SLI vs X800XTPE

[pxnspd]

oh yer there was something I forgot to say... a lot of reviews shows the 6600 and 6800 performing above the X800, this is because the X800 performs best when AA and AF are on, whereas the Nvidia cards fail (fall back) using AA and AF

 

[DandyBear]

Over at www.hardocp.com they did some benchies showing the XT PE in the mix. These results show only marginal gains at best using two 6800Ultra's over an XT PE, an average 6.1 fps in Far Cry, 12 fps in Half Life 2 and an average of 1.8 frames per second in Doom 3. These gains are not significant at all!! The more they kept increasing the resolution and quality settings, the gains were less and less, particularly in Far Cry

 

[Lonyo]

$500 for an X800XT
$250x2 for 6800NU (assuming price)
+ $50 for SLI mobo (over normal mobo for the X800XT, with one PCIe slot)

$500 for X800XT, $550 for 6800NUx2
The 6800NU performs better than the 6800GT (extrapolating and assuming performance), which is going to be on a level with, or maybe a bit above the X800XT.
SLI currently only works on some titles, not all, so this gain won't be seen for everything (currently, anyway).
You will also have to wait for the 6800SLI, but it may be possible to find an X800 now.


Do you want to wait, spend a little more, and get probably a bit more performance in some titles.
Or: Get something now, for a little less probably, and get a little lower performance, but be assured of the same level of performance in all games (not dependent on nVidia supporting SLI for them).
Or: SLI mobo, and a 6800GT, then upgrade with another 6800GT later on.

 

[nRollo]

Oops.

 

[RealityTime]

it really seems like right now for any game on the market sli is useless unless you want 1600x1200 with 4xaa and 8xaf without any hitches. Otherwise you won't see jack in performance difference on any other settings, apart from benchmark and 3dmark results.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: DandyBear
Over at www.hardocp.com they did some benchies showing the XT PE in the mix. These results show only marginal gains at best using two 6800Ultra's over an XT PE, an average 6.1 fps in Far Cry, 12 fps in Half Life 2 and an average of 1.8 frames per second in Doom 3. These gains are not significant at all!! The more they kept increasing the resolution and quality settings, the gains were less and less, particularly in Far Cry

be sure to check the charts closely. hardocp has this thing about comparing different cards running at different resolutions/details/aa/af in the same chart. it might not equate the way you're thinking it equates.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: RealityTime
it really seems like right now for any game on the market sli is useless unless you want 1600x1200 with 4xaa and 8xaf without any hitches. Otherwise you won't see jack in performance difference on any other settings, apart from benchmark and 3dmark results.

Err, yeah 16X12 4X8X isn't worth anything. :roll:

 

[RealityTime]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: RealityTime
it really seems like right now for any game on the market sli is useless unless you want 1600x1200 with 4xaa and 8xaf without any hitches. Otherwise you won't see jack in performance difference on any other settings, apart from benchmark and 3dmark results.

Err, yeah 16X12 4X8X isn't worth anything. :roll:

my 6800gt does those settings fine.. a mild stutter here or there. You can barely tell the difference between 2xaa and 4xaa at 16x12 anyways. but to each their own i guess. until heavy duty games come out, its pointless imo. but I know nothing. so you carry on.

 

[Thermalrock]

x850xt pe.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Thermalrock
x850xt pe.

Hmmm.

http://www20.graphics.tomshard...li-performance-12.html
UT2004 16X12 4X8X XT PE= 113fps GT SLI= 151fps

http://www20.graphics.tomshard...li-performance-16.html
Doom3 16X12 4X8X XT PE=37fps GT SLI= 67fps

http://www20.graphics.tomshard...li-performance-18.html
Farcry 16X12 4X8X XT PE=36fps GT SLI = 53fps

http://www20.graphics.tomshard...li-performance-23.html
BF Nam 16X12 4X8X XT PE= 61fps GT SLI= 84fps

In these four games the GT SLI stomps the XT PE, not to mention the Ultra SLI. There's definitely "bang for buck" here, it's just scraping up the bucks that might be tough.

 

[Thermalrock]

no man i didnt say x800xt pe i said x850xt pe.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19816