If you were to buy a Multi-GPU setup, would it be SLI or Crossfire?

[Ackmed]

If money was no object, and the parts were actually available, I would get the A8N32-SLI Premium, and 2xBFG 512MB GTX's (barely). But since they are not, I would get the X1800XT's and DFI Crossfire, if I had to pick [l]today[/i]. The higher AF, and no shimmering in BF2 is a big reason to go ATi for me.

 

[Gamingphreek]

no shimmering in BF2

Alright, i have both a 7 series card, and BF2. I have yet to notice this shimmering. Is there a certain place i should be looking (ie: the horizon or something). If there is, then it obviously isn't a huge reason to completely count a card out of everything.

-Kevin

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
If money was no object, and the parts were actually available, I would get the A8N32-SLI Premium, and 2xBFG 512MB GTX's (barely). But since they are not, I would get the X1800XT's and DFI Crossfire, if I had to pick [l]today[/i]. The higher AF, and no shimmering in BF2 is a big reason to go ATi for me.

I still dont see the big deal about the shimmering.

I know it's there. When I play Strike at Karkand I see it happen in only two spots. The first building on the left when you actually enter the town. It's just a small little corner on the bottom left of the building. It's also on the side of one of the train cars.

This is when using 16x AF and it happened in the EXACT same spots when I had my X800XL as it does with my GTs.

Might be annoying to some, but strictly speaking for myself, if you're busy staring at the wall because you hate Nvidia because a small corner of a building shimmers, I'll be the one putting a bullet through your skull... shimmering or not.

 

[Ackmed]

Not everyone notices it. If you dont, I sure wouldnt go looking for it. But yes it is noticable on the horizon, but mostly just the ground, and grass. HL2 grass does the same in Lost Coast, badly. I notice it more, on a LCD, than a CRT. A buddy of mine just got a 2405FPW (same as me) and X1800XT. The AF is clearly better, and the ground doesnt shimmer like it does for me on GTX's. I dont want to get into this again, because its a matter of opinion if someone sees shimmering or not. Obviously some do, and some dont. I happen to, and it annoys me. Its not a "deal killer", but I dislike it a lot.

 

[CP5670]

I can notice it easily and it's very distracting in several games I play, but I find that the HQ mode / LOD clamp combination basically gets rid of it without any significant performance hit.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: Ackmed
If money was no object, and the parts were actually available, I would get the A8N32-SLI Premium, and 2xBFG 512MB GTX's (barely). But since they are not, I would get the X1800XT's and DFI Crossfire, if I had to pick [l]today[/i]. The higher AF, and no shimmering in BF2 is a big reason to go ATi for me.

I still dont see the big deal about the shimmering.

I know it's there. When I play Strike at Karkand I see it happen in only two spots. The first building on the left when you actually enter the town. It's just a small little corner on the bottom left of the building. It's also on the side of one of the train cars.

This is when using 16x AF and it happened in the EXACT same spots when I had my X800XL as it does with my GTs.

Might be annoying to some, but strictly speaking for myself, if you're busy staring at the wall because you hate Nvidia because a small corner of a building shimmers, I'll be the one putting a bullet through your skull... shimmering or not.

I dont see it on buildings, I see it on the ground. What you're talking about sounds like z fighting. Such as in this video I made. Thats another annoying problem, but it doesnt happen on every map, so its less of an issue for me.

Shimmering is on the ground, grass, etc. Its easy for me to see, and again I notice it much more on a LCD, than a CRT. And easier on a large LCD, than a smaller one. But again.. I dont want to get into this, I just made a passive statement. Some people get really defensive about shimmering, claiming it doesnt happen. I made a video in fraps with it, in Lost Coast, its easy to see to me. But compressing it small enough to transfer over the net, makes it to where you cannot see it. Or perhaps its my setup, that makes it so easy to see, I dont know.

And I never said I hate NV, dont put words in my mouth. Your attitude is also not welcome.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: Ackmed
If money was no object, and the parts were actually available, I would get the A8N32-SLI Premium, and 2xBFG 512MB GTX's (barely). But since they are not, I would get the X1800XT's and DFI Crossfire, if I had to pick [l]today[/i]. The higher AF, and no shimmering in BF2 is a big reason to go ATi for me.

