Basic SLI question for you high res players

[Labrador]

Ok, I have seen the benchmarks about SLI vs single cards, and even HalfLife2 is still faster on a single X850XT PE vs dual 6800Gt's ? I think at 1600res with 4xAA/8xAF the X850 can get 125fps and 6800GT 120fps, I know thats not really specific or no linkage, but go with me

But my question is, yeah a single high end X800 maybe faster at the high max FPS, but what about measuring the low FPS, like when you get in a gun battle, or there are ten monsters on the screen, and you see the FPS drop from 125 all the way 30 FPS, would the SLI setup benefit more there, not dropping so low, but just going from 120FPS to like only 90FPS or so ?

 

[pandora's box]

there's some here at the bottom of each page. gives max fps and low fps. compared to a x800 xl.


http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/msi_nx6800/page8.asp

 

[Project_2501]

From that link, it seems that the SLI'd rig will push a higher framerate in those situations.

 

[Rollo]

Ok, I have seen the benchmarks about SLI vs single cards, and even HalfLife2 is still faster on a single X850XT PE vs dual 6800Gt's ? I think at 1600res with 4xAA/8xAF the X850 can get 125fps and 6800GT 120fps, I know thats not really specific or no linkage, but go with me

But my question is, yeah a single high end X800 maybe faster at the high max FPS, but what about measuring the low FPS, like when you get in a gun battle, or there are ten monsters on the screen, and you see the FPS drop from 125 all the way 30 FPS, would the SLI setup benefit more there, not dropping so low, but just going from 120FPS to like only 90FPS or so ?

I can't "go with you there" because 6800GTs are faster than X850XT PEs at any game that uses SLI, HL2 included.

High end cards aren't faster at minimum, average, or maximum- they basically just get slaughtered like sheep by 6800GT/U SLI.

 

[Project_2501]

Warning, that above post was rediculously baised. They don;'t get slaughtered, they're about equal at higher resolutions in HL2, and lest we forget, nVidia can't do 6x AA in HL2.

 

[Rollo]

Warning, that above post was rediculously baised. They don;'t get slaughtered, they're about equal at higher resolutions in HL2, and lest we forget, nVidia can't do 6x AA in HL2.

You are correct.
HL2 is the one SLI supported game where ATIs best cards can come within 10% of 6800GT SLI.

It is all the other SLI supported games where a single card is waaayyy behind.

In any case, the OP was a lot more misleading than mine, I just wasn't specific enough to exclude HL2.

The way off base and unsupportable OP makes it sound like a single high end card can beat 6800GTs, which it can't.

 

[Labrador]

so back to my main point, will a 6800GT SLi setup benefit more vs a single X800 in the high intense battle areas in the game ?

Ever play HL2 or Doom3 and the game is smooth just walking around, but when there are 10 guys on screen and 2 grenade explosions at the same time it gets choppy. WOuld the SLi not get down so bad, just keep the fps more steady vs a single card

 

[FanATIc]

so back to my main point, will a 6800GT SLi setup benefit more vs a single X800 in the high intense battle areas in the game ?

Ever play HL2 or Doom3 and the game is smooth just walking around, but when there are 10 guys on screen and 2 grenade explosions at the same time it gets choppy. WOuld the SLi not get down so bad, just keep the fps more steady vs a single card

IF you are running a new A64/P4 processor and have 1 gig of ram and these situations are still arising, assuming its simple graphic limitation, then yes, two GPU will benefit. But the important thing to remember is you must break the point where one cards power is not enough. On todays NEWEST games thats 1600x1200 max AA/AF. 1280x1024 max aa/af can be pushed by either the X800XT/X850XT or the 6800U. So the question is, are you playing at these extreme settings and asking, or you playing at something where 90% of the time a single card vs SLI will yield worthless cost/benefit ratio.

 

[legcramp]

Warning, that above post was rediculously baised. They don;'t get slaughtered, they're about equal at higher resolutions in HL2, and lest we forget, nVidia can't do 6x AA in HL2.

Warning, that above post quoted is full is biased. They don't get slaughthered in HL2, in everything else, yes, and who cares if nvidia can't support? 6xAA? wut u trying to start a flamewar that's what, and guess wut? Nvidia support 8xAA, and ATI dont! SO WUT? noone mentions that, who cares!!! and Ati would be too slow to run 6xAA @ high res. on latest games anyways...boohoooo...everyone would rather use 4XAA because of quality/performance ratio!!! and u shut ur phanboi trap up ok! gosh. and SLI DO SLAUGHTHER any single damn card out right now!!!! unless you count 6600gt's and 6800nu's.... but yah!! sorry, I am pissed about some email crap that I had to resend and resend and resend and resend!!!!!!

