SLI @ 1280x1024

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PornFlake

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 24, 2005
Messages
270
I getting ready to purchase a new MB, CPU and VC but am having trouble deciding on going with a single slot or an SLI MB.

My question is since I am only running at 1280x1024 on 19" LCD will I see much of a benefit at that resolution if I went the SLI route? Most of the stuff I play is FPS, HL2, BF2, etc.

I will be picking up a 7800GT and use it as a starting point.

Thanks guys.

-Flake
 
go with an SLI MB, that will at least give you the option of dual video cards if you ever decide in the future that's the route you want to go

start with a single VC now though and see how it does for you
 
Might be overkill at that res with most current games, but some will benefit, and future ones certainly will.
 
Dr. X said:
Might be overkill at that res with most current games, but some will benefit, and future ones certainly will.
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By the time 8x vs 16x will be a factor the CPU pin numbers will have changed or something else. How long after agp was created did we get pci-e? along time.
 
Dr. X said:
Might be overkill at that res with most current games, but some will benefit, and future ones certainly will.
Click to expand...

Dr. X, that was kind of my thought. If I stick with a single PCI-E slot/card and just worry about upgrading the card every 1 -1.5 years like I have in the past I would probably be OK.

-Flake
 
Probably.

1280x1024 is kinda low res, though - any chance you can skimp on other areas of the upgrade plan to get a nice, new LCD?

Those Dell 2005fpws can be had for less than $350 pretty often, and...well...these are NICE monitors.
 
dderidex said:
Probably.

1280x1024 is kinda low res, though - any chance you can skimp on other areas of the upgrade plan to get a nice, new LCD?

Those Dell 2005fpws can be had for less than $350 pretty often, and...well...these are NICE monitors.
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I agree 100%. I have a personal 2405, and I use the 2005 at work, and they're incredible. I hate using my wife's "lowly" 1280x1024 17" now. Hell, my 19" Sony at 1280x1024 kind of annoys me. It feels as though I cannot see everything.

So, stick with a 14" CRT- then you won't be jaded and pissed off when you have to use a normal monitor :p
 
No money for a new LCD in the budget. This Samsung 19" LCD is less than 6 months old.

What I am hearing is at this resolution, running an SLI congfiguration may not be the smartest way to go. Just stick with a single MB for now and upgrade the video card as is needed or warranted?
 
tskiller said:
By the time 8x vs 16x will be a factor the CPU pin numbers will have changed or something else. How long after agp was created did we get pci-e? along time.
Click to expand...
8 years, AGP was introduced in 97
 
PornFlake said:
No money for a new LCD in the budget. This Samsung 19" LCD is less than 6 months old.

What I am hearing is at this resolution, running an SLI congfiguration may not be the smartest way to go. Just stick with a single MB for now and upgrade the video card as is needed or warranted?
Click to expand...

I ran some benchmarks for someone in 1280x1024 and if I remeber correctly there was no difference between a single card and sli. I would get an sli mobo for future proof but forget about sli for any advantages.
 
btf said:
I ran some benchmarks for someone in 1280x1024 and if I remeber correctly there was no difference between a single card and sli. I would get an sli mobo for future proof but forget about sli for any advantages.
Click to expand...

I don't agree. I run SLI'd 6800 Ultra's on a 1280 x 1024 Hyundai L90D+, and I can certainly say there is a difference in performance in games like FEAR, Serious Sam 2, Quake 4, etc. Not to mention SLI-AA, which really is nice at lower resolutions like that.
 
PornFlake said:
No money for a new LCD in the budget. This Samsung 19" LCD is less than 6 months old.

What I am hearing is at this resolution, running an SLI congfiguration may not be the smartest way to go. Just stick with a single MB for now and upgrade the video card as is needed or warranted?
Click to expand...

The SLI mobo will create a good upgrade path for the future. A single 7800GT should pretty much handle any present day game at 1280x1024
 
orangeaccord said:
The SLI mobo will create a good upgrade path for the future. A single 7800GT should pretty much handle any present day game at 1280x1024
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my X800XL runs every game at that res with AA even.
 
