SLI Setup Your Opinion... [Archive] - Bjorn3d.com Forums brought to you by XFX

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 09:26 AM

Here is where I start and would like any opinions on this...

This setup with 9600GT's down below------------------------------------------------* *
* *
*

This setup with 8800GT's same setup with 2 of these instead of the 9600.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150254

Or the same setup with 2 of these...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150267

PP Mguire

03-20-2008, 09:51 AM

Just name off the setup because we cant see your cart.

And if you have the money go with GTS 512mbs.

From personal experience, SLI is crap.

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 10:26 AM

Sorry about the bad link then... But 750w PSU 4x 12v rails, XFX nvidia 780i SLI board
with pci-e 2.0 slots x3 Kentsfield q6600 2.4 QUAD core.

Board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141005

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339002

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

9600's: x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150283

Or the afore mentioned setups 8800gt's or 8800gts's.... Price wont be a factor but of course to save a few bucks is always nice.

Or I could just slap a QUAD on this XFX 630i board and change the GS out with an XFX 8800GTX instead of SLI.

8800GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150205

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 10:53 AM

I dont know now just saw that the 9800GX2's can be had for 600.00 or less may lean toward that instead.

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 11:14 AM

Look at this link and read the review titled unbelievable....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143128

3dmark06 score of just over 15000+ with 8gbs ram and a QUAD????? I know my 8800GS isnt the fastest but I can push just over 11000 out of it on normal Air cooling no super cooling... I would have thought that a 9800GX2 would have pushed more than that paired with a QUAD and that setup of his isnt to bad???? Any thoughts.

My 3dmark06 score: With OC's
http://service.futuremark.com/results/showAllResults.action

and that was with an E2200???

I know he was running Vista 64 so that was a factor but I would have hoped for at least 20000+

PP Mguire

03-20-2008, 11:15 AM

Its better to go for a single fat rail like with PCP&C

Also, GTX? no....Just no.

Like you just mentioned if your going to go for 8800GT or GTS SLI then just get a 9800GX2.

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 11:28 AM

Its better to go for a single fat rail like with PCP&C

Also, GTX? no....Just no.

Like you just mentioned if your going to go for 8800GT or GTS SLI then just get a 9800GX2.
yes GX2 is possible but did you see my last post I wasnt that impressed maybe im missing something there???

Whats wrong with the GTX???
How about an ULTRA then???

PP Mguire

03-20-2008, 04:43 PM

werty316

03-20-2008, 07:34 PM

I wouldn't even consider a 8800GTX or Ultras since that the 8800GT and 8800GTS 512MB are better and cheaper alternatives.

Ultimately if you wanna burn some money the 9800 GX2 is the way to go, else go with a 8800GT.

Miker

03-20-2008, 07:42 PM

No point in SLI just get a single fast card.

Scott

03-20-2008, 08:34 PM

Humm with a little overclocking the 9800GX2 can do some fun stuff.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22458

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 09:46 PM

Ultra is more exspensive than a GX2, a GTS 512mb can outdo its exspensive GTX counterpart

And read the res that guy did 3dmark on. Thats why he got such a low score. On stock Kingpin was getting well over 20k with his GX2.
Ok well that sounds better about the GX2 I thinking I may just grab a QUAD and a GX2 for this XFX board I have Since its really a great board and the OC'ing on it is really nice being able to adjust voltages, ram, cpu, all seperate makes it nice to get each component to its max potential And that would save me a bundle. Next question 3 choices on the GX2, XFX, BFG, or EVGA. the EVGA is 600, the XFX the same but I can get the BFG for 577.00 I prefer XFX but dont mind saving a little what do you guys think about BFG???

Thankx for all your opinions also...

