GTX 780 - Should I SLI?

[wand3r3r]

There's no way I'd go from a 780 to a 980. For one the 980 is way overpriced for what it offers over the 970 and for another thing you aren't far from it with a 780.

The only viable option (imo) is to get another 780. Btw, you talk about 100% scaling but you'll never see that, probably closer to 60-80% with outliers on either side.

 

[Headfoot]

Don't sell a 780 to get a 980, that's ludicrous. Staying single GPU is my preferred method too, but if you're going to go that route wait until Big Maxwell. Shifting GPUs for 15% is a waste of time and money

 

[KaRLiToS]

Which part are you having the most trouble with?

Everything, lolll.

How can a GTX 980, that is only faster by 10% - 15% than a single GTX 780, be faster than GTX 780 Sli?

Have you been looking at some reviews lately? Even GTX 680 sli will beat a single GTX 980.

 

[toyota]

an overclock 980 is about 30% faster than an overclocked 780. That will be a real gain in every single game. Remember no matter what people claim about SLI there will always be issues and there will always be games that don't even support at all. someone claiming they never had an issue or never had a problem are only being delusional.

I mean there is no doubt that 780 SLI would be faster overall but I just think a single 980 would be a super efficient and extremely consistent experience.and maintaining a 120 frames per second is more of a dream anyway no matter how much GPU power you have. Again there will be games that won't even work properly with SLI or won't scale all that great plus we need a CPU from the future to maintain those frame rates in many games anyway. not to mention some games are capped and a few games don't work properly at super high frame rates.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

and overclock 980 is about 30% faster then an overclocked 780. That will be a real gain in every single game. Remember no matter what people claim about SLI there will always be issues and there will always be games that don't even support at all. someone claiming they never had an issue or never had a problem are only being delusional.

Have you personally had issues with SLI or are you just speculating?

Because everyone I talk to about Nvidia's SLI has been very impressed with it (stark contrast to AMD's CrossFire horror stories) and I've yet to hear a AAA game that doesn't support SLI.

 

[toyota]

Have you personally had issues with SLI or are you just speculating?

Because everyone I talk to about Nvidia's SLI has been very impressed with it (stark contrast to AMD's CrossFire horror stories) and I've yet to hear a AAA game that doesn't support SLI.

you really need to pay more attention to reviews then. nearly everyone with multi GPU setups will defend their systems but knowing darn well they would switch to a single GPU in a heartbeat if that could give them the same performance. And yes there are plenty of issues especially when games first come out. And I know there are games like Wolfenstein that do not support SLI at all. And even Unreal Engine 4 games will not properly support SLI and that's probably going to be a very well used engine.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Toyota, you never had Sli, why are you saying this? It is funny when someone who doesn't use sli says that there are issues with multi-gpu. Nvidia focus a lot on multi-gpus.

"I don't like driving an Audi. But I never tried one."

 

[toyota]

Toyota, you never had Sli, why are you saying this? It is funny when someone who doesn't use sli says that there are issues with multi-gpu. Nvidia focus a lot on multi-gpus.

"I don't like driving an Audi. But I never tried one."

I've never been bitten by a rattlesnake either but I assume it doesn't feel good since we're using stupid analogies. and I like how when I even give exact examples that people with multiple cards just sit there in a stupor claiming nothings wrong everything works just fine. Again more proof that people with multiple cards are just deluding themselves. I can link to known issues all day long and nothing will change for the people that think multi GPU is just fine. I don't have to own that kind of setup to know that there are more issues with it and to know that some games don't even work with it at all. Carry on though...

 

[KaRLiToS]

I've never been bitten by a rattlesnake either but I assume it doesn't feel good since we're using stupid analogies. and I like how when I even give exact examples that people with multiple cards just sit there in a stupor claiming nothings wrong everything works just fine. Again more proof that people with multiple cards are just deluding themselves. I can link to known issues all day long and nothing will change for the people that think multi GPU is just fine. I don't have to own that kind of setup to know that there are more issues with it and to know that some games don't even work with it at all. Carry on though...

It is funny how you always talk about "others" experience or some reviews you never link.

Does first hand experience means something to you?

In other words: Toyota's choice is the best choice? Is that it?

I agree there are FEW games that don't support it and you named most of them, but you forgot to mention " My little inferno". I also agree there can be some issues but Nvidia or AMD will repair them as fast as possible. And that is a fact.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

I think I'm going to wait on buying that $300 Zotac AMP! GTX 780 as I found a seller here at Anandtech that's selling one for cheaper, though hopefully the shipping from US won't be too expensive.

*crosses fingers* I hope he'll be willing to ship to Canada though!

