Can i SLI

[Manta]

Well im getting confused, I have read that the Corsair 620w can run 260 GTX in SLI and I have read that the 260 GTX uses less power than the 8800 GTX (which i know this PSU can handle in SLI)

So could someone please help me with the following questions?

1.Will the Corsair 620w work with 2 x 260 GTX
2.Will my motherboard (Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus) work and support the above cards in SLI
3. Should i wait before buying the 2nd card, due to the new dieset?
4. Will the new cards work in SLI with older ones?

Here are my system details

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (not GO)
Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus
ASUS 260GTX (standard)
Corsair Performance 2GB 800mhz
2x 320GB SATA 2 Barracuda HD
Corsair HX 620 PSU
2x Asus lightscribe DVDRW
Samsung 226BW 22inch LCD
Logitech G15 Keyboard

I have not overclocked anything and system seems to habdle the one 260 GTX without any probs

I am so lost as I am wanting to get one tomorrow

THanks heaps

 

[kllrnohj]

GTX 260 actually uses a *bit* more power at load than the 8800GTX, but only by a couple of watts, so your PSU should be fine. Since the new GTX 260s have more SPs, having two in SLI will likely cause it to match the old GTX 260. Just a guess on my part, though.

At 1680x1050, though, there really isn't any need for GTX 260 SLI. Honestly, there really isn't a game that would justify GTX 260 SLI. If your motherboard supports SLI then it supports SLI - there isn't any restrictions in that area

 

[kumquatsrus]

GTX 260 actually uses a *bit* more power at load than the 8800GTX, but only by a couple of watts, so your PSU should be fine. Since the new GTX 260s have more SPs, having two in SLI will likely cause it to match the old GTX 260. Just a guess on my part, though.

At 1680x1050, though, there really isn't any need for GTX 260 SLI. Honestly, there really isn't a game that would justify GTX 260 SLI. If your motherboard supports SLI then it supports SLI - there isn't any restrictions in that area

both the new and old 260 in sli will retain their respective SPs according to firingsquad

quote:

If you’ve already got a GeForce GTX 260 and would like to purchase another for SLI, we can confirm that the new 216 shader GTX 260 boards are 100% compatible with the 192-shader GTX 260, allowing both GPUs to be combined together for SLI. Each board will run with all its shaders enabled, giving you a grand total of 408 shaders for the SLI system.

source:

http://firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_gtx_260_216shader/page2.asp

 

[Valset]

I would not bother with the new cards if your going to sli. but really do you need it?

to answer you question yes you can run the GTX260 SLI on your system as is.

 

[Manta]

Great advice thank you.

Will I gain a frame rate increase in crysis and FSX if I SLI? as these games seem to be struggling a bit.

COD4 and Grid have no issues what so ever

 

[Valset]

Great advice thank you.

Will I gain a frame rate increase in crysis and FSX if I SLI? as these games seem to be struggling a bit.

COD4 and Grid have no issues what so ever

yes you will, and no they wouldn't.

 

[Manta]

Cool might be worth a shot

 

[kllrnohj]

Actually, FSX would likely benefit from a new motherboard - one with PCI-E 2.0. If you look at http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pci-express-2-0,1915-10.html you'll see that FSX really took a hit at lower PCI-E speeds (PCI-E 2.0 x8 == PCI-E 1.1 x16)

Crysis has poor SLI scaling if memory serves, so I'm not sure how much SLI would help, but it does need a fast CPU to drive it. I would consider overclocking your Q6600 if you haven't already - hopefully to the 3ghz range.

 

[Valset]

Actually, FSX would likely benefit from a new motherboard - one with PCI-E 2.0. If you look at http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pci-express-2-0,1915-10.html you'll see that FSX really took a hit at lower PCI-E speeds (PCI-E 2.0 x8 == PCI-E 1.1 x16)

Crysis has poor SLI scaling if memory serves, so I'm not sure how much SLI would help, but it does need a fast CPU to drive it. I would consider overclocking your Q6600 if you haven't already - hopefully to the 3ghz range.

there isn't much of a difference past PCIe 1 at 16x. hell there isn't even much of a drop with PCIe 1 X8. If he is looking for better performance in crysis (the only reason I can see for going SLI at his resolution.) then the seconded card is a good option. I still don't think he really needs it though.

 

[Patman08]

there isn't much of a difference past PCIe 1 at 16x. hell there isn't even much of a drop with PCIe 1 X8. If he is looking for better performance in crysis (the only reason I can see for going SLI at his resolution.) then the seconded card is a good option. I still don't think he really needs it though.

gotta agree with you there. sli always a good option but @ that rez 1 should do the job even if he plays crysis. that is unless he tries very high and then even with sli'd 260's he's still screwed.