I still dont see the big deal about the shimmering.

I know it's there. When I play Strike at Karkand I see it happen in only two spots. The first building on the left when you actually enter the town. It's just a small little corner on the bottom left of the building. It's also on the side of one of the train cars.

This is when using 16x AF and it happened in the EXACT same spots when I had my X800XL as it does with my GTs.

Might be annoying to some, but strictly speaking for myself, if you're busy staring at the wall because you hate Nvidia because a small corner of a building shimmers, I'll be the one putting a bullet through your skull... shimmering or not.

I dont see it on buildings, I see it on the ground. What you're talking about sounds like z fighting. Such as in this video I made. Thats another annoying problem, but it doesnt happen on every map, so its less of an issue for me.

Shimmering is on the ground, grass, etc. Its easy for me to see, and again I notice it much more on a LCD, than a CRT. And easier on a large LCD, than a smaller one. But again.. I dont want to get into this, I just made a passive statement. Some people get really defensive about shimmering, claiming it doesnt happen. I made a video in fraps with it, in Lost Coast, its easy to see to me. But compressing it small enough to transfer over the net, makes it to where you cannot see it. Or perhaps its my setup, that makes it so easy to see, I dont know.

And I never said I hate NV, dont put words in my mouth. Your attitude is also not welcome.

Dont get so freakin defensive Ackmed. I was not trying to put words in your mouth nor was I trying to cop an attitude. It was just a general statement about hating NV. You and I know, while you may not hate Nvidia for the shimmering, many on this board do and have no problems expressing it. I was merely stating my opinion like you did and like everyone does.

 

[secretanchitman]

SLI, because i dont like the master/slave issue crap with ATI. not saying that is a bad thing, as ati makes great cards...i just dont like the idea.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Originally posted by: Thorny
I will never need the kind of performance multi-gpu's provide, let alone pay for it.

QFT!

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: Ackmed
If money was no object, and the parts were actually available, I would get the A8N32-SLI Premium, and 2xBFG 512MB GTX's (barely). But since they are not, I would get the X1800XT's and DFI Crossfire, if I had to pick [l]today[/i]. The higher AF, and no shimmering in BF2 is a big reason to go ATi for me.

I still dont see the big deal about the shimmering.

I know it's there. When I play Strike at Karkand I see it happen in only two spots. The first building on the left when you actually enter the town. It's just a small little corner on the bottom left of the building. It's also on the side of one of the train cars.

This is when using 16x AF and it happened in the EXACT same spots when I had my X800XL as it does with my GTs.

Might be annoying to some, but strictly speaking for myself, if you're busy staring at the wall because you hate Nvidia because a small corner of a building shimmers, I'll be the one putting a bullet through your skull... shimmering or not.

I dont see it on buildings, I see it on the ground. What you're talking about sounds like z fighting. Such as in this video I made. Thats another annoying problem, but it doesnt happen on every map, so its less of an issue for me.

Shimmering is on the ground, grass, etc. Its easy for me to see, and again I notice it much more on a LCD, than a CRT. And easier on a large LCD, than a smaller one. But again.. I dont want to get into this, I just made a passive statement. Some people get really defensive about shimmering, claiming it doesnt happen. I made a video in fraps with it, in Lost Coast, its easy to see to me. But compressing it small enough to transfer over the net, makes it to where you cannot see it. Or perhaps its my setup, that makes it so easy to see, I dont know.

And I never said I hate NV, dont put words in my mouth. Your attitude is also not welcome.

In that video, I saw nothing that would make me not buy nVidia. Altho there are people that say the shadow problem in FC buggs them to death, but I could care less. I guess it comes down to personal preference.

 

[buzzsaw13]

I've got an A8N-SLI and considering SLI'ing 7800GT's

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: buzzsaw13
I've got an A8N-SLI and considering SLI'ing 7800GT's

you wont be disappointed.

Also with that Asus board you can use dual slot coolers without a problem in SLI, IIRC, so you wont have the bad heat issue like I do!

