Twin Graphics Cards - "SLI"
06 November 2005, 02:08 PM
#2
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Latest Nvidia drivers (81.x series) support running different manufacturer cards in SLI, should still be the same model though (ie 2x 7800GTX) - but if one is faster than the other, they will both run at the lowest speed out of the two apparently.
Personally for best results, get two of the same.
BTW, new 512Mb versions of the GTX will available sometime in the next week or so, and a new version low end version of the 7800 too, potentially called the 7800GS.
Tomorrow is launch day at least one of the new cards - still unclear what will be launched ... and what will be available from day one.
Heres some info: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2583
A single 7800GTX is enough to run BF2 @ 1280x1024 @ Max settings. However, you'll see some benefit from 2 of 'em at 1600x1200 or higher:
mid range res: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2466&p=3
high end res: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2466&p=4
As for other games, FEAR is the hardest on CPU/GPUs at the moment:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2575
Happy reading
Personally for best results, get two of the same.
BTW, new 512Mb versions of the GTX will available sometime in the next week or so, and a new version low end version of the 7800 too, potentially called the 7800GS.
Tomorrow is launch day at least one of the new cards - still unclear what will be launched ... and what will be available from day one.
Heres some info: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2583
A single 7800GTX is enough to run BF2 @ 1280x1024 @ Max settings. However, you'll see some benefit from 2 of 'em at 1600x1200 or higher:
mid range res: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2466&p=3
high end res: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2466&p=4
As for other games, FEAR is the hardest on CPU/GPUs at the moment:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2575
Happy reading
06 November 2005, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by P1Fanatic
I have a 6800gt and am wondering whether its worth getting another to run it the both in SLI. Or would a 7800 on its own be better?
Simon.
Simon.
06 November 2005, 07:35 PM
#5
Nowadays manufacturers almost never deviate from the reference design, so it should be perfectly possible to mix'n'match different versions of the same card, provided both are similar nominal spec. Only thing to watch out for is that different manufacturer's cards are sometimes set to different clock speeds in firmware, and I'm not sure whether that has an effect.
M
M
06 November 2005, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by _Meridian_
Nowadays manufacturers almost never deviate from the reference design, so it should be perfectly possible to mix'n'match different versions of the same card, provided both are similar nominal spec. Only thing to watch out for is that different manufacturer's cards are sometimes set to different clock speeds in firmware, and I'm not sure whether that has an effect.
M
M
06 November 2005, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Dieseldog
Thanks DrEvil. Yup, after buying that 24" Dell screen on Friday I now realise the expense has only just begun! 
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08 November 2005, 11:29 AM
#8
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I understood the problems with BF2 might be solved with increased RAM. I've read of many people going to 2GB and finding it much better on FPS.
I would also suggest that your CPU won't allow the 7800 its full head. May also want to look at an A64 3500.
Personally I've got 1GB RAM, 6600GT and an A64 3200 (IIRC) all on stock speeds and I can run HL2:Lost Coast demo at an acceptable rate and still enjoy the new HDR lighting.
I would also suggest that your CPU won't allow the 7800 its full head. May also want to look at an A64 3500.
Personally I've got 1GB RAM, 6600GT and an A64 3200 (IIRC) all on stock speeds and I can run HL2:Lost Coast demo at an acceptable rate and still enjoy the new HDR lighting.
08 November 2005, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by EddScott
I understood the problems with BF2 might be solved with increased RAM. I've read of many people going to 2GB and finding it much better on FPS.
I would also suggest that your CPU won't allow the 7800 its full head. May also want to look at an A64 3500.
Personally I've got 1GB RAM, 6600GT and an A64 3200 (IIRC) all on stock speeds and I can run HL2:Lost Coast demo at an acceptable rate and still enjoy the new HDR lighting.
I would also suggest that your CPU won't allow the 7800 its full head. May also want to look at an A64 3500.
Personally I've got 1GB RAM, 6600GT and an A64 3200 (IIRC) all on stock speeds and I can run HL2:Lost Coast demo at an acceptable rate and still enjoy the new HDR lighting.
Corsair do a nice kit, Twinx XMS3200C2PT 2x1Gb modules, runs happily at 2-3-3-6 1T @ DDR400 on my system (A8N-SLI premium/FX53).
If you can, go for the 3700 over the 3500, or even the 4000, £s permitting.
Of course if you're a mad overclocker, good results can be got from the lower end of the AMD64 range.
08 November 2005, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Dieseldog
Thanks guys, although I'm like a dog watching the telly with all this "2-3-3-6" stuff 
Thinking of the Asus A8N-SLi mobo (the heat pipe cooling I like the sound of) and an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (Dual Core) for starters, still to decide on a graphics card, and RAM, but as works going to be really busy for the next 10 days, I have a couple of weeks to think about it all.
If I'm going wrong anywhere feel free to chip in, although I'd rather not see it turning into that old 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' Hi-Fi shop sketch (anyone remember it?)...
