SLI/crossfire

Rep0o8i · Oct 14, 2008

Hey, well i am building a new computer but im a little stumped for my gpu
well i just have a few questions.
When using sli/crossfire duel gpu's do they have to be the same? or same series or do they just need to support sli/crossfire

will this motherboard
DCS (Doncaster) Ltd. Online Store (btw awesome site, supports sli) work with 2* NvidiaÂ® Geforce 8600GT 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card > Maplin (Geforce 8600GT 1GB)

or will it just be better if i used 1 gpu
NvidiaÂ® Geforce 9500GT 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card > Maplin
(geforce 9500gt 1gb)

this is for gaming/everyday stuff
cod4 , crysis , mercanaries 2...etc....

thanks.
~Luke

Dwarf · Oct 14, 2008

Hi Luke,

I am not sure about the ATI Crossfire range, but for the NVidia range it is preferable for both cards to be of the same specification.
Unfortunately, your choice of motherboard has only 1 PCI-E graphics slot, so is unsuitable for multiple graphics cards.
Have a look at this to see if this answers your needs: DCS (Doncaster) Ltd. Online Store

Rep0o8i · Oct 14, 2008

ah i didnt take time to check the expansion slots, thanks
so will i be better off with two sli gpu's or one powerfull gpu?

Dwarf · Oct 14, 2008

Hi Luke,

It all depends on what you want from your system. If you are not into intensive gaming and mainly use your PC for office-type work, then a single card will suffice. Use the highest spec that you can afford for the best performance. Incidentally, the price difference between the motherboard that I found and the one that you were thinking of is only £5.25 so you would be better off getting the one with 2 PCI-E slots (my recommendation), even if you don't utilise both slots to begin with. You can always get a second graphics card when funds allow (be sure to match the cards for best performance).

UNTAMED · Oct 14, 2008

Lukepker said:
Hey, well i am building a new computer but im a little stumped for my gpu
well i just have a few questions.
When using sli/crossfire duel gpu's do they have to be the same? or same series or do they just need to support sli/crossfire

will this motherboard
DCS (Doncaster) Ltd. Online Store (btw awesome site, supports sli) work with 2* NvidiaÂ® Geforce 8600GT 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card > Maplin (Geforce 8600GT 1GB)

or will it just be better if i used 1 gpu
NvidiaÂ® Geforce 9500GT 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card > Maplin
(geforce 9500gt 1gb)

this is for gaming/everyday stuff
cod4 , crysis , mercanaries 2...etc....

thanks.
~Luke

-maybe it's me but that site does not have anything newer than mar-08 , I had to check the date on the site but it said oct.14, where is the 9800gtx+,9800GX2,new cards 260GTX,280GTX, 260GTX+? fastest card was a 98000gtx , and I think the prices are really high.
-that said the 8600 at half that price is too much if you want to game with it
-what res. is your monitor
-look at the ATI 4850 to compare to the 8600 and the price per FPS - google a seach
-I think you need to really look into the video card market so your not wasting money

-shop around.

-I looked at the ATI cards and the fastest is the 3780 that CAME OUT NOV>-DEC. 2007 don't buy anything there .my .02

Rep0o8i · Oct 15, 2008

Dwarf said:
Hi Luke,

It all depends on what you want from your system. If you are not into intensive gaming and mainly use your PC for office-type work, then a single card will suffice. Use the highest spec that you can afford for the best performance. Incidentally, the price difference between the motherboard that I found and the one that you were thinking of is only £5.25 so you would be better off getting the one with 2 PCI-E slots (my recommendation), even if you don't utilise both slots to begin with. You can always get a second graphics card when funds allow (be sure to match the cards for best performance).

im using it for gaming mostly, im going to get the more powerfull gpu 1st then a month or two later i will get another one :D

Dwarf · Oct 15, 2008

Hi Luke,

Good idea. Just make sure that your PSU has enough grunt to cope with the load.

Rep0o8i · Oct 16, 2008

Dwarf said:
Hi Luke,

Good idea. Just make sure that your PSU has enough grunt to cope with the load.

dont worry its 500w :D

HexManiac · Oct 16, 2008

Lukepker said:
Dwarf said:

Hi Luke,

Good idea. Just make sure that your PSU has enough grunt to cope with the load.

Click to expand...

dont worry its 500w :D

Make sure you research the power requirements of your graphics card selection. While 500W may be enough for 1 higher end video card, some power supplies still do not supply enough current on the 12 volt rails to run these cards even though they are above the minimum rating for the card. Personally, I think you'll be pushing it with that power supply to run more than one card, it could cause stability problems.

