PCI-e vs. SLI

[KayTee]

I'm going to build a new computer; to make it future-proof I'm waiting for motherboards that support the socket 939 Athlon 64 and PCI-e but would it be better for me to wait for motherboards with the SLI support? Or is it expected to cost too much more?

 

[Momental]

No one knows the "exact" cost of the SLI-capable MoBo's until they're officially released for retail purchase. They are expected, however, to be considerably more expensive than boards that will be compatible with only one video card.

So, you have to ask yourself if the added expense of having a motherboard that can support two video cards simultaneously (SLI) coupled with the price of a second video card to be put on that board is worth it.

The ASUS SLI board, for instance, is supposed to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $230-250: not cheap. Now, add in the price of a second video card and you might just opt for the cheaper board with only the one card. The caviat to all this is if you grab a 6600GT card (around $170-180) and then plop in another one a few months from now. That solution is certainly cheaper than buying one 6800GT (around $480) and dumping in another one further down the road.

Decisions! Decisions! He-he Trust me. We're all sitting here scratching our heads wondering if the pricey entry into the world of SLI is really worth it. Above all else, I would at the very least wait for the PCI Express-compatible motherboards with either the nVidia nForce4, the VIA K8T890 or the ATi RX480 chipsets. Just hold my place in line. I have to run to the Porta-Pottie and don't wanna lose my place.

 

[Rhin0]

From what I understand and what I want and need and my schedule for building a computer; SLI and PCI-E for that matter is not needed.

I don't have $1200 to drop for dual GFx cards to run the SLI. There is also additional costs in bigger and better PSU plus the mobo. Plus by the time my computer I am building now is out of date I can choose to go to SLI if I really need it then instead of waiting for something worthless to me right now.

Same with the PCI-e. I looked at it like this. I can wait for a nforce3 board with PCI-E and miss out on all kinds of fun and gain, well nothing performance wise. Or I can get an ABIT AV8 (tried and true) or I could go out on a limb a little and get a NEO2 platinum and take a chance. Either way I have AGP with a 6800 Ultra and by the time I need to replace that I'll want to build an entire new computer.

Hope that makes some sense. In the end the decision is yours though!

 

[w00t]

when is the ATi RX480 going to come out wont that support dual ATI cards like nvidia's SLI if so i want it!

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: Momental

Decisions! Decisions! He-he Trust me. We're all sitting here scratching our heads wondering if the pricey entry into the world of SLI is really worth it. Above all else, I would at the very least wait for the PCI Express-compatible motherboards with either the nVidia nForce4, the VIA K8T890 or the ATi RX480 chipsets. Just hold my place in line. I have to run to the Porta-Pottie and don't wanna lose my place.

I am about in the same spot as you. I have decided I want nothing to do with SLI at this point in time, there is no need and I don't have the extra money. Plus when the computer i'm building now is a slug I can choose to get SLI then if I need it, if it even exists that is.

As for waiting for the rx480 or nforce4 i'm not really sure I see a reason to wait. Even if I go with an ABIT AV8 with an AGP Nv6800 Ultra that is based on the K8T800 the peformance difference isn't going to be much. That is my build probably, FX55, AV8, NV 6800ultra. Or I could get the Nforce3 Neo2 board from MSI, I am somewhat scared by trying out an MSI board. I'm afraid i'll get a bad one or have trouble. Abit is so rock solid to begin with and that VIA chipset is good I think.

Now if you coupld that rx480 with a rx"1000" or whatever card ATI comes out with next in PCI-E then well maybe there would be an edge there. But if you waited 2 months after that there would be something faster, so IMO it makes no sense to not just buy now. That is what I am going to do. Just need to decide on the AV8 or the msi neo2 plat nforce3. Too bad Abit didn't make an nforce3 board with 939 or a 939 with the K8T890

 

[Momental]

RhinO, you make excellent points regarding the decision to build immediately rather than wait for the next wave of "latest and greatest".

However, I would urge that in this case, you do wait. I know. You're like me and you want that system purrin' away on your desktop now! But, you're unfortunately steering your bright n' shiny new Mazda RX-8 down a dead end alley and the turn-around space is mighty tight, if you take my meaning.

It's not so much an issue of SLI or even nForce4, but the upgradeability of the whole PCI Express vein. True. There really aren't much performance gains at the moment, but who's to say that some time next Summer, ATi won't release their next beast that just smokes anything that's out right now? You'd be golden if all you had to do was pluck out your "current" (I'm talking in future tense, of course) 6800Ultra and dropping in that incredible new card in the shrink-wrapped box that's still wet with the sweat of your eager fingers.

If you choose to go with the currently-available hardware (which is excellent nonetheless), you'll not only have to replace the video card, but the motherboard too as well as do all the painful tweaking associated with that venture.

This is not to say you have to wait until next Summer, by any means. Actually, my rubber ball (the crystal's in the shop) tells me that by mid-January, we'll be in good shape. Don't let me stop you, however. I, personally, would indeed just wait, literally, a few more weeks.

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: Momental
RhinO, you make excellent points regarding the decision to build immediately rather than wait for the next wave of "latest and greatest".