My Specs:
Intel E2200 2.2ghz @ 3.1ghz 1124fsb
A-DATA DDR2 800 2x 1gb @ 877mhz
XFX 630i/7100 MB
XFX 8800GS 680c/1700s/1600m @ 720c/1800s/1900m
Rosewill 600w SLI PSU
160 sata2 HDD in stripe
20x DVD/Burner

Sadasius

03-20-2008, 09:46 PM

Humm with a little overclocking the 9800GX2 can do some fun stuff.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22458

Cannot wait to get my own score with this card....It is going to be a benchmark battle...:lol:

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 10:08 PM

Well nevermind about BFG, I found the XFX GX2 for 561.00 with free COH game but one question the XFX and EVGA say they require 600w with +12v rails of 28amps no problem there why does the BFG say 580w (Lower) but needs at least 40amps?????

Slovakftw

03-20-2008, 10:08 PM

Yea get 1 fast card, from what i heard and read, a single fast card is better then sli since most games dont use sli to its full. The only card i can see people using in sli is the ultra, since u cant get any better yet.

MtDew

03-20-2008, 10:42 PM

There is one important thing that needs to be considered when you are selecting your video card. What monitor/resolution are you going to run?

The high end video cards will not run much faster when you get to lower resolutions. Case in point - I have an older 19" LCD that the max resolution is 1280X1024, therefore I could get by with a mid-range single video card.

Dragon_CPU

03-20-2008, 10:50 PM

PP Mguire

03-21-2008, 02:22 AM

To reach the potential of the 9800GX2 or 8800GTS 512mb SLI youll need 1920x1200 or bigger. Just go for the XFX one, since its XFX after all.

How many amps does your current PSU have on the 12v rail?

Dragon_CPU

03-21-2008, 02:46 AM

To reach the potential of the 9800GX2 or 8800GTS 512mb SLI youll need 1920x1200 or bigger. Just go for the XFX one, since its XFX after all.

How many amps does your current PSU have on the 12v rail?
Yea I was thinking XFX all the way and my current PSU has 38amps on combined +12v rails.

PP Mguire

03-21-2008, 05:46 AM

Yea if your getting a new quad steup and intend on OCing id get a new PSU.

Dragon_CPU

03-21-2008, 10:29 AM

Yea if your getting a new quad steup and intend on OCing id get a new PSU.
Yes i figured on the PSU trying to find a decent one PRICE, and at least 4 rails with good amps

And of course I'm OC'ing :)

PP Mguire

03-21-2008, 05:56 PM

Get a single fat rail. Multiple rails isnt always better. If you can settle for 2 rails. So have you decided on a video card yet?

werty316

03-21-2008, 09:09 PM

Don't forget to take into account the other parts you'll be running which your Rosewill 600w SLI PSU won't be able to handle.

Chakka

03-21-2008, 10:28 PM

Get a single fat rail. Multiple rails isnt always better. If you can settle for 2 rails. So have you decided on a video card yet?

Agreed! Even though this is from PCPower's website (obviously they want to sell their own psus), it seems that more manufacturers are going back to single rail - http://www.pcpower.com/technology/myths/

ARE MULTIPLE 12-VOLT RAILS BETTER THAN A SINGLE 12-VOLT RAIL?
With all the hype about multiple 12-volt rails (ads claim that two rails is better than one, five is better than four, etc.), you'd think it was a better design. Unfortunately, it's not!

Here are the facts: A large, single 12-volt rail (without a 240VA limit) can transfer 100% of the 12-volt output from the PSU to the computer, while a multi-rail 12-volt design has distribution losses of up to 30% of the power supply's rating. Those losses occur because power literally gets "trapped" on under-utilized rails. For example, if the 12-volt rail that powers the CPU is rated for 17 amps and the CPU only uses 7A, the remaining 10A is unusable, since it is isolated from the rest of the system.

Since the maximum current from any one 12-volt rail of a multiple-rail PSU is limited to 20 amps (240VA / 12 volts = 20 amps), PCs with high-performance components that draw over 20 amps from the same rail are subject to over-current shutdowns. With power requirements for multiple processors and graphics cards continuing to grow, the multiple-rail design, with its 240VA limit per rail, is basically obsolete.

