Hardocp $1000 dollar gpu review sli gets taken to school

hardocp has a unique review they have reviewed $1000 worth of nvidia gpu vs 1000 worth of amd and the results are a bit staggering

first of all the loadouts:

for $1000 amd you get to:

crossfire 1 hd 6990 with an hd 6970

for $1000 nvidia can get you sporting:

sli gtx 580's

now the fun begins..

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/04/11/amd_radeon_69906970_crossfirex_trifire_review/1

and the results arent suprising but at the same time the value of the dollar stands for itself. nvidia is fighting with a 1 man disadvantage and loosing badly.

so if you got 1000 to burn on gpu's alone amd is the way to go

hardocp has a unique review they have reviewed $1000 worth of nvidia gpu vs 1000 worth of amd and the results are a bit staggering

first of all the loadouts:

for $1000 amd you get to:

crossfire 1 hd 6990 with an hd 6970

for $1000 nvidia can get you sporting:

sli gtx 580's

now the fun begins..

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/04/11/amd_radeon_69906970_crossfirex_trifire_review/1

and the results arent suprising but at the same time the value of the dollar stands for itself. nvidia is fighting with a 1 man disadvantage and loosing badly.

so if you got 1000 to burn on gpu's alone amd is the way to go

ionusX

If you ask me, the title should say 'Nvidia's price/performance gets taken to school.'

SLI-wise, there's nothing wrong with the current technology. Still scales very well compared to AMD's offerings right now.

The performance per dollar is the most fair battle, why on earth would you pay more for the same amount of performance unless you are nvidia fanboy.

its not like its 3 cards vs 2 cards, its actually still 2 cards vs 2 cards so this is a pretty fair comparison, even MORESO when you consider that the prices are the same, the power consumption is very similar and temps are also the same.

Can GTX 570 do tri-sli? Shouldn't they be doing a 6990 + 6970 versus a trio of 570's?

its not like its 3 cards vs 2 cards, its actually still 2 cards vs 2 cards so this is a pretty fair comparison, even MORESO when you consider that the prices are the same, the power consumption is very similar and temps are also the same.

blaznwiipspman1

They're not 2 identical cards though. Price/performance in the perspective of apples-to-apples is irrelevant; it's not a fair comparison at all.

Can GTX 570 do tri-sli?

hartsickdiscipl

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

Can GTX 570 do tri-sli?

darksusperia

There you go. They should have been using Tri-SLI GTX 570's for the Nvidia setup.

3 gpus can outperform 2 gpus? shocker!!!!!!! why didn't they just do 6990+6970 vs gtx 590+gtx570? to make it 3v3 and same price?ferelden

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

[QUOTE="ferelden"]3 gpus can outperform 2 gpus? shocker!!!!!!! why didn't they just do 6990+6970 vs gtx 590+gtx570? to make it 3v3 and same price?ravenguard90

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

[QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

[QUOTE="ferelden"]3 gpus can outperform 2 gpus? shocker!!!!!!! why didn't they just do 6990+6970 vs gtx 590+gtx570? to make it 3v3 and same price?Nethemis

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

Oh I'm not saying it's fair what HardOCP did for comparison. I'm just saying the 590+570 setup won't work :P

In all honesty, if they were trying to have an equal comparison solely in terms of costs (which is what they seem to be using as a justification for this very unfair review), they really should've just went with three 570's.

[QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

[QUOTE="ferelden"]3 gpus can outperform 2 gpus? shocker!!!!!!! why didn't they just do 6990+6970 vs gtx 590+gtx570? to make it 3v3 and same price?Nethemis

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

at a thousand dollars a piece it wont happen and hartsick does have a valid point but assuming no sales tri 570's would be at least 50 bucks more if not more than that.

[QUOTE="Nethemis"][QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

ionusX

at a thousand dollars a piece it wont happen and hartsick does have a valid point but assuming no sales tri 570's would be at least 50 bucks more if not more than that.

15 bucks isnt much, but they still went over their 1000 limit. so it still would have been fair if they did use the 1050 tri sli 570's..

if they had gone straight tri 6970's that they listed, they would have been @ 1020.

no matter how you word it, its not a fair comparison.

[QUOTE="Nethemis"][QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

ionusX

at a thousand dollars a piece it wont happen and hartsick does have a valid point but assuming no sales tri 570's would be at least 50 bucks more if not more than that.

We're not going to argue over $50 when we're in the $1000 price range, are we?

