crossfire & sli

[jayrc]

Hi all, trying to learn here about crossfire and sli, I've done some googling and it seems like it's for people running higher resolution than me, I'm running a lcd at 1360x768, do I need two video cards? does 2 cards double your vram?would I be fine with one 6970/580 gfx card, thanks

[Tempered]

With two cards, you could comfortably run a higher resolution, higher AA settings, more eye candy. Two cards does not double your vram.
A single card will probably do you just fine. In fact, sli/crossfire is not supported in all games and is often a waste. COD does not currently support sli or crossfire correctly.

[JG14_Jagr]

With a Good GPU you can run 1920X1200 with no problems with all the candy on. If you plan to run at the level you posted a single card is fine. Doesn't mean I wouldn't get a motherboard that I could eventually upgrade to SLI/Crossfire though..

[jayrc]

thanks, the only advantage I could see at the moment would be to increase vram and crossfire/sli does not do that:( getting a motherboard to support it for the future is a good idea though, power supply is another story:confused:

[Tempered]

My last two rigs have been sli. GTX 460's for the first, and GTX 560 TI's for this one. The only reason I'm still running sli is for redundancy and economics. If one card goes out, I have a backup, and it cost less than a single card with comparable horse power.

If you do go for a single card solution, make sure you get one with 2gigs vram.

[jayrc]

palit 560 ti is the only 2 gb card? Is that what your running? are you happy with it? what power supply?

[Codex]

At that resolution you'll be fine running a single GPU. I'd only bother with Dual GPU's if the resolution is above 1920x1200 or you’re running multi 1080i screens.

Come to think of it, a single 6800 or 570+ GPU will do 1920x1200 comfortably.

[Baron]

U do NOT need a card with 2 gigs vram unless u running resolutions above 2000x..... or multiple screens.

Normal res up to (at least) 1920x1200 does not use more than 1 gigs.


It has been tested by every major site and is a fact.(No differance between a, for ex, Gtx580 1,5 Gig and 3,0 Gig)

[Vengeanze]

U do NOT need a card with 2 gigs vram unless u running resolutions above 2000x..... or multiple screens.

Normal res up to (at least) 1920x1200 does not use more than 1 gigs.


It has been tested by every major site and is a fact.(No differance between a, for ex, Gtx580 1,5 Gig and 3,0 Gig)
You sure? Read about someone in this forum that saw that his g-card in CloD used close to 1.5GB. Don't remember his setup and res though.

[jayrc]

You sure? Read about someone in this forum that saw that his g-card in CloD used close to 1.5GB. Don't remember his setup and res though.
1+ would like to know if this is true, shouldn't resolution be in sigs

[silverstone08]

hi guys i ncat get my crossfire to workj at best it provides a massive perfomance Decrease.! help me it is enabled in the ati control pannel and ive got two of the same card 5750 so why is it doing this?

[Baron]

You sure? Read about someone in this forum that saw that his g-card in CloD used close to 1.5GB. Don't remember his setup and res though.



If u dont run extreme res/multiple screens u do not need 2 gigs.

Read tests where, under normal resolutions, the 2 gigs card where infact slower than its 1 gig counterpart (think it was Amd 6950) due to memory speeds beeing slower on the 2 gig variant (at least thats whats beein thought about 2 gigs beeing slower running normal res on 1 screen)


Dont get me wrong, if u find a 2 gig card with simillar price as a 1 gig one, go for it, i proppably would my selfe (im not to clever sometimes) :). But it could have an adverce effect if your running 1 screen and normal res.

[GOZR]

Because you guys think the 2 GB is just for resolution ? lol

Yes 2 GB is better.

[Jaws2002]

I have seen my video memory usage go over 1.2 GB on regular basis. I'm running at 1680x1050 resolution. (my old screen can't do more)
So, if you buy a new card now, don't buy anything with less than 1.5GB memory!
There are a few GTX580's that came with 3GB not long ago. That should be about the best single GPU card you could get right now.

One more thing. Just because COD can't run SLI/X-fire right now, it doesn't mean the option should be just ignored.

[Baron]

Because you guys think the 2 GB is just for resolution ? lol

Yes 2 GB is better.


