Help picking.

Big.Wayne · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:14

Tetras do use a multi GPU set-up?

Do you know anyone in real life who does?

One of my friends played with a 6600GT SLI setup a few years ago but he had problems with the top card overheating and eventually sold up for a single X1950Pro.

Multi-GPU just seems like a fantasy, played out by a few forum users who eat the hype 24/7

Never liked Multi-GPU and not sure why, I can't help but think its a way for GPU makers to sell extra cards!

Tetras · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:24

Tetras do use a multi GPU set-up?

Not for home-use no.

Do you know anyone in real life who does?

Yes.

Multi-GPU just seems like a fantasy, played out by a few forum users who eat the hype 24/7

It has always made more sense money and performance wise to opt for a fast single card than two slower cards but multi-GPU setups (adequately ventilated) do offer more performance than a single card can. For extreme resolutions there is a benefit.

Never liked Multi-GPU and not sure why, I can't help but think its a way for GPU makers to sell extra cards

It is inconvenient; heat, power draw, space, heavily driver-related performance BUT it does have a use (for some) and is more mature (driver-wise) than it was.

Big.Wayne · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:34

So what are we talking about then . . . the difference between 60fps @ 1920x1200 High Quality 4xAA vs 70fps @1920x1200 High Quality 16xAA

What is the *Real World* benefit of all this multi-gpu tech n hype, I just don't see it! :confused:

ePeen has blinded many, totally lost touch with reality . . .

Tetras · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:42

Well if you want to be at the extreme cutting-edge, then it comes with a price; hardware has always been that way, as I'm sure you know

mike gunnz · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:42

Big.Wayne said:
So what are we talking about then . . . the difference between 60fps @ 1920x1200 High Quality 4xAA vs 70fps @1920x1200 High Quality 16xAA

What is the *Real World* benefit of all this multi-gpu tech n hype, I just don't see it!

ePeen has blinded many, totally lost touch with reality . . .

I'm no fan of multi-gpu set ups but they probably have their place if gaming on a 30" screen. I can't think of any other scenario where I'd prefer it over the fastest single gpu I could afford.

Pneumonic · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:47

I think crossfire / SLI is something you try once... think dang this is a PITA and then dont bother with again... Unless you are running on a HUGE monitor I really see no need for it..

Rroff · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:49

multi-GPU setups are great - drivers are pretty decent, performance gains reasonable, sure they are more demanding on your electricity bill and cooling.

I ran a 7950GX2 previously and it was a great card, as fast or faster than the G80 8800GTS almost trouble free and now I have an 8800GT SLI setup that is faster than a 280GTX and just as smooth and trouble free (for a lot cheaper).

Oh and I run 19" and 24" screens and even on the 19" SLI is very useful - especially for multiplayer gaming where I like a nice constant 100+fps.

mike gunnz · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:56

Rroff said:
multi-GPU setups are great - drivers are pretty decent, performance gains reasonable, sure they are more demanding on your electricity bill and cooling.

I ran a 7950GX2 previously and it was a great card, as fast or faster than the G80 8800GTS almost trouble free and now I have an 8800GT SLI setup that is faster than a 280GTX and just as smooth and trouble free (for a lot cheaper).

Oh and I run 19" and 24" screens and even on the 19" SLI is very useful - especially for multiplayer gaming where I like a nice constant 100+fps.

I thought SLI didn't support dual monitor set-ups? Do you have to disable SLI when you aren't gaming?

Rroff · 20 Oct 2008 at 20:58

SLI doesn't do multi-monitor currently (tho 180 drivers with support for it are coming soon)... I don't run multiple monitors on the SLI PC tho - I use the 260GTX for that. Yes you would currently have to disable SLI if you wanted to use multi monitor.

Swordfish125 · 20 Oct 2008 at 23:11

THis is great help guys, thankyou, only problem is you keep making me change my mind lol!

IF im reading the specs on this mobo correctly:
DFI Lan party dk45

it SHOULD run x2 GFX cards at full x16PCIE? If thats the case it ideal cause i do agree that the p45 seems an awesome chipset. only thing that worries me is the cooling looks a bit lacking, but from other DFI mobos ive seen they have bits that you add on.

I read on one site that it was mATX so it will be small, it dont say on OC site though...

Tetras · 20 Oct 2008 at 23:59

P45 is 8X/8X PCI-E 2.0.