PC Power and Cooling is once again leading the industry. All of our power supplies now feature a large, single 12-volt rail. The design is favored by major processor and graphics companies, complies with EPS12V specs (the 240VA limit is not a requirement) and is approved by all major safety agencies such as UL and TUV.3

Dragon_CPU

03-21-2008, 10:54 PM

Well i guess from reading that i'll stick with my PSU knew i bought it for a reason as it doesnt have the 240va limit and is SSI and uses the EPS12V. it has 2 rails @22amps each not limited to the 20a each, its very stable i push all this very OC'd and never have an issue, also did some more research and have decided to go with the GTS which my PSU will cover sith single card or SLI. and the quad is 105w which is only 40w more than my current CPU. So I will go with it for now and see if it lives up to what its supposed to do if not then ill buy a different one.

Also my board and psu use the 8pin cpu cn. from what i read the eps12v is supposed to be more efficient than the standard ATX12v use. 8pin over 4pin.
My psu is 264va not the 240va limit

Ranzear

03-22-2008, 12:17 AM

darkorb

03-22-2008, 01:07 AM

Ill be SLI'ing 8800GTS 640mb in a week.

Dragon_CPU

03-22-2008, 02:38 AM

ok next question then Ive decided to go with 1 GTS and max out the cpu, ram, and other components around the card but now 640mb GTS or 512mb GTS with 640 get better mem interface and more ram however with 512 ill get G92 and better fillrates?

Dragon_CPU

03-22-2008, 02:41 AM

The multiple rails thing came about because of an obscure regulation in Germany that anything with greater than 20 amps rating had to be installed by a certified electrician, splitting the rails circumvented this.

But I read that on the internet, so have a grain of salt.

Anyway, thats 30% lost capacity, not efficiency, you're just not using it. Marketing B.S. etc. There are efficiency losses in the PSUs that recombine rails when load gets too high however.

As for SLI - Go with a single card (The GX2 counts as SLI btw) unless you're running a 22"+ monitor. We don't need another 'SLI is crap on my 14" screen! That means its always crap! Games don't use it!' voice around here, because Crysis at 1920x1200 says otherwise.
also this is a question for u Ranzear I like intel core 2's but i can switch up and get an amd 6400+ and asus sli board just in case i want to sli later for the price i can pay for just a QUAD. the 6400+ and board are a combo deal and they are both retail???
Your opinion should i switch or just go intel i ask u cause i c you use amd.

heres a link: one of these
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3645851&CatId=2621
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3645850&CatId=2430
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3403908&CatId=2430

PP Mguire

03-22-2008, 03:18 AM

werty316

03-22-2008, 03:57 AM

Get a 8800GTS 512MB.

Dragon_CPU

03-22-2008, 05:24 AM

Idk what he will say but id say go with Intel. I personaly am getting the 6400+ BE because 1) i dont need anything more than 2 cores and B) i wont go Intel.

The performance is better with the Intel e8400 (Unless you just want a huge epenis 3dmark score with a quad). But, i prefer a cheap price for something thats just as fast in games (AMD)

Also, G92 all the way.
Well intel would be good. But like you just said better price just as fast in games AMD, I want a good gaming machine for a good price it doesnt hurt to save a buck or two. Ok G92 it is.

The setup I have now is a pretty darn good gaming setup I,ll either switch or I'll just build what I have already. either way I'm sticking with XFX as much as possible.

I used to only run AMD in my opinion I thought they were pretty good, my last setup I sold to finance my intel setups was an Athlon 5400+, with gigabyte MB 690 chipset, 3gbs DDR2 800, my friend talked me into intel. But the price is right so may switch back not sure on that yet but could save a bit if I go G92 GTS and one of the combos that I posted.

PP Mguire

03-22-2008, 08:54 AM

Yea ive lived on AMD chipset pretty much. My first machine was a P1, third machine was P3 and then on i had AMD. Dont think i could ever switch over to Intel again.

Dragon_CPU

03-22-2008, 10:45 AM

Thought about this combo the price isnt too bad.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3716113&CatId=3586

but the board looks cheesy. But it does support Phenom, ddr2 1066, and pci-e 2.0 natively.

OR this one.... of course so does this one and it has all the goodies

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3716109&CatId=3586

PP Mguire

03-22-2008, 08:01 PM

Dragon_CPU

03-22-2008, 08:44 PM

Get the board in the second link (Asus M3a32-MVP) and get a 6400+. Avoid current Phenoms like the plague.

