SLI Mobo -- is it worth it?

[WhipperSnapper]

If I ever build a new rig, perhaps when the 939 Opterons become available, I'll need to decide whether or not I want to gamble $30-40 that I'll ever make use of SLI. (I know this has probably been hashed over twenty times before, so my appy-olly-logies in advance.)

I'm a best-bang-for-your-buck tightwad, so with that in mind, to date, has anyone yet obtained a "best-bang-for-your-buck" result by going with SLI? Was the extra $30-40 worth it?

Obviously, it's almost never worthwhile to purchase two lower cards when they end up being more expensive than a single more powerful card that outperforms the two lesser cards SLI'd. The value would come from purchasing one card today and then purchasing an additional card a year or two later at rock bottom prices. The problem is--amazingly--the prices of older cards aren't dropping nearly as quickly as they should. Video card prices would seem to have amazing staying power!

For example, if you already own a 6600 GT, perhaps it would be worthwhile to add another one for, say, $80, but in practice the cheapest new card is $130. So you might try to get a used one off of eBay for $60, but we all know how eBay works. I never cease to be amazed at how much eBayiots are willing to bid for a used item in uncertain condition that may or may not be shipped to them, even when the seller has almost no feedback.

[For example, recently, a guy with 8 feedback points who'd only sold one or two items garnered $202 plus shipping for two used PNY 6600 GTs with little description other than his answers to my questions at the bottom of the listing. I was hoping to win the auction for under $140 and just do a local pick-up (no shipping cost, less risk of getting dicked over). But when you start talking about a cost of $210 it would be better to get a spanking brand new x800gto2 or to spend more and get a single 7800gt for $300.] That isn't an isolated example; I've seen few video card auctions that I thought ended with a good price relative to the seller's feedback rating.

If you had a single 6800 GT today SLI wouldn't do you any good since the 6800 GTs are going for about $260 new (after rebates). (Finally--the retailers grudgingly lowered the prices of an outdated card down to $250.) In this case SLI wouldn't do you much good because you'd be better off getting a single 7800 GT for $300 and then eBaying your 6800 GT.

SLI would make more sense if, say, you could buy a new 6600gt for $100 or a new 6800 GT for $180 and if eBay buyers were wiser and more frugal (allowing you to get a used 6600gt for $60 or a used 6800gt for $120 from a reputable seller).

Perhaps the best path would be to get a non-SLI mobo that can be modded to being SLI.

I'm sure this thread is unnecessary, but I just had to vent some at all of the eBay idiocy I've seen lately and also at the insanity of the current prices. The average price of a 6800 Ultra is more than the cost of a new 7800 GT !!! Those cards should be going for $220 right now.

 

[flyboy84]

I see your dillema, and for my own 2c, i don't think I'd ever buy an SLI mobo. I'm a one card for 2+ years kind of guy. I really only see it as a high-end way of getting more performace in the NOW for driving high end screens rather than as a smart upgrade path for LATER.

 

[emilyek]

If you are building on any kind of budget, then no. I see lots of first time builders putting together budget rigs with SLI boards-- for 'bragging rights' or because they will 'get another card later'.

That extra $30 can get you a better processor-- like move you from a 3200 to a 3500. Better case, psu-- whatever.

Plus, you need a good monitor to take advantage of SLI, even if you someday get that extra 3-500 bucks for a matching card.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Well, my concern is less with 1600 x 1200 at 8AA and more with just being able to play newer games later at 1024 x 800 at a decent frame rate. So, I'm less concerned about matching one card up with a $300 card and more concerned like matching one formerly $300 card up with what would later be the same card at $120. I mean--isn't SLI a benefit in terms of general video processing power and frame rates? In other words, one 6600gt today might do poorly in a newer game at 1024 x 800 but two in SLI might be decent. That's what I would want SLI for.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Bump for timely topic.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Bump for timely topic.

We'd need to know more about your system to know whether it's worth the $30-$40, namely what PSU/video card/cpu/RAM you have or are planning on buying.


IMO, $30-$40 is no money at all, and if you're buying a new motherboard you might as well give yourself the option.

Also IMO, if you use onboard sound, having the SBLive as onboard on the MSI boards justifies $20 of that $30-$40, so now it could be said you're upgrading sound and considering $10-$20. difference.

If you need to think about $10-$20 (or even $40) SLI is not for you IMO. All of the solutions that can supply some long term kick ass (6800GTs and up) require you to have $500 worth of video cards and a $100 PSU.

It gets harder to justify the 6600GTs and 6800NUs because for the most part, one 6800GT/6800U is on par with them, and if you're buying new retail, only those smoking the heaviest of crack rocks would not be looking at a 7800GT for $289.. (actually that card makes 6800GT/U harder to consider as well, but at least they would smoke it in framerates at some games, so you could make a case for adding another cheap used GT/U)

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Bump for timely topic.

Also IMO, if you use onboard sound, having the SBLive as onboard on the MSI boards justifies $20 of that $30-$40, so now it could be said you're upgrading sound and considering $10-$20. difference.

:thumbsup:

If you already have a comparable or better sound card, and don't see yourself goin' SLI, save some cash. Otherwise I'd take a chance on the refurbed Platinum@Da egg linked

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Also IMO, if you use onboard sound, having the SBLive as onboard on the MSI boards justifies $20 of that $30-$40, so now it could be said you're upgrading sound and considering $10-$20. difference.

eeee-yup. That's probably the board I'm going to get, the MSI K8N Neo SLI, as long as it will take the Socket 939 Opterons. I actually have a Creative Soundblaster in my current rig that I could move, but I'm happy to have a newer chip on the mobo, too. I'm not sure if that one's necessarily the right mobo for me, yet, though.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Rollo

Also IMO, if you use onboard sound, having the SBLive as onboard on the MSI boards justifies $20 of that $30-$40, so now it could be said you're upgrading sound and considering $10-$20. difference.

eeee-yup. That's probably the board I'm going to get, the MSI K8N Neo SLI, as long as it will take the Socket 939 Opterons. I actually have a Creative Soundblaster in my current rig that I could move, but I'm happy to have a newer chip on the mobo, too. I'm not sure if that one's necessarily the right mobo for me, yet, though.

I don't know what your needs are, but I'm on one right now in my son's computer. It's been rock solid, and with the 6800GT SLI/3800+, it will likely fulfill his gaming needs for a couple years.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I guess my concern is that the MSI K8N Neo SLI might be a little buggy unless MSI has released various revisions and BIOS updates to work out the kinks. I also read that an HSF backplate is glued on to it making it difficult if you need to add a custom backplate for an aftermarket HSF. (I'm probably going to go with the Thermalright 90 or 120--not sure if that's a problem with that mobo.) I do like the idea of a computer controlled SLI switch like what the Albatron board has. For my needs, the board should be a better-than-average overclocker. I also have two sticks of Corsair Value RAM, so that probably rules out DFI and I need a parallel port for a laser printer, which makes an Epox less attractive.