SLI or Not to SLI, that is the question.

[Shifty52]

I realize at the moment in time it's not worth it. I understand that there are only a handful of games at present that support it. Also I know that it's a very expensive price/preformance ratio increase, not in favor of preformance, for what you get with SLI. But what I would like to know from you guys is this.

If you had the option of adding another 7900GTX to your rig for an extra 15 dollars a month on the payment, would you do it now so you have it for later? Or would you only buy 1 for the time being hoping the cards drop in price and get it at a later time. Or just say screw SLI and stick with 1 card?

I added a poll for you if you don't want to do any actual typing. But of you feel like commenting, go ahead.

EDIT: Ok i guess the polls don't work around here. Oh well, Sorryz.

 

[Jagger]

It's your money, what do you want to do with it? If you want and extra 10-30% boost in performance at a cost of $600+ (plus the financing if you're paying monthly), then do it. However, don't live under the impression that you will double your performance. SLI usually maxes out at a 30% kick.

BTW, I have the 7800GTs in SLI. I wish I'd spent my money on a 7800GTX instead. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[smedlin]

This question has been asked probably 50 times already :roll:

If you can affored it, then do it.

I have two BFG 7900GTX's in sli and I like the extra boost.

 

[gambit6259]

I agree. If you really want it and can afford it then get it! its that simple.

 

[Heyyou27]

BTW, I have the 7800GTs in SLI. I wish I'd spent my money on a 7800GTX instead. Oh well, live and learn.

7800GTs outperform one 7800GTX in literally every situation.

As for the SLI question, is that extra 15$ a month important to you?

 

[angry_ducky]

I have two BFG 7900GTX's in sli and I like the extra boost.

You lucky fu**3r!

 

[rodney_ws]

It's your money, what do you want to do with it? If you want and extra 10-30% boost in performance at a cost of $600+ (plus the financing if you're paying monthly), then do it. However, don't live under the impression that you will double your performance. SLI usually maxes out at a 30% kick.

BTW, I have the 7800GTs in SLI. I wish I'd spent my money on a 7800GTX instead. Oh well, live and learn.

I think this is an EXCELLENT post... when someone says "Oops, I made a mistake... I wish I'd have done X" everyone should take note. It's not fun admitting you were wrong, but the people that do own up to their mistakes are really just trying to help out the rest of us.

That said... I should have bought an Opteron instead of an X2. I won't make that mistake again.

About SLI... maybe one day it will offer near-100% improvements... but until then, it's generally a bad investment.

 

[Breman]

I wouldn't go with SLI at this point, personaly I've got a 7800gtx, and an SLI board, incase i chose to upgrade to SLI latter on if I get a crap load of cash and can aford to buy two of the best cards on the market.

I think this is an EXCELLENT post... when someone says "Oops, I made a mistake... I wish I'd have done X" everyone should take note. It's not fun admitting you were wrong, but the people that do own up to their mistakes are really just trying to help out the rest of us.

That said... I should have bought an Opteron instead of an X2. I won't make that mistake again.

About SLI... maybe one day it will offer near-100% improvements... but until then, it's generally a bad investment.

Much agreed. Expicaly on the getting the opty...

yay I'm now a n00b, W00t 😉

 

[simplyput]

Ya, sli is only really worth it if you're already using a top-of-the-line card. Otherwise you usually get better price/performance by selling your old card and getting a newer one.

I just wanna know why Nvida and ATI haven't made dual card solutions that allow for you to install any new card into the second GPU slot. It sucks having to buy the exact same (or very close to, in ATI's case) card 2 times. I'd much rather just get a new card and plug it in as a bonus!

 

[Jrzimm612]

I have to agree with everyone else. For the money SLI is not the best investment. Chances are the Next Gen cards will perform near the performance of your curent SLI setup. It's especially a bad idea now with DirectX 10 on the horizon. Not to mention that the PhysX card will be the new big thing to get the most from the new games and will cost about $300, and will not (supposedly) need to be upgraded every 6 months like your SLI system could.

 

[inplainview]

I just wanna know why Nvida and ATI haven't made dual card solutions that allow for you to install any new card into the second GPU slot. It sucks having to buy the exact same (or very close to, in ATI's case) card 2 times. I'd much rather just get a new card and plug it in as a bonus!

That is the only thing that would make sli/crossfire worth it for me. I generally don't upgrade my cards very often, only when they start to stumble really badly will I give in and buy a new card. If it were a possibilty to have your latest and greatest card be primary, and your old card play second string for a little boost that would be nice...

 

[jap0nes]

i would buy 1 card only, as long as it's the best of the best 😛