Oh BTW i should mention, if you want to SLI you cant with the Asus MVP. Its an AMD chipset just to let you know.
yes I know that was a drawback crossfire but its such a nice looking board and the heatpipes are nice.. real shame it doesnt have a counterpart with nvidia chipset.

Well I finally pulled my GS's bios and rewrote the clocks and gave it a permenant OC.
now it runs 700c/1750s/1800m didnt get extreme and change it to what i OC it too this was the best stable clocks that run the coolest and have no artifacting in ati tool.

PP Mguire

03-23-2008, 12:22 AM

Asus Nvidia counterpart is the 590SLI.

Yea im so glad i redid the Bios for both my 7950GTs. It was getting to be a pain OCing with each new install, driver change, or format.

I went from 570/700 - 700/770.

Dragon_CPU

03-24-2008, 06:50 AM

Well I'd like to try the PHENOM but guess I'll have to wit for the B3 revision as it is supposed to fix the bugs the B2 had even though from reviews I guess the B2 was a hit or miss on getting a good one or bad one. Guess I may just have to stay with the best.

INTEL go with the Q6600.... the only way to go.

If AMD doesnt get it together they could go down in flames... That would be a shame they used to be pretty good and besides if they went under most of us wouldnt want to fork out the money INTEL would charge for products with no competition.

PP Mguire

03-24-2008, 10:42 AM

Thats why AMD will always be around casue right now their processors are cheap and still good. According to AMD the B3 has fixed the problems and added more so the next Phenoms (9*50) will be alot better. They are on paper anyways.

Dragon_CPU

03-24-2008, 11:40 AM

What I'd like to see is XFX put out a nice MB that supports the Phenom with the HT3.0, and Pci-e 2.0, And SLI. that way I could switch to the new revision Phenom and still have my trusted XFX.

PP Mguire

03-24-2008, 09:08 PM

I doubt thta will happen. XFX seems to be on top of the hardware chain so i think they are sticking strickly with who is putting out the fastest hardware. Which is Intel right now.

Dragon_CPU

03-24-2008, 10:03 PM

I doubt thta will happen. XFX seems to be on top of the hardware chain so i think they are sticking strickly with who is putting out the fastest hardware. Which is Intel right now.
Yeah Kinda figure that LOL but oh well. XFX is the best in my opinion.

PP Mguire

03-24-2008, 10:42 PM

Nah, best mobo manufacturer is DFI. Those things are tanks. Just half their team got bought out by Foxconn so they have been a little slow releasing their awesometastic boards.

Dragon_CPU

03-25-2008, 10:41 AM

Hey PP look what I just found and it has full PHENOM support(once the new revision is out) also SLI PCI-E 2.0 DDR2 1066. This is sweet...

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en-us/t-power/content.php?S_ID=351

Miker

03-25-2008, 04:30 PM

BIOSTAR is known for being the worst you know...

trueg50

03-25-2008, 07:10 PM

What about a nice DFI Blood Iron. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136038R)

Plus a nice overclocking Core 2 duo? or quad of course.

Beats the crap out of a Phenom, beastly overclocking (my 2.1 ghz is at 3.5 right now) and will support the new 45nm quads.

Also the sngle vs multi-rail article is bogus, there is some differences, but over all it isn't too much to be concerned about, same for the modular PSU's being inferior. Just PC Power & Cooling marketing.

PP Mguire

03-25-2008, 09:00 PM

Dragon_CPU

03-25-2008, 09:22 PM

I know Biostar is not the best but I thought that about PCchips and PCpartner MB's at one time too but I tried a couple of thier AMD boards and they were very good matter of fact a friend of mine is still running a PCpartner MB in a computer that I built him almost a year ago and has never had an issue with it. I had never really heard of PCpartner just got a really good deal on it so went with it. So maybe even though some of biostars stuff is crap it doesnt mean they cant actually get one right now and then. Of course thats the only SLI board with PHENOM true HT3.0 support out right this sec. still waiting to see what the others will release sometime soon I hope.

