nVidia SLI

[imported_kMaN]

I am curious if anyone has an SLI system up and running? If so, what mobo and video cards are they using? Did you see a huge performance increase vs your old system?
I keep reading in other FS/FT Forums that alot of people are selling off their nVidia nForce4-SLI mobo's and I am curious as to why?

 

[billwinkle]

hey kman,
I am running said setup with fantastic results. I could not run superpi stable at 300fsb. The sweet spot for me was 296fsb. I did not have to loosen my memory timings. I did not even try to lower my clock speed when I added my secont 6600gt card.
But then again after reading alot of forums I am just very lucky.

CPU: AMD64 (WINCHESTER) 3000+@2.66ghz 9x296fsb (1.45v)
htt: 3
MB: MSI K8N Neo4 platinum sli
HD:2x 200GB WD SATA RAID 0
HD:1X 200GB WD SATA
HD:1X 200GB WD IDE
RAM: 2X512 OCZ High Performance DDR400 revision 3
POWER: ENREMAX 480 NOISETAKER
DVD: NEC3500A
VIDEO: GIGABYTE 6600GT x2 cooled by zalman 700's
cpu cooling ZALMAN 7000CU.

 

[imported_kMaN]

If you do play games, did you notice a performance increase worth the amount of cash it takes?

 

[Merovingian]

A: This guy is using dividers cause that ram isn't clocking 592 on stock timings.
B: People can pass superpi on an amd, he(you) need to try Prime95. Unless you are using some phase change set up or something.
C: Those voltages must be out of control, what are they?

 

[billwinkle]

My memory is on 188 divider. running at 266.4mhz. voltage at 2.65v. CPU voltage is at 1.45v. My memory is only rated ddr400, yet it is running at ddr533 speed with 2.5 3 3 6 timings. Oddly enough when I was trying to oc, I would loosen my timings and could not achieve a decent overclock. And I have run prime95 stable for over 24hrs with no errors.
And yes I can play unreal2003, doom3 and more with the highest settings with great results.
Example: UT2003 @ 1600x1200 flyby 277.41fps BOT 127.185fps

By the way themerovingian, why are you questioning my setup when it looks like you are achieving almost the same results as my system? Is your system stable with your stated specs? If you want proof I can take screenshots any time you like.

OH I almost forgot temps are not a problem. my cpu runs 35c at idle and 41 to 42c at full load.

 

[imported_Kensai]

System in the sig, my system's been rock-solid for ages. Good performance increase with two cards. Doom3 doesn't become still pictures at high settings.

 

[billwinkle]

kensai,
What coolers are you using for you video cards?

 

[century child]

Originally posted by: kMaN
If you do play games, did you notice a performance increase worth the amount of cash it takes?

If you like to play games at high res (minimum 1280x1024) with quality settings cranked to the max, AA, and AF, then yes, you will notice the performance increase, i.e. you will be able to crank up all these settings higher than you could before and still maintain playable framerates.

As for why you see all those SLI combos for sale in forums, there are various reasons. The level of build difficulty/quality of hardware required (esp. PSU) are in some cases higher than some people expected. Some people experience more problems than they expected and/or are prepared to deal with and still others are upset because their favorite games do not yet support SLI.

I for one have had a problem-free experience (knock on wood) since buying my board in December and using various video card configurations. My board is not an exceptional overclocker like a DFI board matched with the right hardware but I can't complain too loudly about a 235 FSB/2350 MHz overclock with decent RAM timings. I especially like the extra space between video cards that this Asus board affords you.

 

[Merovingian]

Century Child, that RAM needs dividers, I know you can do better than that. I'm guessing not less than 2.5 Ghz.

2.66 Ghz on 1.45v....okay. I can boot 2.673 and run all games and run cpu-z, I don't buy 2.65+ on 1.45v but whatever, if you say so.=)

 

[century child]

My CPU is not a very good overclocker. It starts getting unstable at default voltage at 2.4 GHz and I really have to pump the voltage up to get any stability above that. Aside from that I have to loosen my RAM timings quite a bit to run above 235 FSB which kills my memory bandwidth. I've done some testing at higher speeds and found that this is the sweetspot for performance for my config.

 

[Merovingian]

Test with prime 95 to make sure the set up works at any speed. Loose timings do not equal poor bandwidth. Did you use dividers? You chip should be capable of more than that but the ram might be set incorrectly. Is it set to DDR400?

 

[billwinkle]

Originally posted by: TheMerovingian
Century Child, that RAM needs dividers, I know you can do better than that. I'm guessing not less than 2.5 Ghz.

2.66 Ghz on 1.45v....okay. I can boot 2.673 and run all games and run cpu-z, I don't buy 2.65+ on 1.45v but whatever, if you say so.=)

Tell you what my doubting friend, when I get home this afternoon I will take screenshots since my word is not good enough for you. What voltage are you running your winchester at? Have you tried to lower your voltage?
And what study do you base your assumption that you HAVE to raise your voltage until they are as you said "out of control" in order to achieve my overclock? I worked very hard and did alot of study to get my system to where it is. I am not a NOOB at this, and you annoy me by thinking that just because not everyone is having alot of success with this board that my system specs are bullsh**. Well guess again. My system is what it is and if you dont believe me than too bad. I don't lie about my specs, thats not how I get my jollies. And never mind I am not going to waste my time uploading pics for you. You can just sit there and doubt me all you wish. I don't care.

 

[century child]

Someone should probably start a new post if we are going to continue this, instead of futher hijacking this guy's post. I've checked for stability every step of the way in 5 MHz FSB increments all the way from the default 200 MHz and at various RAM timtings. Loosening timings to go higher than 235 does hurt bandwidth (as reported by Memtest) and performance (tested with various benchmarks) in my case. I know this RAM is capable of going much higher, just not with this CPU/Mainboard combo. I am not using dividers, like I said before, I like to keep it 1:1. I see no point in having a tremendously high FSB just to have the CPU and RAM running at the same speeds they are now. 6 one way, half dozen the other.

 

[billwinkle]

hey CC,
How are those 6800gt in sli mode for you? I bet your game just rock with all the eye candy turned all the way up. congrats on a great system!

 

[century child]

Thanks billwinkle! I don't like to boast, but this system is pretty awesome and gaming with quality settings maxed is a lot of fun. The only thing I'm disappointed with is the overclock. When I bought this board back in mid-December when the first batches hit the market, the 1T bug and modest overclocking of this board were not yet known, otherwise I wouldn't have sprang for this high speed RAM.