 

[Zinn]

and u shut ur phanboi trap up ok! gosh. and SLI DO SLAUGHTHER any single damn card out right now!!!! unless you count 6600gt's and 6800nu's.... but yah!! sorry, I am pissed about some email crap that I had to resend and resend and resend and resend!!!!!!

We can tell you're mad, but there's no need to bring this post down into yet another flame war... take a chill pill. This stuff is seriously not worth getting worked up over.

As for Labrador's question, I think it's interesting. A game like Half Life or Far Cry is severely CPU limited with the highest end cards... but I haven't seen too many reviews comparing minimum SLI framerates, except for the one on HardOCP. I doubt lowest frame rates would differ due to CPU limitation...

 

[Labrador]

IF you are running a new A64/P4 processor and have 1 gig of ram and these situations are still arising, assuming its simple graphic limitation, then yes, two GPU will benefit. But the important thing to remember is you must break the point where one cards power is not enough. On todays NEWEST games thats 1600x1200 max AA/AF. 1280x1024 max aa/af can be pushed by either the X800XT/X850XT or the 6800U. So the question is, are you playing at these extreme settings and asking, or you playing at something where 90% of the time a single card vs SLI will yield worthless cost/benefit ratio.

I run my games at 1920x1200res, and would like to run it at 4xAA/8xAF, but that is too much . But games like UT2004 can easliy drop to the 20's in big firefights, would the SLI not drop as low ?

 

[legcramp]

probably to 40 fps

 

[FanATIc]

I run my games at 1920x1200res, and would like to run it at 4xAA/8xAF, but that is too much . But games like UT2004 can easliy drop to the 20's in big firefights, would the SLI not drop as low ?

To make things simple, at that resolution with the settings your asking, you'll want a dual card setup. Im sure Rollo will come in here and jabber at me saying this, but ATI has shipped its COMPLETED chipset for its own dual card config which will most certainly be launched before any next gen cards. Really talking 2 months and i expect mobos on shelves. Do not forget that ATIs version does not need time to add games to the profile, doesnt have one. So right on release, all games are good to go, how efective they run the ballance through software with drivers will be the main concern and what will be tweaked over time.

PCX X8xx cards are all ATI Multi GPU ready, so if you're willing to invest all that money, while it will be argued by the doubtful that ATI's anti-SLI will be ready on release, i think its worth waiting just a bit more so you can see whats being offered. More options for the consumer is more power to the consumer. Make a choice from there. ATI does have a clear lead in the most powerful single card area now, knowing that it is ready to be run in dual mode is something every SLI user has at the back of their head. My advice is to wait a bit, look at a whole picture, then make a choice on what you like or whats the best. A Dual card setup is a long term investment to just about everyone, no reason to hasten.

Also you're not on a wide screen monitor are you? SLI has severe issues in it still on all drivers, beta and official.

 

[Labrador]

To make things simple, at that resolution with the settings your asking, you'll want a dual card setup. Im sure Rollo will come in here and jabber at me saying this, but ATI has shipped its COMPLETED chipset for its own dual card config which will most certainly be launched before any next gen cards. Really talking 2 months and i expect mobos on shelves. Do not forget that ATIs version does not need time to add games to the profile, doesnt have one. So right on release, all games are good to go, how efective they run the ballance through software with drivers will be the main concern and what will be tweaked over time.

PCX X8xx cards are all ATI Multi GPU ready, so if you're willing to invest all that money, while it will be argued by the doubtful that ATI's anti-SLI will be ready on release, i think its worth waiting just a bit more so you can see whats being offered. More options for the consumer is more power to the consumer. Make a choice from there. ATI does have a clear lead in the most powerful single card area now, knowing that it is ready to be run in dual mode is something every SLI user has at the back of their head. My advice is to wait a bit, look at a whole picture, then make a choice on what you like or whats the best. A Dual card setup is a long term investment to just about everyone, no reason to hasten.

Also you're not on a wide screen monitor are you? SLI has severe issues in it still on all drivers, beta and official.

good point, yes I am on a Samsung 243T, but I dont plan on upgrading right now, best to wait it out see what the R520 has to offer, and when yuo can actually buy one from store ?

I did just buy 2gb of DDR400 Corsair Xm memory. for my P4 rig, will go back to that one as my main one, this Athlon64 has been given me major issues, and I have tried the works on it. would rather have a stable system than a little faster

 

[jacuzz1]

so back to my main point, will a 6800GT SLi setup benefit more vs a single X800 in the high intense battle areas in the game ?

Ever play HL2 or Doom3 and the game is smooth just walking around, but when there are 10 guys on screen and 2 grenade explosions at the same time it gets choppy. WOuld the SLi not get down so bad, just keep the fps more steady vs a single card

Fortunately I have not experienced that even when i had my wide screen which by the way did work in sli for reasons i cant explain .