And by the way I don't like DFI.....:na:

PP Mguire

03-25-2008, 09:26 PM

The cheaper you go with mobo brands the less OCing stability you can expect.

Just wait for the 780a boards to appear. Crosshair II is going to be awesome.

Dragon_CPU

03-25-2008, 09:33 PM

The cheaper you go with mobo brands the less OCing stability you can expect.

Just wait for the 780a boards to appear. Crosshair II is going to be awesome.
Yes I'm waiting for that want to see that croasshair II, Yea I know the OC'ing gets a little limited. Hey know any good spots to look at some the other boards before they come out.

trueg50

03-25-2008, 10:10 PM

Well first of all we where just discussing AMD boards, and that DFI is an open box. If you where going DFi get the X38 board from them. But with like all Intel crap youll pay out the nose for it.

And, no its not completely bogus. A fat single rail is still better than multiple rails.

Dragon, thats a big no on the Biostar lol.

I understand you were discussing AMD boards, however he is interested in overclocking, and I can't think of an AMD chips that will overclock as well as a Core 2.

Yes, a single rail is better, but it isn't that big a deal unless you are doing something that is really loading the PSU (9800 GX2 on a 600 watt PSU).

While yes, you might have an argument that Intel will be a little more expensive, but you get what you pay for. The DFI Blood Iron is a great board, and currently out of stock, thus the open box. Gigabyte and Asus also have some very respectable P35 or x38 boards.

Dragon_CPU

03-25-2008, 10:30 PM

I came to find out recently that my XFX 630i/7109 MB does support the 45nm cpus can you say Q9300 45nm 2.5ghz CPU with some overclocks QUAD 1333fsb at 299.99 not the extreme price for 1333fsb extreme QUADS. So any links for newer SLI boards resonably priced for AMD or Core 2.... besides the 780i 790i evga XFX looked at those kinda steep on price.... Looking to save a buck or 2 and still get a decent OC'ing and performing board.... QUAD and 45nm a must on Core 2 boards....

PP Mguire

03-25-2008, 11:11 PM

Yes I'm waiting for that want to see that croasshair II, Yea I know the OC'ing gets a little limited. Hey know any good spots to look at some the other boards before they come out.Google.com

I understand you were discussing AMD boards, however he is interested in overclocking, and I can't think of an AMD chips that will overclock as well as a Core 2.We wernt discussing him buying an AMD cpu or board, we where just discussing it in general. He wants to OC and is interestest in XFX boards and Intel CPUs.
And a single rail is better period. Like Werty and PCP&P said, if you put to much load on one of those rails (In a multiple rail situation) you can start having some problems. Its always best to have a single rail in any situation.

And my point towards the P35 was if your going to pay the price you might as well get DFIs X38 but since he wants to SLI neither of those boards are in question. Hince the SLI Setup thread title. Id say try and get a 780i if you can. Or maybe even a 750i.

Dragon_CPU

03-26-2008, 06:40 AM

I had a P35 board and wasn't all that impressed thus the XFX 630i I'm running now (which OC's well and runs fast and stable) I returned the P35 board I spent 125+ on and settled for this XFX which I spent 70 on for now.

PP Mguire

03-26-2008, 07:37 AM

I think youd be better off with a 780i actualy. Just my opinion.

Oh and TrueG i understand what your saying btw. :)

Dragon_CPU

03-26-2008, 08:52 AM

Yes your probably right but I was hoping not to have to spend so much if possible. who knows maybe I'll find a deal somewhere.

PP Mguire

03-26-2008, 09:13 AM

Probably, hopefully the 780i gets cheaper as more people buy the 790. Im not running Intel though so dont really care :) hehe But honestly i think you would be happier with a 780 or 790 (Of course 790 = DDR3 but who wouldnt be happy with the worlds fastest ram?)

Dragon_CPU

03-27-2008, 03:57 AM

This isnt a bad price of course its not my preferred XFX but its already $20 cheaper than newegg and if I use google checkout I get another $10 off...

http://www.buy.com/prod/evga-lga-775-nvidia-nforce-780i-sli-atx-intel-motherboard/q/loc/101/206661623.html

PP Mguire

03-27-2008, 11:53 AM

I prefer Newegg for all my e-sales.

