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Author Topic: Should I go SLI  (Read 977 times)

Offline Getback

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Should I go SLI
« on: January 28, 2009, 07:05:20 AM »
I'm thinking of buy dual 4850s. Found a really good price on a saphire 4850. Should I or am I wasting my money? I currently have an ATI 3850.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127049R

Here's my mother board
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 07:29:48 AM by Getback »
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Offline Ghosth

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2009, 07:22:53 AM »
for 10% improvement, and double the cost, why?

Better to take that extra money and buy a better card in the first place.
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2009, 07:32:41 AM »
Quote from: Ghosth on January 28, 2009, 07:22:53 AM
for 10% improvement, and double the cost, why?

Better to take that extra money and buy a better card in the first place.

I like ATI cards. They've been good to me. I had an Nvidia 8600 that was just awful and so did several other folks. However, I won't discount your opinion but will await the opinion of others.
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Offline falcon23

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2009, 08:25:03 AM »
WOW,is that a good board getback??? Not bad for $57..Probably heads and tails better than My gigabyte ep-35ds3l..
                                         
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2009, 08:40:19 AM »
Quote from: falcon23 on January 28, 2009, 08:25:03 AM
WOW,is that a good board getback??? Not bad for $57..Probably heads and tails better than My gigabyte ep-35ds3l..
                                         

I actually paid $135 bucks for it originally. I looked real hard at that Gigabyte board you have. Certainly a good board. I showed my board to an IT guy and he loved it and was impressed as well.
Unfortunately Abit quit making boards.

What do you think of the dual 4850s?
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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2009, 08:59:05 AM »
Quote from: Ghosth on January 28, 2009, 07:22:53 AM
for 10% improvement, and double the cost, why?

Better to take that extra money and buy a better card in the first place.

Nvidia claims up to 90% performance gain from SLI.

Back in the days when SLI configurations would only run at x8/x8 your statement was probably true.  Technology has changed and the best motherboards can now run SLI at x16/x16 with both slots in 2.0 configuration.

So why not 100% gain you ask?  Because one card has to act as the controller coordinating the output of both cards to the system.

Obviously, if your running a x8/x8 or a x16/x8 configuration your not going to see as much of a gain as x16/x16.

EDIT:  Of course the offset to this is that, if your card can already handle everything you throw at it without slowing down why bother?  Mine does and I'm still SLIing my machine just because I can.  :)
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 09:03:11 AM by BaldEagl »
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Offline falcon23

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2009, 09:03:02 AM »
I have not really studied up much on duals,so I am going by what I have read.many usually say it is better to get a bigger card than to go SLI...Also as I was looking at that board,I could not find where it supports SLI??? :salute

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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2009, 09:05:12 AM »
Quote from: falcon23 on January 28, 2009, 09:03:02 AM
I have not really studied up much on duals,so I am going by what I have read.many usually say it is better to get a bigger card than to go SLI...Also as I was looking at that board,I could not find where it supports SLI??? :salute



It doesn't support SLI or Crossfire.  It's a single slot (PCIe x16) P35 chipset board.
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2009, 10:09:18 AM »
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/477/3

Here's a better article. It says it supports crossfire. Now will it support SLI if it supports crossfire?

Update, it's crossfire I want. Crossfire is for ATI cards.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 10:11:05 AM by Getback »
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Offline Denholm

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2009, 10:19:01 AM »
Yeah... I was about to ask, "Wait, ATI Cards can go SLI? I thought they, 'Crossfired.'"
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2009, 10:29:06 AM »
Quote from: Denholm on January 28, 2009, 10:19:01 AM
Yeah... I was about to ask, "Wait, ATI Cards can go SLI? I thought they, 'Crossfired.'"

I'm not building much confidence in you guys am I.  :rofl :rofl

Well I pulled the side panel off and looked. Yes it has 2 pci-e slots and matches the second link.
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Offline AirFlyer

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2009, 10:46:56 AM »
I'm assuming the original link you sent was your motherboard. And from the picture of that it only has 1x PCI-E x16 slot. Then it looks like 2x PCI-E x1 slots and 3 PCI slots. Unfortunately you need two PCI-E x16 slots and a Crossfire bridge to make Crossfire happen, two things your mobo doesn't appear to have.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 10:49:51 AM by AirFlyer »
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2009, 11:10:29 AM »
Quote from: AirFlyer on January 28, 2009, 10:46:56 AM
I'm assuming the original link you sent was your motherboard. And from the picture of that it only has 1x PCI-E x16 slot. Then it looks like 2x PCI-E x1 slots and 3 PCI slots. Unfortunately you need two PCI-E x16 slots and a Crossfire bridge to make Crossfire happen, two things your mobo doesn't appear to have.

No this link.http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/477/3 I have the IP35 Pro Left off the pro in my search at newegg.com

I ran Belarc adviser and it is the IP 35 Pro for sure. Couldn't find the manual here at home. I can download it if necessary I hope.


« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 11:13:41 AM by Getback »
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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2009, 12:21:36 PM »
Quote from: Getback on January 28, 2009, 11:10:29 AM
No this link.http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/477/3 I have the IP35 Pro Left off the pro in my search at newegg.com

I ran Belarc adviser and it is the IP 35 Pro for sure. Couldn't find the manual here at home. I can download it if necessary I hope.

According to that article your motherboard only supports a x16/x4 configuration so, I'd say it's not worth the cost.
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Offline Getback

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Re: Should I go SLI
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2009, 01:30:32 PM »
Quote from: BaldEagl on January 28, 2009, 12:21:36 PM
According to that article your motherboard only supports a x16/x4 configuration so, I'd say it's not worth the cost.

Rgr, may just go with one 4850 and get the g15 kb.
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