 

[Manta]

Very intresting, so basically not worth spending the extra money because I wont see much improvement what so ever.

Thanks for the advice, I might look into buying a CPU cooler and overclock my q6600, can the non Go versions be overclocked?

 

[kllrnohj]

there isn't much of a difference past PCIe 1 at 16x. hell there isn't even much of a drop with PCIe 1 X8. If he is looking for better performance in crysis (the only reason I can see for going SLI at his resolution.) then the seconded card is a good option. I still don't think he really needs it though.

Read the damn article please. In FSX there very much IS a large drop going from PCI-E 2.0 x16 -> x8. Here, I'll even post the image for you since you apparently can't click a damn link and scroll down

Just like to point out that going from PCIe 2.0 x16 to PCIe 2.0 x4 (which is PCIe 1.1 x8) resulted in a halving of the framerates in FSX. "isn't even much of a drop" my ass.

 

[Valset]

Read the damn article please. In FSX there very much IS a large drop going from PCI-E 2.0 x16 -> x8. Here, I'll even post the image for you since you apparently can't click a damn link and scroll down

Just like to point out that going from PCIe 2.0 x16 to PCIe 2.0 x4 (which is PCIe 1.1 x8) resulted in a halving of the framerates in FSX. "isn't even much of a drop" my ass.

You picked out a game that is known to run better on a GTX8800 then a 4870. a single game from that entire review. There just isn't really that much difference going past PCIe 1 16x. rapidly diminishing returns. And there is no reason to be immature here.

from their conclusion

As long as a graphics solution can operate with data that is stored within its local video frame buffer memory, both the reasonably mainstream Radeon HD radeon hd 3850 and the hardcore GeForce 9900 GX2 will operate close to their maximum performance, even if the PCI Express link width is limited to x8 or x4.

And a gtx 260 has even more memory. not to mention that have yet to see a real benefit from the extra memory except at high resolutions. And while your at it go look at the crossfire scaling reviews, they do quite well at 8X 8X.

 

[kllrnohj]

You picked out a game that is known to run better on a GTX8800 then a 4870. a single game from that entire review. There just isn't really that much difference going past PCIe 1 16x. rapidly diminishing returns. And there is no reason to be immature here.

From the OP:

Will I gain a frame rate increase in crysis and FSX if I SLI?

He clearly plays the game that is the fringe case, thus it *IS* significant, especially since he is contemplating SLI (meaning even more PCIe bandwidth needed). That, and the article had absolutely nothing to do with the 8800GTX or 4870. It was only about PCIe scaling

So for the OP there very much WILL be a noticeable difference, hence my post. Again, please actually READ before making an assumption that is clearly incorrect.

 

[Valset]

From the OP:

He clearly plays the game that is the fringe case, thus it *IS* significant, especially since he is contemplating SLI (meaning even more PCIe bandwidth needed). That, and the article had absolutely nothing to do with the 8800GTX or 4870. It was only about PCIe scaling

So for the OP there very much WILL be a noticeable difference, hence my post. Again, please actually READ before making an assumption that is clearly incorrect.

and he also added in crysis, which I said that would be the only reason he need sli. If he wants faster in FSX he need to go back the 8800ultra. The FSX is a memory issue more then the bandwidth See here
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/...008/Microsoft-Flight-Simulator-X-SP2,785.html

or find one of those 2gb cards lay around (the one 1gb GT was faster then the Ultra) going to PCIe 2.0 would net his 3.4 frames per second past PCIe 1 at 16x. If you really think that is a big difference then please feel free to go on ahead, In my book there is not a lot of benefit to going to PCIe 2 over 1 at 16, or even eight for most games.

and for that matter SLI is not an issue with FSX as it doesn't scale.

 

[swale]

I find that I have only just been able to max my system out on fsx fully stable at all times with tri sli, while I disagree that it doesn't scale, it does but not very well. think fsx is more cpu dependant most other games do benefit and most likely will do in the future, go for it...

 

[Manta]

Yeah all intresting. I will hold off and let the 260 GTX come down in price I think, great link to Toms Hardware, it seems that some games will benifit from SLI at 1680 x 1050 and some wont, and by the look of FSX actually gets worse (but i find that hard to belive)

Decisions decisions, at this this card only cost me $100 and made $200 by selling my old 8800 GTX.