SLI Power vs. Single Power

[lloydmaster122]

Just as a quick question... My motherboard has SLI dual support for nvidia graphics cards. If I were to take the SLI route, what combination of cards would be most cost effective compared to a single 780 Ti?

I've heard great things about SLI for its cost, but most enthusiasts say a greater power single card is more worth it. The major concern for my build would be the heat output of multiple cards vs. a single card and definitely cost. The 780 Ti is around $700 from what I've seen and is what any enthusiast would want performance-wise.

If this has already been asked, I sincerely apologize. Thanks all!

[JoshM]

Just get a 780ti, a single high end card is better then dual low end card

[Mecami]

Sli and CF bring disadvantages like microstuttering(possibly, not necessarily), they consume much more power and cost also more than a single card that would perform the same, much more heat output in your case(you will need good case cooling) etc.

[Shd0w2]

Sli and CF bring disadvantages like microstuttering(possibly, not necessarily), they consume much more power and cost also more than a single card that would perform the same, much more heat output in your case(you will need good case cooling) etc.

I agree with that

[joelthezombie15]

Sli and CF bring disadvantages like microstuttering(possibly, not necessarily), they consume much more power and cost also more than a single card that would perform the same, much more heat output in your case(you will need good case cooling) etc.

also not all games support it. 

[helping]

cost also more than a single card that would perform the same

Not true.

 

also not all games support it.

The games that don't support it don't need it.

Dishonored doesnt. A lot of games either straight up dont support it or are unplayable with it.

Again, the games that don't support it don't need it.

No, very few games don't support it or are unplayable with it. For the 2 or 3 modern games that for whatever reason don't support crossfire/SLI, you can turn it off in a profile. If they don't bother to implement it or do it well enough, then I can't simplify it enough that it is not required to play the game as it is not demanding enough for multi-GPU to matter.

Additionally, I played through Dishonored three times with crossfire on, the game worked flawlessly for me. I can't commentate on SLI.

[Mecami]

also not all games support it. 

I'm pretty sure pretty much all games support sli and cf, given that we are not talking about reaaaally old games.

[joelthezombie15]

I'm pretty sure pretty much all games support sli and cf, given that we are not talking about reaaaally old games.

Dishonored doesnt. A lot of games either straight up dont support it or are unplayable with it. 

[JAKEBAB]

660ti sli i believe is equivalent to a 780 or a 780ti but has lower vram so if u are playing higher than 1080p i suggest going with a 780.

[lloydmaster122]

That is all I needed. Thanks guys! If I can find a 780 Ti on sale I will surely give myself the go-ahead. If 2 660s are only going to be $200 less, and if supposedly not all games support SLI, that's enough for me to bump it up to the Ti.

[Mecami]

That is all I needed. Thanks guys! If I can find a 780 Ti on sale I will surely give myself the go-ahead. If 2 660s are only going to be $200 less, and if supposedly not all games support SLI, that's enough for me to bump it up to the Ti.

All of the games that will matter to you support sli...

But a 780ti will outperform 2x 660's by far.

[WoodenMarker]

That is all I needed. Thanks guys! If I can find a 780 Ti on sale I will surely give myself the go-ahead. If 2 660s are only going to be $200 less, and if supposedly not all games support SLI, that's enough for me to bump it up to the Ti.

660 Sli is pretty pointless. We're talking about 660 Ti sli's. 

Also, the 780 Ti is a bad value. Unless you're gaming at some unreasonable settings, I'd recommend just getting a 780 and another for sli if you need it instead.

[TheProfosist]

Sli and CF bring disadvantages like microstuttering(possibly, not necessarily), they consume much more power and cost also more than a single card that would perform the same, much more heat output in your case(you will need good case cooling) etc.

Sli usually costs less...

My two 670's still edge out a 780 ti...

[TheProfosist]

Not true.

The games that don't support it don't need it.

Again, the games that don't support it don't need it.

No, very few games don't support it or are unplayable with it. For the 2 or 3 modern games that for whatever reason don't support crossfire/SLI, you can turn it off in a profile. If they don't bother to implement it or do it well enough, then I can't simplify it enough that it is not required to play the game as it is not demanding enough for multi-GPU to matter.

Additionally, I played through Dishonored three times with crossfire on, the game worked flawlessly for me. I can't commentate on SLI.

Agreed. Also just finished dishonored with sli 670's on 2560x1440 with no issues to speak of.

[lloydmaster122]

Well that's the thing... I've heard of older cards outperforming the newer ones woth SLI while costing less. But that does add more room for tearing or stuttering? Also, my original question asked what SLI would amoint to the power of a single 780 Ti. Also, how much better is a Ti from the 780, as they differ in price by a good bit.

[TheProfosist]

Well that's the thing... I've heard of older cards outperforming the newer ones woth SLI while costing less. But that does add more room for tearing or stuttering? Also, my original question asked what SLI would amoint to the power of a single 780 Ti. Also, how much better is a Ti from the 780, as they differ in price by a good bit.

Kepler based 600 series cards really arnt old by any means...

Also two 760 will tie or beat a 780 ti, I imagine two 770's (more powerful 680) would crush it.

