[OCClub] Crossfire vs. SLI Performance - Overclock.net

NrGx · 04-28-09

Quote:

..As single GPU video cards continue to get faster and deliver even more performance, are dual video card setups still a viable option for those looking for more performance? If one is good, two or more have to be better, right? In most cases two is better than one, and four is better than two; in most cases, not all. It would be nice to slap in another video card and see double the performance, but again that's not always the case. The cards will scale, and in some games you will see tremendous scaling, but in others you will wonder why you even bothered with the additional purchase. So what does it take to run a two, three, or even four GPU system? First off, you need to choose your video card and manufacturer, and then choose the motherboard that will allow you to run a multi-GPU setup. Sometimes that choice is made for you, if you just have to have a specific motherboard. But systems that were set up for Nvidia's multi-GPU solution SLI, or Scalable Link Interface, you needed a motherboard with an Nvidia chipset that supports the technology. For CrossFire based systems, you had to have a chipset that supports CrossFire technology. Simple enough! What if you already owned a motherboard that only featured a CrossFire capable chipset, and wanted to use Nvidia's multi-GPU solution? Well my friend, you were stuck buying a new motherboard. The solution was much the same for someone who wanted to run CrossFire and had a motherboard that only supported SLI. You get the drift. With the advent of the X58 chipset from Intel, you can have your cake and eat it too, since both technologies are supported.

There are two current technologies in use today. Nvidia's Scalable Link Interface, and ATI's CrossFireX technology. Both have their advantages, but the ultimate decision on which to buy and use is made by you, the consumer.

Both technologies offer improved performance, and will increase the cost of your system build. As part of that build, consider a monitor that is capable of running resolutions that can take advantage of the graphics horsepower delivered by these solutions. A 24 inch monitor capable of 1920x1200, or even a 30 inch monitor capable of resolutions up to 2560x1600, should be considered one of the minimum requirements when running a multi-GPU setup. If you are going to spend $1000 or more on video cards, another grand for a 30 inch monitor should be part of your build's budget. Enough chit-chat, let's see what kind of performance these kinds of setups can deliver. This comparison is not so much about the technology, but the performance you can expect for a system built with a multi-GPU solution...

Source (Full Article)

**Robilar** · 04-28-09

Hmmm...

I have:

4870X2
Pair of 4890's
GTX295
Pair of GTX 260 216 Core

I play both COD4 and COD WAW and have tested both games with the above sets of cards at 1920x1200 and my results are quite a bit different.

My results have ATI ahead with other games as well. (L4D and Grid for example)

There are also numerous other reviews out that have ATI ahead in a large number of comparisons.

Also factoring in cost of cards would make things a bit more interesting as well.

I don't think I have ever seen such an nvidia slanted review before...

dr_bowtie · 04-28-09

could you post a comparison...?

I would wonder how others with some of those cards would do...

**Robilar** · 04-28-09

For example with COD WAW using the i7 board, cpu at 4ghz, ram at 1600mhz, video cards at stock:

Pair of 4890's averages 225 FPS
4870X2 averages 175 FPS
Pair of 260's averages 155 FPS
GTX295 averages 130 FPS

at 1920x1200

killerhz · 04-28-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robilar

For example with COD WAW using the i7 board, cpu at 4ghz, ram at 1600mhz, video cards at stock:

Pair of 4890's averages 225 FPS
4870X2 averages 175 FPS
Pair of 260's averages 155 FPS
GTX295 averages 130 FPS

at 1920x1200

What are you using to get these results?

thunder_2008 · 04-28-09

Hi Robilar,

So, two 4890s' do better than the gtx295? Wow

What about a 4850x2 which has 2gb memory

**Robilar** · 04-28-09

I've never had 4850's or the 4850X2 (Although I may pick one up and try it for a system I am building for someone else).

Even a pair of GTX 260's are faster than the GTX295...

shadowk · 04-28-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robilar

For example with COD WAW using the i7 board, cpu at 4ghz, ram at 1600mhz, video cards at stock:

Pair of 4890's averages 225 FPS
4870X2 averages 175 FPS
Pair of 260's averages 155 FPS
GTX295 averages 130 FPS

at 1920x1200

you must have tested ATI supported games
it make no sence that a 295GTX lost to 4870X2
when all reviews says otherwise
farthar more an SLI of 260 GTX in I7 should be stronger then 4870x2 becouse SLI have 98% effecincy in I7 system

dizzy4 · 04-28-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowk

becouse SLI have 98% effecincy in I7 system

That statistic seems made up to me

**Robilar** · 04-28-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowk

you must have tested ATI supported games
it make no sence that a 295GTX lost to 4870X2
when all reviews says otherwise
farthar more an SLI of 260 GTX in I7 should be stronger then 4870x2 becouse SLI have 98% effecincy in I7 system

You are kidding right?

I listed the games I tested above

COD4
COD WAW
Grid
L4D

Last time I checked none of those games was optimized for ATI or nvidia

Furthermore, as I mentioned above there are numerous reviews that put ATI ahead of Nvidia in some apps at some resolutions. Its basically a wash in many cases.

This review has nvidia ahead in 37 of 40 tests. I call BS...

Also, there are plenty of members here with GTX260 in SLI (the 216 core) that can attest to it being faster than a GTX295 (including me).

You will need to post something that supports your claims...

I have attached a 3dmark06 run with the following:

Q9650 at 3.6, ram at stock

GTX295
4870X2
GTX 260 216 x2 in SLI

I know its synthetic but these were all done at even sets.

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[OCClub] Crossfire vs. SLI Performance

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