SLI - Crossfire poll

[almach1]

We're mostly enthusiasts here on this board, so you figure SLI would be popular. Well from what i read not as popular as i thought. Most people say, later they are going to buy a second card, but they just upgrade to newer single card instead.

*nobody probalbly has crossfire yet

 

[CP5670]

Add an option for planning to buy two cards at the same time. I will probably buy two 7800 GTs in a month if the 512 GTX hasn't significantly fallen in price.

 

[Munky]

Although I do technically have the SLI capability in my mobo, I dont plan on using 2 cards from 1 generation.

 

[Steelski]

there should be another option for people that would just consider it even if they dont have the one card at the moment.

 

[Genx87]

Next time I build in 9-12 months I will be purchasing two cards at once.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally I was planning on it, but now I think I will go for a single next gen card, unless I can snag a second card for super cheap at some time.
Mainly changed plans because I won't be getting a second card/new card for a while, whereas I was planning on going SLI sooner, but other things came up.

 

[TSS]

plan on crossfiring 2 R580's, or 7800gtx 512's in SLI, depends which is better when its come around to buy em. my main reasons would be the PC needs to last atleast 3 years, and im sure i have the money for the cards now while im not sure i will have enough to upgrade to 2 cards later.

 

[nitromullet]

I have an SLI rig now, but I'll have to see how the cards are next gen. As much as I do like SLI, I prefer the simplicity (and cost) of a single card. Since, you don't get a 100% increase in performance, there is a diminishing return on your investment. Too bad they don't charge you less for the second card.

There is another thread on this forum that is talking about some pretty interesting speculation surrounding ATI's R580 core, which may debut as early as Jan. If even 75% of that info is true, the new ATI card might just be the route to single-card gaming utopia (for a while).

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Since, you don't get a 100% increase in performance, there is a diminishing return on your investment.

I have to disagree with you their Nitromullet.

We have to take as a baseline that someone buying SLI probably has a A64 3200+ or better? Observe:
Quake 4 on a $1011 FX57

55fps at 16X4 4X8X.

Quake4 on a $152 3200+

52fps at 16X4 4X8X.

So, $859 of extra processor investment buys you 3fps.

Now let's look at what another $450 GTX will bet you:

Quake on SLI

Another 31fps over a single card.

Sogoing from a low end $150 processor to the highest end $1000 processor gains you a 5% increase, while going from one $450 GTX to a $900 GTX set gets you a 56% gain.

I think the value of SLI is pretty apparent when considered from that perspective.

No hunting or fishing this weekend for me, I'll try to finish my 6800GTs vs 7800GTXs review for more insight into this.

What would have been REALLY nice is if FS would have put the 3200+ SLI numbers in there, I'm guessing they would have been close.

 

[imported_Ratman]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Since, you don't get a 100% increase in performance, there is a diminishing return on your investment.

I have to disagree with you their Nitromullet.

We have to take as a baseline that someone buying SLI probably has a A64 3200+ or better? Observe:
Quake 4 on a $1011 FX57

55fps at 16X4 4X8X.

Quake4 on a $152 3200+

52fps at 16X4 4X8X.

So, $859 of extra processor investment buys you 3fps.

Now let's look at what another $450 GTX will bet you:

Quake on SLI

Another 31fps over a single card.

Sogoing from a low end $150 processor to the highest end $1000 processor gains you a 5% increase, while going from one $450 GTX to a $900 GTX set gets you a 56% gain.

I think the value of SLI is pretty apparent when considered from that perspective.

No hunting or fishing this weekend for me, I'll try to finish my 6800GTs vs 7800GTXs review for more insight into this.

What would have been REALLY nice is if FS would have put the 3200+ SLI numbers in there, I'm guessing they would have been close.

Problem is that most ppl dont use there PC entirely for running games they like to throw in lots of everyday usage I think a balance between Processer and Video cards have to be found.

But i can see where your coming from pretty impressive gains.

 

[niggles]

I bought the old Voodoo 2 the 12 meg version. It was a neat idea to be able to daisy chain the cards to give you the power of 2 cards at once, but to be honest I don't know anyone that actually did it. To me it was pointless. I didn't and still find it pointless to buy multiple cards when I know that I'll have to unload not one but two cards when I want to upgrade. I'd rather wait for a solution that offers the same performance on a single card. Sure I might have to wait a while, but it makes more sense for what I do with my old cards.

