SLI Q's

[Ltr450]

I resently purchased a MSI 8600Gts OC and while it has some good preformance now I know by late this year it will need more power if the games promised are on there way..Im upgrading mobo and ram and cpu soon and was considering getting an SLI mobo and add another 8600gts to run SLI for a cheaper alternative to a 8800. My first question is..Do i need the same brand 8600gts? or can I use any 8600gts..my 2nd is do i HAVE to have a SLI supported PSU and would 470w PSU be enough to power this?

 

[LittleNemoNES]

most folks agree that SLI is best with the top tier cards. 8800 GTS/X SLI. 8600 GTS SLI is ~8800GTS performance in games that have good SLI scaling.

In other words, 1 8800GTS > 8600GTS SLI

 

[Geomagick]

I have to agree with gersson here.

However in answer to your questions

1 - No, it can be any brand, just has to be another gts.
2 - No you don't need an 'SLI' certified PSU, however you do need a good quality one. Providing your 470 is a good quality supply - check the PSU forum if in doubt - then you should be ok.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: gersson
most folks agree that SLI is best with the top tier cards. 8800 GTS/X SLI. 8600 GTS SLI is ~8800GTS performance in games that have good SLI scaling.

In other words, 1 8800GTS > 8600GTS SLI

Not to mention, a single card eliminates all of the hassles inherent to SLI: profiles, extra heat, drivers are even more of a hassle, extra noise, higher power consumption, etc.

 

[themisfit610]

Well said. I always thought SLI was a great upgrade path, until I thought about doing it myself with my current rig. The extra heat, noise, power and other issues (along with cost, which isn't really justified with a second 7800gt these days) makes it unreasonable. I'm getting an 8800gts/640 or a 2900xt once that battle is won, and the dust (price) settles. My 24" BenQ needs more love!

~MiSfit

 

[n7]

Slogan we need here.

SLI.
Just don't do it!

(Same for CF.)

 

[Ltr450]

Well, no offense but I figured I would get that kinda answer..and ty george for the answers.
I know this is all true but Id take a little less performance if it could mean me saving some money and using it for other upgrades..but if a 8800 is in my price range by then I'd probably consider it..Was just keeping my options open and seeing how I would go about SLI if that was the path I chose...I was also looking at you guys' sigs and was wondering..why have that much storage jeez..over 2 terabytes? How does one go about filling that up..or even 1/4th of that lol..I have a 120 and only using about 30gigs of it

 

[gregor7777]

Video eats up most of my hard drives...raw video captures are just massive.