X38/X48 is 16X/16X PCI-E 2.0.

The bandwidth of PCI-Express 2.0 is in theory double that of PCI-E 1.1, making an 8X/8X PCI-E 2.0 motherboard equivalent to 16X/16X PCI-E 1.1.

Swordfish125 · 21 Oct 2008 at 03:40

Why do ppl like the p45 so much over the x48??

After a lot of reading im coming round to Waynes way of thinking, Lan Party/Asus p45 mobo, e8400 cpu and a 1gig 4870. My onyl problem is i like to run my games on maxed out settings without having to fiddle, i hoping a OC e8400 and a 4870 will provide it!!! and the money saved can go on 8gig of ram.
If not then i think running 2 4870 at x8 "Should" give me enough power. By the time i buy a second one they should have dropped in price so its not a biggy..

pieman109 · 21 Oct 2008 at 09:01

Just to add my two pennies worth, I've had 2 x 4850s in Xfire, followed by 2 x 4870s in Xfire with an e8400 @3.825ghz and had absolutley no probs running them at all on a gigabyte X38-DS5. Wrt performance, I was getting nigh on identical scores in benchies and games that others with similar setups were getting. I'm currently running the pc in me sig below (now a lot lower spec due to me flogging the high end kit I had). I did this 'cos I found I got identical performance "in Games" after a lot of checking, so I sort of downgraded as it were. For games, the only thing that makes a difference is the vidcard/s being used, be they overclocked or in Xfire/sli configuration. As said previously, if you're gonna be benching, rendering, encoding, etc, then you might need a faster cpu, but in terms of gaming, you only need to get the cpu up to around 3.2ghz, after that it appears to make no difference in gaming performance. Its the vidcard that makes all the difference.
Wrt to temps I had all my crads fitted with an akasa neo cooler which kept the temps down really well, only with the Xfired 4870s in xfire, did i have to instal a side panel fan to pull a bit more cooling air which did the job admirably.
So to recap, I'm getting identcal "gaming" performance with e6700 @ 3.2ghz, giagbyte P31-DS3L, 4gb ocz 8500 ram as I was with a E8400 @3.825ghz, X38-DS5, 4gb ocz ram, the same performance for a lot less money.

Swordfish125 · 21 Oct 2008 at 10:11

Yep the more i looked into it the more i think i can use a single GPU. Plus the fact the P45 draws less power runs at lower temps i like. I do want the 8400 its a bit newer.
Just deciding between a DFI Lanparty of Asus p5q!

RizlaKing · 21 Oct 2008 at 10:47

Well just to throw another spanner in the works for you how about getting the Gigabyte P45-DS5 and a 4870X2 i can personally vouch for the motherboard as being extremely stable and very happy with ocz ram and easy to overclock. I am waiting on my 4870X2 as my first one arrived looking like someone had played football with the package so can't comment how well that works with the mobo but given how easy everything else has worked i really don't see any problems. Also if you look around you won't find many problems with that mobo either.

Swordfish125 · 21 Oct 2008 at 15:35

RizlaKing said:
Well just to throw another spanner in the works for you how about getting the Gigabyte P45-DS5 and a 4870X2 i can personally vouch for the motherboard as being extremely stable and very happy with ocz ram and easy to overclock. I am waiting on my 4870X2 as my first one arrived looking like someone had played football with the package so can't comment how well that works with the mobo but given how easy everything else has worked i really don't see any problems. Also if you look around you won't find many problems with that mobo either.

Actually i did want a giga to begin with but read somewere they had trouble with OCZ though i have a feeling it was an olderchipset and not hte p45. so knowing it works is a big help! Though for that price i could get an x48.

Rroff · 21 Oct 2008 at 15:40

I highly reccomend gigabyte personally.

The Asus boards also have problems with OCZ RAM for the record

but I've had absolutely no problems with the OCZ Reaper HPC kits and any recent motherboard.

RizlaKing · 21 Oct 2008 at 16:12

I am using 8gig filling all four slots with ocz vista gold ram and had no problems with it whatsoever has been nice and stable since it was installed.

Swordfish125 · 21 Oct 2008 at 16:35

I realy like the look of this board after reading some reviews:

DFI Lan Party DK P45-T2R

If someone could recommend some Mobos at the same price that would be awesome. The giga ds3 seems ok but the cooling seems spartan.. I dont want to spend more than £100 on a p45, id rather geta x48 for £140. Cheers!