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SkyWlf77
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 751
Location: Illinois
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 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject: To SLI or Not to SLI... |
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Hi all:
It's been a while since I've been here as I quit building custom computers except for my own usage. However, I still game heavily on my own personal build. Here is the info for it:
Processor: 3.4GHz Quad-Core AMD Phenom II
-->NOTE: This was overclocked to 3.4GHz. I don't remember what it was before the overclock
Memory: 4x2GB DDR3-1600 w/ Heatspreaders
Current Video Card: Nvidia GTS 250 1GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Case: Antec 200 with all fan slots occupied with adjustable-speed fans
The games I currently play are the following:
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Witcher 2
Runes of Magic (an MMORPG much like WoW)
The current GTS 250 1GB isn't a bad card and plays all of them relatively well at medium settings, but I'm ready to start playing maxed out and actually enjoy all these games have to offer. Therefore, I've decided it's time to upgrade. My motherboard is SLI capable, but I don't really know what kind of benefit it offers me at this point on these particular games. Here are the cards I am looking at:
SLI Option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625 ($140/each)
Non-SLI Option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130683 ($280)
So, I am looking for advice/recommendations on which way I should go between these two options. Please don't recommend an AMD/ATI card to me instead as I am devoted entirely to Nvidia chipsets on my graphics cards and will not change my mind on that (not to mention I don't want the driver headache of swapping over).
Need any other info, ask! Thank you in advance!
-Jason
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My Heatware: http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=48800
System 1: 3.4GHz AMD Phenom II X4, 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 1x500GB HDD & 1x1TB HDD, Palit GTS 250 1GB
System 2: 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2-800 RAM, 120GB HDD, BFG 7800GTX 256MB
System 3: Dual-533MHz PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, 1.5GB RAM, 120GB HDD
Last edited by SkyWlf77 on Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mr T
Enlightened Master
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 16641
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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If you are outing it to more than 1 monitor, go Sli, but one decent video card 560ti will trump an Sli based setup with weaker cards (ie 440's)...
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I have been programming on computers since the ZX81.
I am an apprentice trained Electronics Engineer with qualifications to back it up.
I have been repairing computers since 1996.
Yet to some people I still know nothing... |
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SkyWlf77
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 751
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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I knew I forgot to post something about my specs. Here is my monitor (a single unit):
24" ViewSonic 1920x1080 (1080p) 2ms Refresh Rate currently run from DVI (also has VGA and HDMI connections available).
Since this is a single-monitor setup, you are saying to go with the single 560 instead of the SLI'ed 550's then, correct?
-Jason
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My Heatware: http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=48800
System 1: 3.4GHz AMD Phenom II X4, 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 1x500GB HDD & 1x1TB HDD, Palit GTS 250 1GB
System 2: 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2-800 RAM, 120GB HDD, BFG 7800GTX 256MB
System 3: Dual-533MHz PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, 1.5GB RAM, 120GB HDD |
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evasive
Mobo-fu Master
Joined: 06 May 2001
Posts: 36381
Location: Netherlands, Breda
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:48 am Post subject: |
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What brand/model power supply is in there?
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We hate rut, but we fear change.
System error, strike any user to continue... |
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Roach412
Black Belt 2nd Degree
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 2456
Location: Milwaukee - Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:02 am Post subject: |
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go non-sli. i'm probably going to be getting that same evga card in the near future actually. i had a 560ti from MSI, and (when it worked) was able to run pretty much everything on my 21" @1600x1200 with eye-candy on.
-Roach
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Lian Li Lancool First Knight Series PC-K59W
Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz
EVGA X58 FTW3 132-GT-E768-TR
EVGA GTX 560ti FPB
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB)
Crucial M4 128gb SATAIII SSD
Corsair Professional Series HX850 PSU |
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SkyWlf77
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 751
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| evasive wrote: | | What brand/model power supply is in there? |
Here it is:
Seasonic X Series 850W 80 Plus GOLD Modular P/S http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151102
| Roach412 wrote: | | go non-sli. i'm probably going to be getting that same evga card in the near future actually. |
Good to hear that someone I trust will be running this card, too.
