SLI 3Dmark 06/Single 3Dmark 06

[alskahawk]

 Here are some SLI and single video card tests I ran. Very uncontrolled as I was doing several things about the same time. But it should give some idea of how much of a bump there is with SLI. Couple of notes; Removed one video card to get single readings. Had to reload drivers. CPU ran about 5c cooler single than with SLI. Video cards ran about 60c and up in SLI mode/single. Tried to test single with VSync forced off. 3dmark would not run.
 Unfortunately I didn't get any AH frame rates at this time.


 System; quad 6600 Intel 2.4MHz CPU
             XFX MB Bios 2.53
             6GB Kingston HyX ram (5cl) Non SLI ram. Manually set to 800MHz
             2-250GB 7.2Mhz WD HD
             2-BFG 8800GTX oc Video Cards(one for single test)
             1 DVDRW Drive
             1 CDRW Drive
             1000 Watt PSU
              Windows XP Pro 64bit
           

 SLI; 3dmark 06; Test one   :  13166 (ram at 667MHz) 13250 (ram at 800MHz) Several minor changes done to system
                        Then two weeks later ran these
                       Test Two   :  13148 Ram at 667MHz
                       Test Three :  13171(ram at 800 MHz)
                       Test four   :   13186(ram at 800MHz)

Single; 3dmark 06; Test one   : 11914 Both tests done with ram set at 667MHz
                          Test Two  : 11943
                          Test three:  11752   

 For those contemplating SLI. Here are some things to consider: These recommendations are for top end systems. Lower end systems you may have some flexibility. 
 
     Look at some of the dual PSU cases. An Antec P190 1200 might be costly at over $300 but it comes with 2 PSUs (1200watts) 900-1000 watt psu's run $200 on up. A bottom psu mount case like a Antec 900, or a Cooler master Cosmos might keep everything running cooler. No cheap cases. No cheap cpu coolers. Water cooling not required if you have a good case. If you buy your PSU separate look at modular PSUs. (PSU with detachable cables) Just because its a full tower doesn't mean your SLI will fit. Some full towers barely have room for a single video card. Most aluminum cases have a large brace to strengthen the aluminum skin (example Ultra full tower). Steel recommended. For noise reduction as well as cooling. Minimum PSU for the above configuration; 913Watts
  Motherboard; Research for a good solid MB. Look for 2-PCI-E x16 slots. Some boards still come with 8x in second slot. On most boards you will only have one or two pci slots available after you SLI. Research again.
Video cards; 8800GTXs are large, nearly 12 inches long. 9800s are probably close to same size. 
  On another thread I gave a formula; If 2 cards are going to cost you x then buy a single card for cost of x. After some consideration I think that some smaller video cards may be cost effective and less trouble for SLI. A smaller card runs cooler, takes up less space and uses less power. However, doing a SLI with two $59 specials is pretty much a waste(IMO).
 SLI is good for a top end user or for someone who wants to upgrade and get some more use out of a system. SLI will improve your graphics. How much? don't know. But not a 100% more. IMO middle of the pack video cards may benifit more than top end cards. Top end cards are allready getting the most out of what is there. If you go top end you need to go top end all the way. Not much room to scrimp or cut corners.
 
                                                       
                                                                                     
                                                                                     



           
             

[MrRiplEy[H]]

So by doubling your investment to $800 you actually get a respectable 9% increase in 3DMark?

Lay it at rest dude. I couldn't imagine a more horrible deal. A single 9800 clocked 13500 at $600.

[alskahawk]

 Ok MrRiply(H) Prove it you've said that several times. Now prove it. Lets see a Intel 6600 quad cpu,single 9800 video card at 13500. Put your money up. Build your system and test it.

  If I bought parts today I would look at a 9800. THIS IS A SYSTEM BUILT WITH PARTS BOUGHT MONTHS AGO! I put this thread up because there are some others who want to see the difference between a SLI non SLI. The point is with a single upgrade there is nearly a 1500 point gain. Cost effective? Maybe for some not so for others. Your suggestion that I should have waited months to buy a $650 9800 video card a scrap my 8800GTX oc is ridiculus.
   

[alskahawk]

 PC Gamer Magazine Feb 2008; Perfect pc build; Quad Q6600, 8800GT Video card, Intel EVGA board, Raptor 150GB 10k HD, 2GB Corsair dominator ram.

 3dmark 06 score; 11973


 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

There's no need for a quad cpu since there are no games that would utilize more than two cores at once at the moment anyway.

And I have no need to prove anything since the internet is filled with benchmarks for anyone interested. If you did SLI months ago, fine. Did you SLI two fastest available cards? No. Could you reach similar performance with a single card for less money? Yes, by getting an 8800 ultra instead. Here's one breaking 24000 point mark:



So in the end you're not even limited by your graphics in 3DMark06 but your overall system performance.

[alskahawk]

 Once again your foot and your mouth are connected. Your comparing a Extreme quad overclocked to 5000 MHz system to my little 2.4MHz system? Let alone the fact that they are vastly different. The cost of my little system probally wouldn't have barely covered their video card/cpu bill!

 An 8800GTX oc is such a big drop from a Ultra you got me there! Oh and I don't even have the oc2! They weren't out at the time! And for just $400 more I might have gotten a slightly better 3dmark score. And at the time I bought my first 8800 video card, I think Ultras were selling at about $1000. Of course I would have had to scrap my first 8800GTX oc! Ya. Spend another grand. Throw out a good card. You got a good point! 
 
