VRAM in SLI? Does it double or what??

[Shrewsie_B]

Always thinking about the future...

I recently bought the ASUS 144Hz monitor fro gaming and one day want to either go tri-monitor with that or go 1440p.

I currently have a single Gigabyte 680OC windforce 2GB. I've been reading that more VRAM is needed to game on tri-monitor and 1440p set-ups.

So I guess the question is if I add a second, identical 680 in SLI, do I effectively have 4GB, or still 2GB of strictly separate VRAM?

Also, is it really necessary to have a 4GB card to run these higher resolutions?

 

[cookybiscuit]

No you still get 2GB, the cards need to mirror the information.

 

[Guest]

You still have 2GB, the cards are working in tandem, yes... but you still have 2 GB if I'm not mistaken.

 

[DarkSable]

Each card has to store the ENTIRE image, so you don't get 4GB - you still only get an effective 2GB.
Upgrading to a 4GB card won't help unless they're BOTH 4GB; just thought I'd throw that out there.

The good news is that you absolutely don't need 4GB. A 590 with just 1.5GB of VRAM per chip will play games on a three monitor setup with ease - you just won't be able to max out AA and AF. You'll be able to use x4 or x8 just fine, though, which is all that really matters.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Id use 4gb 670's

I just been asked to do my 1st 3 monitor 144Hz build for a colleague. If he gives the go ahead soon, we using these:

MoBo - Asus Z77 WS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131822
GFX - Asus GTX670-DC2-4GD5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681412165
Monitors - Asus VG248QE 144Hz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236313

He wants a "showpiece" so we also using the Themaltake Level 10 GT Snow as a case.,,,hasn't decided whether to use more than 2 yet, so I haven't picked a PSU. I have asked him to wait till end of May to see what happens with the 7xx series cards .... but then again that puts the 4570 right around the corner and then I'd have to recomemend waiting till manufacturing lines settle down and we start seeing a high % of highly overclockable CPUs and MoBos. The "every CPU (or GFX card or MoBo) overclocks differently" mantra is never more true than in the 1st 3 months of production.

 

[Shrewsie_B]

Yeah, I understand 4GB versions are the norm for high-rez gaming, but can I still get 60+ with 2 680s (2GB) SLI?

 

[DarkSable]

Yeah, I understand 4GB versions are the norm for high-rez gaming, but can I still get 60+ with 2 680s (2GB) SLI?

Yes, easily. Like I said, the only downside is that you won't be able to MAX aa and af... which is fine because you can still get to the point where more makes very little difference.

 

[DarkSable]

Monitors - Asus VG248QE 144Hz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236313

He wants a "showpiece" so we also using the Themaltake Level 10 GT Snow as a case.,,,hasn't decided whether to use more than 2 yet, so I haven't picked a PSU.

Just throwing out there, if he wants a showpiece, go with BenQ Xl2420T's. They're far, FAR better looking monitors in terms of color accuracy, and three of them will blow you away even if you know nothing about computers. They are unquestionably the best 120Hz monitors around, aside from select, $600+ korean imports / iiyamas.