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Change from SLI 1.5gb 580's to Single 2gb 680?

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26 Dec 2006
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So I've had my current rig for over a year now.

I game on a single 28" 1920x1200 monitor. (no plan to go larger / higher res)

I do like to have most things maxed out in games.

Current favourites are BF3 & Max Payne 3

So I've always thought 2 x 580's were a bit of overkill but was never sure.

Currently I use Vsync so it keeps the Noise and heat down on the cards.

My question is would I notice much difference if I sold off my 2 x 580 1.5gb cards (I guess I would get about £220 each) then get a new 680 with a nice custom cooler to keep the noise down?

I always had a nagging feeling that I'm suffering from Microstutter; the unigine bench never seemed smooth.

What do you think, should I make the move?
 
Current prices for S/H 580's are around £170-£180 on the mm.

I always prefer a single card having dabbled with SLI with a pair of 470's but have mine under water for heat and noise control.

So to sum up you will have to add £60-£80 for the switch which will be les noisy and give off less heat but will be less powerful.

If you want a change go for it but at that res I find one 580 is plenty. Why don't you sell one while you can get fairly descent money and wait for the next gen cards to come through??

Matt
 
I don't think 1 680 is going to keep my FPS above 60fps at all times with everything maxed. So I think I'll stick with the 580's for now.
 
Props for withstanding the noise of gainward GOOD 580 SLI for a year. I sent mine back after 3 days. Bloody chinook in my bedroom.

If it was me I would sell up now and move to 670/680 while you can still get decent money for the 580 ;)
 
You'll see a decrease in performance., I would only do this if you plan on adding a secon 680 later.

I would go for 670s instead of 680s as they're better value for money
 
Props for withstanding the noise of gainward GOOD 580 SLI for a year. I sent mine back after 3 days. Bloody chinook in my bedroom.

If it was me I would sell up now and move to 670/680 while you can still get decent money for the 580 ;)

Interesting, I assumed the Gainward GOOD 580's were quieter than the stock 580's.. I know they were noisy but didn't realise that were that bad!

They are not too bad as long as I run games with V-sync and thus limiting to 60FPS.. then they are not running at full speed.

What would be a good quiet 680?
 
Interesting, I assumed the Gainward GOOD 580's were quieter than the stock 580's.. I know they were noisy but didn't realise that were that bad!

They are not too bad as long as I run games with V-sync and thus limiting to 60FPS.. then they are not running at full speed.

What would be a good quiet 680?

I'd never witnessed ref 580s so I couldn't say, but those two coolers were crazy. Tbf my room is very open and echoey so that could've exacerbated it.

msi lightning is my only 680 experience, very quiet. SLI is quieter and cooler than a single gainward 580 phantom. Can faintly hear them in my case with SLI while gaming, single card I couldn't hear it. (it's on the desk next to me)
 
OK so last night I thought I would Un-cap the 60FPS (V-sync) limit to see if it made any difference to my gaming.

Playing BF3 Close Quarters - which are very fast pased (quake stype) maps @1920x1200 I seemed to have a definate advantage when running uncaped @~150fps+

Maybe it was my imagination; but I seemed to come out better in firefights than before when I was stuck @60fps

Should I be surprised? I don't know but I'm now having seconds thoughts about making this change - as I would need 2x670's to get above 60pfs.
 
My single 680 ran above 60 FPS around 95% of the time in BF3 multiplayer. 95% is a conservative estimate as well. In reality it was probably higher.

If you get a decent clocker you can average 75-85FPS in multiplayer. Minus a teeny bit for a 670.

As Cleeeecooo say's this is where the value for money lies.

However, any change to a single card is going to be a downgrade. You're only going to get an increase in performance by going SLI again. I would wait until the next generation to upgrade if I was you.

Depending on the monitor, vsync can add considerable input lag. By removing this and accepting some possible screen tear, everything can appear smoother.

If you went to a 120 Hz monitor you'd really be in business. The difference in fluidity is huge :).
 
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So would using Nvidia Adaptive Sync be any better? - I don't really want to run the cards at 100% if they don't need to be. (That's what causes all the heat/noise)

I'm glad I switched the in game V-sync off though; the advantage was immediatly obvious.

So I might take the cards off the Auction site and have a re-think!

[Edit: I've no taken them off and re-thinking this move]
 
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Yeah use a frame limiter or something.

The input lag on an old Samsung I used to use when vsync'd was horrendous. When I turned it off the difference was huge... although not as large as 60 - 120 Hz.
 
Well I've been umming and arrrring for a while now, at one stage I had both 580's on the fleabay but pulled them.

But again today I'm back to thinking I'll just sell them both for enough money to get the Gigabyte Windforce 670.. So it'll run nice and quiet, cooler, and use less power and should still power my 1920x1200 monitor in BF3 at around 60fps.

Just hope I don't regret it!
 
Ta, what is the MM (Members selling area? - I've looked around all the forums and cannot find it) can you point me in the right direction.
 
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