6600GT SLI or better single card

[Compddd]

Whatever you say Rollo 2.0

 

[imported_Noob]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
IMO SLI is a waste of money. Get a better single card.

The only people who say SLI is a waste of money are the people who have no SLI.

Think about it this way. Why spend twice the money on 2 of today's top of the line cards when the next gen card will be just as powerful of today's 2 cards combined. Is the performance boast realy worth it? That's up to the spender.

And off topic, if this would be possible to eliminate heat problems with SLI. Why not add a PCI slot in between the 2 PCIe slots so you have the option to add a PCI fan. This can prevent one of the cards' hot air from being transfered to the back of the other card.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: Rollo
Munky:

Unlike you, Rollo, I don't just post benches that favor my side.

You should, I'll be happy to post the ones that favor my side.

And how are you gonna expect ppl to buy 2 video cards, and not be able to play at max settings?

I don't know, from your (and my) benchamrks, it looks like 95% of the time you're no worse off with 6600GT SLI, so I don't see your point?

Just because YOU cant play 16xAF on your 6600 SLI setup, doesnt mean others should pay more money to get less performance.

There's a three problems with this:
1. I have a 256MB 6800NU SLI set as well- performs much higher than a 6600GT SLI, especially at the higher settings.
2. Apparently the 6600GT SLI can do the 16X AF as well as a 6800GT, sometimes better, and two 6600GTs cost LESS than a 6800GT?

And since you yourself admit SLI doesn't work on CoD (and other games), that's all the less reason for me to buy it.

It is true SLI doesn't work on all games, but it works on a LOT of games. The ones it doesn't work on, it does no harm, and usually they're games you can play pretty with one SLI level card.

Anyway, thanks again for the benches, those HL2 benches are gold.

BTW:

I'm sure you don't need magic eyes to see the difference between 30 and 22 fps, or between 47 and 38.

Actually I don't think I could tell the difference between 22 and 30- those averages are so slow the game would be lurching along like a slide show. You're closer to a point with 47 and 38, but it's just one bench? And remember what I said about the difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT being 2X AA where it exists? Applies here. You've wasted all this time trying to convince people there is some huge difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT, and it all comes back to what I already told you: Where there is a difference in performance, it's the difference between running at 2XAA and 4XAA.

You should listen to me Munky- I only tell the truth.

Apparently you missed the point that you need an SLI mobo to use SLI, and when you add up the cost of a new mobo and 2 6600gt's, it costs more than 1 6800gt that people can use on their current motherboard.

Also, there IS a visual difference between 2xAA and 4xAA. Why would I buy 2 6600 cards to play at 2x (and dont forget a new motherboard) when I can buy 1 6800 and play at 4x just as well or better? In case you didnt know, 4xAA is BETTER that 2xAA. Repeat that.

And since SLI only works in SOME games and not others, why would I even bother considering it as an option?

As for sticking to one-sided benches, here's some more for ya:

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/re...JsX3Jldmlld19JRD05MzAmdXJsX3BhZ2U9Ng==\
-notice how HDR (one of your favorite features) get's no benefit from SLI.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=7
-more HL2 benches
16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 51 fps
6600gt sli: 39 fps - oooh, not even close

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=13
-D3 , 16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 37 fps
6600gt sli: 34 fps - still cant match the bigger card

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=15
-UT2004, 16x12, 4x 8x
6800gt: 48 fps
6600gt sli: 42 fps - nope, cant match the better card there either

I'll find you more links if you keep arguing. Point is, when you crank up the resulution and turn on eye candy, the 6600gt's sli ALWAYS lag behind one 6800gt. Now, give me one good reason why I should buy 2 average cards and a sli motherboard, when instead i can just buy one good card and get better performance?

On to Round 3...

Actually munky, the SLi mobo will take any SLI capable vid cards. Even next gen PCI-E Nvidia AND ATI cards. So that is a long term investment and worth the extra 50 dollars over a standard PCI-E board. So the extra 50 dollars would spread out over a few years of use I would imagine. Now your grasping for some reason. Dunno why...

Oh lemme change one thing here. I am only assuming that SLI-d ATI cards will work. Unless ATI pulls a bonehead move and uses their own chipset ONLY to run their SLI cards when everybody favors NForce chipsets over all out there now.

I dont remember mentioning ATI anywhere in my post. We're only comparing 2 6600gt's in SLI vs. 1 6800gt.