 

[wand3r3r]

Have you personally had issues with SLI or are you just speculating?

Because everyone I talk to about Nvidia's SLI has been very impressed with it (stark contrast to AMD's CrossFire horror stories) and I've yet to hear a AAA game that doesn't support SLI.

I take it you haven't seen maxwell sli reviews, nor xdma crossfire reviews and are merely repeating regurgitated statements? Sources please if you have any to prove this ironic statement.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

I take it you haven't seen maxwell sli reviews, nor xdma crossfire reviews and are merely repeating regurgitated statements? Sources please if you have any to prove this ironic statement.

Err... what? Are you implying Nvidia's SLI sucks and AMD's Crossfire rocks?

 

[wand3r3r]

Haven't you followed the situation to make statements like you do?

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_980_sli_review,9.html

In most of the games tested GeForce GTX 980 SLI matched the same gameplay experience as AMD Radeon R9 290X CrossFire. This was surprising considering single-GPU GeForce GTX 980 is able to outperform single-GPU AMD Radeon R9 290X. We thought that naturally, putting two video cards together in SLI would equally excel past AMD Radeon R9 290X CrossFire. This wasn't the case. We got an unexpected result.

Instead, GeForce GTX 980 SLI was on par, equal with AMD Radeon R9 290X CrossFire in performance, most of the time. There were some occasions that AMD Radeon R9 290X CrossFire was even better than GeForce GTX 980 SLI, for example in Watch Dogs. We didn't expect that, considering that game had the heavy hand of NVIDIA Game Works applied to it. Yet, the competition seems to be scaling much better with CrossFire on that game. It seems SLI isn't doing well there.

We also saw problems in Alien: Isolation with SLI. Performance was more erratic, inconsistent compared to CrossFire. Performance even seemed to drop out when interacting with the computer terminals in the game under SLI. CrossFire had no problems with that.

These two games are the "newest" games in our gaming suite, and so far, CrossFire seems to be doing better compared to SLI. That's not enough for a trend, but it is interesting to note. We will have to see how Far Cry 4 does here next month.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/10/27/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_sli_4k_video_card_review/11

SLI and CrossFire Smoothness


This is an important topic when talking about SLI and CrossFire. In the past, AMD was the one in the hot seat with terrible CrossFire scaling, performance and smoothness. A lot has changed over the last couple of years, AMD now has a frame pacing technology as well as its new XDMA technology. These technologies combined have turned the tables and now CrossFire feels smoother than SLI. It still feels smoother even when compared to NVIDIA's new GTX 980 cards in SLI. While overclocked GTX 980 SLI is faster in framerate, the actual feeling and smoothness in games feels better on AMD Radeon R9 290X. AMD currently has the upper hand in this arena.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/11/11/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_sli_overclocked_gpu_review/7

Take a look at frametimes and the massive spikes here.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphi...3-Way-and-4-Way-SLI-Performance/Battlefield-4

There are a million XDMA crossfire reviews, maybe you should actually read a few (preferably before you make FUD statements). I would like some sources since what you are stating is indeed false. You might be surprised (since apparently you are unaware).

 

[kasakka]

Everything, lolll.

How can a GTX 980, that is only faster by 10% - 15% than a single GTX 780, be faster than GTX 780 Sli?

Have you been looking at some reviews lately? Even GTX 680 sli will beat a single GTX 980.

This. I bought a second GTX 770 used and the price of both cards is still almost 200 euros less than what a single GTX 980 costs around here.

Aside from idTech5 engine games (no SLI support) and driver updates lagging slightly behind game releases I haven't had any other issues.

At 1440p I feel to get good framerates SLI is pretty much a must. For 1080p a single card will do just fine.

I certainly wouldn't mind being able to use just a single GPU as two add more requirements for keeping the case properly ventilated and draw more power. Considering GPUs aren't going to get a two fold performance increase until a few years later, I wish manufacturers offered single card, dual GPU solutions with something less than the highly expensive top end GPU models. Instead we get these Titan Z models that are out of most people's price range for no other reason than offering something for those with too much money to spend.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

Haven't you followed the situation to make statements like you do?

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_980_sli_review,9.html

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/10/27/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_sli_4k_video_card_review/11

Take a look at frametimes and the massive spikes here.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphi...3-Way-and-4-Way-SLI-Performance/Battlefield-4

There are a million XDMA crossfire reviews, maybe you should actually read a few (preferably before you make FUD statements). I would like some sources since what you are stating is indeed false. You might be surprised (since apparently you are unaware).

Hey thanks for the information but lighten down on the aggression please.

I merely hear and read a lot of Crossfire horror stories, but my knowledge might be a bit dated (pre-2014).