The 8800GTX oc is one step down from the Ultra. Check the specs it ain't a big step. Current price on a Ultra; $650-850
8800GTX oc;(if you can find one, replaced by oc2) $380-450

 

[NHawk]

..... I put this thread up because there are some others who want to see the difference between a SLI non SLI. The point is with a single upgrade there is nearly a 1500 point gain. Cost effective? Maybe for some not so for others. Your suggestion that I should have waited months to buy a $650 9800 video card a scrap my 8800GTX oc is ridiculus.

Alaska, you're fighting a losing battle.

Any way you look at it, a 10% gain is hardly cost effective. If you're getting 100fps in game and that 10% gain stays in effect you're looking at 110fps. If you're getting 60 fps, you wind up with 66 and so on. Anyone that would invest an additional $350 plus the PSU for a 10 frame gain (or less) needs to have their head examined.

There are enough threads on the internet that debate this topic. But they all come to the same conclusion.... Low gain for more than twice the cost by the time you add the PSU. And double the heat from 2 cards.

Now if SLI gave better than a 50% increase it would be something I'd consider. But 10%....no way.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

My point was mostly that if you have 3DMark06 as the measuring point you can get a single 8800 to go a long way by upgrading other system components or like in my example, serious overclocking.

I don't care if someone wants to SLI. But to call it an effective way to upgrade is a bit far fetched.

[alskahawk]

 Depends on upgrade. In the beginning I pretty much agreed with you that SLI is a high end option. But having done one high end I think that the benifits might be more towards the middle grade stuff. A upgrade to SLI with a lower end card can be done with minimal other upgrades. To upgrade to SLI from a single 8800 can be expensive. Ya all the bells and whistles are nice, but to do it just for games? Particularly since a single 8800 or any top card will play most games. 
     

[Dragon]

alskahawk,
Well this doesn't make the decision to SLI or not to SLI any easier.  Have you had a chance to run AH in either mode yet to see how frame rates or mem usage is affected?

[BaldEagl]

He won't see a difference in AH.  There's no need to SLI for AH.  I'm running a 512 mb 8800 GTS with anti-aliasing and other settings maxed in the NVIDEA control panal, all graphic settings in-game maxed and running 1024 textures and my FR remains pegged at my vertical refresh rate (59 FPS).  It never drops.

The only way to measure would be to turn V-sync off but as long as you run v-sync (which you should) and remain pegged at high settings there's no need for more graphics power.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

He won't see a difference in AH.  There's no need to SLI for AH.  I'm running a 512 mb 8800 GTS with anti-aliasing and other settings maxed in the NVIDEA control panal, all graphic settings in-game maxed and running 1024 textures and my FR remains pegged at my vertical refresh rate (59 FPS).  It never drops.

The only way to measure would be to turn V-sync off but as long as you run v-sync (which you should) and remain pegged at high settings there's no need for more graphics power.

Very much true. AH has never been graphics intensive so you don't need an ultra to play it smoothly. If you have a 2 or less years old CPU and a 8800 GT you should skyrocket on fps already. If not, something went wrong with the setup (as one poster unfortunately seems to have).

[alskahawk]

alskahawk,
Well this doesn't make the decision to SLI or not to SLI any easier.  Have you had a chance to run AH in either mode yet to see how frame rates or mem usage is affected?

 I didn't do much other than fly  a flight with it in SLI mode. But that was just a quickie. It ran (going from memory here) 250FPS in turns, 300+ strait n level. (this was with a 24 inch monitor) My guess is that with a single card I probably would have ran about 150-250 FPS(vsync forced on). But that is a guess.

  After having done two SLI computers. I really think that there are two ways to approach SLI. One; Build the best system with the best components available. Building a top SLI system starts at about 2 grand. 

If you already have a system with an SLI board and you can add a second card with no other changes, it may be cost effective. And may keep your system competitive for another year or so. If you have less than a 500 watt PSU don't even consider SLI. Once you start adding components cost runs up quickly especially when your dealing with higher end cards. They are faster but they produce more heat. Removing one 8800GTX dropped the cpu heat by 5 degrees. Not to mention power requirements.
 I think its better to build a computer with the best single card you can get. Its just simpler. If its for AH build it single. A top single system will get around 12k 3dmark and cost less than 2 grand. SLI that same system and it should be pushing 14k 3dmark. With the new cards out now 15k? But you can add another grand to the price easily.
 

[BaldEagl]

I didn't do much other than fly  a flight with it in SLI mode. But that was just a quickie. It ran (going from memory here) 250FPS in turns, 300+ strait n level. (this was with a 24 inch monitor) My guess is that with a single card I probably would have ran about 150-250 FPS(vsync forced on). But that is a guess.

I think you meant vsync forced off.  Theres no way your monitor runs that high a vertical refresh rate unless it's a CRT.  If it's an LCD 75 would be believable.  Mine is a 2ms response, 3000 contrast LG 24" widescreen LCD and my vertical refresh rate is 59.  That's where my FPS remains in AH (vsync enabled).

In some other games, actually more graphic intensive than AHII, with vsync off I'm running anywhere from 70-170 FPS depending on the situation (single 512 8800 GTS in an NVidea 780i, Intel E6750 2.66 Gig, 2 gig RAM, Soundblaster X-Fi Gamer Fatality, stock clock speeds).

[Softail]

PC Gamer Magazine Feb 2008; Perfect pc build; Quad Q6600, 8800GT Video card, Intel EVGA board, Raptor 150GB 10k HD, 2GB Corsair dominator ram.

 3dmark 06 score; 11973
 

I just posted my build which matches the PC Gamer build almost to the letter.  3dmark06 score: 11,890.

no overclocking, no tweaks, no mods, out of the box install.