SLI - Evil or Amazing?

[WaitDontSh00t]

I don't know much about SLI, since I never have experienced it. I currently have a GTX 670 FTW. Though I'm thinking of a new build soon with a 980 Ti. Possibly SLI 980 Tis.

Though I've heard so many "bad" things about two cards or more. I wouldn't go more than two cards, but based on your guy's experience, and your knowledge, what is your opinion on SLI, and is it worth it? Or do too many games have troubles, etc...

I'd also be upgrading to a new monitor from my 27" 1080p TV.

I'd be upgrading to either the Acer/Asus 3440x1440 100hz Ultrawide or the Asus PG279Q 2560x1440 165hz. So graphics wise it would be demanding if that's what you were wondering.

Preferably I'd love to max out all games at 1440p if possible.

Just not sure if I should go single or SLI!

Thanks for your opinions on advance!

[don_svetlio]

980 Ti can do max 1440p alone

SLI should be fine - just get a good 750-850W PSU.

[XTankSlayerX]

I would only go SLI if you're using top of the line cards imo.

It's not worth it when using a 960 or something.

[Andrew420]

980 Ti can do max 1440p alone

SLI should be fine - just get a good 750-850W PSU.

or 1000W and do MASSIVE OC

 

jk

[Grrizz]

Amazing when it works, evil when it doesn't, flip a coin

But if you want to sustain 100/165fps at 3440x1440 you'll need to SLi on demanding games.

[BrightCandle]

I have been crossfiring and SLIing for quite a few generations, since the 4870X2 (5970, 2x7970., 2x680 and now 2x970). As a long time user of the technology the only thing I can really say is that it mostly just works. But you have to be prepared to run a game on a single card just incase there is a problem with it. There are still games that negatively scale or behave poorly, normally less well know games and you wont have a choice. But in most the games where it matters and it helps performance you get decent scaling and it absolutely allows you to get the higher frame rates you want just not always. My feeling is SLI works 95% of the time, its probably less than that but in a lot of case it just doesn't matter as the games run at super high FPS anyway on high end GPUs.

[SoloDolo]

I am not a fan of SLI at all. Just because of extra power consumption and heat alone. But the fact you get such widely uneven performance in games. Some games are excellent and others are awful to the point you have to turn it off to use one card. Honestly though SLI has been pretty solid for the past couple of years according to what I have seen. I just am not a huge fan and prefer a powerful single solution card. 

[paps511]

With a 980Ti and only 1 3440x1440 you will be fine.

 

That is the setup I run, and I can run Arkham night pinned at 60fps (benchmark)

[Flowroro]

I don't know much about SLI, since I never have experienced it. I currently have a GTX 670 FTW. Though I'm thinking of a new build soon with a 980 Ti. Possibly SLI 980 Tis.

Though I've heard so many "bad" things about two cards or more. I wouldn't go more than two cards, but based on your guy's experience, and your knowledge, what is your opinion on SLI, and is it worth it? Or do too many games have troubles, etc...

I'd also be upgrading to a new monitor from my 27" 1080p TV.

I'd be upgrading to either the Acer/Asus 3440x1440 100hz Ultrawide or the Asus PG279Q 2560x1440 165hz. So graphics wise it would be demanding if that's what you were wondering.

Preferably I'd love to max out all games at 1440p if possible.

Just not sure if I should go single or SLI!

Thanks for your opinions on advance!

Sli 980tis are a beast even at 4k

[Egad]

I just occasionally switch my 980Tis out of SLI mode when playing a game with a shit SLI profile (you can do it via the control panel, no opening the case needed).  I just set my second card to be the PhysX card (next to useless I know) and play the game without any problem.  

 

Most SLI issues though are people who have to play on day one.  Really poor day one SLI performance is still very much a thing.  It can take weeks or months for the publisher to patch in good SLI support.  If you have two 980Tis though you'll be fine, since one Ti alone will handle 1440p.  It's becoming fairly uncommon for devs to leave SLI permanently broken.