SLI/Crossfire

Discussion in 'Tech Talk' started by bishop, Sep 22, 2012.

  1. bishop
    Veteran FPS Officer

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Information Security Analyst
    Location:
    Grimes, IA
    So heres the deal, you all know i just build a new pc right? well i never thought i would do SLI or Crossfire but im starting to consider it, problem is my motherboard is only 8x on both slots, which seems common for sub$400 dollar motherboards, is it worth doing SLI or crossfire on one of these boards?
     
  2. Sogetsu
    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    7,511
    Likes Received:
    3
    Occupation:
    Logistics
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    You wont notice much difference but the X79 should support 16x by 16x with 2 cards in 1st slot.

    But its not a huge deal. Few FPS.
     
  3. EniGmA1987
    Veteran Staff Member Xenforcer

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2010
    Messages:
    4,778
    Likes Received:
    34
    You have PCI-E 3.0, which since you will have dual GTX 670's (right? I think?) it wont be an issue. Those cards are not yet powerful enough to max out 8x bandwidth on a 3.0 slot. Maybe in a couple generations more will we see a single card needing more bandwidth than that.
     
  4. bishop
    Veteran FPS Officer

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Information Security Analyst
    Location:
    Grimes, IA
    awesome thats what im hoping to hear, i havent bought any gfx cards yet. since i opted for the tiny micro atx mobo, fitment is going to be tight, so i might have to add watercooling at the same time :)

    ill get some pics up soon.
     
  5. bishop
    Veteran FPS Officer

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Information Security Analyst
    Location:
    Grimes, IA
    so really, whats the best setup for under 500 for gfx? wait for prices to drop? or go back a line to the 5xx and 6xxx series?
     
  6. Sogetsu
    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    7,511
    Likes Received:
    3
    Occupation:
    Logistics
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Dual 560 Ti last I heard. Not sure about AMD products anymore.
     
  7. EniGmA1987
    Veteran Staff Member Xenforcer

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2010
    Messages:
    4,778
    Likes Received:
    34
    Personally I think a single GTX670 4GB is the best setup for under $500, but I really prefer single card computers rather than SLI/Xfire. And I think it would probably be better for you as well Bishop because of your 1440p monitor. Running that resolution with all graphics settings on high in video games can use more than 2GB of vram already. BF3 uses around 2.4GB when everything is maxed out, and games are only going to get more and more intensive.

    Newegg just got the ASUS GTX670 DCII 4GB back in stock, that is the card I would get. And actually, I did get one a few days ago.
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2012
  8. bishop
    Veteran FPS Officer

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Information Security Analyst
    Location:
    Grimes, IA
    hmm thats a good point enigma, i think the gfx card on my server just died so the one in my desktop shall go back in the server and then new one for the desktop :D

    i took my server apart to install the stock intel cooler (my zalman's fan was causing a racket and squeaking) so when i put it all together and fired it up, shortly after the grapics cards got so hot it would burn you. no idea wtf is going on or why it decided to do that, guess it was time and didnt like being touched lol

    update:
    damn, $460, and amazon doesnt even have it (i have an amazon gift card to get rid of :( )
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2012
  9. Sogetsu
    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    7,511
    Likes Received:
    3
    Occupation:
    Logistics
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    I'm holding out for a Gtx670 4 gig as well.
     
  10. bishop
    Veteran FPS Officer

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Information Security Analyst
    Location:
    Grimes, IA
    actually scratch all that, looks like my motherboard died on the server, not the graphics card. anyone have a LGA775 Core 2 Quad compat motherboard laying around?
     
  11. EniGmA1987
    Veteran Staff Member Xenforcer

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2010
    Messages:
    4,778
    Likes Received:
    34
    Newegg does
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186197


    Or Amazon if you want to use your gift card on it:

    DDR2 board:
    http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core2-2...ie=UTF8&qid=1348968827&sr=1-5&keywords=lga775

    DDR3 board:
    http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-G...ie=UTF8&qid=1348968706&sr=1-4&keywords=lga775
    http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Micro-M...ie=UTF8&qid=1348968706&sr=1-2&keywords=lga775



    And if you still get the 670, this one would also be a good choice:
    http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SuperClo...TF8&qid=1348968553&sr=8-1&keywords=GTX670+4GB
    I dont know how cool it runs, but the Asus runs very cool. Memory chips can get hot on the Asus though, more than the EVGA one.
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2012
  12. mwhays
    Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2011
    Messages:
    1,286
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Stock Broker / Financial Planner / Registered Inve
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Ha! Jeez, bishop... How many you want? I got them laying around everywhere!