Thinking of the Asus A8N-SLi mobo (the heat pipe cooling I like the sound of) and an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (Dual Core) for starters, still to decide on a graphics card, and RAM, but as works going to be really busy for the next 10 days, I have a couple of weeks to think about it all.
If I'm going wrong anywhere feel free to chip in, although I'd rather not see it turning into that old 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' Hi-Fi shop sketch
(anyone remember it?)...I've lost count of the times I've almost pressed "submit" on the overclockers shopping cart. Just can't bring myself to spend so much money in one go...yet
Oh and asking Dr Evil not to over spec (and convince you that you need to!
) is asking the impossible!
08 November 2005, 05:58 PM
#11
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Eh.. what.. dunno what you two mean
BTW, if you can't stretch to a BFG 7800GT (235 ish), check out the new 6800GS, especially the XFX overclocked version
Nice spec DD
Geil do some good value Dual Channel 2Gb kits
BTW, if you can't stretch to a BFG 7800GT (235 ish), check out the new 6800GS, especially the XFX overclocked version
Nice spec DD
Geil do some good value Dual Channel 2Gb kits
08 November 2005, 06:04 PM
#12
Originally Posted by Neanderthal
I've lost count of the times I've almost pressed "submit" on the overclockers shopping cart. Just can't bring myself to spend so much money in one go...yet
£1600 in the last four months....
But then this was the result:
M
09 November 2005, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by _Meridian_
500/1350 - any more and I start to get artifacts.
M
M
Was sort of o/c you getting out the 3700?
(sorry for the slight hijack)
09 November 2005, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by _Meridian_
XFX - the standard one, not the EE or whatever they call it.
The 3700+ is at 270 x 10.0 (air cooling by XP90C + 50cfm 92mm fan). I can run the RAM at 300MHz, but the CPU's memory controller won't take it unfortunately.
M
The 3700+ is at 270 x 10.0 (air cooling by XP90C + 50cfm 92mm fan). I can run the RAM at 300MHz, but the CPU's memory controller won't take it unfortunately.
M
As for the 3700, thats damn good, 2.7 seems to be the limit on air still.
I've got an XP90 on my FX53 - shame its a dud FX chip thou, doesn't overclock at all (or I'm a dud overclocker, one of the two
).*might* be ordering 2x 7800GTX 512's on monday
Launch date is the 14th for sure.
PS. XFX 7800 UEE now, as the EE is only 475/1300 or similar, the UEE (original EE) is 490/1300.
09 November 2005, 05:05 PM
#18
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Dieseldog - you bought anything yet then?
How about this spec to power your dell?
AMD64 3700 or 4000 / X2 3800 or X2 4400
A8N-SLI premium
2Gb Geil Value Dual Channel kit or Corsair 2Gb TwinX XMS3200C2PT kit (both are 2x1Gb modules)
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card or Xtreme Music version if you don't need the front bay
2x BFG 7800GT o/c
2x Western Digital Raptors 74Gb versions (one OS, one game/data)
NEC DVDRW
Floppy drive (for bios updates)
Should be ok for gaming
How about this spec to power your dell?
AMD64 3700 or 4000 / X2 3800 or X2 4400
A8N-SLI premium
2Gb Geil Value Dual Channel kit or Corsair 2Gb TwinX XMS3200C2PT kit (both are 2x1Gb modules)
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card or Xtreme Music version if you don't need the front bay
2x BFG 7800GT o/c
2x Western Digital Raptors 74Gb versions (one OS, one game/data)
NEC DVDRW
Floppy drive (for bios updates)
Should be ok for gaming
09 November 2005, 08:55 PM
#19
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1. I've recently been benchmarking and found that by using a 1GB value stick of Ram in single channel mode, compared to 512MB of (expensive)low latency Ram in Dual channel mode, Both PC3200(400MHz) gets you approx a 10% FPS increase.
Wether you find it to be usefull to go with value or expensive is probaly going to come down to budget maybe?
If you were to go with the "OK" rig the DrEvil suggests then you might argue that you wouldnt notice the 10% at the speed it will run at, but on the other hand it would be criminal not to let it stretch its legs
2. See attatched pic. I can't really offer a lot other than if you can afford to, get 2 as DrEvil also suggests so you can get the best from them, or even run them in Raid.
Couldn't resist
Wether you find it to be usefull to go with value or expensive is probaly going to come down to budget maybe?
If you were to go with the "OK" rig the DrEvil suggests then you might argue that you wouldnt notice the 10% at the speed it will run at, but on the other hand it would be criminal not to let it stretch its legs
2. See attatched pic. I can't really offer a lot other than if you can afford to, get 2 as DrEvil also suggests so you can get the best from them, or even run them in Raid.
Couldn't resist
09 November 2005, 10:17 PM
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If you were to go with the "OK" rig the DrEvil suggests
Last edited by DrEvil; 09 November 2005 at 10:20 PM.
10 November 2005, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by James Neill
I got an Asus A8N-SLI premium. It's the dogs danglies
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