Is micro stutter always present in multi-GPU setups?

[Inaharry]

Hi,

I'm waiting to get 2 x EVGA 4GB GTX 670s to use in SLI and I keep reading about micro stutter when using SLI or Crossfire. Looking at some Youtube videos, it seems like it can make some games unplayable, (especially in multiplayer).

I haven't had an SLI setup for years now and have been using a single 5870. Is micro stuttering really that common and is it something that can be affected by other factors like system spec, lag / ping times, drivers etc? For example, is it possible that one person gets it happening in games that other people don't or is it something that people just have to accept as part of having a multi-GPU setup?

I'm just a bit concerned about spending around £800 for an SLI setup and having frame drops. Would I be better going for a single GTX 680 4GB, (although I'm now aware that all 6 series cards have a different stuttering problem acknowledged by Nvidia.... )?

Any suggestions from people running an SLI / Crossfire setup would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Rusty0611]

Hi,

I'm waiting to get 2 x EVGA 4GB GTX 670s to use in SLI and I keep reading about micro stutter when using SLI or Crossfire. Looking at some Youtube videos, it seems like it can make some games unplayable, (especially in multiplayer).

I haven't had an SLI setup for years now and have been using a single 5870. Is micro stuttering really that common and is it something that can be affected by other factors like system spec, lag / ping times, drivers etc? For example, is it possible that one person gets it happening in games that other people don't or is it something that people just have to accept as part of having a multi-GPU setup?

It affects some set-up's and not others. You won't know until you get it set up and give it a go. There's things you can do to combat it... though we'll cross that bridge if/when we get there.

Most people are fine. SLI is generally considered to be slightly more robust than crossfire so you're in good hands driver wise.

I'm just a bit concerned about spending around £800 for an SLI setup and having frame drops. Would I be better going for a single GTX 680 4GB, (although I'm now aware that all 6 series cards have a different stuttering problem acknowledged by Nvidia.... )?

The stuttering problem acknowledged by nVidia isn't the same as multi-GPU microstuttering (although it probably feels quite similar). I don't know anyone here with a 6** series card who's affected by it so I wouldn't worry too much at this stage.

 

[Inaharry]

Thanks Rusty0611, that's really helpful. I think I'll stick with the 2 x 4GB GTX 670s in that case and see how it goes....

 

[spain]

Why not just keep what your got for now?

Just wait to find out what the "different stuttering problem acknowledged by Nvidia", is all about, before blowing 800 notes.

Only mention the above because you stated:

"I'm just a bit concerned about spending around £800 for an SLI setup and having frame drops"

 

[Inaharry]

Hi spain, the main reason for upgrading now is my 5870 is really struggling with Eyefinity. On older games like Burnout Paradise, it can handle a decent frame rate, but anything like BF3, Grid, Skyrim etc. it just runs out of VRAM and can drop to around 1-2FPS.

I've been wanting to upgrade for a while now, but skipped the GTX 5xx series and Radeon 6xxx and now I've got XL2420T monitors, I need to stick to Nvidia cards. I was originally going to get the 680, but after seeing the performance of the 670, I thought I might as well go for that instead and as I could get 4GB 670s in SLI for around £170 more than a single 680, it seemed like a big performance jump for the money, especially when running at 5760 x 1080.