[PCPer] No more 3way or 4way SLI profiles for games

[therealnickdanger]

http://www.pcper.com/news/Graphics-Cards/GeForce-GTX-1080-and-1070-3-Way-and-4-Way-SLI-will-not-be-enabled-games

Interesting.

 

[Silverforce11]

Didn't they say they will add a special code to enable 3/4 Way?

You mean it was all a lie?

 

[jpiniero]

IOW if you want 3+way you will need GP102.

 

[Elixer]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Before going to press with this story I asked NVIDIA for comment directly: when was the community finally going to get the Enthusiast Key website to unlock 3-Way and 4-Way SLI for those people crazy enough to have purchased that many GTX 1080s? The answer was quite surprising: NVIDIA is backing away from the idea of an "Enthusiast Key" and will no longer require it for enabling 3-Way and 4-Way SLI.

Here is the official NVIDIA statement given to PC Perspective on the subject:

With the GeForce 10-series we’re investing heavily in 2-way SLI with our new High Bandwidth bridge (which doubles the SLI bandwidth for faster, smoother gaming at ultra-high resolutions and refresh rates) and NVIDIA Game Ready Driver SLI profiles. To ensure the best possible gaming experience on our GeForce 10-series GPUs, we’re focusing our efforts on 2-way SLI only and will continue to include 2-way SLI profiles in our Game Ready Drivers.

DX12 and NVIDIA VR Works SLI technology also allows developers to directly implement and control multi-GPU support within their games. If a developer chooses to use these technologies then their game will not need SLI profiles. Some developers may also decide to support more than 2 GPUs in their games. We continue to work with all developers creating games and VR applications that take advantage of 2 or more GPUs to make sure they’ll work great on GeForce 10-series GPUs.

For our overclocking community, our Game Ready Drivers will also include SLI profiles for 3- and 4-way configurations for specific OC applications only, including Fire Strike, Unigine and Catzilla.

The way of SLI over a bridge is basically dead, but, DX12 can still used as many GPUs as you have (and if the game & drivers allow), so, overall, this isn't anything new.

 

[Silverforce11]

They are basically saying: only 2 will be supported in game ready drivers.

3/4 supported for Fire Strike, Unigine and Catzilla only. No games.

If DX12 games want to support it, they can do it. Yeah right, as if devs will bother with it.

Somewhere out there, a PC enthusiast shed a tear.

 

[Grooveriding]

Not surprised. I think even 2 way multi gpu is pretty much dead for DX12 going forward. As it's been explained the work is on devs to make it functional. It will be a niche that doesn't work most of the time like we already see now in the DX12 games that have been released.

Multi-gpu sucks most of the time in my experience. If you swap back to single gpu, you notice how much better single is after then turning SLI back on.

 

[poohbear]

I'm sure the 0.01% of PC gamers that use 3-4 way SLI will be devastated.

 

[Silverforce11]

Not surprised. I think even 2 way multi gpu is pretty much dead for DX12 going forward. As it's been explained the work is on devs to make it functional. It will be a niche that doesn't work most of the time like we already see now in the DX12 games that have been released.

Multi-gpu sucks most of the time in my experience. If you swap back to single gpu, you notice how much better single is after then turning SLI back on.

Yup. DX12 multi-GPU is on devs and you know PC ports are quick & dirty usually.

They won't bother unless AMD or NV sponsors the PC port and add multi-GPU.

It's almost this way already for DX11 anyway. AMD/NV has to work with devs to get CF/SLI compatibility.

 

[monstercameron]

I find it interesting that pcper isnt outraged, yet I remember a few years ago how concerned they were for multigpu frame-pacing. I though they would be more impassioned, I guess Nv can do no wrong for them.

 

[therealnickdanger]

Yeah, they even put a positive spin on it. LOL

 

[Elixer]

Oh no, they also use 368.19...but...but... how can that be, no review sites used those! (according to some on these forums)

 

[tential]

Amd is heavily into multiple gpu usage. I doubt they'll drop crossfire

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Amd is heavily into multiple gpu usage. I doubt they'll drop crossfire

I have a feeling that the next console generation after ps4k/neo and the next Xbox will be dual GPUs.

 

[guskline]

Not surprised. I think even 2 way multi gpu is pretty much dead for DX12 going forward. As it's been explained the work is on devs to make it functional. It will be a niche that doesn't work most of the time like we already see now in the DX12 games that have been released.