Also, I would not want to invest in SLI, simply for the reason that I'd rather upgrade a single card more often with the money I save by NOT going with SLI. Plus, the newer cards will always have better/newer features than 2 older cards. You might have a different opinion, but graphics hardware improves at such a rapid pace, there's no way I'd spend the extra money to have 2 cards of one generation, BOTH of which will need upgrading later on

 

[nRollo]

Keys I think it would be most amusing if ATI made their cards ATI motherboard specific, but they can't be that dumb.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Actually munky, the SLi mobo will take any SLI capable vid cards. Even next gen PCI-E Nvidia AND ATI cards. So that is a long term investment and worth the extra 50 dollars over a standard PCI-E board. So the extra 50 dollars would spread out over a few years of use I would imagine. Now your grasping for some reason. Dunno why...

Oh lemme change one thing here. I am only assuming that SLI-d ATI cards will work. Unless ATI pulls a bonehead move and uses their own chipset ONLY to run their SLI cards when everybody favors NForce chipsets over all out there now.

The upcoming ATI Xpress 200 chipset has a big feature advantage over Nvidia in that you can combine ANY two PCI-E cards from any manufacturer in an SLI configuration. They don't even have to be of the same model.

I don't know how much of a performance increase you would get by doing this but I'm sure it'll depend on what two cards are being used. Also, I'm not sure if you can mix major manufacturer cards (Nvidia, ATI, Matrox) in SLI or not. But so far the Xpress 200 chipset has been shown to be the best enthusiast 939 board yet:

Anandtech ATI Xpress 200 review

For their first effort at an AMD Athlon 64 chipset, we can only say we are beyond impressed with the ATI RX480/RS480 chipset. No matter how we compare the performance the ATI RX480 is competitive or a bit faster than the best Socket 939 boards we have tested at AnandTech. That in itself would be reason enough to suggest a long, hard look at the ATI RX480 chipset, but there's more. ATI also did their homework in this go round; delivering a board that will excite any enthusiast who gives it a whirl. nVidia got to their position of prominence in the AMD world with solid boards that catered to Enthusiasts. ATI appears to finally understand that pleasing the OEM market is not the same as exciting Enthusiasts. The ATI Bullhead is a monster overclocker with amazing performance, and ATI deserves huge praise for their efforts and their results with their first AMD chipset.

 

[Creig]

It would be amusing if Nvidia advertised a video card feature that never worked. But they can't be that dumb.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Compddd
Whatever you say Rollo 2.0

You must be a youngin.. Lets get on track here and stop getting me confused with other people just cause you disagree with what I have to say.

Cheers.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: Rollo
Munky:

Unlike you, Rollo, I don't just post benches that favor my side.

You should, I'll be happy to post the ones that favor my side.

And how are you gonna expect ppl to buy 2 video cards, and not be able to play at max settings?

I don't know, from your (and my) benchamrks, it looks like 95% of the time you're no worse off with 6600GT SLI, so I don't see your point?

Just because YOU cant play 16xAF on your 6600 SLI setup, doesnt mean others should pay more money to get less performance.

There's a three problems with this:
1. I have a 256MB 6800NU SLI set as well- performs much higher than a 6600GT SLI, especially at the higher settings.
2. Apparently the 6600GT SLI can do the 16X AF as well as a 6800GT, sometimes better, and two 6600GTs cost LESS than a 6800GT?

And since you yourself admit SLI doesn't work on CoD (and other games), that's all the less reason for me to buy it.

It is true SLI doesn't work on all games, but it works on a LOT of games. The ones it doesn't work on, it does no harm, and usually they're games you can play pretty with one SLI level card.

Anyway, thanks again for the benches, those HL2 benches are gold.

BTW:

I'm sure you don't need magic eyes to see the difference between 30 and 22 fps, or between 47 and 38.

Actually I don't think I could tell the difference between 22 and 30- those averages are so slow the game would be lurching along like a slide show. You're closer to a point with 47 and 38, but it's just one bench? And remember what I said about the difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT being 2X AA where it exists? Applies here. You've wasted all this time trying to convince people there is some huge difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT, and it all comes back to what I already told you: Where there is a difference in performance, it's the difference between running at 2XAA and 4XAA.

You should listen to me Munky- I only tell the truth.

Apparently you missed the point that you need an SLI mobo to use SLI, and when you add up the cost of a new mobo and 2 6600gt's, it costs more than 1 6800gt that people can use on their current motherboard.

Also, there IS a visual difference between 2xAA and 4xAA. Why would I buy 2 6600 cards to play at 2x (and dont forget a new motherboard) when I can buy 1 6800 and play at 4x just as well or better? In case you didnt know, 4xAA is BETTER that 2xAA. Repeat that.

And since SLI only works in SOME games and not others, why would I even bother considering it as an option?