Dragon_CPU

03-27-2008, 01:21 PM

I prefer Newegg for all my e-sales.
I do too but the price cant be beat at this point.

PP Mguire

03-27-2008, 10:16 PM

Dragon_CPU

03-27-2008, 11:11 PM

They can be if you have to go through alot of trouble getting your product.

Oh, before making a purchase you MIGHT want to take a look at how the PhenomX4 9850 OCs. Its scoring about on par with the q6600 and is cheaper :)
Yea I looked at another post where you added a link just wander when they will actually be out. Also (off topic) what is all this PEER39 advertising its annoying....

PP Mguire

03-27-2008, 11:18 PM

I put peer39? Because idk what your talking about. screenshot?

Dragon_CPU

03-28-2008, 11:56 AM

I put peer39? Because idk what your talking about. screenshot?
I'm talking about all these ADDs in the threads from PEER39 for computer parts and such.

PP Mguire

03-29-2008, 06:53 PM

Havent seen em. I dont pay attention to adds on pages :/

Dragon_CPU

04-01-2008, 01:35 PM

Think I'm going to get the new 9800GTX as it seems is G92 I thought they were using the new G94 on all the new 9000 series????

Single card and get a quad to go with it...

PP Mguire

04-02-2008, 03:45 AM

No everybody has been saying 9800GTX is G92.

Dragon_CPU

04-02-2008, 04:15 AM

No everybody has been saying 9800GTX is G92.
Ok thats good I like the G92 why didnt they go G94 they did use G94 on the 9600gt or was it the GX2?

PP Mguire

04-02-2008, 04:19 AM

The G94 is used in the 9600GT. A higher number meaning lower grade card.

Dragon_CPU

04-02-2008, 04:26 AM

The G94 is used in the 9600GT. A higher number meaning lower grade card.
Ah ha but isnt the other 8800's running G80 and the G92 chip is better than them so hows that work exactly...

PP Mguire

04-02-2008, 04:31 AM

Thats what i was talking about in another thread. Nvidia totaly screwed over their whole chip codename thing.

Before it used to be like G60 G62, or G70 G71 G74 G76, then they went G80 and then G92 for 8800GT/GTS and now G92 for GX2 and 9800GTX. Thats why everybody is complaining that the 9800GTX is a rebadged 8800GTS 512mb cause they use the same core. The 9600GT uses a G94 though, which is actualy on the money for a 9*** series midrange card.

werty316

04-02-2008, 06:10 AM

I don't think the G94 is fitting for the 9600GT since its just a cutdown G92 chip.

Generally a new series lineup is release when there is a process change like how the 7800(110Nnm) series became the 7900(90nm) series of cards so in a way the G92 should have been a new lineup(8900) and not the 8800GT/8800GTS (G92).

EDIT: What is really bad is that supposedly the 9800GT is merely just a renamed 880GT with the same specs :shock:

However I fully agree with you that nVidia really smoke something trippy when they came up with their naming scheme for the newer cards.

EDIT: I saw this article but have yet to give it a read so I don't know if it'll help at all:

NVIDIA 9 Series Naming - Inappropriate (http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1365/nvidia_9_series_naming_inappropriate/index.html)

asterasy

04-02-2008, 09:38 AM

Yea, their chip naming was really bad for the 8 and 9 series.
The 8600s are G84s, while the 8800s are G80s, and then the G92s in the 8 series, with the G92-400 as the 9800GTX, G92-4(5?)00 as the 9800GX2 and the G94 as the 9600GT in the 9 series

PP Mguire

04-02-2008, 10:03 PM

Yea Nvidia has gone nuts on us, oh well. I dont really have that much of a problem with it but i hate trying to explain it to people.