660ti, 670, 760 would all be right around a 780 ti above or below a bit. The 780 has far better P2P (price to performance) than a 780 ti but you could get two 760's for its price.

[TheProfosist]

Well that's the thing... I've heard of older cards outperforming the newer ones woth SLI while costing less. But that does add more room for tearing or stuttering? Also, my original question asked what SLI would amoint to the power of a single 780 Ti. Also, how much better is a Ti from the 780, as they differ in price by a good bit.

Kepler based 600 series cards really arnt old by any means...

Also two 760 will tie or beat a 780 ti, I imagine two 770's (more powerful 680) would crush it.

660ti, 670, 760 would all be right around a 780 ti above or below a bit. The 780 has far better P2P (price to performance) than a 780 ti but you could get two 760's for its price.

[TheProfosist]

Well that's the thing... I've heard of older cards outperforming the newer ones woth SLI while costing less. But that does add more room for tearing or stuttering? Also, my original question asked what SLI would amoint to the power of a single 780 Ti. Also, how much better is a Ti from the 780, as they differ in price by a good bit.

Kepler based 600 series cards really arnt old by any means...

Also two 760 will tie or beat a 780 ti, I imagine two 770's (more powerful 680) would crush it.

660ti, 670, 760 would all be right around a 780 ti above or below a bit. The 780 has far better P2P (price to performance) than a 780 ti but you could get two 760's for its price.

[Swegly]

Kepler based 600 series cards really arnt old by any means...

Also two 760 will tie or beat a 780 ti, I imagine two 770's (more powerful 680) would crush it.

660ti, 670, 760 would all be right around a 780 ti above or below a bit. The 780 has far better P2P (price to performance) than a 780 ti but you could get two 760's for its price.

Why did you post this 3 times?

[helping]

Why did you post this 3 times?

its a bug

[ALXAndy]

Sli and CF bring disadvantages like microstuttering(possibly, not necessarily), they consume much more power and cost also more than a single card that would perform the same, much more heat output in your case(you will need good case cooling) etc.

 

SLI hardly ever suffers from stutter, mostly because Nvidia have actually added hardware to their cards to stop it happening. Crossfire on the other hand is still a work in progress, and relies more on software so you will get the odd stutter here and there.

 

The main caveat with any multiple GPU rig is heat. You have two heat sources, one usually starved of fresh air. I say this as some one who has been using multiple GPUs for about seven years.

 

I would say go with a dual GPU single card, but Nvidia need to update theirs and AMD have discontinued theirs. The 7990 was going for a song recently so I got one, but only because it was cheap.

 

The only set up I would take over a 780ti would be two 780s. In any case of running Crossfire or SLI you must always have a system that if you need it to can fall back onto one card and still have the muscles to run your game. Otherwise waiting for game support can be frustrating. I run 670s in SLI and before that 580s, so I've always been able to just disable it if the game lacks support and still play my games.

 

Running two low or mid end cards will only end in tears.

[Swegly]

SLI hardly ever suffers from stutter, mostly because Nvidia have actually added hardware to their cards to stop it happening. Crossfire on the other hand is still a work in progress, and relies more on software so you will get the odd stutter here and there.

 

The main caveat with any multiple GPU rig is heat. You have two heat sources, one usually starved of fresh air. I say this as some one who has been using multiple GPUs for about seven years.

 

I would say go with a dual GPU single card, but Nvidia need to update theirs and AMD have discontinued theirs. The 7990 was going for a song recently so I got one, but only because it was cheap.

 

The only set up I would take over a 780ti would be two 780s. In any case of running Crossfire or SLI you must always have a system that if you need it to can fall back onto one card and still have the muscles to run your game. Otherwise waiting for game support can be frustrating. I run 670s in SLI and before that 580s, so I've always been able to just disable it if the game lacks support and still play my games.

 

Running two low or mid end cards will only end in tears.

This guy really puts this into the best way it can be said. Liked.

[lloydmaster122]

So with budget, cooling, and compatability in mind... I'm thinking about going with a 780, then somewhere down the line, if i want more I'll buy another 780 for SLI. If cooling is truly an issue in my case, then a water cooling system is in in order. I've seen it done with SLI, and I'd be willing to go that extra mile.

[Swegly]

So with budget, cooling, and compatability in mind... I'm thinking about going with a 780, then somewhere down the line, if i want more I'll buy another 780 for SLI. If cooling is truly an issue in my case, then a water cooling system is in in order. I've seen it done with SLI, and I'd be willing to go that extra mile.

Sounds good. I just bought a Gigabyte Windforce X3 R9 290 which is neck to neck with a gtx 780 and in some cases out preforms it while offering 1 more gb of vram for around 50 bucks more. If you support amd this might be an option you would prefer. Keep in mind, I am not a fanboy and I support both nvidia and amd.

[lloydmaster122]

I've not yet tried an amd gpu. I would be willing to try it, as I've heard good things about them. But for $50 more, a gig of vram is not as important to me. Vram is not as important as it seems and moat cards are fine with 2, or 3 in the case of the 780 I am looking at.