However, I would urge that in this case, you do wait. I know. You're like me and you want that system purrin' away on your desktop now! But, you're unfortunately steering your bright n' shiny new Mazda RX-8 down a dead end alley and the turn-around space is mighty tight, if you take my meaning.

It's not so much an issue of SLI or even nForce4, but the upgradeability of the whole PCI Express vein. True. There really aren't much performance gains at the moment, but who's to say that some time next Summer, ATi won't release their next beast that just smokes anything that's out right now? You'd be golden if all you had to do was pluck out your "current" (I'm talking in future tense, of course) 6800Ultra and dropping in that incredible new card in the shrink-wrapped box that's still wet with the sweat of your eager fingers.

If you choose to go with the currently-available hardware (which is excellent nonetheless), you'll not only have to replace the video card, but the motherboard too as well as do all the painful tweaking associated with that venture.

This is not to say you have to wait until next Summer, by any means. Actually, my rubber ball (the crystal's in the shop) tells me that by mid-January, we'll be in good shape. Don't let me stop you, however. I, personally, would indeed just wait, literally, a few more weeks.

The point on the PCI-E is taken. I also think that AGP could die (and for no good reason really) because manufacturers are going to go hard towards PCI-E if it takes a deep hold. I hate to wait any longer with half life 2 coming out but I might be able to tough it out another week.

I just read this review on Newegg... do you think this is true? This was a quote off a review of the BFG NV 6800 Ultra OC video card.

"This is a very nice card and if you insist on getting Nvidia this would be your best choice. But this is NOT, I repeat NOT, the best card on the market, so if you're going to be dropping THIS much cash on a video card just get an x800xt or x800xt platinum, they perform much better on all D3D games which is pretty much normal these days (the only game this season that would ever need a card this powerful that doesnt use d3d is doom, and buying a card thats good for an engine only one game uses is a waste of money). "

are they really better on all D3D games? like I said I guess ill have to see the HL2 tests


I just saw some benchmarks and the Ultra still seems to be ahead in everything. I didn't see the x800 ahead in CS:source much at all if any. I'll be waiting to see that HL2 test




I guess I sorta hijacked this thread. But really in the end the answer is how much you want to spend, when you want to be spending that much again (heh), and what you wanna do?

 

[dklingen]

I think the prices for the SLI motherboards that were implied are to high "$230-250". The target for the first round from ASUS and MSI is suppose to be $200. As the months progress and other manufacturers get on board with Nforce4, the price will come down to something the masses can afford. My guesswould be $130-150.

Will the other chipsets from VIA and SIS support SLI (I hope so)?

 

[gobucks]

If you just want to keep your computer from going obsolete, a single PCIe solution will be fine. SLI will NEVER be mainstream; heck, realistically, add-in cards aren't even mainstream right now, since integrated graphics are more common. As such, nvidia and ATI will keep on making faster single boards, and you will always be able to upgrade to one. Basically, unless you are going top-of-the-line dual 6800 Ultra/FX-55 gaming power house, SLI is an upgrade path. If the path becomes more trouble than it's worth, then it's not worth it. If boards come out much later, or cost much more, or sacrifice other features like PCIe x1 slots, then it's not worth it. It looks like the first SLI boards will do all three of these things, at least judging by MSI, making it undesirable, but other board manufacturers could surprise us and may make it worth it after all. I'd say that the PCIe x16 AND x1 support and SATA-II are more important for future proofing than SLI will ever be, so you should plan accordingly.

 

[Momental]

Originally posted by: Rhin0

are they really better on all D3D games? like I said I guess ill have to see the HL2 tests


I just saw some benchmarks and the Ultra still seems to be ahead in everything. I didn't see the x800 ahead in CS:source much at all if any. I'll be waiting to see that HL2 test

Well, I'm not sure about every game, but it seems that, by and large, the X800 XT (not the PRO) seems to edge out the 6800Ultra in higher resolutions when you begin to turn on the eye candy. Check out these FarCry benchies from XBit Labs: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...sus-ax800xt-tvd_7.html

So, it really comes down to price and performance. If that extra few FPS coupled with a tighter resolution is really worth the considerable added expense, then go for it. But, like you said, I'd wait 'til HL2 drops to get some real world benches drawn up and base your decision upon that. Either route you take (6800Ultra or X800 XT) won't be a bad one!

And, dklingen, I'm sure you're correct in saying that the prices of SLI-capable boards will debut in the neighborhood of $200 and will drop sharply shortly thereafter. I coulda sworn I read no too long ago that they'd be upwards of $230+. We'll just see very soon!

 

[w00t]

the nf4 only supports the nvidia cards on SLI correct?

 

[gobucks]

the NF4 SLI will support any cards that follow the SLI spec, but nvidia is the only manufacturer making such cards. All the other companies, like VIA, SIS, and ATI have access to this spec, and are in fact designing motherboards that work with it. Therefore, if ATI releases their own SLI cards, which they have been working on, they will work, barring some possible driver issues and what not. Getting SLI should mean you will have SLI potential from both companies, so it's really just about whether the time, effort, and money of getting SLI are worth the possible gains.

BTW, I don't know if any of you have read the review of the new Gigabye nForce4 board, but it's freakin awesome! It's about 5% faster than the reference board, which had the same performance as the nforce3 and K8T800 Pro, making an upgrade to the platform even more appealing.