Yeah I know SLI questions are overdone and a PITA...

[canadianpsycho]

Thinking of going SLI. Trying to figure out if I should get 2x6600GTs now, or get a 6800GT and add a second card later?

Any opinions?

 

[nitromullet]

1 6800GT... 6600GT's in SLI is just running SLI for the sake of running SLI IMO. You will get the same performance from one 6800GT without the hassle, plus you can always buy another one later if you want the increased performance.

 

[OrangeParktech]

if im not mistaken, the 6600's would be faster at the lower resolutions, but the 6800GT performs much better at high resolutions. I think maybe it has something to do with the 6600 being a 128mb card. Perhaps SLI doesn't use the other cards RAM effectively. I saw these tested somewhere on the web a few weeks ago, and the 6600's fell off big time at high resolutions.

I would do the single GT and add a second down the road.

 

[canadianpsycho]

That's what I figured. I'm gaming mostly at 1280x1024 anyways. Just wanted a little reassurance

Thanks.

 

[McArra]

1x6800GT of course

 

[Sarcassimo]

ive had the 6600GT SLI set up for awhile. it was a pricing consideration for me. 2x 6600GT's 380$ vs over 500$ for the 6800GT or Ultra. needless to say i am pleased with the performance and sli does help in all the games i play. i did test single card vs sli. with no aa af the single card managed near the framerates of the sli setup with 4x aa and 8 x af . i like the quality settings so the second card stays. eventually i will sell the 6600gt's and get 6800 ultra\GT's. no regrets here saved some cash and im getting playable frame rates with high quality.



Sarcassimo

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Sarcassimo
ive had the 6600GT SLI set up for awhile. it was a pricing consideration for me. 2x 6600GT's 380$ vs over 500$ for the 6800GT or Ultra. needless to say i am pleased with the performance and sli does help in all the games i play. i did test single card vs sli. with no aa af the single card managed near the framerates of the sli setup with 4x aa and 8 x af . i like the quality settings so the second card stays. eventually i will sell the 6600gt's and get 6800 ultra\GT's. no regrets here saved some cash and im getting playable frame rates with high quality.



Sarcassimo

$500 for a 6800GT? i think you are shopping at the wrong places...

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: Sarcassimo
ive had the 6600GT SLI set up for awhile. it was a pricing consideration for me. 2x 6600GT's 380$ vs over 500$ for the 6800GT or Ultra. needless to say i am pleased with the performance and sli does help in all the games i play. i did test single card vs sli. with no aa af the single card managed near the framerates of the sli setup with 4x aa and 8 x af . i like the quality settings so the second card stays. eventually i will sell the 6600gt's and get 6800 ultra\GT's. no regrets here saved some cash and im getting playable frame rates with high quality.



Sarcassimo

$500 for a 6800GT? i think you are shopping at the wrong places...

I think he was shopping a few weeks ago. It's just now getting to the point where you can find 6800GTs in PCIE flavor for close to $400..

Anyway, the 6600GT SLI rig has slightly lower price, higher non AA/AF performance, and WMV9 decode going for it, with slightly lower performance on games that benefit from SLI and significantly lower performance on games that don't benefit from SLI going against it.

I played Kingpin, Heavy Metal FAKK@2, and GTA Vice City in forced SFR SLI last night, seemed to work fine, so I have a feeling that "noncompatible" SLI games might be hard to find, but this is your choice. (LOL- Kingpin gave me some error message about not finding "Glide" at first, 1999 FPS tech at it's finest)

The money thing is probably close to a wash if you're going to be upgrading to 6800GT SLI at some time in the future. (The combination of what you'd lose selling the 6600GTs then and what you'd save on the 6800GTs in the future probably offset each other pretty well)

 

[ohnnyj]

No question, go with the single 6800GT.

 

[Killrose]

One 6800GT or (2)6600GT's? neither, go with (1) 6800Ultra and be done with it. Then pick up another one a year from now when the are $200 used.

 

[canadianpsycho]

Originally posted by: Killrose
One 6800GT or (2)6600GT's? neither, go with (1) 6800Ultra and be done with it. Then pick up another one a year from now when the are $200 used.

Can't justify the cost premium for PCIe Ultra when I can pick up a GT an clock it to ultra until I get the 2nd card anyways

 

[fstime]

I would get a 6800GT as long as you can find one for 450 or less, i'm sure monarch has some good deals.

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: canadianpsycho
Can't justify the cost premium for PCIe Ultra when I can pick up a GT an clock it to ultra until I get the 2nd card anyways

True, and there ya go. Get one good overclockable brand 6800GT and add the second one later

 

[fbrdphreak]

If you can afford the 6800GT/Ultra now, buy it. That will make a better investment for the future. When its time to really rock SLI, you can get another GT/Ultra.
If you can't afford a GT now, then buy the 6600GT's. Be warned though: you're stuck with both cards until you can sell both & buy 2x6800GT/Ultra. Either way, good luck and enjoy your kick @$$ rig

 

[canadianpsycho]

Already picked up a BFG 6800GT OC PCIe from the FS/FT forums. Thanks for the tips guys