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

[QUOTE="Nethemis"] yes but either way you look it its still a tri fire setup now it would have been nice to see 3 580's in tril sli vs a 6990+a 6970.hartsickdiscipl

at a thousand dollars a piece it wont happen and hartsick does have a valid point but assuming no sales tri 570's would be at least 50 bucks more if not more than that.

We're not going to argue over $50 when we're in the $1000 price range, are we?

.[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

at a thousand dollars a piece it wont happen and hartsick does have a valid point but assuming no sales tri 570's would be at least 50 bucks more if not more than that.

darksusperia

We're not going to argue over $50 when we're in the $1000 price range, are we?

it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.

[QUOTE="darksusperia"].[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

We're not going to argue over $50 when we're in the $1000 price range, are we?

blaznwiipspman1

it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.

[QUOTE="darksusperia"].[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

We're not going to argue over $50 when we're in the $1000 price range, are we?

blaznwiipspman1

it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.

Amount of space taken up in a computer with $1000+ worth of GPU under the hood? Really? Comeon man. The only fair way of measuring $1000 worth of AMD vs. $1000 worth of Nvidia is to have 3 GPUs vs. 3 GPUs. 6990 + 6970 vs. 3 GTX 570's. I will admit that it's very cool to be able to mix and match cards with AMD, but when I'm spending that much money, I don't think I would do that.

it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.blaznwiipspman1

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.grackfields

[QUOTE="grackfields"][QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]it doesn't change the fact that its 2 cards overall for amd vs 3 cards for 570 tri sli. Even then the 6970 would at least match the tri 570 setup. A graphics card is a graphics card, who cares if AMD just divided the amount of power on a card into 3 instead of 2. The end result that matters is the amount of space taken up in your computer and the cost. In that case a 580 sli is beaten out by 6990 + 6970 combo in a completely FAIR contest.Elann2008

In the end all that matters is the performance you get for the money you spend.

What they should have done was go with the set ups that get you the most performance with 1000 dollars from each company.

Or maybe test all the configurations you can get with 1000 bucks and compare them.

570 tri sli vs 580 sli vs 6990/6970 trifire

6990+6970 need three 8 pin plugs and one 6 pin plug whereas 3x570 require six 6-pin plugs so I think we are fairly level on the power requirement.

As for space, well the 6990 is much longer than GTX 570 so with the AMD setup you need length and with the nvidia setup you need more height.

Anyways when you are spending so much on GPU's, these issues are hardly relevant. What I want to know is that is it difficult to find boards with 3 full PCIE slots? If it isnt then I dont understand why they choose 2xGTX 580 for the comparasion instead of 3xGTX 570.

Anyways I will admit that it is indeed very cool that you can mix GPU's with AMD but I am not sure about it's practicality!

6990+6970 need three 8 pin plugs and one 6 pin plug whereas 3x570 require six 6-pin plugs so I think we are fairly level on the power requirement.

As for space, well the 6990 is much longer than GTX 570 so with the AMD setup you need length and with the nvidia setup you need more height.

Anyways when you are spending so much on GPU's, these issues are hardly relevant. What I want to know is that is it difficult to find boards with 3 full PCIE slots? If it isnt then I dont understand why they choose 2xGTX 580 for the comparasion instead of 3xGTX 570.

Anyways I will admit that it is indeed very cool that you can mix GPU's with AMD but I am not sure about it's practicality!

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

6990+6970 need three 8 pin plugs and one 6 pin plug whereas 3x570 require six 6-pin plugs so I think we are fairly level on the power requirement.

As for space, well the 6990 is much longer than GTX 570 so with the AMD setup you need length and with the nvidia setup you need more height.

Anyways when you are spending so much on GPU's, these issues are hardly relevant. What I want to know is that is it difficult to find boards with 3 full PCIE slots? If it isnt then I dont understand why they choose 2xGTX 580 for the comparasion instead of 3xGTX 570.

Anyways I will admit that it is indeed very cool that you can mix GPU's with AMD but I am not sure about it's practicality!

C_Rule

The thing is, two Gtx 580s are essentially a Gtx 590 right, which is priced at $700. So wasn't all they did was compare $1000 worth of AMD vs $700 worth of Nvidia? I still don't understand the reasoning for their test, it proves nothing because no one would buy 2 separate Gtx 580s today, they would just get the 590 no?grackfields

The thing is, two Gtx 580s are essentially a Gtx 590 right, which is priced at $700. So wasn't all they did was compare $1000 worth of AMD vs $700 worth of Nvidia? I still don't understand the reasoning for their test, it proves nothing because no one would buy 2 separate Gtx 580s today, they would just get the 590 no?grackfields

Woah everyone! Look, Anandtech answered your prayers, 3 HD 6970s vs 3 GTX 580s.

