GTX480 Tri SLi review

[faxon]

i wish they had tested with more titles. everyone knows Crysis, FC2, and Batman all favor Nv hardware. not trying to call them out for this, i understand that he doesnt have a lot of time with the hardware and so must choose what titles he tests with quickly for what his viewers are interested in. just would have been nice to see say a BC2 benchmark, which ATI and NV are usually quite equal in

 

[Apocalypse23]

about 3gb of memory? 3 5870 cards will have 3gb total but only 1gb of usable ram. thats the problem with the 5970 too at 2560 because its actual usable ram is 1gb so with plenty of AA it exceeds that in some games at that res.

Do you think it would be better to run 3x 5870 2GB in CF? Would there be any limitations running tri-fire at 16x/8x/8x PCI-E 2.0? Since the memory data rate is 4.8Gbps per 5870, that means that each card can transfer 4.8Gbps on each PCI-E lane, so in a 16x lane would peak at 8Gbps, and an 8x lane would peak at 4 Gbps am I correct? So in this case would the 2GB 5870s take a performance hit due to 8x/8x lanes?

Would 3 of 2GB 5870s in tri-fire with a mild OC defeat 3 Tri-SLI gtx 480s? I like to think so.

Looking at these: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131353&cm_re=5870_2gb-_-14-131-353-_-Product

 

[Grooveriding]

Do you think it would be better to run 3x 5870 2GB in CF? Would there be any limitations running tri-fire at 16x/8x/8x PCI-E 2.0? Since the memory data rate is 4.8Gbps per 5870, that means that each card can transfer 4.8Gbps on each PCI-E lane, so in a 16x lane would peak at 8Gbps, and an 8x lane would peak at 4 Gbps am I correct? So in this case would the 2GB 5870s take a performance hit due to 8x/8x lanes?

Would 3 of 2GB 5870s in tri-fire with a mild OC defeat 3 Tri-SLI gtx 480s? I like to think so.

Looking at these: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-353-_-Product

I would just wait till the end of the year. I'm satisfied with my 5870 CF for now. Better to wait to see ATI's new cards later this year, instead of upgrading just for some more VRAM. Unless you get a good deal selling your cards.

 

[Skurge]

Do you think it would be better to run 3x 5870 2GB in CF? Would there be any limitations running tri-fire at 16x/8x/8x PCI-E 2.0? Since the memory data rate is 4.8Gbps per 5870, that means that each card can transfer 4.8Gbps on each PCI-E lane, so in a 16x lane would peak at 8Gbps, and an 8x lane would peak at 4 Gbps am I correct? So in this case would the 2GB 5870s take a performance hit due to 8x/8x lanes?

Would 3 of 2GB 5870s in tri-fire with a mild OC defeat 3 Tri-SLI gtx 480s? I like to think so.

Looking at these: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-353-_-Product

the 4.8Gbps is between video memory and the GPU, not the card and the system.

 

[MagickMan]

Moved from another thread.

1200w PSUs have been around for a while.


If you are doing either Tri-fire or Tri-SLI, I would think this doesnt bother you.

Yes, they have, but the vast majority of people have only been using half their capacity. Taking a 1200W PSU to it's actual limit is a different matter entirely.

 

[shangshang]

480 tri SLI.. is a stupid showboating exercise. It's like seeing a Mustang 5.0 engine stuffed into a puny Mazda Miata (actually exists). Everyone is ooing and ahhhing over.. but yet almost nobody buys in in the real world due to economic reasons and practically. I guess you'd have to be a true hardcore geek with no life to go 480 tri Sli so you can brag to the world how you pwned everyone when playing a 2 year old game maxed out. I shall pass.

 

[ArchAngel777]

From a performance standpoint, I would absolutely love to have a Tri-SLI 480 setup... But the city of Saint Paul might fine me for excessive power usage

The performance is just stunning. I will readily await for a die shrink

 

[OCGuy]

480 tri SLI.. is a stupid showboating exercise. It's like seeing a Mustang 5.0 engine stuffed into a puny Mazda Miata (actually exists). Everyone is ooing and ahhhing over.. but yet almost nobody buys in in the real world due to economic reasons and practically. I guess you'd have to be a true hardcore geek with no life to go 480 tri Sli so you can brag to the world how you pwned everyone when playing a 2 year old game maxed out. I shall pass.

You do realize you are on an enthusiast board, right?

CrossfireX and TRI/Quad-SLI are unattainable for most, but your contempt for people who could actually afford it is mind-boggling.

 

[Havoc Ebonlore]

Fermi, only worth it if you can afford to buy three, lol!

 

[ronnn]

Fermi, only worth it if you can afford to buy three, lol!

Perfect for a auto racer game. Have the engine right in front of you.

 

[Unkle_Tar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GMJkVQiq5c&feature=channel

Three 480's overclocked to 800. He gets really good temps on the cards with the fans cranked to 100%. A 1200W power supply won't cut it.