Do you have an SLI setup in your PC?

[gagginforit]

I've been thinking of getting a second graphics card and putting it in with the other one. I just don't know how much on a performance boost that will give me. So if anyone did that with their machine... what kind of performance are you getting (with games) compared to when you just had the one?

I've currently got a 7800GTX.

Cheers.

 

[biglboy]

You won't see a whole lot of difference in normal applications, windows startup, game loading... but you'll see a hell of alot of difference when you're actually playing a game. You'll be able to crank everything up and all the graphics will be crisper.

Make sure your mobo supports SLI, it's a heck of a deal to shell out for a new video card and then not be able to run both.

 

[necroerotica]

You won't see a whole lot of difference in normal applications, windows startup, game loading... but you'll see a hell of alot of difference when you're actually playing a game. You'll be able to crank everything up and all the graphics will be crisper.

Make sure your mobo supports SLI, it's a heck of a deal to shell out for a new video card and then not be able to run both.

Also, I believe both cards need to be the same brand - which can be a bit of a pain if your card is sold out or a bit older......

 

[gagginforit]

Thanks. It's definately SLI ready, and I think you can still get my card but I'm waiting til it comes down in price. It should, it's a year old. But the place I got it from still sells it at the same price I paid for it a year ago.

I just wanted to get an idea if it'd be worth it for running games. I can't afford to do much of an upgrade (to upgrade the cpu I'd need a new mobo and everything). And I can't afford a new generation card either. It's either another 7800 or forgetting about PC gaming altogether and getting an Xbox.

It sounds like a second 7800 is the way to go for now.

 

[sutherngent985]

Also, I believe both cards need to be the same brand - which can be a bit of a pain if your card is sold out or a bit older......

Yea you do...not only same brand but same card... and depending on your motherbaord you have to do some other things too. If your not PC upgrade savvy it might be best to leave this to a professional at someplace like CompUSA or something similiar.

 

[Speedso]

Also, I believe both cards need to be the same brand - which can be a bit of a pain if your card is sold out or a bit older......

Nah, they changed that a year or so ago. The cards need only be the same model (eg 7800GTX, 7900GS, etc) rather than absolutely identical.

Really in most cases if you don't go for the high end SLI setup from the beginning you probably aren't going to use it. Eg at the moment a single GF8800 GTS 320MB is gonna be as fast as or faster than GF7800 GTX SLI in most cases, and without the quirks SLI can have.

I've seen GF8800 GTS 320's as cheap as $250 or so, and considering that you can probably still eBay your old card for $100+ and recoup some of the price...

 

[gagginforit]

Nah, they changed that a year or so ago. The cards need only be the same model (eg 7800GTX, 7900GS, etc) rather than absolutely identical.

Really in most cases if you don't go for the high end SLI setup from the beginning you probably aren't going to use it. Eg at the moment a single GF8800 GTS 320MB is gonna be as fast as or faster than GF7800 GTX SLI in most cases, and without the quirks SLI can have.

I've seen GF8800 GTS 320's as cheap as $250 or so, and considering that you can probably still eBay your old card for $100+ and recoup some of the price...

What kind of quirks?

 

[luvtofly]

Have you tried searching on www.newegg.com?

What model is your card specifically? Perhaps someone on here could help find a good priced one that will meet your needs?

 

[kindashy]

The "identical card" requirement is for the ATI Crossfire, not nVidia SLI. There are plenty of articles on the net about SLI setup.

Personally, I do not think it is worth the expanse, particularly for the casual user. On the other hand, if you have the money, then sky is the limit.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

What kind of quirks?

Run it with a power supply under 500W and you'll find out in a hurry.

BTW dual SLI 7800 GTX is just fine. I find that the 8800 series just doesn't provide any better performance. There are bottlenecks involved at that point.

 

[gagginforit]

Have you tried searching on www.newegg.com?

What model is your card specifically? Perhaps someone on here could help find a good priced one that will meet your needs?

Thanks, but I'm in New Zealand.

But it's a WinFast PX 7800GTX TDH 256MB. I need a manufacturer's model number but there doesn't seem to be one on the box.

 

[gagginforit]

Run it with a power supply under 500W and you'll find out in a hurry.

BTW dual SLI 7800 GTX is just fine. I find that the 8800 series just doesn't provide any better performance. There are bottlenecks involved at that point.

Oh great, it's only 450.

 

[gagginforit]

The "identical card" requirement is for the ATI Crossfire, not nVidia SLI. There are plenty of articles on the net about SLI setup.

Personally, I do not think it is worth the expanse, particularly for the casual user. On the other hand, if you have the money, then sky is the limit.

I thought I could save money doing it this way, instead of buying a next gen card. But the one I have is still full price even a year later. And if I have go get a new power supply too...

Maybe I'll just get a freakin Xbox. Even though I hate consoles. I can't keep upgrading this thing though.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Oh great, it's only 450.

It might work at 450, but I doubt it. SLI video cards chew up a ton of power. I would get a single 8800 GTS, GTX or Ultra. Make sure you have 512 or 768mb RAM in the sucker, and upgrade to 500W anyway. Your games will fly (except Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, that is) at maximum resolution.

As for the power consumption issue, take a look at this 2006 report.
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000662.html