Some SLI Questions

[boilermaker]

Many say that SLI is just around the corner from being mainstream, but is it really worth it? My main question would be if anyone here thinks that as new graphics cards come out, that one high end card will be able to perform the same as two mid-range cards. An example: would 1-$400 card = 2-$200 SLI cards in terms of performance that only takes up one PCI-E slot? I'm not the kind of person that has to run every game with the settings on high perfectly. I will never be setting up SLI with $500 cards. All I want is a PC that will hold its own and run programs for 2-3 years before I need to upgrade. Maybe now you can evaluate my SLI needs.

If I don't need SLI, I will be able to save money on my mobo and PSU by not getting the SLI certification.

[glc]

A $400 card will blow away a pair of $200 cards in SLI. SLI is a toy for the wealthy who will pair up a couple total top end cards to get every bit of performance they can get. SLI requires a $100+ power supply too.

[boilermaker]

Okay thanks, glc, that makes my decision easier. I can now downgrade my proposed mobo to an Asus A8N-E w/o SLI and a Thermaltake 500W PSU vs. spending more to get an Antec PSU with SLI support.

Just a sidenote to glc: I was wondering what specs (basic, not too detailed) your main, everyday pc has (I'm assuming that you own many computers because you seem to be an expert here).

[rspassey]

I agree with GLC, keep it to one powerful card for now, but I still think it is a good idea to keep the SLI option open. In a year a second 7800GTX will be a lot cheaper and if added in SLI to a PC with one 7800GTX now, it will be a very powerful machine.

[glc]

I'm not a gamer, so I do not have a high end video card (or system, for that matter) by today's standards. My personal system is mostly built with parts that other people throw away, I don't like spending money on computer parts when I don't need to.

Basic specs? P4-2.53 on a genuine Intel 845E board, 1gb ram, 3 hard drives (40gb, 20gb, 20gb), Nvidia GF4 Ti4400, 16x DVD burner, SCSI card and 40x CD drive, Soundblaster 512 PCI, 350 watt EPower PSU. 19" CTX CRT, Epson C86 printer, Visioneer 5300 scanner, Altec ACS45 speakers.

My everyday laptop is an IBM Thinkpad T20 - P3-700, 256 ram, 20gb hard drive.

[MakeYourslf2012]

I don't necassarily think that SLI is a option for the weathly. Infact, some might think opposite. Look at it this way:

Get 1 high-end card now and it will probably meet your needs for a couple years. When you need to give your graphics a boost, get another card but this time it will be atleast $100-$200 cheaper. This way, you don't have to spend $300+ for another high-end card.


SLI is a personal choice. I went with an SLI motherboard because it was only $20 more than it's non-SLI version, but gives me the option of adding another card instead of buying a new one. While some see it as a waste, I see it as a money saver.

[jfk]

Originally Posted by MakeYourslf2012 I don't necassarily think that SLI is a option for the weathly. Infact, some might think opposite. Look at it this way: Get 1 high-end card now and it will probably meet your needs for a couple years. When you need to give your graphics a boost, get another card but this time it will be atleast $100-$200 cheaper. This way, you don't have to spend $300+ for another high-end card. SLI is a personal choice. I went with an SLI motherboard because it was only $20 more than it's non-SLI version, but gives me the option of adding another card instead of buying a new one. While some see it as a waste, I see it as a money saver.

I agree with that argument to a point. However, the converse side of the discussion is that one single powerful card will get you 80+ percent of the performance of dual cards (more than that in many games/applications). Additionally, the one single card can CERTAINLY play all the games with the full eye candy turned on, so the advantage of the two cards is in the eye of the owner. I know this as my last generation card still plays all games at max settings with acceptable framerates, INCLUDING F.E.A.R., a notorious PC eater. I STILL call BS to those that say "I can see the difference between 110 and 130 frames per second". Whatever.

Now, the argument to add a card later. With SLI, the cards need to be identical. It is my understanding that they need to be identical right down to their BIOS versions. With that said, how do you know you can obtain an identical card and manage to find (or flash your current card) to the BIOS of the second card in 1-2 years? In addition to that point, you don't think that in 1 or 2 years, you can add your second card for $200, but the performance will still be poorer than someone using a single higher (NOT highest) end card of the current generation of video cards? As an example, you buy a 7800GTX now for $500 and add a second one in a year and a half for $200. Not discounting the time value of money, you have invested $700 in video cards. Now, you could buy a single 7800GT for $350 now. The performance would be close enough to the GTX that you are HIGHLY unlikely to notice a difference in game. In a year and a half, you add the 2nd or 3rd best card of that CURRENT generation of cards for $350-400. In essence you spent the same, and with the rate of improvement of cards, I'm willing to bet that the single card of the newer generation will beat your dual cards from the last generation.

Anyway, I'm not against SLI or Crossfire, but I think sometimes it gets pimped as some magical way to futureproof a PC or provide unstoppable performance. I think if you're going to utilize the technology, you should get both cards up front, but that's my opinion. I know I've told people they could wait, but I usually recommend that they add the second card within a few months rather than 1 year or more.

[MakeYourslf2012]

Originally Posted by jfk Now, the argument to add a card later. With SLI, the cards need to be identical. It is my understanding that they need to be identical right down to their BIOS versions. With that said, how do you know you can obtain an identical card and manage to find (or flash your current card) to the BIOS of the second card in 1-2 years?..... .....I'm willing to bet that the single card of the newer generation will beat your dual cards from the last generation.

Actually, nVidia recently made a smart move: a couple months ago they released new SLI drivers which allow you to mix/match card brands, core & memory clocks, and RAM amounts. The only thing REQUIRED to be the same is the GPU (i.e. 7800GT with a 7800GT, 6800Ultra with a 6800Ultra)

However, it is a true fact that a single board of a newer generation of cards will outperform dual cards from the preceding generation.

[FireByyrd]

Man, are you kidding me. =/

[jfk]

Originally Posted by MakeYourslf2012 Actually, nVidia recently made a smart move: a couple months ago they released new SLI drivers which allow you to mix/match card brands, core & memory clocks, and RAM amounts. The only thing REQUIRED to be the same is the GPU (i.e. 7800GT with a 7800GT, 6800Ultra with a 6800Ultra) However, it is a true fact that a single board of a newer generation of cards will outperform dual cards from the preceding generation.

Yep, I recently read that after this posting, just within the last day or two. I think it might have even been in these forums. Good move on NVIDIA's part to get rid of the need for identical cards. I thought that was one area where Crossfire would have an advantage. Again, I think the counterpoints I mentioned have merit. It is my opinion that IF you are going to go SLI, you need to do it SOON after the build to truly optimize it.

[FireByyrd]

Yes, and one thing that made me make the decision to go with one card rather than SLI is because SLI at the time when I got my build was going at x8, x8. It's a waste because I've recently seen motherboards going with x16, x16 ='ing x32. But the board was outta my budget, the board was at 233 or somewhere there.