As for sticking to one-sided benches, here's some more for ya:

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/re...JsX3Jldmlld19JRD05MzAmdXJsX3BhZ2U9Ng==\
-notice how HDR (one of your favorite features) get's no benefit from SLI.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=7
-more HL2 benches
16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 51 fps
6600gt sli: 39 fps - oooh, not even close

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=13
-D3 , 16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 37 fps
6600gt sli: 34 fps - still cant match the bigger card

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=15
-UT2004, 16x12, 4x 8x
6800gt: 48 fps
6600gt sli: 42 fps - nope, cant match the better card there either

I'll find you more links if you keep arguing. Point is, when you crank up the resulution and turn on eye candy, the 6600gt's sli ALWAYS lag behind one 6800gt. Now, give me one good reason why I should buy 2 average cards and a sli motherboard, when instead i can just buy one good card and get better performance?

On to Round 3...

Actually munky, the SLi mobo will take any SLI capable vid cards. Even next gen PCI-E Nvidia AND ATI cards. So that is a long term investment and worth the extra 50 dollars over a standard PCI-E board. So the extra 50 dollars would spread out over a few years of use I would imagine. Now your grasping for some reason. Dunno why...

Oh lemme change one thing here. I am only assuming that SLI-d ATI cards will work. Unless ATI pulls a bonehead move and uses their own chipset ONLY to run their SLI cards when everybody favors NForce chipsets over all out there now.

I dont remember mentioning ATI anywhere in my post. We're only comparing 2 6600gt's in SLI vs. 1 6800gt.

Also, I would not want to invest in SLI, simply for the reason that I'd rather upgrade a single card more often with the money I save by NOT going with SLI. Plus, the newer cards will always have better/newer features than 2 older cards. You might have a different opinion, but graphics hardware improves at such a rapid pace, there's no way I'd spend the extra money to have 2 cards of one generation, BOTH of which will need upgrading later on.

So you would not want to have the option of going SLI anywhere down the road for 50 dollars more is what your saying. If so, I say BS.

<br

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Rollo
Keys I think it would be most amusing if ATI made their cards ATI motherboard specific, but they can't be that dumb.

I'd like to think that your right on that point. But you never know what is running through the heads of these college grads with degrees in marketing. I just don't want either company to stumble again. I want viable options from both.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: Rollo
Munky:

Unlike you, Rollo, I don't just post benches that favor my side.

You should, I'll be happy to post the ones that favor my side.

And how are you gonna expect ppl to buy 2 video cards, and not be able to play at max settings?

I don't know, from your (and my) benchamrks, it looks like 95% of the time you're no worse off with 6600GT SLI, so I don't see your point?

Just because YOU cant play 16xAF on your 6600 SLI setup, doesnt mean others should pay more money to get less performance.

There's a three problems with this:
1. I have a 256MB 6800NU SLI set as well- performs much higher than a 6600GT SLI, especially at the higher settings.
2. Apparently the 6600GT SLI can do the 16X AF as well as a 6800GT, sometimes better, and two 6600GTs cost LESS than a 6800GT?

And since you yourself admit SLI doesn't work on CoD (and other games), that's all the less reason for me to buy it.

It is true SLI doesn't work on all games, but it works on a LOT of games. The ones it doesn't work on, it does no harm, and usually they're games you can play pretty with one SLI level card.

Anyway, thanks again for the benches, those HL2 benches are gold.

BTW:

I'm sure you don't need magic eyes to see the difference between 30 and 22 fps, or between 47 and 38.

Actually I don't think I could tell the difference between 22 and 30- those averages are so slow the game would be lurching along like a slide show. You're closer to a point with 47 and 38, but it's just one bench? And remember what I said about the difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT being 2X AA where it exists? Applies here. You've wasted all this time trying to convince people there is some huge difference in 6600GT SLI and 6800GT, and it all comes back to what I already told you: Where there is a difference in performance, it's the difference between running at 2XAA and 4XAA.

You should listen to me Munky- I only tell the truth.

Apparently you missed the point that you need an SLI mobo to use SLI, and when you add up the cost of a new mobo and 2 6600gt's, it costs more than 1 6800gt that people can use on their current motherboard.

Also, there IS a visual difference between 2xAA and 4xAA. Why would I buy 2 6600 cards to play at 2x (and dont forget a new motherboard) when I can buy 1 6800 and play at 4x just as well or better? In case you didnt know, 4xAA is BETTER that 2xAA. Repeat that.

And since SLI only works in SOME games and not others, why would I even bother considering it as an option?