 

[DeathReborn]

I just went from a single 7800GT to a SLI setup. I won't be going back to a single card for at least 18 months. I'd consider Crossfire if it was worth the money compared to SLI, it'd involve a new Motherboard anyway.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: niggles
I didn't and still find it pointless to buy multiple cards when I know that I'll have to unload not one but two cards when I want to upgrade. I'd rather wait for a solution that offers the same performance on a single card. Sure I might have to wait a while, but it makes more sense for what I do with my old cards.

I've never understood this "argument". We have a thing called "EBay"- there isn't ONE guy on the planet looking to pay $200 for a last gen card, there are THOUSANDS. The only "problem" is having to pay two ship costs and two EBay fees, and if you don't think a 56% increase in framerate is worth that, we agree to disagree.

 

[nts]

Originally posted by: Rollo
...stuff...

Unfortunately you can't guarantee a uniform speed increase across the board with SLI. It is still highly dependant on the game and NVIDIA driver profiles.

Sure it'll give you a boost in some games but other games receive virtually no speed increase from SLI...

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nts

Originally posted by: Rollo
...stuff...

Unfortunately you can't guarantee a uniform speed increase across the board with SLI. It is still highly dependant on the game and NVIDIA driver profiles.

Sure it'll give you a boost in some games but other games receive virtually no speed increase from SLI...

Of course I'm forgetting to mention those games are CPU-limited, rather than GPU limited, and that every single one of those would benefit from SLI-AA. Worse yet, I didn't mention the games that benefit A LOT from SLI are the ones that need it most- like FEAR, COD2, and Quake 4, and that none of these games are very playable at 16X12 4X8X with a single card.

Fixed, you can thank me later nts!

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nts

Originally posted by: Rollo
...stuff...

Unfortunately you can't guarantee a uniform speed increase across the board with SLI. It is still highly dependant on the game and NVIDIA driver profiles.

Sure it'll give you a boost in some games but other games receive virtually no speed increase from SLI...

LOL- you guys that don't have SLI and say it's "unnecessary" crack me up. It seems like every big game that has come out lately gets a HUGE benefit from SLI (Q4, FEAR, COD2) and you're still all "fox and the grapes" about it.

Why don't you post some links to a single card showing it running these games at 16X12 4X8X at a decent framerate nts? (because you can't)

Guys like you hate nVidia so much you'd rather go back to the settings of yesteryear than get SLI and play at modern settings.

It's sad when people cut off their nose to spite their face.

 

[nts]

Originally posted by: Rollo
Fixed, you can thank me later nts!

That addition wasn't needed, my statement still stands YYMV with SLI. You aren't guaranteed a speed increase or AA increase (various other reasons too besides just CPU limited). Yes some titles see one, others dont, some see a very small one...

Again YYMV,

 

[nts]

Originally posted by: Rollo
Guys like you hate nVidia so much you'd rather go back to the settings of yesteryear than get SLI and play at modern settings.

It's sad when people cut off their nose to spite their face.

Do I like NVIDIA, no not very much.

But it isn't just SLI I dont like, its the whole concept of a dual card setup (Crossfire too). I'm not saying its wrong for you to like it and buy it, I simply wont because I don't think its worth it.

And yes I dont game that much, that doesn't make my opinion invalid tho.

btw, I wasn't attacking NVIDIA

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Since, you don't get a 100% increase in performance, there is a diminishing return on your investment.

I have to disagree with you their Nitromullet.

We have to take as a baseline that someone buying SLI probably has a A64 3200+ or better? Observe:
Quake 4 on a $1011 FX57

55fps at 16X4 4X8X.

Quake4 on a $152 3200+

52fps at 16X4 4X8X.

So, $859 of extra processor investment buys you 3fps.

Now let's look at what another $450 GTX will bet you:

Quake on SLI

Another 31fps over a single card.

Sogoing from a low end $150 processor to the highest end $1000 processor gains you a 5% increase, while going from one $450 GTX to a $900 GTX set gets you a 56% gain.

I think the value of SLI is pretty apparent when considered from that perspective.

No hunting or fishing this weekend for me, I'll try to finish my 6800GTs vs 7800GTXs review for more insight into this.

What would have been REALLY nice is if FS would have put the 3200+ SLI numbers in there, I'm guessing they would have been close.

both are diminishing returns. the SLi is just less of a diminishing return

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nts

Originally posted by: Rollo
Fixed, you can thank me later nts!