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: buzzsaw13
I've got an A8N-SLI and considering SLI'ing 7800GT's

you wont be disappointed.

Also with that Asus board you can use dual slot coolers without a problem in SLI, IIRC, so you wont have the bad heat issue like I do!

Beyond that, just the additional space between the boards helps with heat on Asus boards.

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

no shimmering in BF2

Alright, i have both a 7 series card, and BF2. I have yet to notice this shimmering. Is there a certain place i should be looking (ie: the horizon or something). If there is, then it obviously isn't a huge reason to completely count a card out of everything.

-Kevin

Don't play dumb. You know what it is.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: buzzsaw13
I've got an A8N-SLI and considering SLI'ing 7800GT's

you wont be disappointed.

Also with that Asus board you can use dual slot coolers without a problem in SLI, IIRC, so you wont have the bad heat issue like I do!

Beyond that, just the additional space between the boards helps with heat on Asus boards.

True. I'm still looking for a after market cooler that will fit on my top card to replace the EVGA CO HSF.

My bottom card has an ACS and load temps are 10-12*C cooler than the top one. Very annoying.

 

[moonboy403]

actually...i never noticed any shimmernig problem on BF2 either
and i've owned 7800 gtx and 7800 sli

however, it's pretty noticiable in FAR CRY when you look at the horizon

 

[NoStateofMind]

Well it looks as though that 70% of the market is geared with some sort of Multi-GPU in mind. About 80 to 85% of that market is thinking or has gone SLI over Crossfire.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Well it looks as though that 70% of the market is geared with some sort of Multi-GPU in mind. About 80 to 85% of that market is thinking or has gone SLI over Crossfire.

That's what being first to the market gets you.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Thorny
I will never need the kind of performance multi-gpu's provide, let alone pay for it.

LOL, and 640k is more than enough right? Never say never.

Oh, yeah, the poll. I voted SLI.

Well, I'm pretty sure all the power I'll ever need will be available in a single card solution. I think SLI and Xfire alike are both marketing ploys that get a consumer to pay more for less. To me multi-gpu solutions make no sense as an upgrade path, and the diminished return on investment makes little sense in the long run. But to me, buying any top of the line component makes no sense due to diminishing returns, YMMV

The price of graphics cards has gotten INSANE, and if it keeps up, I'll be out of the pc gaming market entirely. $300 used to get you a TOP of the line card, now it will get you half of a mid-level SLI setup. 640k may not have been enough, but I've made my last upgrade cycle if these prices hold.

 

[Cookie Monster]

This shimmering talk again. Funny thing is ATi cards also shimmer, e.g shimmers more WoW according to an AT user.
Fact is, not many people notice it. (Most dont even know if it exists).

 

[NoStateofMind]

The only place where I see that SLI is "needed" is in those high resolution LCD's. Maybe for some of those that use CRT's as well. Also Dell actually made a "need" for dual DVI ports on VC's, with thier introduction of that Sweet MF'n 30" LCD!

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Well it looks as though that 70% of the market is geared with some sort of Multi-GPU in mind. About 80 to 85% of that market is thinking or has gone SLI over Crossfire.

70% of the anandtech market that is

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Thorny
$300 used to get you a TOP of the line card, now it will get you half of a mid-level SLI setup. 640k may not have been enough, but I've made my last upgrade cycle if these prices hold.

Only in days of yore. I think GF1 DDRs were $399 at launch, I think I paid $300 for my second tier GF1 SDR. The GF2 Ultra launched at $500..

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
The only place where I see that SLI is "needed" is in those high resolution LCD's. Maybe for some of those that use CRT's as well. Also Dell actually made a "need" for dual DVI ports on VC's, with thier introduction of that Sweet MF'n 30" LCD!

My monitor does 19X14 @ 75Hz, so i like to play at that if possible. High res FTW!

 

[buzzsaw13]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: buzzsaw13
I've got an A8N-SLI and considering SLI'ing 7800GT's

you wont be disappointed.

Also with that Asus board you can use dual slot coolers without a problem in SLI, IIRC, so you wont have the bad heat issue like I do!

Only thing holding me back is funds, but Chinese New Year is rolling around