How prevalent are multi-GPU configurations?

[bystander36]

I want Ultra settings as you put it.

How married are you to Ultra on all games? There are games that even 780ti SLI cannot do Ultra with near 60 FPS. That tiny bit of extra fidelity often costs $500-$1000 extra in price. A single 780ti will give you Ultra in most games, with a rare few that will need to be dropped down, as there are some games which are coded poorly, or just have a few super settings which really don't give you much visual improvements (think Metro 2033 and advanced DOF, or The Witcher 2 and Ubersampling).

If you are someone who isn't happy without the best possible settings and high FPS, then go 780ti SLI. Or just 780 SLI, though even that isn't perfect, and some of those settings will still need to be turned off. You may still run into games which do not support SLI as well as the draw backs of multi GPU's.

 

[Jumpem]

How married are you to Ultra on all games? There are games that even 780ti SLI cannot do Ultra with near 60 FPS. That tiny bit of extra fidelity often costs $500-$1000 extra in price. A single 780ti will give you Ultra in most games, with a rare few that will need to be dropped down, as there are some games which are coded poorly, or just have a few super settings which really don't give you much visual improvements (think Metro 2033 and advanced DOF, or The Witcher 2 and Ubersampling).

If you are someone who isn't happy without the best possible settings and high FPS, then go 780ti SLI. Or just 780 SLI, though even that isn't perfect, and some of those settings will still need to be turned off. You may still run into games which do not support SLI as well as the draw backs of multi GPU's.

I would probably choose lower frame rates for higher detail settings.

 

[rgallant]

multi gpu sucks. There will be times when there won't be support for it on the games you play.

imo
true and what do you end up with ?

playing a game at lower levels with a high end card that can't be played any better than any one else with one high end card.

when a demanding game comes out most will run sli , then you can explore the game using two high end cards , that non sli users will never see\play with those higher settings

 

[Deders]

I had great experience with SLI back when I had 9800GTX+'s, I'd consider multigpu again if I felt that i needed the performance and my PSU could handle it, but right now upgrading the PSU and getting a 2nd card would probably cost about as much as a good single card.

 

[poohbear]

Im running 670s gtx SLI for over a year & love it. I never buy games when theyre first released, so SLI support from the get go isnt that important for me, although Nvidia does an awesome job of having SLI profiles for new games from the begginning.

 

[Sohaltang]

multi gpu sucks. There will be times when there won't be support for it on the games you play.

Depends on what multi gpu you have. 2x780ti or 2x290x and CF does not work you fall back to a a single "fastest card you can buy". That not really a fail.

 

[Atreidin]

Depends on what multi gpu you have. 2x780ti or 2x290x and CF does not work you fall back to a a single "fastest card you can buy". That not really a fail.

I guess that depends on perspective. If one or more very expensive GPUs are doing nothing while playing my favorite game, then it sure feels like a big waste of money.

 

[Jumpem]

Depends on what multi gpu you have. 2x780ti or 2x290x and CF does not work you fall back to a a single "fastest card you can buy". That not really a fail.

It is a huge fail as you have an extra $600 video card and $50 worth of PSU not being utilized.

 

[psolord]

I guess that depends on perspective. If one or more very expensive GPUs are doing nothing while playing my favorite game, then it sure feels like a big waste of money.

I feel the same as well, although all my systems are dual gpu and they will continue to be. Why? Because out of all the AAA games I have played lately, only Wolfenstein was a dick about dual gpu. That's acceptable in my book.

 

[NTMBK]

Single HD7770. High end or what.

 

[Leyawiin]

I've never had an SLI/Xfire setup. I play MMOs and RPGs, so an over-the-top system was never needed. Right now I have a GTX 750 Ti just to save on electricity. Can't max some of my games (at 1920x1200), but I come close.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I want Ultra settings as you put it.

At 4K? Then you'll need to spend more and use SLI or Crossfire. You might also wait for the GTX 980 to see if it's the new speed champion.

For myself, I don't care about moving every settings slider to the right so I'm still happy with my single GTX 680 and playing at 16x10 - 19x2 resolution. It's not worth spending $3,000+ (including monitor) , setting up a new system, and dealing with SLI/XFire glitches just to male Skyrim look a little nicer.

 

[Jumpem]

At 4K? Then you'll need to spend more and use SLI or Crossfire. You might also wait for the GTX 980 to see if it's the new speed champion.