DaCoOlNeSs said:
my X800XL runs every game at that res with AA even.
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bullshit. try to run FEAR maxed out with AA on on the XL. or Serious Sam 2, or maybe even COD2.
 
DaCoOlNeSs said:
I didn't say ever game had AA now did I dumbass?
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yes, you did. and even if that isnt what you meant, FEAR would bring an x800XL to its knees at 1280x1024, period.

ive also reported your post for flaming. have a nice night!
 
lithium726 said:
yes, you did. and even if that isnt what you meant, FEAR would bring an x800XL to its knees at 1280x1024, period.

ive also reported your post for flaming. have a nice night!
Click to expand...
I dont know if you have an X800XL, but I can run FEAR at max system, high video at 40FPS and up at 1280x1024 with 4x AF
 
DaCoOlNeSs said:
I dont know if you have an X800XL, but I can run FEAR at max system, high video at 40FPS and up at 1280x1024 with 4x AF
Click to expand...
no, i dont. i do have an 6800Ultra though, and during firefights at 1280x1024 with 2x AA, it brings it into the low 30's. the XL cant touch the Ultra, and while 40FPS might be playable for you, it most certainly is not for me.
 
PornFlake said:
I getting ready to purchase a new MB, CPU and VC but am having trouble deciding on going with a single slot or an SLI MB.

My question is since I am only running at 1280x1024 on 19" LCD will I see much of a benefit at that resolution if I went the SLI route? Most of the stuff I play is FPS, HL2, BF2, etc.

I will be picking up a 7800GT and use it as a starting point.

Thanks guys.

-Flake
Click to expand...

Flake before I got this Gateway monitor I had a 17 inch Benq. I noticed a slight performance boost with SLi in newer games and in older games they were running too fast. What I recommend for you is to raise the Image Quality settings To SLI AA 16X 16AF High Quality on the older games and running SLI AA 8x and 8x or 16x AF Quality on the newer games.

I find that otherwise you'll be runing over 130 fps in games. There's no reason to run them that fast. Increase IQ until they are at 60 consistently. Fraps is your friend with that type of setup.
 
DaCoOlNeSs said:
I didn't say ever game had AA now did I dumbass?
Click to expand...

funny thing about that report post button...
people tend to use it :p

seems your not unfamiliar with warnings, but they appearently have made little impact
see you again Monday ;)
 
DaCoOlNeSs said:
my X800XL runs every game at that res with AA even.
Click to expand...

DaCoOlNeSs said:
I didn't say every game had AA now did I dumbass?
Click to expand...

Um... Yeah.. We'll see you Monday, or not.

I had a X800XL before I switched to a 7800GT, then SLI 7800GTs, and even though it was a great card, I could've sworn I was back in my 9800Pro days when playing FEAR. 1680x1050 with no AA and 8xAF was barely playable.
 
Eva_Unit_0 said:
I don't agree. I run SLI'd 6800 Ultra's on a 1280 x 1024 Hyundai L90D+, and I can certainly say there is a difference in performance in games like FEAR, Serious Sam 2, Quake 4, etc. Not to mention SLI-AA, which really is nice at lower resolutions like that.
Click to expand...

Here's the thread: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=947398&page=2&pp=20

I only tested far cry but the difference between 2xAA/4xAF was 1 fps. At 4xAA/8xAF there was a 9fps difference. This was done with a x2 4400.

Certainly there would be a bigger difference with 6800's than 7800's though. He mentionned 7800's.
 
I saw a large difference after going SLi, my 3DMark05 score went from 7500 to 11,000 and my games seem to be much smoother. I am currently using a POS ViewSonic 17" but I am upgrading very soon to a Dell or Sony with no less than 1600X1200 native.
 
Dr. X said:
Might be overkill at that res with most current games, but some will benefit, and future ones certainly will.
Click to expand...

My X800 XT PE chokes with CoD2 and I am playing at 1024 X 768... Get todays hardware for future games ;)

Para
 
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