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SLI vs 1 Card

Lunawolfy

Lunawolfy

Lunawolfy

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Joined
22 May 2011
Posts
1,444
Location
Edinburgh
Basically I face a dilemma .

I have my current rig playing everything I require maxxed out (With the slight exception of METRO 2033)

Also I goto a computing University, and ePeen is big there ;P

So in a quest for a faster more superb rig I am considering SLI.

I was going to go for the Gainward GTX 580 Phantom 1.5GB as I could absolutely find no e-tailor who stocked my GFX card. Gigabyte GTX 560 ti S.O.C Rev. 1

I was going to go with the Phantom as the 560ti is non reference I cannot water cool and I wasn't going to buy a Rev. 2 Card! (Two different looking cards in SLI, Bouf that!)

So now i'm at a crux.

Help me decide here:

2 x Gigabyte GTX 560Ti S.O.C

- Core Clock: 950MHz (I can OC to 1GHz)
- Memory: 1024MB GDDR5
- Memory Clock: 4580MHz (Effective) (Can OC this, can't mind number)
- Memory Interface: 256-Bit
- Processing Cores: 384
- Shader Clock: 1900MHz (OC to 2000)

OR

1 x Gainward GTX 580 Phantom 1.5GB

- Core Clock: 783MHz
- Memory: 1536MB GDDR5
- Memory Clock: 4020MHz (Effective)
- Memory Interface: 384-Bit
- Processing Cores: 512
- Shader Clock: 1566MHz
 
I'd just like to note that I won't be going underwater for quite some time. By which the new 28nm cards will have made an impact on the market.

So there is the added bonus of SLI costing less if I can't flog my old 560ti
 
Another 560 Ti 1GB for SLI can increase your GPU power and beat a single GTX580 slightly, while you will be unable to max out games like Metro 2033, Shogun 2 etc without lag spikes due to vram shortage. (According to your youtube video I assume you play at 1080p.) Thus I do not recommend putting 1GB cards into SLI/CF unless you can do so for a cheap price.

Also keep in mind that there is a long list of games (besides Metro 2033) which cannot be maxed out by a single GTX580 with 60 fps average.
 
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If you can already play most games except Metro at the settings you want, sit on the money until 28nm, or something way more demanding hits.

If you must upgrade, 6950 2GB CF would be a better bet than GTX560 Ti SLI, unless you had 2GB models. By selling your current card, and seeing as you'd be spending getting on for £200 on the GTX560 anyway, the additional cost shouldn't make it prohibitive.
 
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If it play everything nicely already, why would you bother upgrading? Internet willy waving is an expensive pastime...
 
Considering you already got a GTX560TI that's clocked to 950MHz, it would make more sense if you just make do with it and then upgrade to 28nm card(s) when they are out and sell off your GTX560Ti.

What's "superb" now would become dated as soon as the 28nm cards are out...doesn't seem like a good idea to pump more money into old 40nm process cards.
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
Considering you already got a GTX560TI that's clocked to 950MHz, it would make more sense if you just make do with it and then upgrade to 28nm card(s) when they are out and sell off your GTX560Ti.

What's "superb" now would become dated as soon as the 28nm cards are out...doesn't seem like a good idea to pump more money into old 40nm process cards.
Click to expand...

True, a lot of good points raised. Although people who buy these cards say that they've got years left in them.

Besides arn't a lot of cards buggy and RMA-filled when they first release?
 
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