Conclusion, ATI scales better and comes out ahead in places despite being the weaker card.

[QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

[QUOTE="ferelden"]3 gpus can outperform 2 gpus? shocker!!!!!!! why didn't they just do 6990+6970 vs gtx 590+gtx570? to make it 3v3 and same price?Nethemis

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

Woah everyone! Look, Anandtech answered your prayers, 3 HD 6970s vs 3 GTX 580s.

Conclusion, ATI scales better and comes out ahead in places despite being the weaker card.

Marfoo

Okay, now that's impressive. I had no idea AMD managed to get scaling to be that perfect :|

[QUOTE="Nethemis"][QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

Because that wouldn't work. It's two 580 cores in the 590, so the 570 will not be compatible with it for SLI.

swehunt

Woah everyone! Look, Anandtech answered your prayers, 3 HD 6970s vs 3 GTX 580s.

Conclusion, ATI scales better and comes out ahead in places despite being the weaker card.

Marfoo

In my opinion SLI is superior simply because of physx, what good are $1000 cards if they cannot run each and every single setting in the game?

[QUOTE="Marfoo"]

Woah everyone! Look, Anandtech answered your prayers, 3 HD 6970s vs 3 GTX 580s.

Conclusion, ATI scales better and comes out ahead in places despite being the weaker card.

Gambler_3

In my opinion SLI is superior simply because of physx, what good are $1000 cards if they cannot run each and every single setting in the game?

i don't consider physx to be a setting. Its not standard for phsyics, I believe that belongs to havoc or something like that. If amd released a new feature next year called pshx2.1 that only works on AMD card then does that mean CF is superior? Physx is just another example of propriety BS that nvidia is trying to shove up ppls arse, fortunately the majority of graphics card owners don't give a rats arse about phsyx over havoc. I also think that the benches are very impressive, except for TWIMTBP where nvidia sponsors the game maker and has an advantage, most of the games have AMD coming out on top. For a $1000, the 6990 plus 6970 option is definitely the superior choice. Seeing how scaling doesn't really improve much even after 2 cards, I really doubt that 4 cards will net nvidia any advantage. So If I wanted to spend $1000 on video cards I would spend it on the 6990 plus a 6970 on the side. AND If I wanted to add another card later I would for quad fire.

Nice article by Anandtech, actually shows the Gtx 580 owning on all the charts but a couple, pure performance - Nvidia wins. grackfields

hmm yah in a FEW games and in those few games only by a few frames. pretty pathetic if you ask me

[QUOTE="grackfields"]Nice article by Anandtech, actually shows the Gtx 580 owning on all the charts but a couple, pure performance - Nvidia wins. blaznwiipspman1

hmm yah in a FEW games and in those few games only by a few frames. pretty pathetic if you ask me

[QUOTE="grackfields"]Nice article by Anandtech, actually shows the Gtx 580 owning on all the charts but a couple, pure performance - Nvidia wins. blaznwiipspman1

hmm yah in a FEW games and in those few games only by a few frames. pretty pathetic if you ask me

News flash. Nvidia still has the fastest graphics solution money can buy...;)

meh im not impressed with triple 580 like I said before. The diference is negligible in most games, and some games the 6970 X 3 demolishes the 580 triple sli. Also even more pathetic when you consider the only games that there is a large frame differene is TWIMTBP games like battle forge and dirt 2. Another pathetic fact is that the 6970 X3 only takes 2 cards and costs $1000, while performing close to the 580 triple sli at $1500. AMDOwnage approved?

unlike you, the most of us logical people aren't cherry picking only certain screenshots lol. we looked at all of them, and out of 11 games, Nvidia won 8, some by very large margins. AMD only won 3? The numbers are all right there, we don't just link a few games and some games multiple times to try to persuade people into something that isn't true. All the charts show Nvidia won 8 out of 11 games, sorry to burst your bubble :)grackfields

[QUOTE="grackfields"]unlike you, the most of us logical people aren't cherry picking only certain screenshots lol. we looked at all of them, and out of 11 games, Nvidia won 8, some by very large margins. AMD only won 3? The numbers are all right there, we don't just link a few games and some games multiple times to try to persuade people into something that isn't true. All the charts show Nvidia won 8 out of 11 games, sorry to burst your bubble :)GummiRaccoon

Someone with tri-SLI or tri-Fire won't care about money, its $1000+ so its just for bragging rights.