As for sticking to one-sided benches, here's some more for ya:

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/re...JsX3Jldmlld19JRD05MzAmdXJsX3BhZ2U9Ng==\
-notice how HDR (one of your favorite features) get's no benefit from SLI.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=7
-more HL2 benches
16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 51 fps
6600gt sli: 39 fps - oooh, not even close

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=13
-D3 , 16x12, 4xAA, 8xAF
6800gt: 37 fps
6600gt sli: 34 fps - still cant match the bigger card

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284&p=15
-UT2004, 16x12, 4x 8x
6800gt: 48 fps
6600gt sli: 42 fps - nope, cant match the better card there either

I'll find you more links if you keep arguing. Point is, when you crank up the resulution and turn on eye candy, the 6600gt's sli ALWAYS lag behind one 6800gt. Now, give me one good reason why I should buy 2 average cards and a sli motherboard, when instead i can just buy one good card and get better performance?

On to Round 3...

Actually munky, the SLi mobo will take any SLI capable vid cards. Even next gen PCI-E Nvidia AND ATI cards. So that is a long term investment and worth the extra 50 dollars over a standard PCI-E board. So the extra 50 dollars would spread out over a few years of use I would imagine. Now your grasping for some reason. Dunno why...

Oh lemme change one thing here. I am only assuming that SLI-d ATI cards will work. Unless ATI pulls a bonehead move and uses their own chipset ONLY to run their SLI cards when everybody favors NForce chipsets over all out there now.

I dont remember mentioning ATI anywhere in my post. We're only comparing 2 6600gt's in SLI vs. 1 6800gt.

Also, I would not want to invest in SLI, simply for the reason that I'd rather upgrade a single card more often with the money I save by NOT going with SLI. Plus, the newer cards will always have better/newer features than 2 older cards. You might have a different opinion, but graphics hardware improves at such a rapid pace, there's no way I'd spend the extra money to have 2 cards of one generation, BOTH of which will need upgrading later on.

So you would not want to have the option of going SLI anywhere down the road for 50 dollars more is what your saying. If so, I say BS.

Believe it, or not, it's exactly what I'm saying. If SLI always worked like it was supposed to, and it supported different card models from both ati and nvidia (that you can mix and match on 1 board), then MAYBE I would consider it. As it stands now, no, I would not spend extra 50 dollars on it. Also, if manufacturers start using dual gpu's on one card, then there's even less reason to get SLI

 

[nRollo]

Believe it, or not, it's exactly what I'm saying. If SLI always worked like it was supposed to, and it supported different card models from both ati and nvidia (that you can mix and match on 1 board), then MAYBE I would consider it. As it stands now, no, I would not spend extra 50 dollars on it. Also, if manufacturers start using dual gpu's on one card, then there's even less reason to get SLI.

I'm guessing if you care about $50 for the option, you're not likely to be an SLI candidate anyway Munky.

I haven't seen any indication manufacturers are going to start making dual gpu cards, don't know where you got that from. (the only usable ones I know of are the Asus and Gigabyte dual 6600GT "sli on a board" cards that still require a SLI motherboard.

If it "always worked like it's supposed to"? It pretty much does on newer, popular games- are there some it doesn't work on that concern you?

What do you care if you have to use the same card? Have some desire to put one MSI 6800GT and one Leadtek 6800GT in your box. ?

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Believe it, or not, it's exactly what I'm saying. If SLI always worked like it was supposed to, and it supported different card models from both ati and nvidia (that you can mix and match on 1 board), then MAYBE I would consider it. As it stands now, no, I would not spend extra 50 dollars on it. Also, if manufacturers start using dual gpu's on one card, then there's even less reason to get SLI.

I'm guessing if you care about $50 for the option, you're not likely to be an SLI candidate anyway Munky.

I haven't seen any indication manufacturers are going to start making dual gpu cards, don't know where you got that from. (the only usable ones I know of are the Asus and Gigabyte dual 6600GT "sli on a board" cards that still require a SLI motherboard.

If it "always worked like it's supposed to"? It pretty much does on newer, popular games- are there some it doesn't work on that concern you?

What do you care if you have to use the same card? Have some desire to put one MSI 6800GT and one Leadtek 6800GT in your box. ?

Yeah, I'd rather spend $50 for a better single card. If I go SLI, then

1. I'm stuck with nvidia for now, and I like keeping my options open. So I do care if I can use different cards or not.

2. I'm gonna have to play some games that dont benefit from SLI. If I want to play CoD, I'd like a video card setup that actually gets me what I paid for.

 

[kki000]

sli works better than what ppl say it does, i thinks it gotten a bad rep.
i would still recommend a single card solution over the 6600gt though.
6800gt is another story.

sli adds complication to any rig and that is a bigger factor right now than the few x800xl shortcomings.
When u add up the costs, the sli chipset mobo and beefier psu, I dont thing x800xl level performance is worth it to go sli with the 6600s.

 

[SilverBack]

Originally posted by: Rollo


The only people who say SLI is a waste of money are the people who have no SLI.

LOL What ^^^^ He said