Multi-gpu sucks most of the time in my experience. If you swap back to single gpu, you notice how much better single is after then turning SLI back on.

I'm shooting for a single EVGA GTX 1080 SC to replace my 2R9-290s in CF.

 

[sirmo]

That's it. I am going for 3-way rx480

 

[Silverforce11]

That's it. I am going for 3-way rx480

Considering how well CF works in most games these days (not very!), it's a waste of $.

Big single GPU + beefy OC is where it's at if you're looking for apex performance.

I was thinking of doing 2x RX 480 for 4K here, but seeing Mirror's Edge release without CF support, a major AAA title on a proven engine like Frostbite, made me have a change of mind.

 

[OatisCampbell]

I find it interesting that pcper isnt outraged, yet I remember a few years ago how concerned they were for multigpu frame-pacing. I though they would be more impassioned, I guess Nv can do no wrong for them.

We should all thank sites like PCPer that started hammering on frame pacing.

I had 7970 CF and it was a mess. I bet now it's 100X better due to articles like theirs.

Same with SLi- the light websites shined on the frame pacing held them accountable in various games as well.

I don't care if they are a bunch of Druids worshipping a pine tree if the stuff they do improves pc gaming.

 

[swilli89]

I'm shooting for a single EVGA GTX 1080 SC to replace my 2R9-290s in CF.

You got insane value out of your 290s while the contemporary Kepler cards turned to mush. Why turn away from AMD now?

 

[digitaldurandal]

You got insane value out of your 290s while the contemporary Kepler cards turned to mush. Why turn away from AMD now?

Because he probably wants to get away from CF and there is no reasonable upgrade path from AMD available even after all this time.

 

[guskline]

You got insane value out of your 290s while the contemporary Kepler cards turned to mush. Why turn away from AMD now?

I want to go to a single High end gpu and PLEASE don't tell me to wait for Vega. That is getting as old as waiting for ZEN.

I'm very happy with the EVGA GTX 980 TI SC and the GTX 1080 is a step up from that.

AMD is MIA.

 

[Elixer]

Considering how well CF works in most games these days (not very!), it's a waste of $.

Big single GPU + beefy OC is where it's at if you're looking for apex performance.

I was thinking of doing 2x RX 480 for 4K here, but seeing Mirror's Edge release without CF support, a major AAA title on a proven engine like Frostbite, made me have a change of mind.

The real test here is how well will multiple GPUs work with DX12 games.
You won't need special profiles for CF/SLI, since it is already baked in so to speak.

 

[moonbogg]

The worst thing about this whole scenario is that my beautiful loop won't have anything to challenge it next time I upgrade. Meh. Pff. Oh well. Looks like I just knocked off about $800 off my next GPU upgrade since I'll be buying one and not two. I'll call that a win and call it a day.

 

[tential]

Considering how well CF works in most games these days (not very!), it's a waste of $.

Big single GPU + beefy OC is where it's at if you're looking for apex performance.

I was thinking of doing 2x RX 480 for 4K here, but seeing Mirror's Edge release without CF support, a major AAA title on a proven engine like Frostbite, made me have a change of mind.

AMD has been very quick to add CF support to many titles. Why not wait for drivers.... I don't expect CF to be there at launch, but I expect it to be there for MOST titles which to me is more than worth it for SLI/CF. This whole downplaying of SLI/CF to me is ridiculous.

If you want the Apex of performance you want multiple of the highest end GPU. That's OBVIOUS.

 

[sirmo]

You got insane value out of your 290s while the contemporary Kepler cards turned to mush. Why turn away from AMD now?

I am one of those "lucky" gtx780 owners, heh. I am waiting for Vega, but I will also get an rx480 in the meantime. Which I will relegate to my lan box once Vega is out.

 

[fastamdman]

Just curious, do you really think the 480 will beat the 1070? Gut feeling tells me it won't, and if it does it won't be at a 200msrp anymore. I really hope it beats the 1070 at 200 though. I really want amd to take the market back with low income pricing. If they could get a card out that beats nvidias 1080s or there higher 1080ti's etc later on down the line that would be even better. I've just been let down so many times from amd. Nothing to my knowledge on the ultra high end has beaten nvidia since like the 9800pro days, thats the last card I remember running from amd lol.