SLI or not?

[dr. sarf]

Hi peeps,

Just wondering, which would give the better performance here:

2 x XFX 8800GTS 320MB in SLI

or 1 x XFX 8800GTS 640MB single?

Cheers.

 

[ChrisD.]

Depends on what res you're running. But I'd go for the single card solution as it has more memory, you'll have less heat and it costs less. SLI is only useful for larger monitors over 24", and it's pretty pointless doing it on two 320 MB cards as your overall memory would still be 320...

Plus whatever you're playing has to support SLI otherwise you'll just be using one of the two cards. Expensive heater for your case.

From personal experience, SLI is a bit of a waste of time.

 

[XtAsY]

Depends on what res you're running. But I'd go for the single card solution as it has more memory, you'll have less heat and it costs less. SLI is only useful for larger monitors over 24", and it's pretty pointless doing it on two 320 MB cards as your overall memory would still be 320...

Plus whatever you're playing has to support SLI otherwise you'll just be using one of the two cards. Expensive heater for your case.

From personal experience, SLI is a bit of a waste of time.

I aggree, providing you will not be running resolutions over 1680 x 1050, there is no need to consider SLI. Another disadvantage with SLI is the fact that when the next generation card comes out, chances are the new card on its own would outperform or come close to outperforming the previous generation cards in SLI.

 

[dr. sarf]

Thanks guys.
My 320 8800GTS arrived today. The 640 would have been nice but out of my budget at the moment. Expensive stuff this PC gaming.

 

[Dyson]

Thanks guys.
My 320 8800GTS arrived today. The 640 would have been nice but out of my budget at the moment. Expensive stuff this PC gaming.

Aint that the truth, could have a 360/ps3 just for the price of a gpu

 

[555BUK]

A single 640MB card will be better in the long run (once games require more than 320MB ram). However 320MB are still great for single card use.