An SLi Opportunity

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gkg101

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
422
Last Known Good Configuration:
Opteron 185 Dual Core @2.8
Socket 939 Asus A8N-E single slot nforce4
8800 GTS 320 oc@620/880
Antec SmartPower 500 PSU
2 gigs Corsair XMS 400DDR
Samsung 226bw

I say last known configuration because one day last month my motherboard died when I turned on my computer. So I sent the motherboard back to Asus and I agreed to take a free upgrade to the A8N-SLI SE because they were out-of-stock of my present model. So now I got this SLi opportunity. I jumped and just bought a duplicate card on Newegg for just $189.00. Boy, I would love to use my present 500w. It reasonable that I could get away with just 500w? (btw, it is a brand new PSU, so no wear yet).
 
It's a Smartpower. I wouldn't recommend it. The Smartpower line of PSUs had a history of dying due to poor fan designs and choice of caps. Didn't think they still sold that PSU. Where did you get it?

Anyway, would not recommend using it. A good budget alternative would be this PSU:
Antec Earthwatts EA500 500W PSU - $55
 
Oh it was just sitting around as ABS tech support sent it to me as a replacement 2 years ago for what I thought was a defective PSU in the new rig they had just sold me. But the PSU external fan is not supposed to turn unless needed (why ABS tech support didn't know that was because they were/are very retarded, and so I am I but I'm the consumer). Anyway, I felt I'd keep it anyway. The existing cables are in place and it's tempting to just keep it. But I'm surprised that you recommend other 500W supplies. If I'm going to go to the trouble to re-cable everything, wouldn't I want a hight wattage unit? Thanks
 
[edit] I suspect my original SmartPower destroyed my motherboard. The PSU was making a high pitched squeal when plugged in but not running anything. So maybe I should ditch it. Well $55 is pretty cheap. Is 500w within nvidia specs for 2x8800gts 320?
 
But I think all things being equal, I need more than a 500W PSU to service 2x8800 GTS in SLi mode. Am I wrong? I attempted some research but found no definitive answer. I found out the hard way that quality matters. Any suggestion as to the cutting edge in value?
 
gkg101 said:
But I think all things being equal, I need more than a 500W PSU to service 2x8800 GTS in SLi mode. Am I wrong? I attempted some research but found no definitive answer. I found out the hard way that quality matters. Any suggestion as to the cutting edge in value?
Click to expand...

what res are you running at, imo 320mb gts sli isn't really worth it at all.
 
Really all I need to know: What's the best PSU value for running 2x8800 gts in sli mode?
Or does anyone want to talk me into keeping my current brand new, but badly reviewed SmartPower 500W. Is 500W below the requirement in an official sense?

edit: Well nvidia has outdated info about PSU requirements but it seems I'll need more than what I got.
 
While you'll be ok with a Corsair HX 520W, you really should get more headroom and go with the Corsair HX 620W -- just don't get it from newegg... too pricey; try buy.com, zipzoomfly, and clubit.

So, you paid $190 for a new 8800GTS 320MB? You could have sold your current one for around $175, combine that with the $190 you had, and bought an 8800GTS 512MB for only $285, which also outperforms an 8800GTX. That route would have also given you more vram, since in SLI, only vram from one is used.
 
Yes I got my new 8800 gts for $190 with a $30 rebate. Really? -a new 8800 gts 512 can out perform 2 8800 gts 320, or for that matter, the 8800 GTX?
 
Ok, so I think I still made a good choice based on what I've read, that is, 2 x 8800 gts 320 will out perform a single 8800 GTX, and for that matter, that nice 512 model. So for $190 I might as well take advantage of this new SLi board that ASUS upgraded me for free.
 
well I forgot to mention the PSU requirements and the additional cost of a PSU. I'm wondering if I can get away with using my current SmartPower 500w.
 
The SmartPower PSU isn't the best choice for your setup. Get either the 520HX or 620HX and call it a day.

