Multi GPU cards vs SLi/Xfire

[gropingmantis]

I know about price and heat etc etc.

BUT do multi GPU cards (GTX590/HD6990) suffer from the same software issues as SLi or xfire setups.
I'm talking about things like having to alter .ini files and things before a game will use both GPUs or having to wait for patches or driver updates just to be able to play a game.

 

[Rroff]

Doesn't matter if its 2 seperate cards or a GTX590 software wise it works the same.

 

[gropingmantis]

Ah thanks. So why bother with them then when you could spend the same money on a xfire setup that is more powerful? Unless you want to do quadfire or something equally ridiculous.

 

[Rroff]

Some boards only have 1x PCI-e slot or don't "support" SLI/CF natively.

 

[gropingmantis]

Some boards only have 1x PCI-e slot or don't "support" SLI/CF natively.

Good point. That is why I was looking at them. I want to get a 2560x1440 27" monitor but on an ITX rig you only get one slot and I'm not sure how well my 6950 will play upcoming titles at that res but multi-gpu just sounds like a lot of unnecessary hastle on most games.

 

[Mojo]

Good point. That is why I was looking at them. I want to get a 2560x1440 27" monitor but on an ITX rig you only get one slot and I'm not sure how well my 6950 will play upcoming titles at that res but multi-gpu just sounds like a lot of unnecessary hastle on most games.

Crossifre/SLI is not something to be avoided at all costs. True, Multi GPU setups are less stable than single GPU setups, but it's not the doom/despair tweak-for-every-game-or-get-issues nightmare that some people (not naming any forum users) make out.

It's just that the multi GPU cards are just a little underwhelming this generation. The 6990 runs like a jet engine and is very hot, while the GTX590 is thoroughly underwhelming performance-wise, not to mention it's habit of dying when overclocked.

 

[setter]

Ive used a few sli setups over the years, sli only with 2x a single model of card, yes in the early days it was a bit hit and miss. But in recent years, ive found it to be good. Ive never owned a dual gpu single card board, ie gtx 590, always found them to be too expensive. It justs works, when i get an sli setup, i always buy one medium range card, then add another cheaply. My current 470's are boringly reliable, no stuttering problems, no heat issues, they just sit in the case and do what theyre meant to do, well aside from me overclocking them, and they still run flawlessly.

 

[gropingmantis]

Thanks for putting my mind a bit more at ease. Pehaps I will put off the monitor upgrade till the new cards come out then.

 

[flopper]

I run eyefinity and crossfire/trifire is needed then and works pretty well.
Normally when a new game is out, it can take a driver or two before a crossfire profile is out, but it seems they got it down much better this last year.