Is SLI / Crossfire a viable upgrade path?

[Uriel]

I've been wondering this for a while: is buying a single card and then going SLI or Crossfire later ever a worthwhile upgrade path? It seems that every few months a single card is released that will outperform the old dual card setup.

I can see the point of getting two cards at the same time to help run at high resolutions, or if it gives decent bang per buck. Personally I'd rather go with a higher performing single card and sell the old one.

What are other people's experiences? Have people had problems adding a second card a year or so later?

 

[MeatLoaf]

Ive used SLI pretty regular and ive not had any major problems with it

 

[Firegod]

Personally I'd rather go with a higher performing single card and sell the old one.

Ditto. Especially because SLI and Crossfire needs even more work. i.e. Good drivers and games. It's not worth the hassle imo. Just get the one good, fast card. However, if money is tight there is no denying that SLI and the likes can give good bang for buck.

 

[GIBSrUS]

Vista and SLI = no go at the moment. But i think it is a viable path, especially if you are budget conscious.

 

[MeatLoaf]

Vista and SLI = no go at the moment. But i think it is a viable path, especially if you are budget conscious.

SLI and vista do work but i get about 1000 less 3dmark points in vista than XP

 

[setter]

i had two 6800gt's in sli a few years ago then when the 7800gt came out sli was no use to me, its got to be a good single card is better than a pair of cards in sli unless u can afford 2x 8800gtx and a massive monitor

 

[HangTime]

IMO there's only two situations where SLI is worth it:

1) You are loaded and buy two of the best cards at the same time (i.e. something way faster than any single card solution)
2) You have a midrange card and after say a year get the opportunity to add a second card on the cheap (clearance/secondhand)

On paper SLI is nice but the problem is, sometimes you have to deal with the following:

a) Driver issues / not working in all games
b) Excessive power consumption
c) Excessive heat production
d) Potentially blocking a lot of slots in your motherboard (dual slot cards in particular)
e) In some ways your are restricting your future upgrade path, in that generally it's easier to sell one card than two.

 

[SimonTW]

I've always heard but never actually known for sure, can you run dual (or more if wanted I guess) monitor setups with SLI/Crossfire?

I'm using two monitors at the moment and would never go back to one unless I had to, so if SLI/Crossfire don't support two then I'd have to steer clear of it.

 

[Dead Dog]

Ive used SLI pretty regular and ive not had any major problems with it

i think the thing that stands out for me personally there is the word "major"

i am well out of touch in these things, and i'm looking for gfx atm, your thread here has really made me think about it as it seems a real alterative to getting a gts or 2900, but i'd have been totally sold if the major had a no in place of it

 

[man_from_uncle]

I've always heard but never actually known for sure, can you run dual (or more if wanted I guess) monitor setups with SLI/Crossfire?

I'm using two monitors at the moment and would never go back to one unless I had to, so if SLI/Crossfire don't support two then I'd have to steer clear of it.

Sadly SLi doesn't work on more than 1 monitor at a time. I use 2 monitors also, and I simply switch SLi on when I want to play games (on 1 monitor) and off for regular desktop use.

 

[SimonTW]

Ah ok, that sounds logical. Thanks.

 

[BubbySoup]

IMO there's only two situations where SLI is worth it:

1) You are loaded and buy two of the best cards at the same time (i.e. something way faster than any single card solution)

I'd agree with this. This is what I did when the X1900's first arrived. When I upgrade again, it will be to another 2 cards, be it nVidia or ATI to give me the best possible solution at that time.