Value of CF and SLI vs total system cost

[biostud]

Normally when we consider the value of SLI and CF we see +70-99% performance @ +100% cost. Now if we considered the cost of a total system lets of $1000, then adding another $200 videcard gives you +70-99% performance @ +20% system cost. Then SLI CF becomes much better value, so go out and buy a 2nd videocard

(or use the argument to your gf why it would stupid not to buy a 2nd videocard )

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

or use the argument to your gf why it would stupid not to buy a 2nd videocard

My argument: we're not married yet so you don't get to tell me how to spend my money.

Tell me how that goes over for ya.

 

[mizzou]

I like the extra slot so i can reuse old cards for a cheap multi monitor solution

 

[Ben90]

I personally like running games at lowest settings, resolution aside. My 8800GT has no problems pushing 200+ fps in Starcraft 2

 

[biostud]

I personally like running games at lowest settings, resolution aside.

may I ask why?

 

[betasub]

It reminds him of the nineties.

 

[zokudu]

mind = blown

 

[Ben90]

I enjoy winning more than seeing pretty imaginary things. If I wanted visual stimulation I would take mushrooms.

 

[Red Storm]

I always sell my current card when I upgrade to a newer one, so the true cost is always less than retail price for me. Buying an identical card down the road for SLI/CF doesn't interest me at all. That's just "more of the same" and all you get is increased FPS. New release cards that come with new technologies, image quality enhancements, and other goodies is way better to me personally.

Why buy a 2nd older gen card that doesn't give you any new features when you can sell the one you have and buy one of the newer generation cards that will most likely include better image quality, newer features, etc.? No scaling issues or profiles to worry about, and you only have a single piece of hardware deprecating in value instead of two.

 

[darckhart]

@red storm: I thought the OP was advocating sli/cf right from the get go, which, imo with certain combinations of cards, makes it very compelling. Initially I thought that getting the top top end would cut it, but the "luxury" tax on those (i'm looking at you 5970 black edition) vs the performance just didn't make sense to me anymore. At the ridiculous IQ settings I choose, it was clear that I needed top top tier performance at a reasonable price.

@biostud: yea some games need to look pretty. and some, you play to win. i cant even remember what q3 looks like at default picmip.

 

[MentalIlness]

My argument: we're not married yet so you don't get to tell me how to spend my money.

Tell me how that goes over for ya.

WOW, that sucks. I have been married for 15 years, and my wife still don't tell me how to spend my money.

In fact, she says.... buy whatever you want.

 

[digitaldurandal]

I have used a multi gpu setup and I will say that the number one headache with it is that it does not always function properly especially when games first release. I had 285 gtx sli and in mw2 the setup would not function properly. I would see maybe a 1% increase in framerates in the game. Other games it worked great, reviews showed SLI having an impact in MW2 but for me the difference was fairly negligible.

Also you have the dreaded microstuttering. If your FPS is not sky high on the setup then this can become an issue and it makes you want to beat the hell out of your expensive purchase. I did not have much issue with this, but I have seen it on some setups in certain games and I must admit it would drive me insane.

I am considering purchasing 2 gtx 480s from people offloading them at this time to get the latest and greatest stuff. You can get two for about 600 in the various FS threads. It is a tempting deal.

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

WOW, that sucks. I have been married for 15 years, and my wife still don't tell me how to spend my money.

In fact, she says.... buy whatever you want.

My wife's a stay at home mom of three kids, so there really isn't a "my money" anymore so much as there is "our money". That said, I still get to do most of what I want, just not all of it. Give and take.

 

[Throckmorton]

Don't forget, you also need a more expensive power supply and an SLI mobo.

SLI also causes problems in some games. I had a 7950GX2 (or whatever it was called) and some games performed worse than they would have with a single 79xx card, and some just didn't benefit.

 

[veri745]

My argument: we're not married yet so you don't get to tell me how to spend my money.

Tell me how that goes over for ya.

I've used this one verbatim. It didn't work out too poorly