Some SLI questions...

[tian.]

Tom's Hardware: Can You Run Nvidia Dual Graphics Without SLI?

It appears you can, I just don't think it's recommended.

well that's just with that one epox mobo with hacked drivers ect ect...

 

[Jongi]

It would seem from this wiki article, that nVidia pushes an nForce motherboard to be used for SLI rather than any motherboard with 2 PCI-E x16 slots.

 

[The_Techie]

I completely agree with your signature, Jongi!

 

[hj2k_x]

Ok - question. I am looking to run Command and Conquer as well as possible given my current specs, as it is all i play

Machine:
AMD X2 5200+
Gigabyte M61PM mobo
2GB DDR800 TeamElite
XFX 8500GT 256MB, 128-bit
20" LG wide LCD
resolution : 1680 x 1050 (native)
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit

At the moment I am getting poor performance and laaaag. Should I change the resolution perhaps? Swicth to XP? Fiddle with the nVidia control panel settings of the card? Or fiddle with the in-game ones? ATM I am running at almost minimum gfx settings and I am still getting lag/poor gfx performance.

What you guys reckon?

 

[Nokkie]

I have been scouring the web but can't seem to find answers to my questions...

I have the following questions regarding SLI (please excuse the apparently dumb ones, I am new to this whole concept)

1) If you have an SLI mobo, can you run just one gfx card or do you have to have two all the time?

2) Does SLI'ing two cards basically double up on their specs? So if you run two 256MB, 128-bit cards then you have a 512MB 256-bit gfx setup?

3) Must the two cards be the same exactly? (Can you SLI like a 7600 and a 7900 for example?)

4) Has anyone got any results from SLI'ing the new 8-series cards? Like would two 8500GT's perform as well as one 8600GT? What about two 8600GT's? Would they be as good as one 8800GT?


Any advice/help/pointers much appreciated

once again u can try to look at www.tomshardware.com for benchmark on sli cards

 

[scotty777]

or... you could try get rid of that card and buy a 8800gts 320mb

 

[Nokkie]

ooo and what cpu would u take with that?

 

[hj2k_x]

or... you could try get rid of that card and buy a 8800gts 320mb

If I had the cash i would, I am asking more how to get the best out of what i have now...

 

[[OUPA]MrNutz]

drop the ingame rez and quality settings.
also turn off AA .

 

[hj2k_x]

Ok, I'll try that. What does AA do?

 

[ldmelsa]

Ok, I'll try that. What does AA do?

AA = Anti Aliasing - it reduces the jaggies on objects. But it uses a lot of horse power.

 

[scotty777]

AA just requires a lot of bandwidth, thus it steals it and other graphic processors don't have enough to play with, and you get lag.

AA it's self makes the lines it a game more smooth.

 

[hj2k_x]

AA just requires a lot of bandwidth, thus it steals it and other graphic processors don't have enough to play with, and you get lag.

AA it's self makes the lines it a game more smooth.

Cool. So clearly the higher the bus speed the better when it comes to AA then?

 

[scotty777]

yup, thats why you 128 bit bus cards will suck at AA,

 

[hj2k_x]

yup, thats why you 128 bit bus cards will suck at AA,

I can vouch for that then

SLI'ing two 128-bit cards does not make the bus 256-bit hey? I think I already asked this above....