I hadn't really kept up with the SLI information, so it's good to hear I can go single-card and be better off overall. The GTS 250 that's currently in the machine will find new life in an older rig. I still have enough computers around here to make "trickle down economics" be the key for a few years 
-Jason
_________________
My Heatware: http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=48800
System 1: 3.4GHz AMD Phenom II X4, 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 1x500GB HDD & 1x1TB HDD, Palit GTS 250 1GB
System 2: 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2-800 RAM, 120GB HDD, BFG 7800GTX 256MB
System 3: Dual-533MHz PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, 1.5GB RAM, 120GB HDD |
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Roach412
Black Belt 2nd Degree
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 2456
Location: Milwaukee - Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:51 am Post subject: |
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i'm actually using an EVGA 260 right now, my MSI 560ti is going back to the manufacturer due to continue issues with them.
see the following post of mine about my most-recent build to see details if you want:
http://www.motherboards.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=118905&highlight=
i think what i'll eventually do is get the EVGA 560ti, and use my EVGA (notice a trend???) 260 as a physx card...and put it in my EVGA motherboard  . i'll probably need to up my PSU from 850 to closer to 1,000w to do so safely, but i think it'd be a fun adventure.
-Roach
_________________
Lian Li Lancool First Knight Series PC-K59W
Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz
EVGA X58 FTW3 132-GT-E768-TR
EVGA GTX 560ti FPB
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB)
Crucial M4 128gb SATAIII SSD
Corsair Professional Series HX850 PSU |
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SkyWlf77
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 751
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Roach412 wrote: | | i think what i'll eventually do is get the EVGA 560ti, and use my EVGA (notice a trend???) 260 as a physx card...and put it in my EVGA motherboard . |
Actually, I've never used EVGA before, which was part of my nervousness. They were well-reviewed on Newegg, which is how I ended up with these two choices. Prior to this, nearly all my newer-gen cards have been from Palit with excellent results. Unfortunately, Palit didn't make the list of 5/5 ratings when I sorted Newegg's results, so this particular upgrade wasn't a no-brainer like it usually would be. I'm hoping this EVGA won't break my eardrums because I'm so used to Palit's silence when running.
This computer is breaking all of my "trends." I was originally an Intel processor guy and am now using AMD. Was a Palit graphics card guy and am now going to be switching to EVGA. I use strictly Gigabyte for my motherboards and that hasn't changed. I was a strictly Thermaltake power supply guy and am currently using Seasonic. It's really a strange feeling having a gaming rig made up of so many "non-trends," but it all seems to work together so far quite well. Just hoping the EVGA will continue that particular "trend"...
-Jason
-Jason
_________________
My Heatware: http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=48800
System 1: 3.4GHz AMD Phenom II X4, 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 1x500GB HDD & 1x1TB HDD, Palit GTS 250 1GB
System 2: 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2-800 RAM, 120GB HDD, BFG 7800GTX 256MB
System 3: Dual-533MHz PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, 1.5GB RAM, 120GB HDD |
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Roach412
Black Belt 2nd Degree
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 2456
Location: Milwaukee - Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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going to MSI was a departure for me - and i'll probably not use them again for a bit.
i'm a fan of EVGA...i like the motherboard i have, and i like my tried-and-true 260. it's giant, and heavy, and hot...and pretty loud...but it's a solid performer.
i've tried a lot of other manufacturers for GPUs, but EVGA seems to be my preferred one at this point in time. never used palit though.
good luck with the build, you'll enjoy skyrim with all the candy turned on.
-Roach
_________________
Lian Li Lancool First Knight Series PC-K59W
Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz
EVGA X58 FTW3 132-GT-E768-TR
EVGA GTX 560ti FPB
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB)
Crucial M4 128gb SATAIII SSD
Corsair Professional Series HX850 PSU |
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