POLL: SLI upgrade path

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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I'm interested in how SLI users upgrade their video cards, if you really use the SLI upgrade path or not.
 

monster64

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Jan 18, 2005
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I am going to. Got a 6800 GT for $300 about 4 months ago. Going to get one off ebay for <$200. Because of nvidias new drivers, I don't need another XFX 6800 GT, I can get anyone I want. Thats <$500, for on avg the same performance as a 7800 GTX. (6800 GTs OCed over Ultra speeds)
 
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: monster64
I am going to. Got a 6800 GT for $300 about 4 months ago. Going to get one off ebay for <$200. Because of nvidias new drivers, I don't need another XFX 6800 GT, I can get anyone I want. Thats <$500, for on avg the same performance as a 7800 GTX. (6800 GTs OCed over Ultra speeds)


yeah nvidia removing the matchin vendor thing has made SLI that little less hassle. now you can jus pick up any old 6800GT and whack it in
 

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
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I dont see the point when getting SLI financially.

Example: You bought a 6800GT when it was new (lets say $400) and decided to wait for awhile and let the prices go down. Now you have been waiting for about a year, year and a half and the 6800GT are getting cheaper ($300 now) and you want to have more power for next gen games. This is where the financial thing comes in, a single 7800GTX is usually faster than the 2 6800GTs OCed, so why whould you spend $300 more for SLI? I dont see the point, you spent $700 for something that wont perform as well as a $480 7800GTX, when you could sell your old 6800GT for $200 (maybe, I dont know price of used cards). In essence, you get a 7800GTX for $280 and still perform better than 2 6800GTs.

Please dont flame about how you want the most fps and the only way to get that is SLI or trying to make your e-penis bigger, I want to point out the financial point of view of SLI.
 

deadseasquirrel

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: Soccerman06
a single 7800GTX is usually faster than the 2 6800GTs OCed

Not according to Anand's benches at 16x12 4xAA, 8xAF:

BF2
6800U SLI....... 53.3
7800GTX......... 53.4

Doom3
6800U SLI....... 75.4
7800GTX......... 54.2

EQ2
6800U SLI....... 24.8
7800GTX......... 21.5

HL2
6800U SLI....... 118.4
7800GTX......... 119

SC:CT
6800U SLI....... 53.7
7800GTX......... 56.5

But, either way, unless you got a great deal on a used GT/U, might as well upgrade to the GTX.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
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Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

I under stand that theory, but think of it this way. Lets say I bought a 6800Gt for 375 a couple of months ago (way prior to the GTX) I would have two choice to day I could buy another 6800GT for $250 or sell My 6800GT for lets say $200. At this Point to get 7800GTX speeds I would need to spend roughly the same amount either sell the GT for 200 and spend roughly 250 for a GTX or spend $250 for a GT and SLI it. For me I would rather spend the 250 enhancing my $375 purchase, then going through the trouble of selling my card at a almost a %50 loss and then purchasing a new 400 something new card.

This is How plan on going through with my GTX, once it hits 300 or less I am going to pick up another. But in the end neither method is wrong, just different points ov view.
 

sisq0kidd

Lifer
Apr 27, 2004
17,043
1
81
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
I dont see the point when getting SLI financially.

Example: You bought a 6800GT when it was new (lets say $400) and decided to wait for awhile and let the prices go down. Now you have been waiting for about a year, year and a half and the 6800GT are getting cheaper ($300 now) and you want to have more power for next gen games. This is where the financial thing comes in, a single 7800GTX is usually faster than the 2 6800GTs OCed, so why whould you spend $300 more for SLI? I dont see the point, you spent $700 for something that wont perform as well as a $480 7800GTX, when you could sell your old 6800GT for $200 (maybe, I dont know price of used cards). In essence, you get a 7800GTX for $280 and still perform better than 2 6800GTs.

Please dont flame about how you want the most fps and the only way to get that is SLI or trying to make your e-penis bigger, I want to point out the financial point of view of SLI.

"You got a link to any of this? Your blowin smoke until you give us some proof because no one can go on your "word"."
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: munky
I'm interested in how SLI users upgrade their video cards, if you really use the SLI upgrade path or not.

You forgot MY path:

I moved 6800GT SLI to one box, put 7800GTX SLI in another to insure continued SLI goodness. ;)
 

Bona Fide

Banned
Jun 21, 2005
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If you have a single 6800GT/Ultra, I would say sell it and buy a single 7800GT(X) card. The GTX outperforms SLI'd Ultras and the GT outperforms SLI'd 6800GT's.
 