Never claimed any such thing but if i have to explain where and how high res/multiple screens vs vram come into play.....well, whats the point.


But thats ok, ignore tests from major hardware sites and go by what u feel is correct.


And no, 2 gigs is not ALLWAYS better.


Carry on


P.S my pc "claims", on a regular basis, in windows, in idle, to run at +6 GHz. Boy, thats one hell of a pc i gotten myselfe. Or maby the software doing the readings is, flaky, could it be? Naaaaaaaaah. I hearby have a 2500K running @ +6 GHz 24/7 on air and before even overclocking. Cool.

Beat that if u can.

[Baron]

I have seen my video memory usage go over 1.2 GB on regular basis. I'm running at 1680x1050 resolution. (my old screen can't do more)
So, if you buy a new card now, don't buy anything with less than 1.5GB memory!
There are a few GTX580's that came with 3GB not long ago. That should be about the best single GPU card you could get right now.

One more thing. Just because COD can't run SLI/X-fire right now, it doesn't mean the option should be just ignored.

So, what you are saying is that 95% of all gpu`s on the market is pretty much useless, even if its a 6970 or a Gtx 570 with 1/1.2 gigs of vram.

Wow, thats kind of big news if u ask me. ;)


P.S. One of the tests was of the Zotac GTX 580 Amp2 3 GB. It showed that 3 gigs of vram made no differance what so ever vs 1.5 gig even at 2560x1600 res.

[Baron]

Anyways, the OP mentioned 1360x768 and there is no way in hell he needs 2 gigs, but hey, he can buy anything he likes.

There is no need to spread incorrect info based on "feelings". If they stick arround long enough they become "internet thruths" and that annoys the hell out of me.


Rant off. ;)

[Thee_oddball]

1+ would like to know if this is true, shouldn't resolution be in sigs

good point :) i take it you got my PM?

[jayrc]

good point :) i take it you got my PM?
yes, thank you

[Bryan21cag]

There are pros and cons to both its up to you to figure out which setup is best. It does improve your performance but only if its supported by the software.

I have a 40" viewable Wide Screen TV that i am running Full 1920-1080P HD video on for my monitor and From what I hear it makes a difference at this resolution at this size.

My two personal big issues with this set up are

1. the support for programs is not always available but this is changing i think with a lot of very new Games that i have been buying have this support and the games run phenomenal with it.

2. HEAT. It has been my experience with this rig since its building that by having the two cards inside of this medium size case has added extra heat and used up more room for air flow. If you had a Huge case with more then enough room to leave space between the cards this might not be an issue.

I think that all the newer cards are running hotter and hotter as they get bigger and bigger GPU's on one card but For my next build i think i will go for one Big card in a very large case so that i can maximize the air flow and not have to worry about compatible software.

This said I can not fault the performance at all. Every game with proper crossfire support i have run on this machine FLYS and looks Amazing with every bell and whistle turned on:)

Good luck

oh and ps....... Dont use the Crossfire/SLI performance of IL2 COD as a marker for weather or not you go with that set up. The support is still not working correctly so there is no way to know yet how this game will run yet when it is correctly fixed and supported.

Cheers:)

[Codex]

The resolution actually has a very small part to play in VRAM usage. With a screen res of 1920x1200 and the standard Direct3D colour data type being 32bit you're only using roughly 9MB of Video Ram. Take into account frame buffers for page flipping and AA you'd be hard pressed to use more than 100MB

The biggest issue around VRAM usage is the games content: textures, 3D models etc.

[Thee_oddball]

yes, thank you

welllllllll.. tell us what system you have decided to build! :)

[Thee_oddball]

The resolution actually has a very small part to play in VRAM usage. With a screen res of 1920x1200 and the standard Direct3D colour data type being 32bit you're only using roughly 9MB of Video Ram. Take into account frame buffers for page flipping and AA you'd be hard pressed to use more than 100MB

The biggest issue around VRAM usage is the games content: textures, 3D models etc.


so you saying that if i get rid of the textures and the 3D models i can go back to using my old FX5200 128MB card? :mrgreen:

[Jaws2002]

So, what you are saying is that 95% of all gpu`s on the market is pretty much useless, even if its a 6970 or a Gtx 570 with 1/1.2 gigs of vram.

