SLI - A Gimmick??

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read...

8800GTX > (x2) 8800GTS in SLI

If this is true... what is the point? I'm trying to decide between 1-8800GTX or 2-8800GTS's (640mb) in SLI.

But some times 8800GTS SLI > 8800GTX.

But get a GTX bcoz some games doesn't support SLI & GTX is cheaper than 2x8800GTS SLI

Two 8800GTS cards in SLi are better than a single 8800GTX, especially if you crank up AA or playing at a high resolution.

A single GTX isn't too significantly weaker, but with two GTS cards you'd have much higher power consumption and heat emission

Crossfire is only better than SLi at the moment because nVidia's SLi drivers for Vista blow.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read...

8800GTX > (x2) 8800GTS in SLI

If this is true... what is the point? I'm trying to decide between 1-8800GTX or 2-8800GTS's (640mb) in SLI.

Dyrti_Byrd_2k2

SLI isn't a gimmick. It simply is what it is. Two cards in tandem, each dedicated to roughly half the work of a single card. How big is your monitor and at what resolution do you usually game? With a normal sized monitor, like 19" to 22", the GTX is more than you'd need for gaming right now. I say more is better, so get one of those. The only way I'd consider building an 8800GTS SLI rig, is if the price of a GTS card was closer to $200 a piece. Then two of them might be more bang for the buck than the single GTX...although you'd still have to allow for the added heat, power consumption and interior case space used for the SLI configuration... :roll:

[QUOTE="Dyrti_Byrd_2k2"]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read...

8800GTX > (x2) 8800GTS in SLI

If this is true... what is the point? I'm trying to decide between 1-8800GTX or 2-8800GTS's (640mb) in SLI.

Sentinel672002

SLI isn't a gimmick. It simply is what it is. Two cards in tandem, each dedicated to roughly half the work of a single card. How big is your monitor and at what resolution do you usually game? With a normal sized monitor, like 19" to 22", the GTX is more than you'd need for gaming right now. I say more is better, so get one of those. The only way I'd consider building an 8800GTS SLI rig, is if the price of a GTS card was closer to $200 a piece. Then two of them might be more bang for the buck than the single GTX...although you'd still have to allow for the added heat, power consumption and interior case space used for the SLI configuration... :roll:

Cool.. thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards going with a single 8800GTX. I'm leaving this option open, but would it be stupid to even consider SLIing 2 8800GTX's to game on a 22" widescreen LCD @ 1680x1050? If/when there's a price drop on the GTX (be it a year or so from now), would 2 of these cards even fit in an Antec Nine Hundred?

BTW, nice rig! The pc I'm building should be VERY similar to yours.

If you are not running at very high rez it won't make a noticeable difference. I'd say keep it simple for now, just not worth it right now. Power consumption, heat, fitting two of these monsters in your case, air flow issues. Just not worth it right now.vfibsux

Wise words! The wifey thanks you... haha!

Based on the charts at Tom's Hardware for Single VGA Cards and Dual/Quad VGA Setups,

The GTS yields an increase of ~30% in SLi
The GTX yields an increase of ~20% in SLi

Obviously the GTX out performs the GTS in the Single VGA Card, it's the ideal solution for such a situation. The GTS, while still losing to the GTX in SLi yields a overall higher increase in the Dual/Quad VGA Setups.

Nutshell?

Go with a GTX if you're looking for the single card solution, GTS SLi will offer more power and frames in games but, of course is more expensive. All depends what you plan on playing, and how you're going to play them graphics/resolution wise.

Simple as that.

[QUOTE="Sentinel672002"][QUOTE="Dyrti_Byrd_2k2"]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read...

8800GTX > (x2) 8800GTS in SLI

If this is true... what is the point? I'm trying to decide between 1-8800GTX or 2-8800GTS's (640mb) in SLI.

Dyrti_Byrd_2k2

SLI isn't a gimmick. It simply is what it is. Two cards in tandem, each dedicated to roughly half the work of a single card. How big is your monitor and at what resolution do you usually game? With a normal sized monitor, like 19" to 22", the GTX is more than you'd need for gaming right now. I say more is better, so get one of those. The only way I'd consider building an 8800GTS SLI rig, is if the price of a GTS card was closer to $200 a piece. Then two of them might be more bang for the buck than the single GTX...although you'd still have to allow for the added heat, power consumption and interior case space used for the SLI configuration... :roll:

Cool.. thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards going with a single 8800GTX. I'm leaving this option open, but would it be stupid to even consider SLIing 2 8800GTX's to game on a 22" widescreen LCD @ 1680x1050? If/when there's a price drop on the GTX (be it a year or so from now), would 2 of these cards even fit in an Antec Nine Hundred?

BTW, nice rig! The pc I'm building should be VERY similar to yours.

Well, thanks. I only recently built this rig of mine. The 8800s are big. Very in fact. Yes, two of them would fit in an Antec Nine Hundred and the addition of an optional side mounted 120mm fan would be recommended in that configuration. You'd need a powerful PSU to be sure. Also, you can pretty much give up on other expansion cards with two GTXs. You might squeeze one additional card in...maybe, depending on the mother board configuration. That's why I opted out of the SLI thing. I need my expansion slots. And yes, two GTXs would be wasted on a 22" monitor...from a gaming stand point. Now if your goal is to pwn the world when it comes to 3DMark scores...:P