SLI worth it?

[LittleNemoNES]

CP5670 is experiencing what I mentioned with BF2. Supposedly fast FPS but no way is it smooth.

The x1900xt for $450 is prob the best buy.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
michaelpatrick33, for what games specifically are you not happy with 7800GTX OC performance? I certainly dont feel like upgrading from it to X1900XT is worthwhile given so few games that your performance will benefit in. Besides, your card is fast enough. I'd say keep it until G80 or R600.

I agree, there really cant be much that you cant do on a 7800GTX that you can do on a X1900XTX...

Fear is the only game that really picks up, and turning off soft shadows (i swear it looks the same) bring it to VERY playable levels.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

I have a 2405 and game at 1920 X 1200. SLI/Crossfire will make a difference to me because I want to game at native resolution. For example, turning the eye candy on in COD2 I can't comfortably game at native so I am looking at upgrade. I can upgrade to the X1900XTX from the 7800GTX 256 for only $250.

Current system
X2 4400+ at 2640
BFG 7800GTX OC at 521 1414
Raptor
Other drives
Seasonic 600 (in anticipation for SLI, LOL)
2405
soon X-fi

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I have a 2405 and game at 1920 X 1200. SLI/Crossfire will make a difference to me because I want to game at native resolution. For example, turning the eye candy on in COD2 I can't comfortably game at native so I am looking at upgrade. I can upgrade to the X1900XTX from the 7800GTX 256 for only $250.

If a $250 videocard upgrade is not much for you by all means upgrade. Everyone has different amount of $ they want to spend in their mind on purchases. In your case it sounds like you wouldn't miss the $250 for better gaming performance then obviously go for it. The only problem is I dont think X1900XTX can play FEAR or COD2 at 1920x1200 4AA/16AF.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I have a 2405 and game at 1920 X 1200. SLI/Crossfire will make a difference to me because I want to game at native resolution. For example, turning the eye candy on in COD2 I can't comfortably game at native so I am looking at upgrade. I can upgrade to the X1900XTX from the 7800GTX 256 for only $250.

If a $250 videocard upgrade is not much for you by all means upgrade. Everyone has different amount of $ they want to spend in their mind on purchases. In your case it sounds like you wouldn't miss the $250 for better gaming performance then obviously go for it. The only problem is I dont think X1900XTX can play FEAR or COD2 at 1920x1200 4AA/16AF.

Hence my problem. Do you think a 7800GTX SLI will play COD2 at 1920x1200 4aa/16AF? I currently do get ~30fps in COD2 at 2XAA and trilinear etc. but obviously need more. I would watercool and overclock the X1900XTX obviously but how high it goes who knows. Sigh.

 

[TheRyuu]

I have 2 7800GT's and love them.

You see in reviews about the average frame rate and junk like that, but what matters the most is minimum framerate and I think thats were SLI has the upper hand. I play all my games at 1280x1024, now a SINGLE 7800GT would be fine at those speeds, but since I got 2 I can crank up the eye candy.
Go and play a game with 4xAA/16xAF, TRSS, Gamma AA and then tell me SLI wasn't worth it

 

[BFG10K]

Don't bother with SLI unless you are getting it to attain performance higher than a single card can give you. If you're not then it's much better to get the faster single card.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I have a 2405 and game at 1920 X 1200. SLI/Crossfire will make a difference to me because I want to game at native resolution. For example, turning the eye candy on in COD2 I can't comfortably game at native so I am looking at upgrade. I can upgrade to the X1900XTX from the 7800GTX 256 for only $250.

If a $250 videocard upgrade is not much for you by all means upgrade. Everyone has different amount of $ they want to spend in their mind on purchases. In your case it sounds like you wouldn't miss the $250 for better gaming performance then obviously go for it. The only problem is I dont think X1900XTX can play FEAR or COD2 at 1920x1200 4AA/16AF.

Hence my problem. Do you think a 7800GTX SLI will play COD2 at 1920x1200 4aa/16AF? I currently do get ~30fps in COD2 at 2XAA and trilinear etc. but obviously need more. I would watercool and overclock the X1900XTX obviously but how high it goes who knows. Sigh.

You will get a tremendous increase by going SLI, but i cant predict anything exact. Search around, the info is definately out there.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
You see in reviews about the average frame rate and junk like that, but what matters the most is minimum framerate and I think thats were SLI has the upper hand.

Unfortunately, there just aren't reviews out there to confirm that.

I would love to see a comparison of min frame rates for SLI 7800GTs vs. the x1900xt, as those 2 are about equal in average frame rates across many games.

My thoughts-- if averages are similar, minimums are going to be similar as well. And, honestly, if the 19xt had a min of 23 and the GTs had 27, yes, you could argue that the SLI had better min frame rates... but is it noticeable enough to use as a selling point to give it the "upper hand"?

 

[Slappy00]

I just got another 7800gt for my system.

For the most part ONE 7800GT is fine for most of my games (I play 1280x1024) but ever since the voodoo 2 days i just wanted to have one SLI setup (who here can honestly say that they didnt want a sli Voodoo 2 setup when it was out).

SO I partly did it to fulfill a nerd fantasy and partially because when it is time for me to upgrade I can use one card in my G/F's computer and give one to my cousins, and not have to make up my mind as to who to give it to. OR i can give one away and keep one as a back up or build another computer with it.

There are many reasons beyond performance (which is good) why womeone might want two cards instead of one, soemtimes they are personal and soemtimes they are practical.