Wow, thats kind of big news if u ask me. ;)


P.S. One of the tests was of the Zotac GTX 580 Amp2 3 GB. It showed that 3 gigs of vram made no differance what so ever vs 1.5 gig even at 2560x1600 res.

I'm not talking in general here. I'm talking COD. It doesn't matter if most games are doing just fine with one GB of Vram. If COD is the reason someone wants to upgrade, then one gig is not exactly enough.

If someone is buying a videocard for COD now, it better be able to run the game. What's the point to buy a card for COD, if the game uses more memory than what's on the card. And what about the future? you don't buy hardware for yesterday's games and apps. You better have a little extra for the near future.

Many people can confirm this. COD, at least before this patch, was using more than one gig of Vram on regular bases.

[jayrc]

welllllllll.. tell us what system you have decided to build! :)
I don't know yet

[ATAG_Doc]

My last two rigs have been sli. GTX 460's for the first, and GTX 560 TI's for this one. The only reason I'm still running sli is for redundancy and economics. If one card goes out, I have a backup, and it cost less than a single card with comparable horse power.

If you do go for a single card solution, make sure you get one with 2gigs vram.


For redundancy..now that's hardcore!!! lol

[ATAG_Doc]

I'm not talking in general here. I'm talking COD. It doesn't matter if most games are doing just fine with one GB of Vram. If COD is the reason someone wants to upgrade, then one gig is not exactly enough.

If someone is buying a videocard for COD now, it better be able to run the game. What's the point to buy a card for COD, if the game uses more memory than what's on the card. And what about the future? you don't buy hardware for yesterday's games and apps. You better have a little extra for the near future.

Many people can confirm this. COD, at least before this patch, was using more than one gig of Vram on regular bases.

Let me tell you what just happened to me. Since yesterdays update I maxed out my screen resolution and in game maxed it out as well. The fps is not what I like. It's not as smooth as most expect but it is soo beautiful. But I digress.

What I wanted to say is running everything maxed my water temps at the back of my reservoirs got nice and warm.

[Tempered]

palit 560 ti is the only 2 gb card? Is that what your running? are you happy with it? what power supply?

Yes, I have two of the palit 560 ti's. I got them at a bargain price on newegg.
The only issue I have with them is that the fans can be a bit noisy when ramped up to about 80%, which is as high as they ever go. Also, the card does not properly vent to the outside of the case and some hot air leakage spills into the computer case.

I've had them since about the time they came out (3 months?). And have not had any other issues.

They are somewhat of a gamble, however. Palit seems to be fairly hard to get in touch with if you have any warranty issue.

Power supply is a 1KW silverstone. My resolution is set at 1920x1080 with all graphics on high except ssao and grass. Sli is currently off for COD, but on for ROF which is smooth as silk with all settings maxed.

B.S. on the "you'll never use more than 1GB of vram".

Almost forgot, I did bump the core voltage on this card by about .05 volts for stability, and am using the current nvidia beta drivers.

[Tempered]

For redundancy..now that's hardcore!!! lol

I really hate down time ;) I also have a ssd drive copy of my boot drive sitting in the case unplugged waiting for the main to fail.

[jayrc]

Yes, I have two of the palit 560 ti's. I got them at a bargain price on newegg.
The only issue I have with them is that the fans can be a bit noisy when ramped up to about 80%, which is as high as they ever go. Also, the card does not properly vent to the outside of the case and some hot air leakage spills into the computer case.

I've had them since about the time they came out (3 months?). And have not had any other issues.

They are somewhat of a gamble, however. Palit seems to be fairly hard to get in touch with if you have any warranty issue.

Power supply is a 1KW silverstone. My resolution is set at 1920x1080 with all graphics on high except ssao and grass. Sli is currently off for COD, but on for ROF which is smooth as silk with all settings maxed.

B.S. on the "you'll never use more than 1GB of vram".

Almost forgot, I did bump the core voltage on this card by about .05 volts for stability, and am using the current nvidia beta drivers.
thanks,wish evga would make 2 gb 560 ti

[Jaws2002]

...wish evga would make 2 gb 560 ti

They just released a 3 gb GTX580.:twisted:

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=03G-P3-1584-AR&family=GeForce 500 Series Family&sw=.