Why are so many people down on SLI?

[jnjboc]

Hi folks,

Just finished my new gaming rig a few days ago, and it really rocks. I have the EVGA 7800GTX 256MB that's oc'd from the factory. I am using the new ASUS A8n32-SLI 16x2 SLI mobo

I was thinking of getting a second one and put them in SLI mode. Based on the tests I have seen, that would allow me to run FEAR at max., and DOOM3 in ultra.

But I have seen a lot of posts that SLI is a waste of your money, that newer, single card technologies will be coming out that will render it useless, etc.

Well, I would like to have to fastest GPU set up available NOW(512's aren't in stock anywhere, and probably won't be out in numbers for awhile), and in a year, I'll re-evaluate the marketplace.

Can anyone help me understand what's wrong with SLI if you already own a 256 7800GTX card(meaning, I'm not trying to choose between ATI and Nvidia-that decision has already been made)?

thanks!

 

[Leper Messiah]

if you want the best now, then yeah, SLi is good, but using it as a viable upgrade path isn't, as shown by SLi'd 6800GT/Us. 1 7800GT is better than SLi'd ultras.

 

[jnjboc]

thanks for the reply, so help me understand something.

Won't SLI capability be available for the forseeable future for the Nvidia video platform?

I mean, when 512MB cards are readily available, I can hook two together for incredible video performance.

Then when the next board comes out that might actually be able to take advantage of the 16x2 SLI channels on my A8N32-SLI board, wouldn't two of those cards be extremely fast and very capable?

It just seems to me that the mobo vendors would not be making nvidia4 chipset/SLI boards if this technology was a flash in pan idea.

Won't SLI be a viable option to gain video performance gains well into the future, particularly with a 16x2 SLI mobo?

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: jnjboc
Won't SLI be a viable option to gain video performance gains well into the future, particularly with a 16x2 SLI mobo?

Absolutely. SLI is the best option on the market today for top of the line performance.

Not sure why anybody would complain about that, but some people are never happy.

 

[Eureka]

They probably feel envy.

But SLi doesn't make sense if you're using 2 older cards... one next generation card will out perform 2 older cards SLi. It does work if you need an extra boost of power when you already have top of the line stuff. (aka, 2x 7800GTX512)

Norm

 

[w00t]

its a waste of money
i rember when sli was really starting to be used with two 6800gt's people where like i am going to be able to game hi res for a long time so they spent around 300-350 for each card that comes out to lets say 650-700 with tax and shipping. than guess what the 7 series came out and now you can get a 7800gt than will beat two 6800gt's in SLi... imo its a waste of money unless you plan on selling your cards as brand new one come out like stang55.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
They probably feel envy.

But SLi doesn't make sense if you're using 2 older cards... one next generation card will out perform 2 older cards SLi. It does work if you need an extra boost of power when you already have top of the line stuff. (aka, 2x 7800GTX512)

Norm

There are many newer games where two 6800Us/GTs will beat a single 256 GTX fairly handily, so if you had it to start with, you're still good to go.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: w00t
its a waste of money
i rember when sli was really starting to be used with two 6800gt's people where like i am going to be able to game hi res for a long time so they spent around 300-350 for each card that comes out to lets say 650-700 with tax and shipping. than guess what the 7 series came out and now you can get a 7800gt than will beat two 6800gt's in SLi... imo its a waste of money unless you plan on selling your cards as brand new one come out like stang55.

Links to benches of a 7800GT beating two 6800GTs? I can definitely point you at some where the GTs will OWN a 7800GT.

 

[Azndude2190]

Originally posted by: jnjboc
Hi folks,

Just finished my new gaming rig a few days ago, and it really rocks. I have the EVGA 7800GTX 256MB that's oc'd from the factory. I am using the new ASUS A8n32-SLI 16x2 SLI mobo

I was thinking of getting a second one and put them in SLI mode. Based on the tests I have seen, that would allow me to run FEAR at max., and DOOM3 in ultra.

But I have seen a lot of posts that SLI is a waste of your money, that newer, single card technologies will be coming out that will render it useless, etc.

Well, I would like to have to fastest GPU set up available NOW(512's aren't in stock anywhere, and probably won't be out in numbers for awhile), and in a year, I'll re-evaluate the marketplace.

Can anyone help me understand what's wrong with SLI if you already own a 256 7800GTX card(meaning, I'm not trying to choose between ATI and Nvidia-that decision has already been made)?

thanks!

Nothing.I'm personally getting another 6600GT to run SLI in the comming months once they drop even more.

 

[Saint Nick]

i think the problem right now is that SLi is very very expensive. a lot of us just don't have the money to throw at SLi. also, it is very practical for most of us either. we like to play games... but we don't like them so much that we HAVE to play them at the absolute highest resolution with everything turned up (AA/AF, bump mapping, etc. etc.). like me, I am happy with my 6800GT. it plays half life 2, doom 3, fear, anything else just fine.

 

[justlnluck]

 

[justlnluck]

I think it is because most of us want video card companies to put time and energy into developing faster, more efficient single card solutions. Do you really want the market to become, "Well, if you want to play games, you're going to have to buy TWO video cards."

 

[Mavrick007]

Hehe If they wanted us to buy 2 video cards, they should have some bundles or "deals" where they will give you a better deal if you'll buy two of their cards to run in your machine.. much like the ram companies do for matched ram to run in dual channel. You wouldn't have to have matched cards, except by brand and type, but it would give an incentive to people other than the enthusiasts to buy 2 expensive cards.