Also, the point that enginurd was trying to make was that you didn't have to pay $200 for a second 320MB GTS when you could buy a new 512MB GTS for around $300 (... and, by selling your other card, you didn't have to spend any more money on it). With the monitor/resolution you're using, a single 512MB GTS would have performed just as well (for your needs) as two 320MB GTS cards could in SLI. But since you're content with your decision, it's a moot point.

Having said that, you're better off with one of the Corsair power supplies over the SmartPower. Especially since you've already had one die on you.
 
Those smartpower 2.0's are notorious for failing under high heat conditions. If you're putting the load of two 8800GTS cards on it, it will surely fail -- its just a matter of time. More power needed means more heat output by the PSU, and with Antecs inadequate cooling mechanism (smartfans), those fuhjyyu caps will fail sooner or later. The PSU is connected to everything, and could potentially take everything out... so I wouldn't risk it.

If I had your options...
a) buy a 2nd GTS 320MB and a new PSU (190 + 80 = $270 - 30MIR = $240)
or
b) buy a new GTS 512MB, sell my GTS 320MB, and keep my PSU (285 - 170 + 0 = 115 - 30MIR = $85)

I would have chosen option b. SLI at your resolution is useless, IMO. SLI with two 320MB cards would be worse than a single GTX, IMO, since you'll only be able to use 320MB of that VRAM; whereas the GTX has 768MB -- so you get better performance if you turn up the detail settings (AA/AF) with the GTX. Where did you read that the GTS 320MB in SLI is better than a single GTX? From what I recall reading last year (since that card is old), a single GTX performs on-par with two GTS 640MB cards in SLI, yet it has more VRAM (768 vs 640), consumes less power, and is less complex of a setup (less room for potential problems).

In other words, it wasn't an SLI opportunity... it was a ploy to get you to spend more money. ;)
 
It's true, I'm whipping a dead horse, the article I linked to will make me feel better at least a little. And memory, come to think of it, will come into play more and more as newer games will want more memory at lower resolutions.
 
Hm... pcstats doesnt even have a review of the GTS 512MB. :( They do have the GT, though...

3DMark06 overall scores:
10426 - Asus EN8800GT TOP/G/HTDP/512M/A
10555 - GeForce 8800GTS 320MB SLI

Keep in mind, the GTS 512MB ($255AR) is better than the GT 512MB ($180AR).

If you don't want to buy a new PSU, RMA the card. Though, I'd still be leary about that smartpower, lol. So, just go with a Corsair 620W from buy.com and call it a day. I hope you see a big improvement in games. None of the stuff I said matters if you're happy with the performance you get for the price you paid. ;)
 
Yea that about says it. So I might get a slightly better score compared to a 8800GT but probably not the 8800GTS 512. All in all, I guess I chose the lesser option. But at least I'm good to go without having to worry about selling my card. Of course, SLi is a less elegant solution all and all. I still have to think about it
 
Oh, might as well spring for the PSU you recommended. I think the original SmartPower smoked my system.
 
gkg101 said:
I think the original SmartPower smoked my system.
Click to expand...

You're not alone. None of mine, thankfully, smoked my systems, but I did have to RMA one (or a few, lol). I do know that if you RMA it to Antec, there are some strong possibilities that they'll send you either an Earthwatts, NeoHE/Power, or TruPower TRIO -- which are all better than the SP2.0/TP2.0 models.
 
Well thanks to all for the advice. BTW I purchased the Corsair HX 620 supply. It will definitely come in handy when I upgrade my CPU/Motherboard in a year or so.
 
I went through two smartpowers, neither killed my system but both had that high pitched squeal from the Fuhjyyu capacitors they used in them. On the second RMA that I did late last year I went to the antec warehouse in Fremont and they gave me an earthwatts.

edit-good choice, that's actually what I moved to too. I'd still recommend rma'ing the antec for a solid backup psu or one to build another system on later.
 
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