gt AGP is $300 and still less than 2 6600GT boards, not to mention adding $30-40 for an sli board. On PCIe front, x800xl is by far a better value at $250 than 2 6600GT boards + a more expensive board and psu.

In summary: SLI is not supported by all games, needs a more powerful (costly) psu, implies a higher motherboard cost, more bugs associated with sli (such as image quality) and you can start to see how 6600GT SLI can never be better than x800xl or 6800GT as a whole (especially since ati cards are faster than nvidia cards in BF2 - the game he plans to upgrade for).

Again SLI only makes sense for high end cards and at the very time they come out.
For those on a budget, it is also better to buy 3 $200 cards during 3 year period than 1 $600 card over the same period of 3 years. That is why SLI simply does not make sense unless you buy high end and have money to replace it with SLI once again.

Finally, chances that he'll find the same BIOS version of his 6600GT card are slim.

 

[rise]

i was actually a little surprised reading thru dfi.streets oc database on the results sli'd 6600gts can pull. i know its only 3dmarks but there were some very nice scores.

if you have a 6600gt and can get one another at a decent price, you need to figure out if its worth it to you. i may make sense to wait a bit, you may say you need the performance boost now.

all the "bios must match" is all crap as a simple bios flash will take care of that. and a 6600gt pci-e doesn't even take an extra power connector to my knowledge. any good 24 pin native psu with a strong 12v should handle it.

 

[yekim]

Originally posted by: ender11122
Well I just bought a new x800xl for $200 so I will try that and sell it if I dont think it is worth it. I have a bad case of buying spontaneously this last week.

I find it ironic that we're discussing this topic vehemently and the OP already went out and bough an x800xl for his SLI*moddable motherboard. LMAO

 

[imported_Rampage]

Two 6600GTs in SLI is better than a single 6800GT.

Why no one knows, or fails to recognize this I dont know. But Kyle at HardOCP would disagree with anyone here who doesnt think so... so I guess I can take your opinions or HardOCPs..

easy choice.


I'd suggest the OP keep his 6600GT, and get a 2nd one when he feels he needs it. Its a great plan, think about it, if a 6800GT does not beat dual 6600GTs.. do you REALLY think hes going to do pop in a 2nd 6800GT down the road later?

No. Prob not. He can barely afford a 2nd 6600.

So I say since he has a 6600GT now, keep it and add another one on later.
Theres nothing wrong with having faster than 6800GT performance.
If hes not likely to pop in a 2nd 6800GT someday, might as well work with what hes got. He'll have a faster rig with dual 6600GTs than a 6800GT.


Pretty dumb to sell the 6600 and get a 6800.. thats the point to SLI, you can beat a single 6800GT and do it cheaper without all the hassle of selling your old card, buying a new one ect.


There is nothing wrong with dual 6800GTs, you have as good as upgrade path after that than these guys who hate SLI, and you are beating their single 6800GTs all day too.