I don't know what CPU semp has, but Anandtech did a recent test with every most gaming common CPUs from the 2500k up to the 5930k with the 780 video card, 780ti, and 780ti in SLI. Guess what the performance difference was between CPUs? Almost zilch in the 95 percent of the games tested. 4770k, 3570k, 3820k, 3930k, 4930k, 4790k - there was less than 10%, and often less than 3% difference in performance with all 3 video card setups used. You can google the article if you like.
The points you continue to bring up Ripley only apply to AH regarding triple monitor and SLI. Back when the 680gtx was brand new, I ran triple monitors on a single, and going to SLI the next week made huge differences in many, many games, such as Far Cry, Crysis, and so on, even back then 2 years ago. Now, since over 1/3 of HTC's customers use triple monitors according to Skuzzy and their data, it would be safe to assume that many of those players play other games than AH as well. In the majority of these games, say the top 25 out there, SLI continues to provide huge performance leaps, especially on the triple monitor setups. Now, with the 970 SLI/$ performance compared to the 980, there is no question at all.