What's the f'king point of SLI?

[FreshPrince]

From this chart, it would seem that 6600gt SLI perform just under, or about the same as single 6800gt.

Let's see...

6800gt $340
6600gt sli $390

Not to mention that going SLI means:

1. mobo upgrade (add more $$$ here)
2. more power comsumption (add more $$$ here)
3. total cost to go SLI is > $390.

why would anyone go SLI? I think this is a huge error on nVidia's part....SLI should be for their Top performing card only. This way, it forces the people to buy into this solution if they want the fastest and the best. If SLI is available for low and high end cards...it makes the technology look "retarded" the the company look greedy.

What do you think?

-FP

 

[gamekid]

i say they started a conspiracy to confuse us all and sell use a bunch of crappy parts and then we all come to our sences and when they come out with a "new and advanced product" right after...will we all be forced to give in and burn through all our hard earned money--------but thats just what i think.....

 

[LikeLinus]

The performance jump between the same single card and an SLI version ranges anywhere from 38 - 85%. You're compairing 6600 SLI vs an 6800GT. If you look at the chart they show the 6800 SLI smoking the single GT card from 45-80%. You have to compare the cards against themselves.

 

[Yolner]

I dont really see the point either :/

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
What eactly are you looking at?

The percentage of jump from a single GT to an SLI ranges from 38 - 85% increase in FPS.

WTF are you talking about "just under" or a "about the same"

LMAO....wtf are YOU talking about....look at the numbers man....

6600GT doom3 - 17.3
6600GT doom3 SLI - 32
6800GT doom3 - 37.9

6600GT halo - 37.23
6600GT halo SLI - 58.58
6800GT halo - 50.01

tell me that's not just under or about the same...

do you work for nVidia? cuz I'm just trying to strike up conversation about something that is painfully obviously to anyone with 50+ IQ... :roll:

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
What eactly are you looking at?

The percentage of jump from a single GT to an SLI ranges from 38 - 85% increase in FPS.

WTF are you talking about "just under" or a "about the same"

LMAO....wtf are YOU talking about....look at the numbers man....

6600GT doom3 - 17.3
6600GT doom3 SLI - 32
6800GT doom3 - 37.9

6600GT halo - 37.23
6600GT halo SLI - 58.58
6800GT halo - 50.01

tell me that's not just under or about the same...

do you work for nVidia? cuz I'm just trying to strike up conversation about something that is painfully obviously to anyone with 50+ IQ... :roll:

How about you read what i edited, i listed the wrong numbers by accident. You're not comparing cards that are the same. Check the differences in the 6800 SLI and GT Single. If you don't think a 45-80% performance difference is a lot...i dunno what to tell you.

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
The performance jump between the same single card and an SLI version ranges anywhere from 38 - 85%. You're compairing 6600 SLI vs an 6800GT. If you look at the chart they show the 6800 SLI smoking the single GT card from 45-80%. You have to compare the cards against themselves.

why not compare 6600gt SLI to 6800GT single? It all comes down to how much a customer pays for the solutions. If they both perform about the same...why pay more for a catch phrase "SLI?" That is my point, why would anyone with half a brain pay more for the same performance? Unless Anand lied in his review...I don't think so though.....so again, why pay more for the same performance?

This obviously is something nVidia thought up to bring in more $$$

I've owned STB, nVidia, 3DFX, and ATI...this is the 1st time that a technology makes me LMAO! Atleast when 3DFX did SLI, it was the best....bar none. Now, it's a catch phrase to confuse people into dropping more $$$ for the same performance. That to me is shady and greedy. Shame on you nVidia :|

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
What eactly are you looking at?

The percentage of jump from a single GT to an SLI ranges from 38 - 85% increase in FPS.

WTF are you talking about "just under" or a "about the same"

LMAO....wtf are YOU talking about....look at the numbers man....

6600GT doom3 - 17.3
6600GT doom3 SLI - 32
6800GT doom3 - 37.9

6600GT halo - 37.23
6600GT halo SLI - 58.58
6800GT halo - 50.01

tell me that's not just under or about the same...

do you work for nVidia? cuz I'm just trying to strike up conversation about something that is painfully obviously to anyone with 50+ IQ... :roll:

How about you read what i edited, i listed the wrong numbers by accident. You're not comparing cards that are the same. Check the differences in the 6800 SLI and GT Single. If you don't think a 45-80% performance difference is a lot...i dunno what to tell you.

and you are not reading my original post.....do you see the all important factor of $$$? There's no doubt that SLI kicks single card's butt, but is that what I'm talking about? No, I'm talking about paying more for a solution that performs about the same...that's what I'm talking about. I alsmo mentioned something about SLI for the top performing card only? Did you read that part? Because it discussed why SLI for a low end model is retarded...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
The performance jump between the same single card and an SLI version ranges anywhere from 38 - 85%. You're compairing 6600 SLI vs an 6800GT. If you look at the chart they show the 6800 SLI smoking the single GT card from 45-80%. You have to compare the cards against themselves.

why not compare 6600gt SLI to 6800GT single? It all comes down to how much a customer pays for the solutions. If they both perform about the same...why pay more for a catch phrase "SLI?" That is my point, why would anyone with half a brain pay more for the same performance? Unless Anand lied in his review...I don't think so though.....so again, why pay more for the same performance?

