Sli x8x8 vs x16x16 SLI

[EpicCarnage]

is the difference big yet or isit 5% still

 

[Phatzy]

pci-e x8 = 2GB/s per stream, max bandwidth duplex 4GB/s

pci-e x16 = 4GB/s per stream, max bandwidth duplex 8GB/s

and i think an extra 10 watts

 

[Rroff]

Depends... PCI-e @ x8 2.0 is perfectly fine for all GPUs currently available - tho I have my reservations when it comes to the 295GTX if you plan on going quad SLI.

PCI-e @ 8x 1.0 is fine for upto an overclocked 8800GT so prolly anything upto a 250GTS you wouldn't notice any performance difference... above that theres a bit of a drop off.

 

[FredBasset]

PCI-e @ 8x 1.0 is fine for upto an overclocked 8800GT so prolly anything upto a 250GTS you wouldn't notice any performance difference... above that theres a bit of a drop off.

I'm interested in this, I have a p35 motherboard with an E8400 running at 4Ghz, its been a good build. I've recently started gaming at 5040x1050 through a TH2Go and although my GTX280 is running it ok, I have had to turn some things down.

I'd like to go to a better card, either the new 58xx or a GTX295 (if they drop in price as the game i play has a couple of ATI issues).

I believe the motherboard I have is PCI-E 1.1 16x (IP35Pro), does it have the bandwidth for running a better card?

I can go i7 but not sure I'm going to see 500 quids worth of improvement over a 4Ghz Dual Core. Granted I could get an SLI board and another GTX280 though which would still be a pretty cool setup.

Thanks for any help
Fred

 

[Rroff]

I think the 295GTX does have the bridge chip onboard which does mean you don't quite take the same hit as running x8 1.0 on 2x 275GTX say would...

 

[FredBasset]

But I am running at 16x, is adding either one of the new 58xx or the 295 a waste of time on this board.

Thanks for the help Rroff

Regards
Fred