That addition wasn't needed, my statement still stands YYMV with SLI.

Your statement is still as pointless and irrelevant as it was the first time-
"Some games get more benefit than others at SLI!"

NO! what SHOCKING news!

Somebody call the AP and UPI newswire, nts has a big scoop here!

You aren't guaranteed a speed increase or AA increase (various other reasons too besides just CPU limited). Yes some titles see one, others dont, some see a very small one...

Again YYMV,

AFAIK all titles work with SLI AA, at least all titles AA works on, and can you LIST some of these games that get no benefit from SLI so we know how much they matter?

It's one thing if Q4 or Battlefield get no benefit from SLI, it's quite another if the original version of Pac-Man from 1979 doesn't isn't it?

I suppose to just float baseless opinions without links to back them is easier for you, and makes it SEEM like you have a point, but most of us are smart enough to spot FUD when we see it. (and we're not even programmers- lol)

 

[nts]

Originally posted by: Rollo
AFAIK all titles work with SLI AA, at least all titles AA works on, and can you LIST some of these games that get no benefit from SLI so we know how much they matter?

AFAIK, the title needs to support AFR SLI mode for SLI AA to work.

Well HL2 (possibly any other future Source game aswell) doesn't get a benefit from SLI or SLI-AA. Yes it is CPU limited.

article

I suppose to just float baseless opinions without links to back them is easier for you, and makes it SEEM like you have a point, but most of us are smart enough to spot FUD when we see it. (and we're not even programmers- lol)

See the article above, HL2 receives virtually no speed increase or quality increase in SLI. If NVIDIA has corrected that (AA thing) then please correct me but AFAIK its still a problem.

btw you have the nasty habit of attacking sites that dont agree with your opinion or expectations.

 

[GOREGRINDER]

alls i can say is,....people have no idea what they are missing out on,..period


do numbers show how incredibly liquid smooth the frames are?,..no they dont and they are smoother than you have EVER seen and felt, and thats no BS,...do the numbers and screenshots show how amazing the image quality is when its in motion in real time?,..nope not that either,and lastly do they show that you8 can keep increasing image quality without getting slowdown?...or even that the lowest frame feels very close to the average frame of what a single card is?,..frankly the frames dont feel like they are dipping at all...numbers only show you half of what SLi is all about,and i promise you,...you can tell a huge difference regardless what a website prints its number is

i like how anyone can look at 5 different websites and they all show different numbers with the same game with the same setup,thats why you can only take what you knwo first hand.....i honestly could care less about half life2,...its short,..its monotone and has the worst load time placement in any game ever made,....1 word,.."overated!"

 

[hytek369]

first they increase the price of a card, now we need 2 for the ultimate performance

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
both are diminishing returns. the SLi is just less of a diminishing return

To say a 5% gain and a 56% gain are both diminishing returns may be technically accurate, but it's also misleading.

Nothing gives you a perfect price/performance ratio all the time (E.G. always double cost, always double performance) so your point is moot.

To even compare a 5 and 56% return on investment is pretty ludicrous. One is very much worth having, the other is functionally irrelevant.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nts

Originally posted by: Rollo
AFAIK all titles work with SLI AA, at least all titles AA works on, and can you LIST some of these games that get no benefit from SLI so we know how much they matter?

AFAIK, the title needs to support AFR SLI mode for SLI AA to work.

Well HL2 (possibly any other future Source game aswell) doesn't get a benefit from SLI or SLI-AA. Yes it is CPU limited.

article

1. From your own link?

Update: NVIDIA has confirmed that this is a bug that affects Half-Life 2, and should have a fix in a future driver.

2. SLI gives a HUGE benefit to some levels of HL2:
http://endeavorquest.net:8880/SLI.htm

I honestly don't know why people who have never used SLI and don't really know what they're talking about keep posting nonsense like this?

See the article above, HL2 receives virtually no speed increase or quality increase in SLI. If NVIDIA has corrected that (AA thing) then please correct me but AFAIK its still a problem.

See my benchmarks? Sort of depends on the levels you run and the settings how much benefit there is?
(BTW- these are the Anandtech benchmark scripts, the site you're on?)

Again, I ask why someone like you who obviously knows very little (if anything) about SLI is posting lies about it?