Everlong · Oct 17, 2008

Lukepker said:
Dwarf said:

Hi Luke,

Good idea. Just make sure that your PSU has enough grunt to cope with the load.

Click to expand...

dont worry its 500w :D

Won't be enough for two of the newer cards. 500w wasn't enough for my two 8800's.

skunksmash · Oct 17, 2008

hi...Lukepker

make sure its x64 vista for this rig as the GFX on board RAM (2gb) will swallow address space on x32.

regarding the PSU .....its not about the Watts, its all about the Amps!!
unlees i missed it i don't think you have stated the model of your PSU..??

SLI any two cards & you will need serious power..... i would go for a single card solution over SLI any day!!, the power you can get from a single GPU is astonishing.

GTX280
GTX260
9800GX2
9800GTX+
4870X2
4870 1GB 512mb

these are all ''Top end'' cards & will deliver excellent performance ...

the thing everyone forgets about gaming, graphics, FPS.... is the most a modern monitor will refresh at is about 60 - 75hz = FPS.

all of the above cards will deliver far more than your screen can handle so the only benifit in SLI & CFX is bench results... ''visually'' you will see no difference from 1 card to 2, its mearly an FPS boost, which is not needed while running one of these cards anyway. :sarc:

, unless...

your an AVID bencher... folder... or just a man that ''must have''

im not trying to put you off though... i know that having 2 8800GTs in my rig would net me more FPS but the point is ''I wont see it''... i will just have a program tell me what great framerates i got :huh:...

as the games progress though the G92 (8800) is starting to struggle, but the cards i listed are in their element right now, at high res too

so i suggest ...

get a mobo capable of SLI / CFX.
buy the best ''single'' GPU you can. (& a new PSU)
run this for about a year (it will handle any game out or coming out in this time) then you can stick in another one when the tech has advanced & its ACTUALLY needed.

SK

Rep0o8i · Oct 17, 2008

Everlong18 said:
Lukepker said:

Dwarf said:

Hi Luke,

Good idea. Just make sure that your PSU has enough grunt to cope with the load.

Click to expand...

dont worry its 500w :D

Click to expand...

Won't be enough for two of the newer cards. 500w wasn't enough for my two 8800's.

oh seriously? its not like i run big neon lights and giant cooling cooling systems, its just a simple pc.

skunksmash said:
hi...Lukepker

make sure its x64 vista for this rig as the GFX on board RAM (2gb) will swallow address space on x32.

regarding the PSU .....its not about the Watts, its all about the Amps!!
unlees i missed it i don't think you have stated the model of your PSU..??

SLI any two cards & you will need serious power..... i would go for a single card solution over SLI any day!!, the power you can get from a single GPU is astonishing.

GTX280
GTX260
9800GX2
9800GTX+
4870X2
4870 1GB 512mb

these are all ''Top end'' cards & will deliver excellent performance ...

the thing everyone forgets about gaming, graphics, FPS.... is the most a modern monitor will refresh at is about 60 - 75hz = FPS.

all of the above cards will deliver far more than your screen can handle so the only benifit in SLI & CFX is bench results... ''visually'' you will see no difference from 1 card to 2, its mearly an FPS boost, which is not needed while running one of these cards anyway. , unless...

your an AVID bencher... folder... or just a man that ''must have''

im not trying to put you off though... i know that having 2 8800GTs in my rig would net me more FPS but the point is ''I wont see it''... i will just have a program tell me what great framerates i got :huh:...

as the games progress though the G92 (8800) is starting to struggle, but the cards i listed are in their element right now, at high res too

so i suggest ...

get a mobo capable of SLI / CFX.
buy the best ''single'' GPU you can. (& a new PSU)
run this for about a year (it will handle any game out or coming out in this time) then you can stick in another one when the tech has advanced & its ACTUALLY needed.

SK

Hey, well your not putting me off anything i understand you completely that i wouldnt see the difference anyway, but im on a budget and im saving ALL of my pocket money and stuff until christmas as it is the 1st computer that i am building (Im only 15, cant get a job) so i just really want the best for my crappy £300 budget :D (dont need monitor)
specs should be

a 5400+ amd x64 processor
4gb 800mhz ram (2*2gb sticks)
160gb hd
and a 9600gt gpu

~Luke

HexManiac · Oct 17, 2008

Unfortunately, big neon lights and fans hardly take up any capacity from your power supply. Even all tricked out. Throw 2 nvidia 280's in there, though and you'll push a 750 pretty hard. I've seen studies that show the 280 to jump almost 170W from idle to max load, while the 8800GTX jumps 110W from idle to max load.

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