 

[Conky]

Yep, it's mostly a "bang for the buck" thing. And additionally SLI can create problems(heat, power issues, driver issues) that are usually not a problem with single cards.

I ran SLI back in the Voodoo2 days when it was a big increase over anything else out but it was ultimately a waste of money compared to just waiting for a faster single card.

On the other hand, it's also cool to have the fastest video stuff out if you don't mind spending your money on it and I suppose it's better than spending your spare cash on drugs, lol.

 

[0roo0roo]

because some think it should be a value option for later upgrade when its really just premium graphics that should be bought right away

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: w00t
its a waste of money
i rember when sli was really starting to be used with two 6800gt's people where like i am going to be able to game hi res for a long time so they spent around 300-350 for each card that comes out to lets say 650-700 with tax and shipping. than guess what the 7 series came out and now you can get a 7800gt than will beat two 6800gt's in SLi... imo its a waste of money unless you plan on selling your cards as brand new one come out like stang55.

Links to benches of a 7800GT beating two 6800GTs? I can definitely point you at some where the GTs will OWN a 7800GT.

what i ment to say is its not worth spending the money on two cards when you can just upgrade one card lets say you had a 6800gt oced to ultra speeds than you were going to get another 6800gt but than the 7 series came out and now you want that. which would be more cost efficent cosidering you have to get a SLi board two cards and a good psu that can handel two cards running in SLi if you dont already have one. to me SLi is a joke its only for rich people who can afford getting the best of the best if you idea is to get one card now and get another one later its not going to be worth it.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
because some think it should be a value option for later upgrade when its really just premium graphics that should be bought right away

If graphics progression ever stalls again like it did after the release of the 9700pro then SLI would be an incredibly useful upgrade path. However, except for that 2 year period of time there have been significant improvements pretty much every year. Well, two geforce 2 ultras would have dominated a geforce 3 ti 500, so there's really only been two periods of time where major performance increases were delayed long enough to make sli a worthwhile upgrade path.

 

[Mavrick007]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
because some think it should be a value option for later upgrade when its really just premium graphics that should be bought right away

If graphics progression ever stalls again like it did after the release of the 9700pro then SLI would be an incredibly useful upgrade path. However, except for that 2 year period of time there have been significant improvements pretty much every year. Well, two geforce 2 ultras would have dominated a geforce 3 ti 500, so there's really only been two periods of time where major performance increases were delayed long enough to make sli a worthwhile upgrade path.

It only stalled because Nvidia put out a crappy cycle with their FX series and ATI really put great strides into the 9700Pro. I don't see that happening again for awhile but anything is possible. I like it when there's more competition which we will surely see in the coming generations.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
I ran SLI back in the Voodoo2 days when it was a big increase over anything else out but it was ultimately a waste of money compared to just waiting for a faster single card.

There's a big problem with this logic:
When you buy high end SLI right away, you're getting the absolute best gaming performance right away.
If you wait for the single card, that level of performance is not as high, and you've gone the time without that level of performance waiting.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
I ran SLI back in the Voodoo2 days when it was a big increase over anything else out but it was ultimately a waste of money compared to just waiting for a faster single card.

There's a big problem with this logic:
When you buy high end SLI right away, you're getting the absolute best gaming performance right away.
If you wait for the single card, that level of performance is not as high, and you've gone the time without that level of performance waiting.

IMO its just not worth it to much money spent for not double the speed.

 

[Munky]

It depends on whether or not you need dual gtx's right now. If you're using a LCD with a native res of 16x12 or higher, then dual gtx's are a good idea if you get em both now. Well, actually with the r580 coming out in a month it may be better to wait and see, but it's still a viable option. But if you only game at 12x10 then you wont see much improvement from sli. Also, if you plan on doing the sli upgrade a year later, there are several flaws with that theory:
1. The gtx's may not drop in price enough to make it worthwhile over a single new card
2. A new card may be faster than dual gtx's, and definitely with newer features.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: w00t
IMO its just not worth it to much money spent for not double the speed.

You're entitled to your opinion, but on modern gpu limited games like FEAR, COD2, Q4- the payoff of SLI far exceeds any other single upgrade, including some that cost much more. (assuming you already have a A64 3200+/1GB RAM)
There's no other upgrade that comes close, and getting 50% more performance for another $300-$500 is a price many are willing to pay. Not to mention the benefits of much higher minimum fps and running at higher detail settings.

 

[tuteja1986]

because they got money and want to wast it on the best hardware...

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: w00t
IMO its just not worth it to much money spent for not double the speed.

You're entitled to your opinion, but on modern gpu limited games like FEAR, COD2, Q4- the payoff of SLI far exceeds any other single upgrade, including some that cost much more. (assuming you already have a A64 3200+/1GB RAM)
There's no other upgrade that comes close, and getting 50% more performance for another $300-$500 is a price many are willing to pay. Not to mention the benefits of much higher minimum fps and running at higher detail settings.

I think that if people are thinking of getting an SLi board and getting one card and getting another one later on when needed they will probably end up getting a new card. If you going to get an SLi board you should get it because you want SLi that means two cards with it what people are doing is buying an SLi board than getting one card. example rember all those people who got a 6800gt and said they were going to get another one later. than the 7 series came out and almost all of them got that i really havent seen people who got another 6800gt and SLi'd them. I just think its worth getiting a non-sli board than getting one card and upgrade when needed save you money and you would have playable frames at high res maybe not full settings but good settings.

 

[vanvock]

Yep' I'm one of those 6800gt owners biding my time for a 7800gtx.