Sentry2

Senior member
Mar 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
I'm interested in how SLI users upgrade their video cards, if you really use the SLI upgrade path or not.

You forgot MY path:

I moved 6800GT SLI to one box, put 7800GTX SLI in another to insure continued SLI goodness. ;)


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

monster64

Banned
Jan 18, 2005
466
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Why do so many people think it outperfroms 2 ultras. Its either <1 fps off, or the GTX looses by a significant amount like in doom 3.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:


Stop crapping on my thread tRollo. Do you see me say anywhere SLI sux a$$, Ati p3wnz Nvidia? I said I didnt think it was a cost effective solution, and I'm entitled to my opinion. Also I didnt mention anything about Ati, so just because I dont go around praising SLI as the best thing since sliced bread doesnt make me a fanAtic, so dont put words in my mouth.
 

KevinH

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2000
3,110
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Originally posted by: munky
Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:


Stop crapping on my thread tRollo. Do you see me say anywhere SLI sux a$$, Ati p3wnz Nvidia? I said I didnt think it was a cost effective solution, and I'm entitled to my opinion. Also I didnt mention anything about Ati, so just because I dont go around praising SLI as the best thing since sliced bread doesnt make me a fanAtic, so dont put words in my mouth.


You're kind of missing hte point. The guy who was using the 6800GT had month's of using that card while the guy saving up for hte 7800GTX held out with whatever card he was previously using. You can make an apples to apples conclusion on the merits of SLI versus single solution without considering that fact.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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Originally posted by: KevinH
Originally posted by: munky
Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:


Stop crapping on my thread tRollo. Do you see me say anywhere SLI sux a$$, Ati p3wnz Nvidia? I said I didnt think it was a cost effective solution, and I'm entitled to my opinion. Also I didnt mention anything about Ati, so just because I dont go around praising SLI as the best thing since sliced bread doesnt make me a fanAtic, so dont put words in my mouth.


You're kind of missing hte point. The guy who was using the 6800GT had month's of using that card while the guy saving up for hte 7800GTX held out with whatever card he was previously using. You can make an apples to apples conclusion on the merits of SLI versus single solution without considering that fact.

If you like the SLI upgrade, you're entitled to your opinion also. In fact, this isnt about crossfire vs sli, it's about 2 old cards vs 1 new card. But when I mentioned getting a new 7800gtx, I also had in mind selling the 6800gt to make some of your money back. Obviously if you didnt sell your old card, then it'll cost less to go the SLI route.
 

MBrown

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
5,726
35
91
Personally I think SLI and Crossfire for that matter are a waste of money.
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
0
71
I have an A8N-SLI and a single GeForce 6800. All I can see myself doing in the future is buying a 7800GT or X1800XL card.
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: munky
Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:


Stop crapping on my thread tRollo. Do you see me say anywhere SLI sux a$$, Ati p3wnz Nvidia? I said I didnt think it was a cost effective solution, and I'm entitled to my opinion. Also I didnt mention anything about Ati, so just because I dont go around praising SLI as the best thing since sliced bread doesnt make me a fanAtic, so dont put words in my mouth.

Meh. You make a poll to put down people with SLI, you'll hear from me in it?

Did you have 6800X SLI Munky? No, so whatever you had was slow in comparison.

Do you have 7800 SLI Munky? No, so whatever you have is slow in comparison.

You can point fingers and hiss "Not cost effective" all you like, but people with 6800GT SLIs had a real enthusiast rig when you didn't, and now people with 7800 SLIs own you.

Take your poll back to the treetops- you should add a third option for yourself- "I wish I had SLI but instead I made a "fox and the grapes" poll.
 

Creig

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,170
13
81
Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
Originally posted by: Rollo
Originally posted by: munky
We can also find a number of benches where the single 7800gtx beats dual 6800's. I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

Ah Munky, you're just a rabble rouser trying to flame SLI. Get over it. Anyone with 6800GT SLI is STILL better off than anyone with any ATI crap.

People like you are really annoying: "Wah. It's not the to the penny most economical way to get the performance. Wah."

Lighten up for christ sakes. It's a freaking hobby, not some damn budgeting equation where you have to eke out every last frame per penny. :roll:


Stop crapping on my thread tRollo. Do you see me say anywhere SLI sux a$$, Ati p3wnz Nvidia? I said I didnt think it was a cost effective solution, and I'm entitled to my opinion. Also I didnt mention anything about Ati, so just because I dont go around praising SLI as the best thing since sliced bread doesnt make me a fanAtic, so dont put words in my mouth.

Meh. You make a poll to put down people with SLI, you'll hear from me in it?

