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SLI Performance Reviewed at Anandtech

Posted by Zonk on from the two-chips-means-twice-the-shiny dept.

DarkSarin writes "Anandtech has a review of dual gpu's using nvidia's nforce4 SLI chipset. They are showing ~66 fps on doom3 at 1600x1200 with 4xAA turned on (a 75% increase in performance over a single gpu). It's not available yet, but it should be fairly soon."

12 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Nice! But... by glowimperial · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I wonder how many of us are actually going to shell out for new graphics hardware. We are kind of hitting the wall in performace here already.

  2. Re:Expensive..... by justforaday · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Let's not forget another 100-200 bucks or so for the mobo to accomodate the two gfx cards...

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    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
  3. Where are the Quake III Arena results? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


    I want to see 700fps in Q3A. Not sure why, but I do.

  4. Re:Expensive..... by chrismcdirty · · Score: 3, Informative

    It requires a 350 watt when used with a standard system. So it shouldn't require 700, but still probably considerably more than 350.

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    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
  5. Math doesn't add up by chrismcdirty · · Score: 2, Informative

    So I'm expected to shell out 2x$$$ for a video card, extra $$$ for the mobo with 2xPCI-E, extra $$$ for the huge powersupply, but only get a 75% performace gain?

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    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    1. Re:Math doesn't add up by UWC · · Score: 2, Informative

      The point made at the end of the article is that even if you can't afford two now, you can get one, and in 6 or 12 months not only will the current top of the line be cheaper, but you can get a huge performance increase by just buying an extra one (and maybe a bigger power supply) instead of replacing your current card entirely.

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      Honor Among Slackers. A veri
  6. Some of you guys are missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yeah, it's expensive, but cost has never really ever been the point. Having the fastest computer is.

    I totally undestand how some of you guys wouldn't spend that kind of cash on an SLI system, you just want a sensible computer for everyday use. Well, guess what? I don't. I want the highest framerates possible, so when I play my brother online in Halo or Doom 3 deathmatch, I can SPANK HIS ASS.

    I think that nvidia bringing back the SLI upgrade path is not only sensible, it's FUN. And that's the point.

  7. It's called Lock-In by Alzheimers · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There's a very simple reason why this SLI is so desireable by the marketing types at NVidia -- Lock In. Sure, you may only have the cash to buy one card right now, but in a year when ATI releases their next new thing are you going to spend *another* $400 for the next new card, or are you going to buy the now "Budget" 6800 and get almost as good performance?

  8. Doom3 is capped at 60fps by fok · · Score: 3, Informative

    RTFA: http://www.shacknews.com/finger/?fid=raduffy@idsof tware.com

    So 66fps is good enough ;)

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  9. nVidia, best drivers bar none by Lisandro · · Score: 2, Informative

    It surprised me how painless the SLI setup process was described. Writting GPU drivers is complex enough without having to handle multiple accelerators, never mind having optimal performance AND making the install painless.

    nVidia does their homework with their drivers, and it shows. GPU drivers are 50% of their perfomance. It sucks for ATI, because they have the better hardware, but their drivers suck (and pretty much always did).

  10. maybe it will be available late next year? by MarcoAtWork · · Score: 2

    I mean, come on, NONE and I mean NONE of my local computer stores have in stock ANY 6800GT (you have to preorder, takes quite a while to get it) or ANY 6800Ultra (don't think they *ever* had one in stock period) AGP. The only cards that seem to be fairly available are vanilla 6800s and even then they have been available for a month tops.

    Given that the GT/Ultra AGP cards have been announced *several months* ago, before their PCIe versions will be available likely NVidia will have already announced the 8xxxx series or something.

    I fondly remember being able to buy video cards max. 2 weeks after they were announced, then it was a month, then two, and now it seems cards become available together with the paper launch of the new models :(

    I really feel for the stores, though, it must suck being able to stock only 'previous generation' parts.

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    -- the cake is a lie
  11. Suspect some performance selection, /.ers by lukestuts · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They are showing ~66 fps on doom3 at 1600x1200 with 4xAA turned on

    Were there any monsters on screen at the time? Was there any discarge of firearms? In my Doom 3 experience, you could go for a good 10 minutes with nothing worth shooting at - this would surely throw the fps up?

    Oh no! A teleporting cyberdemon! No wait, it's just doing the Doom 3 stutter-shuffle.