[SOLVED] Multi gpu theory?

[bruvvamoff]

Hi all
This isn't a question so much as a ramble.
So I've been thinking about crossfire and sli.
Basically one splits the frame, the other takes turns.
So, at 4k 60fps both cards are either running 4k @ 30fps or 2k @ 60fps is that right?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Not how that works.

Back when SLI was still a 3dfx thing, one GPU would render one scan line and the other GPU would render the next.

 

[geofelt]

crossfire and sli are essentially the same thing.
Namely, a way to get dual gpu to apply more power to increase fps.

At one time, a display needed to be refreshed continuously.
For that, the individual scan line interleaving method was appropriate.
You needed to get to 85hz to keep the display from shimmering.

Today, the image on the screen is persistent.
It gets the image from a display buffer in the pc.
How the display buffer is updated will vary depending on the graphics driver and display options.

Dual gpu is prone to screen tearing and stuttering.
There are latency issues with different solutions.
Fast sync vsync, Gsync are solutions to manage mismatches between monitor frame rate capabilities and gpu presentation capabilities.
Here is an article that is instructive
https://www.anandtech.com/show/10325/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-and-1070-founders-edition-review/13

My bottom line is that you may win synthetic fps benchmarks with dual gpu, but your gaming will be better with a single good card.

 

[bruvvamoff]

crossfire and sli are essentially the same thing.
Namely, a way to get dual gpu to apply more power to increase fps.

At one time, a display needed to be refreshed continuously.
For that, the individual scan line interleaving method was appropriate.
You needed to get to 85hz to keep the display from shimmering.

Today, the image on the screen is persistent.
It gets the image from a display buffer in the pc.
How the display buffer is updated will vary depending on the graphics driver and display options.

Dual gpu is prone to screen tearing and stuttering.
There are latency issues with different solutions.
Fast sync vsync, Gsync are solutions to manage mismatches between monitor frame rate capabilities and gpu presentation capabilities.
Here is an article that is instructive
https://www.anandtech.com/show/10325/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-and-1070-founders-edition-review/13

My bottom line is that you may win synthetic fps benchmarks with dual gpu, but your gaming will be better with a single good card.

Aah wise words. Pretty much what I thought but put more elegantly. 👍