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 02:28 PM

So, it seems this thread has pretty much answered my questions. Looks like I spent money for nothing.
But: I'd still like the SLI panel to at least look at it and maybe try it on one of my games.
I listed in the mobo section that I built a XFX 680 i SLI mobo with 4 gigs corsair, 600 watt power supply and a 2.66 core 2 duo, FSB 1333, 750 Gb Sata HDD and 2-8500GT Nvidia cards..........All I want to do is see the SLI panel come up and give me the choice.
I've been to Nvidia.com and read the info in their SLI Zone and it seems pretty easy. I uninstalled my drivers and rebooted to re-install, thinking it would identify the new hardware. It does, but it installs the drivers twice for the two cards, but ths wizard for SLI never comes up.
From what I read, I won't gain anything and it's pretty much one of Nvidia's biggest blunders...........but I"m still curious as to why mine won't identify.
Am I missing a step somewhere?....It surely doesn't seem so. I've used my mobo set up utility to see if there is something in there I missed....It doesn't seem so.
Thanks..........................:bowdown:

Dragon_CPU

04-06-2008, 03:14 PM

did you open the nvidia control panel and enable SLI?

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 04:59 PM

When I open the ntune control panel, there isn't anything about SLI in it. There are tabs for 3D, performance, tuning, temperatures, overclocking controls........and a whole host of things, but not a thing to do with SLI. That's why I'm so perplexed.
I tried running my 680 SLI mobo drivers again and I'm sure my cards, bridge and other components are hooked up right.
According to the instructions I've read at SLI zone at the Nvidia web site, all I was suppose to do was to put the other card in, connect the bridge and on start up, the nview would identify the new hardware and allow me to enable SLI. Well, that's not happening.
I'll probably start from scratch on it again, one more time.
I don't think it's in the nTune panel because the system is not being recognized. I'm in advanced mode, but still not there.
Thanks for the help!.............:thanks:

Miker

04-06-2008, 05:36 PM

SLI is hard to set up, hard to keep working. I would not waste your time setting it up. You use 2 monitors so just use each card to power a monitor; that is a really wicked cool thing to do.

PP Mguire

04-06-2008, 05:56 PM

SLI is very easy to set up so idk what your talking about. I think i probably have the most difficulty here setting up SLI and thats becasue i have to do some jumper BS on my motherboard. Other than that most other guys here have it easy by just connecting a SLI bridge and goin for it.

Are both of your cards identical?

Dragon_CPU

04-06-2008, 06:03 PM

Well got this to start me off the foxconn 640mb 8800gts 600c/1200s/2000m (EFFECTIVE)
Also this is a link for reference to the card It has the led built in it kinda cool i think goes with my system with all the blue led fans and eclipse keyboard.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=6

Now just got to get an identical card and figure out the SLI MB...like the 780i but price wise i like the evga 680i (not the Lt version)

PP Mguire

04-06-2008, 06:11 PM

Why did you get the 640mb? The G92 512 is alot better.

Dragon_CPU

04-06-2008, 06:23 PM

Got a good deal couldnt refuse swapped my GS for it.

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 07:02 PM

Yeah, my cards are identical. They are both nvidia 8500GT's....after I got them, I found one was a 256 mb and the other 512, but from what I've read, it really shouldn't matter. The SLIzone suggested to put the 256 as primary and the 512 in second. But also said that if I use the 512 primary, the 256 would clock up.
When I pulled the pc, I first went to run the XFX mobo with the 256 in place as when I first built it, but when I couldn't get a response from the second card and bridge, I switched them.
I think tonight when I get home. I'm just gonna start completely over. I have a feeling that the first time I assembled the new card bridged to SLI, I should have just connected the mouse and keyboard and fired it up and maybe the hardware utility would have come up. But instead, I hooked up all my USB devices (6 in all) and all the HD realtek audio too. So, maybe I never gave the mobo / cmos time to configure......I don't know. I'm just guessing here. I haven't gone into my bios yet either. Maybe I can find a reason there.
I just wanted to get out here in a forum since I paid about $1300 for all these toys, to make sure I get my money worth. My games run great. But hell, it's not like I'm running some high powered graphics game anyway.
Thanks ya'll!...............:beerchug:

Miker

04-06-2008, 07:15 PM

SLI 8500s will be the same speed as a single one. Why didn't you just get a 8800GT?