Did you have 6800X SLI Munky? No, so whatever you had was slow in comparison.

Do you have 7800 SLI Munky? No, so whatever you have is slow in comparison.

You can point fingers and hiss "Not cost effective" all you like, but people with 6800GT SLIs had a real enthusiast rig when you didn't, and now people with 7800 SLIs own you.

Take your poll back to the treetops- you should add a third option for yourself- "I wish I had SLI but instead I made a "fox and the grapes" poll.


Nice textbook threadcrap there, Rollo.

Bravo.
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: Creig
Nice textbook threadcrap there, Rollo.
Bravo.

Hey thanks Creig. I guess as a guy who's invested in four SLI rigs I get a little tired of these "SLI is a bad deal" threads.

Or should I say these:

Originally posted by: munky
I also think it's better to have 1 new card instead of 2 old ones, especially for the same money and performance, and possibly newer features. But, apparently some ppl would rather use the SLI upgrade, and I'm curious what percentage of SLI board owners actually use the SLI upgrade option.

threads that are misleading at best.

What guys like Munky don't bother pointing out is that a lot of the situations where the SLI rig is going to excel and really justify it's consideration is the places a person would reallly like some extra gpu power:

Like upcoming games such as FEAR
Last we saw, FEAR was stressing all single cards a LOT. 12X9 4X8X at 40fps on a 7800GTX, 49fps on the 6800U SLI. 9 extra fps can come in handy when your average is that close to 30fps.


Current games like Riddick
70fps on a 6800U SLI will be a little smoother than 46fps at 16X12 4X16X on a 7800GTX, don't you think?


Doom3 Hellhole
59fps on the 6800U SLI vs 46fps on the 7800GTX? What do you think this will mean for Quake 4 and the other D3 engine titles?

Far Cry Pier level
71fps on the 6800U SLI vs 58fps on the 7800GTX at 16X12 4X16X?

UE3 engine games will be interesting as well- the 7800GTX has better shaders, but the 6800SLI will be achieving close to 100% scaling over single card according to Tim Sweeney.

So Creig and Munky- what it comes down to is I don't care if Munkys opinion is that a single 7800GTX is a better choice than upgrading a single 6800GT to 6800GT SLI. If you just state nonsense like
same money and performance
you might mislead people to sharing your own flawed opinions. That annoys me.

You could make a case for the 7800GTX being a better deal as well, it's a great card. However there are situations in which both are clearly the better choice, and to paint a picture as one being the only choice does a disservice to the community.

You guys should stick to writing about things you have some experience with instead of going out of your way to malign SLI. ;)


BTW- I realize these are all 6800U SLI benches, but:
a. 6800GT SLI is pretty close
b. 6800GTs can be OCd 10% to U levels pretty easily
c. I didn't want to run a bunch of benches this morning, have to go shoot clays.


 

Ackmed

Diamond Member
Oct 1, 2003
8,498
560
126
Originally posted by: deadseasquirrel
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
a single 7800GTX is usually faster than the 2 6800GTs OCed

Not according to Anand's benches at 16x12 4xAA, 8xAF:

BF2
6800U SLI....... 53.3
7800GTX......... 53.4

Doom3
6800U SLI....... 75.4
7800GTX......... 54.2

EQ2
6800U SLI....... 24.8
7800GTX......... 21.5

HL2
6800U SLI....... 118.4
7800GTX......... 119

SC:CT
6800U SLI....... 53.7
7800GTX......... 56.5

But, either way, unless you got a great deal on a used GT/U, might as well upgrade to the GTX.


Actually, those numbers do prove that is usually. The GTX *win* (not really a win, so close) 3 out of 5, thasts most.

I wouldnt buy another GT/Ultra, unless you got a really good deal on the second one. Which seems to be the way most people think.

You can get a GTX for what, $460 or so? To me thats much better money spent, than buying another card. You can sell a GT or Ultra for well more than half of that. The single card is cooler, quieter, uses less space (4 slots compared to 1 for Ultra's), uses less power, is less hassle, and has new features. Not to mention that SLI doesnt speed up HDR in games out more than a frame or two. So if thats important to you, its not a wise move, since a GTX will be faster. Most games other than Doom3 are pretty even.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_7800_gtx/page13.asp

Those numbers speak for themselves to me. They line right up with Anands. Being that they are very close, except for Doom3. And then in Farcry with HDR.. the GTX is much faster than the 2x6800U's.
 

TStep

Platinum Member
Feb 16, 2003
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Actually I'm pretty interested in seeing what the ultimate upgrade choice will be for those who chose SLI.