The Definitive Multi-GPU Roundup World Tour 2006

[n7]

Introduction
http://www.penstarsys.com/reviews/video/multigpu/pss/index.html

Graphics Processing Units
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/07/12/multi_gpu_world_tour_gpus/1.html

Motherboards and Platforms
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=938&pageID=2402

Common Benchmarks
http://www.hardinfo.com/show.asp?page=6741

XFire Most Played Benchmarks
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/multigpumostplayed/

Uncommon Benchmarks Part 1
http://www.nvnews.net/articles/gpu_world_tour_2006/index.shtml

Uncommon Benchmarks Part 2
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/366/1/

Uncommon Benchmarks Part 3
http://www.rage3d.com/articles/mgpuworldtour_p8/index.php?p=1

Conclusion
http://www.guru3d.com/article/article/367/


Yeah, it's a lot of reading. But i think it's worth it.
It's also a bit of a mess, since formats & styles of reviews are very different site to site.
I'd even say accuracy/lack of bias is questionable from some of the sites.

But overall, it's a pretty good look at the current benefits & trials of Crossfire & SLI.


My simple summary after reading through all 9 sites:

CF is simply a poor solution in too many cases right now.
There are a select few benefits, but overall, the negatives outweigh the positives it seems.
SLI seems to be a very decent solution right now, with availability, ease of setup/use, & game support being quite good.

On a side note:
IQ, something only R3D touched on, is definitely better on ATi presently. But that's something we already knew.

 

[fierydemise]

I haven't finished reading all the articles in this round up but my first impression is a cool idea but it seems to have some flaws
1. All the platforms are different (on nv News they don't even say what the highend ATI MB is) this could add numerous extra variables
2. As the OP mentioned there is no talk about IQ which seems like a very important issue considering how much is being spent on a system
3. Nothing about the advanced IQ features available to multi-GPU setups
4. Using a GX2 instead of a regular 7900GT SLI possibly introduces extra variables which should be avoided

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: fierydemise

2. As the OP mentioned there is no talk about IQ which seems like a very important issue considering how much is being spent on a system
3. Nothing about the advanced IQ features available to multi-GPU setups

These are my two biggest pet peeves with current reviews.

Why oh why, would anyone buy a card, or cards for $1k or more, and not know the differences between the quality, and advantages of multi-GPU's? I think it should be mandatory to shows SLI/Super AA numbers when doing a SLI/CF review. Thats one of the biggest selling points, other than more frames. Better IQ, thru more AA is a major plus. Yet its left out most of the time, makes no sense to me. Why not show TRAA and AAA numbers? Its a very important feature to a lot of enthusiasts.

Same for the IQ differences. HardOCP shows sometimes the difference, as well as a select few more, and thats it. Which is pretty sad. More information the better.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: fierydemise

2. As the OP mentioned there is no talk about IQ which seems like a very important issue considering how much is being spent on a system
3. Nothing about the advanced IQ features available to multi-GPU setups

These are my two biggest pet peeves with current reviews.

Why oh why, would anyone buy a card, or cards for $1k or more, and not know the differences between the quality, and advantages of multi-GPU's? I think it should be mandatory to shows SLI/Super AA numbers when doing a SLI/CF review. Thats one of the biggest selling points, other than more frames. Better IQ, thru more AA is a major plus. Yet its left out most of the time, makes no sense to me. Why not show TRAA and AAA numbers? Its a very important feature to a lot of enthusiasts.

Same for the IQ differences. HardOCP shows sometimes the difference, as well as a select few more, and thats it. Which is pretty sad. More information the better.

Lets take it this way.
We KNOW that ATI has better IQ and AF. AA is the same on both.

Knowing that can the benchmarks tell me anything? Also, using a GX2 is NOT THE SAME as using 2x7900GT.

 

[fierydemise]

Yes wizboy but SLI/CF AA are big selling points and not testing those (performance wise at the very least) and calling it a definitive round-up is disingenuous, also the reviews are missing the HQ AA modes (AAA/TRAA) which are features that are very usable with CF or SLI setups so atleast performance tests would be nice.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: fierydemise
Yes wizboy but SLI/CF AA are big selling points and not testing those (performance wise at the very least) and calling it a definitive round-up is disingenuous, also the reviews are missing the HQ AA modes (AAA/TRAA) which are features that are very usable with CF or SLI setups so atleast performance tests would be nice.

I know, I agree.

Well, I guess we'll never know
I'm happy with my SLI setup but I've never tried a Crossfire setup.

 

[Wreckage]

Maybe AMD will kill off crossfire.

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: fierydemise

2. As the OP mentioned there is no talk about IQ which seems like a very important issue considering how much is being spent on a system
3. Nothing about the advanced IQ features available to multi-GPU setups

These are my two biggest pet peeves with current reviews.

Why oh why, would anyone buy a card, or cards for $1k or more, and not know the differences between the quality, and advantages of multi-GPU's? I think it should be mandatory to shows SLI/Super AA numbers when doing a SLI/CF review. Thats one of the biggest selling points, other than more frames. Better IQ, thru more AA is a major plus. Yet its left out most of the time, makes no sense to me. Why not show TRAA and AAA numbers? Its a very important feature to a lot of enthusiasts.

Same for the IQ differences. HardOCP shows sometimes the difference, as well as a select few more, and thats it. Which is pretty sad. More information the better.

I have to agree here. Purchasing SLi or Crossfire expecting future-proofing or massive performance gains is foolhardy to me. You buy this technology because it should allow for more IQ per frame rendered than a single card. That is all.