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 10:00 PM

After viewing your public file, I don't know how to quite answer that question. I remember when I was 17, very vividly. It was the year I graduated and the year I joined the U.S. Navy. Needless to say, it was the same year I learned what the value of the dollar was. So while I mean you no disrespect and feel your intellectual apptitude in computers is far advanced over mine, the words "why didn't you just get the 8800 GT?" makes me think of my own kids, where they think money grows on trees.
In a world where your married, have two children, own a home, pay for private school, own and maintain a speed boat, have 2 vehicles and all the bills associated with it, I was happy to afford the nVidia 8500 GT.
I saved to get what I got and had I bought a few pieces at a time, by the time I had that kind of money to build one, it would have been obsolete. Like I expect this one to be in a year or so. But at least there is room to up-grade.
I first ordered the quad core 2.4 but after reading the reviews, dumped it for the core 2 duo. So, that let me buy the first 8500GT. The original card I was going to use was a dumpy old FX AGP.........This past month, I got a $100 dollar safety bonus, so I ordered the 2nd card.....
Now, I'd like to at least try the SLI....whether or not I keep it is another story. I do like my twin monitor set-up and from what I understand, I won't have that in SLI. Although, on the nVidia web site, SLIzone, they say you can...........so, there you go.
I hope I didn't offend, I was shocked to see how young you are and have the vast knowledge of computers that you seem to have mastered.:shaka:

Xero (1)ne

04-06-2008, 10:17 PM

If you have two cards with different memory sizes you need to use a coolbits registry to allow you to SLi them.

SLi with dual monitors isn't possible.

Miker

04-06-2008, 10:41 PM

If you have two cards with different memory sizes you need to use a coolbits registry to allow you to SLi them.

SLi with dual monitors isn't possible.

Yep and Yep.

The thinking behind no SLI dual monitors is that 2x cards and 2 monitors uses 200% of total GPU, SLI with dual monitors would just be retarded, using 120% or less of the total of both.

SLI is not magic 2x higher FPS, usually you will get lower FPS and have your PC become totally unstable.

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 10:42 PM

Thanks....
I've been told that dual monitors won't work....but I've been reading a lot on the nVidia web site SLIzone and from what I understand, I can run either card in the lead socket. They recommend to load the 256mb in the lead and the 512 will follow. But if I use the 512 in the lead, they said the 256 will increase clock speed.........
Since I feel I'd be lost without my other moniter, I doubt that I'll stay in SLI, unless it's something I can turn on and off when I'm gaming. What I don't understand is why offer a "supposed" better solution to GPU's if your actually losing somewhere. That will be a total of 4 connecters and only one will work.......:exactly:

Seadoosnipe

04-06-2008, 10:44 PM

Well, then what I'm reading in the nVidia's web site on SLIzone about how to install SLI, is contradictory......
I'll have to go back and check it out again....in the meantime, I'll look into the coolbits registry..........

Xero (1)ne

04-07-2008, 01:10 AM

I thought SLi Zone was separate from Nvidia?

Edit: Nevermind, I was thinking about nZone.

Here's your coolbits.
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_coolbits.html

PP Mguire

04-07-2008, 04:01 AM

If you like dual monitors just ditch the SLI.

Im running 2 7950GTs in SLI and as ive got them to run right and its sorta nice its not worth the trouble.

darkorb

04-07-2008, 06:01 AM

SLI is easy to set up, but to tweak each game and in the nvidia contorl panel is a waste of time.

Seadoosnipe

04-08-2008, 03:50 AM

Well, I got the cool bits saved, not installed. I wanted to really dig into the idea of the worth of the SLI mode. I have found in my nTune panel, when you look up the 3D, there is a list of several games to choose from. Once you choose it, the bottom of the panel allows you to configure your liasing etc....and toward the bottom, I see SLI. So it appears you can set a profile for each game.
At the moment, I have both installed, but running twin monitors, one 19" LCD 2ms and one analog. I find it hard to give up my analog for fast paced games. Even though I bought the more expensive 2ms LCD........oh well.
I may just save up again and go for a newer model GPU and stay out of SLI.
Thanks for the coolbits info............