This obviously is something nVidia thought up to bring in more $$$

I've owned STB, nVidia, 3DFX, and ATI...this is the 1st time that a technology makes me LMAO! Atleast when 3DFX did SLI, it was the best....bar none. Now, it's a catch phrase to confuse people into dropping more $$$ for the same performance. That to me is shady and greedy. Shame on you nVidia :|

Because I don't think you can base the performance of a video card on 1 review. You also haven't taken into account the other effects it might have on graphic arts, video editing and other things. Render times might be quite fast with an SLI card.

Plus you also have to take into account bragging rights. People will pay the extra 40-50$ for SLI just to have it. I don't really see anything wrong with Nvidia doing such. It's a business and they are there to make money? If you're stupid enough to buy somehting without researching, then that is your fault, not theres.

But as I said, we don't know the true benefits of these SLI cards until extensive and more testing has been done.

 

[Lyfer]

Bottomline: SLI owns in performance and wallet consumption.

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
But as I said, we don't know the true benefits of these SLI cards until extensive and more testing has been done.

that part I agree with you, but I do trust Anand's assessment. We can dig up more info on the net though....but I bet the performance stats will be about the same. I'll look at HardOCP.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
But as I said, we don't know the true benefits of these SLI cards until extensive and more testing has been done.

that part I agree with you, but I do trust Anand's assessment. We can dig up more info on the net though....but I bet the performance stats will be about the same. I'll look at HardOCP.

I'm not knocking his assessment, if you read he says it's good. I'm just saying he didn't review things other than games.

Just because they offer it on the 6600 doesn't take away from the benefits side by side vs single cards. It's nice to offer something across the board for the customer.

SLI could offer things like faster pixels-per-second fill rate, fewer dropped frames, better image quality. There could be more but i'm not video card guru.

I could be wrong but I don't think it's a negative for them to offer it. It just allows someone who doesn't want to spend more get the same thing for less.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Poeple want to be able to upgrade later. Buying 2 x 6600 instead of a 6800 probably makes no sense, but with a SLI motherboard you could buy 1 card now (6600 or 6800) and a second card when you can afford it.

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

I can totally see what FreshPrince is saying. It seems like a bit of a shady/sneaky way to go about increasing performance.

Given that high end video cards cost about anywhere from 400- 600+ bucks - talking top of the line here (And c'mon, if someone is doing SLI - they're doing it because they want *performance*, right?), an individual could easily come near 1 grand pricetags for a SLI setup that utilizes the latest technology. And in the charts above, spending the amount for two 6600 cards gives little difference in performance then the much cheaper alternative to spending for a single GT card. For people like me - in that range somewhere between n00b and learning about new technology and such - I could myself accidentally thinking that SLI is something that one would be better off getting then just one video card. Coz I mean..hey, two video cards, right? It just sounds so much more powerful then one video card. But unless you're kinda rich and shell out for the most expensive video cards for both slots, you can probably easily balance things by just buying a single more powerful card then the two you were going to put in the SLI config.

It just seems like something that can easily confuse a lot of people and have them spending more then they really ought to..
-Jen

 

[gamekid]

Plus you also have to take into account bragging rights. People will pay the extra 40-50$ for SLI just to have it. I don't really see anything wrong with Nvidia doing such. It's a business and they are there to make money? If you're stupid enough to buy somehting without researching, then that is your fault, not theres.

But as I said, we don't know the true benefits of these SLI cards until extensive and more testing has been done.[/quote]


i completely agree

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
But as I said, we don't know the true benefits of these SLI cards until extensive and more testing has been done.

that part I agree with you, but I do trust Anand's assessment. We can dig up more info on the net though....but I bet the performance stats will be about the same. I'll look at HardOCP.

I'm not knocking his assessment, if you read he says it's good. I'm just saying he didn't review things other than games.

Just because they offer it on the 6600 doesn't take away from the benefits side by side vs single cards. It's nice to offer something across the board for the customer.

SLI could offer things like faster pixels-per-second fill rate, fewer dropped frames, better image quality. There could be more but i'm not video card guru.