For myself, I don't care about moving every settings slider to the right so I'm still happy with my single GTX 680 and playing at 16x10 - 19x2 resolution. It's not worth spending $3,000+ (including monitor) , setting up a new system, and dealing with SLI/XFire glitches just to male Skyrim look a little nicer.

I think GPU makers need to get to that point in the not too distant future. For now, I am thinking about a 2560x1440 G-Sync monitor with the highest settings.

According to Anand's G-Sync review 30 to 60 FPS should be perfectly playable.

 

[Sohaltang]

It is a huge fail as you have an extra $600 video card and $50 worth of PSU not being utilized.

Not true unless your playing a old game where your don't need even one 290x/780ti to start with or one of the very rare new games that don't have support yet.

Also you can get 290's used for sub 300, even new 780ti's go on sale under 500$. As far an CF/SLI need an a larger PSU, I have ran high OC'd 780ti classified SLI for almost a year on a 75$ 750M. Yesterday swapped them out for a 850$ open box 295x2. Even throwing 130% power at 1200+ MHz I'm not havong any power issues. Check the valley bench thread to see my scores sitting very near the top.

 

[Johnmcl7]

I have a pair of 6950's which I went for at the time as I wanted to be able to game at 1440p at high settings, I'm looking at replacing them now but planning on a single card for now mainly due to cost and noise.

John

 

[3DVagabond]

It is a huge fail as you have an extra $600 video card and $50 worth of PSU not being utilized.

Typically the fail is on the game. Go back to the people who make your favorite game and complain they aren't offering multi GPU support.

 

[master_shake_]

i've run multi gpus since the 8800 series.

 

[guskline]

I have a 3770k with 2 EVGA GTX670 FTWs in SLI and love it. I'll soon have 2 R9 290s, watercooled in my rig below.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

currently running a single 7950 but have been considering a second. I see them on ebay for around $100.-. A pair in crossfire might have enough juice for a 1440 screen. Really want to give 1440 gaming a try but on the cheap. A qnix or monoprice screen for $300ish would fit the bill.

 

[Ramses]

I think as much as anything, for ATI anyway, that was the intended beauty of crossfire.
Being able to add a second, even if it's not identical, card later on when your single is starting to struggle a year or three after it was shiny and new. I suspect the raw performance of two newer cards and such was just icing on the cake from a financial pov.

I've had pretty good luck with it, but I didn't get into xfire till recently either. I hear the nvidia version is more stable.

 

[Mand]

If you ask me a couple weeks from now, it's likely my answer will change...

 

[Sohaltang]

currently running a single 7950 but have been considering a second. I see them on ebay for around $100.-. A pair in crossfire might have enough juice for a 1440 screen. Really want to give 1440 gaming a try but on the cheap. A qnix or monoprice screen for $300ish would fit the bill.

Go for it!. Check out the scores on the valley thread. 7950CF beat out any single GPU including Titan and 780ti. When I had a pair they ran great.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...bjQ2UWZQUDZ0dVE&single=true&gid=0&output=html

 

[Jacky60]

I've run multi GPU since Voodoo 2 SLI although had a few years off until crossfire and SLI came back. Used 4890xfire, 5870 with 5970 trifire, 6990 crossfire, 290 crossfire and tri-fire and 295x2 crossfire. A pair of 290s used would destroy a 780ti for the came price or less and you could get a freesynch monitor when they arrive. For ultra settings you will without doubt need two cards for any game worth turning the detail up. I mean at least 4xMSAA and all in-game settings maxed. There were issues with the 4890 and 5870 before crossfire profiles were delivered (I had to trick drivers into thinking they were playing something else) but since then things have immeasurably improved. I haven't had any problem and the beauty of multi GPU is games look great when they are released not two years later when single GPU performance catches up. It was the same when Voodoo2 12mb came out and it's the same today although the road has been a bit rocky to get here. EVGA PSUs are superflower designed, really high spec and well reviewed and guaranteed for 10 years. I just bought my second a 1600W G2 and although it was £226 it is here for a decade and hopefully will last until it's time for me to go gaming in the sky! Also ATI drivers have a check box to enable crossfire for games that have no associated crossfire profile now so games not being supported is in theory a thing of the past although I'm not 100% sure this will always work.