 

[wand3r3r]

Hey thanks for the information but lighten down on the aggression please.

I merely hear and read a lot of Crossfire horror stories, but my knowledge might be a bit dated (pre-2014).

:thumbsup:

It just appeared to be trolling (saw multiple posts complaining about "crossfire") since it was baseless at least based on all the current data that we have...

Both will and do have issues, and I have used both within the past couple years. Fud just gets old real quick and outdated fud is annoying to read especially when repeated.

 

[n0x1ous]

CF has a bad rep from pre xdma days, but since xdma launched its been great

 

[tweakboy]

That is a big difference... No real world at all.

 

[toyota]

It is funny how you always talk about "others" experience or some reviews you never link.

Does first hand experience means something to you?

In other words: Toyota's choice is the best choice? Is that it?

I agree there are FEW games that don't support it and you named most of them, but you forgot to mention " My little inferno". I also agree there can be some issues but Nvidia or AMD will repair them as fast as possible. And that is a fact.

you don't want links because all that's going to do is make you have more excuses. Do you really need a link to say that multi GPU does not worK in Wolfenstein and Rage and UE4 games? Of course not but again you just want to sit there and pretend that it works just fine in everything which is a load of crap. I can most certainly post links though if that's really the game you want to play. I'll be off work in just a couple more hours if you really want to do this.

I'm going to bottom line on exactly how I feel. If someone says they are happy with their overall experience using SLI or crossfire then I can respect that. But to sit here and say that it's trouble free and always works great is a load of freaking crap and that's exactly what some people claim.

 

[KaRLiToS]

you don't want links because all that's going to do is make you have more excuses. Do you really need a link to say that multi GPU does not worK in Wolfenstein and Rage and UE4 games? Of course not but again you just want to sit there and pretend that it works just fine in everything which is a load of crap. I can most certainly post links though if that's really the game you want to play. I'll be off work in just a couple more hours if you really want to do this.

I'm going to bottom line on exactly how I feel. If someone says they are happy with their overall experience using SLI or crossfire then I can respect that. But to sit here and say that it's trouble free and always works great is a load of freaking crap and that's exactly what some people claim.

^^LOL at this. Who is "some people"?

 

[toyota]

^^LOL at this. Who is "some people"?

so this is going to be your new debate now? Do I have to baby you and go through every thread and find people that say they have no issues at all and it works trouble free? Right here in this very thread is someone making that similar claim but i guess its fun just to play ignorant on that.

 

[n0x1ous]

Right here in this very thread is someone making that similar claim

If you are referring to me - then let me elaborate. I DO have a trouble free experience with it. But, maybe I'm not the best test. I mostly play AAA FPS games that are going to have good support for SLI due to their stature. So for the games I play, I stand by my original statement. The only annoyance I have is having to re-enable SLI after every driver update. (I dont count not having perfect scaling as an issue either - scaling varies obviously)

Owned:
8800GTS 640 SLI
GTX 260 216 55nm TRI-SLI
GTX 480 SLI
GTX 780 SLI

All been great -though the scaling wasnt always very good with the 3- 260's and therefore I now stick to 2 cards max.

I mean sure idtech 5 doesnt support it but the games that use that engine are so undemanding that its pointless to offer the support in the first place. If the rumors of UE4 not supporting are true though, that is a worrying trend going forward.

 

[Ryanrenesis]

God damn it. idTech5 & even UE4 actually doesn't support SLI and that's a huge factor going forward for me.

https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/21746/does-the-ue4-engine-support-sli.html

Sure I don't play any games at the moment that use UE4, but the whole point of SLI is to stay future proofed.

I'm now actually leaning towards not SLI'ing at all and just dealing with sub-120 FPS on a 120Hz monitor, what a waste

 

[n0x1ous]

Its strange because Epic and Sweeney are big time green teamers......I would guess Nvidia will figure out a workaround.

 

[kasakka]

God damn it. idTech5 & even UE4 actually doesn't support SLI and that's a huge factor going forward for me.

https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/21746/does-the-ue4-engine-support-sli.html

Sure I don't play any games at the moment that use UE4, but the whole point of SLI is to stay future proofed.

I'm now actually leaning towards not SLI'ing at all and just dealing with sub-120 FPS on a 120Hz monitor, what a waste

Considering the only idTech5 game out worth a damn is Wolfenstein New Order (which runs nicely even on my GTX770) I wouldn't worry too much about that. Doesn't seem to be anything particularly interesting in the pipeline for UE4 games so far either and even then your 780 should run them at least decently.

You won't be getting 120 fps anyway in the latest games without dropping graphics settings even with SLI unless you run only at 1080p.