SLI - worth the money?

[robarrieta]

OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: robarrieta
OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

Friends posting on another board Link He would say it was worth it, but at what he paid for it, I would say no
Gonna go over tonight and take some pics of his setup

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge

Originally posted by: robarrieta
OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

Friends posting on another board Link He would say it was worth it, but at what he paid for it, I would say no
Gonna go over tonight and take some pics of his setup

That is one SWEET ass setup!

 

[GasX]

I would probably have an orgasm if I got to play games with a SLI rig.

Then again, I could have a whole lot of professionally administered blow jobs for that kind of money...

 

[RussianSensation]

$200 for motherboard
$500 x 2 for 2 videocards
_____________________
$1200 US total

Most people can build a system for that much money

SLI is only beneficial for 1600x1200 4AA/8AF and there is really no point if you play up to 1280x1024 4AA/8AF. If you can afford it (means for you this is pocket change), then it's worth it. Otherwise probably not worth it since in 6 months, 1 $500 new generation card will be faster. SLi is more of a long-term solution where you buy one card for $400 and then instead of getting a new $400 card, you upgrade for $200 for 80% performance improvement.

 

[Supafreak]

I dont know if its just me...
but looking at those pictures, seeing those 2 video cards hooked up like that...so beautiful...
must change pants now...

...even if its not worth the money...still extremely cool

 

[Anubis]

IMO no

 

[Vegito]

you're using current market price for the item which you can't really find in stock at all the places.. one it's fully released into the market these will be dirt cheap... plus going foward 1-2 year, they'll also be new card using sli

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Supafreak
I dont know if its just me...
but looking at those pictures, seeing those 2 video cards hooked up like that...so beautiful...
must change pants now...

...even if its not worth the money...still extremely cool

I'll get more pics tonight. My friend is a little insane in the hardware department
Here are pics of the type of"duel cascade" cooler he is getting made for him.
He is like third fastest in running super pi. All that hardware and I don't think he even plays games.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: robarrieta
OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

Opinions are mixed here, it's been debated in quite a few posts. AFAIK, everyone pretty much agrees that if money is no object and want the fastest gfx SLI is the thing to get. When you get around to the question of whether it's going to provide a great bang-for-the-buck upgrade path etc the disagreement begins. In a nutshell, some seem to think upgrading to one top-of-the-of-line gfx card is the way to go, while other think SLI is better cuz you get the option to buy a second version (presumably cheaper cuz it's now older) of your existing card and slapping it in SLI to "double" your performance. The idea here being that the second card will at that time be much cheaper than it was, say a year ago, and of course much less than a new top of the line card. But of course against all this one must balance the increased cost an SLI mobo commands.

BTW, I'm a doubter of the SLI "upgrade benefits" and at this time feel just getting a new card is better than two old ones. But that's just my .02. And if I had unlimited funds I would be ordering an SLI mobo as well as two 6800GT's or Ultra's as we speak.

Fern

 

[NFS4]

nope

 

[ponyo]

no but if you have money to burn then enjoy.

 

[sandorski]

Tough call IMO. If one must have the top system, sure it's likely worth it. OTOH, if someone goes single vidcard now then adds in a second card later as an upgrade, it might be worth it. Personally, if I went SLI it would be the second way, buy a Mid-level vidcard now, then buy another later when it became cheap.

It'll be at least six months before I upgrade from my current XP 2800+ and when I do I think I'll get a SLI mobo, but whether I get an Nvidia based vidcard or not is stillnin the air. I'm hoping that ATI's SLI setup will be close to market and that the Technical details of it will be available at that time to help me make a decision in that regard.

 

[jpeyton]

Not really worth it.

 

[beatle]

Nope, not worth it for someone with a 5 figure income.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: robarrieta
OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

If you need almost double the frame rate... then yes it's worth it.
If you don't need that much frame rate... then no it's not worth it.

 

[RealityTime]

I don't get it myself a 6800gt paired with a nice a64 and a gig of ram runs everything fine at 1600x1200 8xaf/2xaa and in most games 8xaf/4xaa. So I don't get the need for SLI right now, as nothing seems to be challenging enough for it. Lets face it, its going to be for the 3dmark whores to post their benchies. beyond that, useless.

 

[WheelsCSM]

I don't see the point unless you must have the fastest thing out there regardless of price.

I don't really think it is worth it from an upgrade standpoint either. I tend to buy ~$200 video cards and upgrade every 1-2 years. I could go SLI and just buy a second card after about one year, but chances are by then a new generation of cards will be out that will have additional features and similar performance (to the old SLI cards) for not much more money than a second SLI card. Combine that with the extra cost of the motherboard, and I just don't think it's worth it.

I used to have a Voodoo 2 card that was capable of SLI. I always thought SLI would be a good way to upgrade it, but by the time I started to think about upgrading it, I realized I was better off just getting a new card.

As often as they change graphics card generations, I prefer to jump to the next generation of cards as often as I can. Sometimes this is not a very big deal though as it can take software developers a long time to incorporate the new features.

 

[bigboxes]

Hell no.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: robarrieta
OK, I've read the reviews but want to get the opinion of the forum members: Is SLI worth it?

I think SLI isn't worth the money for most people, unless you get two 6600 GT's, or one now and one later. The reason? At this time even the FX55 is a bottleneck for a pimped out SLI rig running the resolutions and settings you'd probably want to run.

I plan on making the jump when dual-core CPU's become available. Then, high-end SLI will be a great choice coupled with dual/quad core CPU's. (Ok, I'm dreaming on the quad thing)

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Blah. Friend couldn't show me the SLI cause they sent him mismatched boards. One GT and one Ultra I think he said.

His computer setup
Phase change, diamond board, FX 55. Notice the two plastic packages almost full of ram under the stand? I only have 512 and he has that just laying around.

Ho Hum, just spare parts laying around.
No idea what boards these are. I've been intel too long.

Storage space. Two raptors and two new 300 gig sata maxtors.

Just another picture.

 

[Blain]

No

 

[dklingen]

Yes - now that SLI MB are dropping in price. Buy the MB and at least have the option - ya just never know...

 

[thegimp03]

NO