I could be wrong but I don't think it's a negative for them to offer it. It just allows someone who doesn't want to spend more get the same thing for less.

that would be true if 6600GT SLI performs the same as 6800 Ultra...but it doesn't. It performs the same as 6800GT, which costs less than the low end SLI solution...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Poeple want to be able to upgrade later. Buying 2 x 6600 instead of a 6800 probably makes no sense, but with a SLI motherboard you could buy 1 card now (6600 or 6800) and a second card when you can afford it.

Are the cards the exact same? That begs a good question...future upgrades. I wonder if you can just throw in another 6800 or if theres something special about the cards where they have to link together.

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

To add to my post and others - When I bought my parts, I did a lot of my shopping and research on what the most recent/new technology was. If I was a bit more advanced in knowing tech stuff, I could have bought lower then an FX-53, and overclocked. But - as I said - being somewhat new to this - I opted to just go with what seemed to be the most recent technology. It's neat to have the option of being able to buy one video card and having a free slot for another down the line - but it really seems like something that could end up bringing in lots of cash from people new into assembling their own systems. Anyone new on this stuff might opt to go SLI and think that it's a must and imperative to get those 2 slots filled right away so they can really get the power/performance the paid for by having SLI. I guess it's not a bad thing..but it seems like a weird way to go about things rather then making more powerful single card set-ups. .>.>

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

that would be true if 6600GT SLI performs the same as 6800 Ultra...but it doesn't. It performs the same as 6800GT, which costs less than the low end SLI solution...

Yeah I know, but I still see the 6600SLI winning 2 of the 3 benchmarks. It only lost in Doom3, but that could be for any number of reasons.

I still think it's just Nvidia saying "we got this great technology that anyone can have". They offer it across the board to show themsevles off. I don't think the intent to intentionally defraud people is there. It's just like getting leather in a Ford Focus...pointless, but they still offer it for the individuals that want it

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Poeple want to be able to upgrade later. Buying 2 x 6600 instead of a 6800 probably makes no sense, but with a SLI motherboard you could buy 1 card now (6600 or 6800) and a second card when you can afford it.

Are the cards the exact same? That begs a good question...future upgrades. I wonder if you can just throw in another 6800 or if theres something special about the cards where they have to link together.

right now it would seem the same cards with no connecting cable from this image here

but I could be wrong though.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

OMG, look at all the numbers DOOM 3 IS NOT THE ONLY GAME IN THE WORLD. 2x6600GTs win 2 out of 3 vs one 6800GT. Pay $200 now for $200 performance, if you have $400 you have some options, if SLI is an option for you, you might want to go for the 6600s... while at the same time if you do have $400 to spend NOW then why not get a GT and then upgrade later when GTs drop to $200? SLI is either an all out performance option or it provides a very interesting upgrade option.

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Poeple want to be able to upgrade later. Buying 2 x 6600 instead of a 6800 probably makes no sense, but with a SLI motherboard you could buy 1 card now (6600 or 6800) and a second card when you can afford it.

Are the cards the exact same? That begs a good question...future upgrades. I wonder if you can just throw in another 6800 or if theres something special about the cards where they have to link together.

right now it would seem the same cards with no connecting cable from this image here

but I could be wrong though.

actually, I'm wrong. If you look at step 4, it would seem a connection cable is needed...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Poeple want to be able to upgrade later. Buying 2 x 6600 instead of a 6800 probably makes no sense, but with a SLI motherboard you could buy 1 card now (6600 or 6800) and a second card when you can afford it.

Are the cards the exact same? That begs a good question...future upgrades. I wonder if you can just throw in another 6800 or if theres something special about the cards where they have to link together.

right now it would seem the same cards with no connecting cable from this image here

but I could be wrong though.

actually, I'm wrong. If you look at step 4, it would seem a connection cable is needed...

Yeah it needs a connector.

Shown here connecting the two cards towards the front..a small link card.

I wonder if all current 6800 cards have this? That'd be awesome if people who already have a 6800 could get another in the future for an awesome upgrade path.

 

[tfinch2]

you know why SLI will be successful? Because NVIDIA fanboys with big wallets and a big e-penis will love to have 6800 Ultras in SLI that will stomp any X800XT.

<Puts flamesuit on>

 

[FreshPrince]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
OMG, look at all the numbers DOOM 3 IS NOT THE ONLY GAME IN THE WORLD. 2x6600GTs win 2 out of 3 vs one 6800GT. Pay $200 now for $200 performance, if you have $400 you have some options, if SLI is an option for you, you might want to go for the 6600s... while at the same time if you do have $400 to spend NOW then why not get a GT and then upgrade later when GTs drop to $200? SLI is either an all out performance option or it provides a very interesting upgrade option.

believe me, when 6800GT falls to $200, the new $200 card will be faster, therefore it would make sense to buy the new card....or buy the new 6800GT (whatever they'll call it then). Making the old 6800GT SLI a bad upgrade to go to with.