Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

**camper.** · 10-10-2007, 02:50 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Pointless unless you run resolutions over 1920x1440 with boosted anti-aliasing. The only use for SLI-8800x cards is e-peen points. 140% the performance for double the price

SLI only shines at super high resolutions and anything VRAM heavy.

**alextaylor29** · 10-10-2007, 02:57 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

OK thanks. So I'd need a bigger monitor to run this higher resolution as well. Do you know if my current 600 watt power supply would handle two 8800 GTX's SLI'd or would I have to upgrade it to a 1,000 Watt?

Thanks again.

**megawhompertoo** · 10-10-2007, 03:38 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

8800GTX Power Analysis

http://news.softpedia.com/news/8800GTX-Power-Analysis-40450.shtml

After the official launch of 8800 GTX, several rumors regarding the immense power consumption of this card emerged into the wild. There was actually no n...

"225W is the maximum allowed for such a card but that doesn’t mean it consumes that much. Nvidia suggest a power consumption of 140-170W depending on the manufacturer and the cooling device since it can also drain some power. Real tests made by the guys at Anandtech revealed that a high end PC that uses an 8800GTX series card consumes about 320W. And I’m talking about a high priced Core 2 Duo with 2GBs of Ram here.

The conclusion is simple. 25-27A on the +12V lines for a single 8800 is more than enough. And in case you need a SLI configuration, make sure you have at least a 30-34A capable PSU. Note that not all PSUs run according to their specification and current on the +12V line may be lower in reality. In order to stay away from trouble, a good quality 430W-480W from a top manufacturer should be enough."

so, you need upwards of 12-15A for the second gtx under load (can you load two 8800gtx's with current games? that's one for the sages.) i would tend to predict the lower value, so it depends on where your psu loads the rails, and how accurately they reflect real consumption. my opinion is that you'd either be just under or just over the limit. no overclocking, period, as that sucks watts like nobody's business

**alextaylor29** · 10-10-2007, 03:59 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

EDIT:

Found the answer, basically no less than a 700 Watt power supply is recommended for two 8800 GTX cards SLI'd.

So here's what I'll get: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817714001

**TheSpark29** · 10-10-2007, 05:26 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Originally posted by alextaylor29 View Post

My video card is an 8800 GTX (768) memory and I run it at 1280 x 1024

HOLY CRAP!!

:shock::shock::shock:

That's EXTREME overkill!! A GTX could power a 1920x1200 (24in) moniter with all the settings turned up with awesome framerates! And you're running a 19in monitor.... :shakehead:

Listen. You have a LOT of unused graphics power in that computer. Whenever you get your next bonus or whatever, I want you to pick up at least a 22in monitor.

Like megawhompertoo said, SLI on any monitor less than 24in is overkill. An OC'ed Quad core and 8800GTX SLI (scroll down) doesn't consume more than 450W Technically a 500W PSU will suffice, but I'd recommend close to 600W so the fan won't spin up as much.

The PSU you picked will work but it is completely overkill. How about This one? It has plenty of watts, it's quiet, relatively cheap, and most importantly it a quality unit. I highly recommend it.

It seems like you like to do everything over the top... Not bad if you have the money to do so. But to save money you should always go for the bang-for-the-buck deals. And seriously, go pick up a bigger monitor. VERY seriously.

**Mo0by** · 10-10-2007, 05:36 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

^^Essentually he could build a system to play bf2 all high for under £300 if he wanted.

**solofowaffles** · 10-10-2007, 07:15 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Originally posted by alextaylor29 View Post

My video card is an 8800 GTX (768) memory and I run it at 1280 x 1024 with pretty high (but not full detail) resolutions.

your joking?a 8800gtx not running on high?

**Alm()nd J()y** · 10-10-2007, 07:41 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

My dads 7600GT plays the game full settings no problem, no reason he can't.

**signa** · 10-10-2007, 08:17 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Originally posted by stephensolfo

your joking?a 8800gtx not running on high?

ya no kidding. im running an 8800gtx-oc2e with all settings maxed and im pegged at 99fps on gator.

adding a 2nd 8800 would be a waste of money in my opinion.

**sava700** · 10-10-2007, 08:37 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

in the next two months you will have the 9800's out.. no point in getting dual 8800's.. SLI is still young and undeveloped. I ran 6800GT's, 6800Ultras, 7800GT's,7900GTX's all in SLI and I can say that Nvidia hasn't gotten the drivers straight yet. Before advancing to something else they need to get those and just true SLI working correctly not to mention enable dual monitor in SLI.

**alextaylor29** · 10-11-2007, 12:53 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Thanks for all your input guys, I hear you loud and clear and this would be an overbuilt computer. Just to be a bit clearer I am a frame rate junkie rather than eye candy hence me consdiering SLI. So yes I'll look at a bigger monitor to start with and I appreciate all your feedback on the set up.

For some reason I'm not getting the FPS some of you here seem to be getting with my 8800 GTX so that could be part of the issue. I get between 70 -90 FPS with mild AA and AS and some of the details set at medium in BF2.

Tonight though I will max everything out both in my video card setting and in the game video menu because perhaps I'm under ultilizing my video card. Like a Ferrari on idle so to speak.

Thanks again, this helped me tremendously.

**Death Merchant** · 10-11-2007, 01:54 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Pointless for BF2? yes

Pointless for every game no, Crysis and UT 3 will make good use of that SLI rig

**Verzili** · 10-11-2007, 01:59 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Originally posted by alextaylor29

Thanks for all your input guys, I hear you loud and clear and this would be an overbuilt computer. Just to be a bit clearer I am a frame rate junkie rather than eye candy hence me consdiering SLI. So yes I'll look at a bigger monitor to start with and I appreciate all your feedback on the set up.

For some reason I'm not getting the FPS some of you here seem to be getting with my 8800 GTX so that could be part of the issue. I get between 70 -90 FPS with mild AA and AS and some of the details set at medium in BF2.

Tonight though I will max everything out both in my video card setting and in the game video menu because perhaps I'm under ultilizing my video card. Like a Ferrari on idle so to speak.

Thanks again, this helped me tremendously.

maybe youre amd 2500 is not got the power to run youre card to its best.

upgrading to a faster chip will most likly offer you lots more performance out of youre pc.

im on a 7600gt )agp and i can play all high.

**alextaylor29** · 10-11-2007, 06:52 PM

Re: Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

I will look into that as well, thanks!

I currently have a AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 2.4GHz Socket 939 Processor CPU. What socket 939 CPU could I upgrade to and get a bump in performance from BF2.

Was thinking of AMD Opteron 185 Denmark 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor.

Is it worth the $229 for the CPU specific to impacting BF2 performance in conjuntion with my 8800 GTX card. I'd love to run BF2 and full details like everyone else here seems to be doing. Would this do the trick? I realize with socket 939 I'm stuck basically but I think this is the fastest 939 socket CPU out there and *should* impact BF2 performance positively. If I went with this CPU and my existing 4Gigs of Fast Ram, could I then run BF2 at max details with full AA and AS at 1280 x 1024?

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103002

Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

Is SLI via 2 x 8800 GTX (768MB) pointless?

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