Video SLI Upgrade, or CPU?

Z

zleuth

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
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I don't know what would show the best improvement, either a 2nd 8800GT in SLI, or a better processor.

Quick sys specs:
MB: MSI P6N SLI Platinum
CPU: Intel E6750 @stock speed
MEM: 4 gigs DDR2 800
V-card: Gigabyte 8800GT "Turboforce ed."

Newegg has the matching card on sale for $139 after MIR, so that would likely be the cheaper option. But is it better?

Anyone think they know for sure?
 
what do you need the performance for? I dont think upgrading the CPU will do much. You should just overclock it and save yourself the money. What games do you play?

SLI will give you more framerates but it matters on resolution and the games.


overclocking CPU will boost performance across the board.
 
2wiced said:
what do you need the performance for? I dont think upgrading the CPU will do much. You should just overclock it and save yourself the money. What games do you play?

SLI will give you more framerates but it matters on resolution and the games.


overclocking CPU will boost performance across the board.
Click to expand...

I'm into COD4 and TF2 these days.
Obviously TF2 doesn't need the help. But COD4 might benefit some. Maybe it'll look prettier.
 
leetskeet said:
both
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if you believe intel, you should upgrade the CPU .. best case, RTS games maxed out will play better on a faster QC CPU

if you believe nVidia, *always* upgrade the GPU .. for 90% of games .. and if you can handle the Micro Stutter, then a 2nd GPU in SLi will give you great scaling in all new games.

What resolution do you game at? if it is only 14x9, down clock everything and turn on maximum SLI MSAA; you are way overpowered for everything but Crysis.
:p

i have a single 8800GTX which i alternate with 2900xt Crossfire to compare the IQ. i am playing at 16x10 and use 4xAA/16xAF as a minimum for most games. For Crysis, i play on my 19" CRT at 11x8 - or even 10x7 if it is a nasty fight scene; with everything "very high" except shadows on 'high';2xAA/8xAF; high 20s FPS.

Me? if i had your rig, and i needed to upgrade because of my big LCD, i'd definitely get the $139 GPU for SLi [praying the "micro stutter" doesn't bother you; it does not bother me but 'kills' some gamers' experience]. if i could wait; i'd see what GT200 brings next month! - if you can spend over $500 for more than twice the performance of your current GPU. =P
 
apoppin said:
if you believe intel, you should upgrade the CPU .. best case, RTS games maxed out will play better on a faster QC CPU

if you believe nVidia, *always* upgrade the GPU .. for 90% of games .. and if you can handle the Micro Stutter, then a 2nd GPU in SLi will give you great scaling in all new games.

What resolution do you game at? if it is only 14x9, down clock everything and turn on maximum SLI MSAA; you are way overpowered for everything but Crysis.
:p

i have a single 8800GTX which i alternate with 2900xt Crossfire to compare the IQ. i am playing at 16x10 and use 4xAA/16xAF as a minimum for most games. For Crysis, i play on my 19" CRT at 11x8 - or even 10x7 if it is a nasty fight scene; with everything "very high" except shadows on 'high';2xAA/8xAF; high 20s FPS.

Me? if i had your rig, and i needed to upgrade because of my big LCD, i'd definitely get the $139 GPU for SLi [praying the "micro stutter" doesn't bother you; it does not bother me but 'kills' some gamers' experience]. if i could wait; i'd see what GT200 brings next month! - if you can spend over $500 for more than twice the performance of your current GPU. =P
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Yeah, I'm running at 1920 x 1200 LCD.
What is "micro stutter"?
 
From what I recall, I believe the Microstutter is some sort of bottle neck that is caused from too much video processing?

Someone correct me
 
From what I have read, "micro stutter" is occurs occasionally when you have an SLI or Crossfire setup. It causes frames to randomly draw at slightly different rates, or freezes completely for a split second.
There has not been any firm reason for this, but some speculate that it is related to process priority in a multi-GPU/ Multi CPU setup when you have high end Vid cards installed.

Given the complexities of memory management with large frame buffers(256meg+), it seems to me to be almost inevitable that something like this might crop up with certain system configurations. SLI video drivers are probably particularly volatile in regards to this, even though they don't "use" the extra memory on the 2nd card.

Meh.
 
the above explanation of micro stutter or hitching is pretty accurate. i have never experienced it myself with my 3870x2 or 9800gx2. i wouldn't worry about it.

at the rez you are running. sli with 8800gt's is a cheap upgrade with a great return on investment. i would go that route.
 
zleuth said:
From what I have read, "micro stutter" is occurs occasionally when you have an SLI or Crossfire setup. It causes frames to randomly draw at slightly different rates, or freezes completely for a split second.
There has not been any firm reason for this, but some speculate that it is related to process priority in a multi-GPU/ Multi CPU setup when you have high end Vid cards installed.

Given the complexities of memory management with large frame buffers(256meg+), it seems to me to be almost inevitable that something like this might crop up with certain system configurations. SLI video drivers are probably particularly volatile in regards to this, even though they don't "use" the extra memory on the 2nd card.

Meh.
Click to expand...

Here is the very best thread on Micro stutter anywhere - it settled the issues at B3D!!
- some industry heavyweights signed up to reply and there is also a *cure* for it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2178762&highlight_key=y

Some people are really bothered by it; no doubts at all - it IS real. However, MOST gamers will put up with it as the "overall experience" is way better with a 2nd GPU. i never see it with 2900xt Crossfire as i play at 16x10 and i use Crossfire Filtering which is not AFR - AFR causes the problems for some people
 
going to have to read that thread, looks like i'll need some extra time for sure. :) 14 pages!
 
wadec22 said:
going to have to read that thread, looks like i'll need some extra time for sure. :) 14 pages!
Click to expand...
it is really long and the first half is useless flaming [note me, the opposition ring-leader, get serious about it half way thru as i NEVER noticed it with Crossfire Filtering as it is not AFR]

About half way thru the Creator of nHancer signs up to post and it gets really serious - and interesting - and there is a simple cure!! Nvidia needs to add a 2ms delay to the 1st card to synch it completely!! A simple driver fix, evidently. And the focus group members have passed it on the Nvidia for the fix .. hopefully
 
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