Using SLI in ns2?

2GuNz4U2GuNz4U Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169301Members, Reinforced - Gold
in NS2 General Discussion
It may already be enabled as far as I know , but the last time I checked (in beta) SLI wasn't an option in ns2 yet. Has anyone figured out a way to enable it ? Or have the devs fixed it yet ?
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Comments

  • BVKnightBVKnight Join Date: 2012-02-26 Member: 147496Members
    I don't know if SLI has particular problems versus CrossfireX for the AMD cards, which is what I use. It should be possible because it's your video driver that handles the sli, not the game. You may just need to mess around with the application profile in your video driver settings. Crossfire is working fine for me with NS2, and AMD even released a special application profile for it not long ago. If you already have sli set up it should be working.
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  • 2GuNz4U2GuNz4U Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169301Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Ive had SLI enabled for months , all through alpha and beta. But the game never took advantage of my second gpu. Ill recheck my profile when I get home , but I know im still only getting 60 fps max. Same as I did in beta with one gpu. Not that im complaining about my fps , just feels like a waste having my other 560ti do nothing
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    Here is how you enable sli in NS2. Open nvidia control panel, click manage 3d settings, click the program settings tab, click add and locate your NS2.exe file. Under SLI mode select Alternate Frame Rendering 2 restart NS if you have it open already. It does give some performance improvement however slight.
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  • 2GuNz4U2GuNz4U Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169301Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Thanks for the response. I tried that a few months ago and saw very little performance gains. It still barely flickered the other card. I was looking for a way to get full sli if possible. Like a 50%-50% load on each card ?
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  • NammNamm Join Date: 2011-12-08 Member: 137116Members
    Only slight improvements? I've been planning on buying a second graphics card. A used one, not too expensive, but still... Is it any point?
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  • 2GuNz4U2GuNz4U Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169301Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Thats what im trying to figure out. I have dual gtx 560 ti's but I cannot get the game to use both cards to their full potential. I think it has something to do with ns2 being cpu heavy. Anyways , I get roughly 60 fps with one card or with two. But that only applies to this game. Other games like bf3 i can gain 20 -40 fps with second card.
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2019405:date=Nov 11 2012, 02:22 AM:name=2GuNz4U)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (2GuNz4U @ Nov 11 2012, 02:22 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2019405"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Thanks for the response. I tried that a few months ago and saw very little performance gains. It still barely flickered the other card. I was looking for a way to get full sli if possible. Like a 50%-50% load on each card ?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's what alternate frame rendering is, one card does the odd frames the other does the even frames. But it's only a slight improvement. There is a command called r_stats that will tell you if your gpu is the bottleneck. If it's not then your cpu is holding you back. I only gained about 10 frames with 2 gtx580's. Also I wouldn't recommend buying a 2 card sli setup. The heat is a pain in the ass to deal with, and it's more expensive than just having a single dual gpu card. Gonna drop a 1000 on a GTX690 next I think.
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  • 2GuNz4U2GuNz4U Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169301Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Ok, finally home and able to test SLI again. Joined a UWE offical east server on summit WITHOUT SLI enabled (nvidia control panel), walked around the map lowest fps 59 max fps 119. That's using ONE card (gtx 560ti) r_stats shows waiting on gpu average 0-3ms. Enabled SLI using BOTH cards, joined the same server again and walked around, pretty much the same results using BOTH cards. lowest fps hit 55 max hit 112. once again r_stats says waiting on gpu same ms.

    So why isn't my other card being utilized? Or if it is, then why am I getting pretty much the same results?

    And i'm not bottlenecked by any means, the game runs flawless. Running an i7 920 2.67ghz with 8 gigs ram.
    Just curious how to max out my rig for this game.
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  • BVKnightBVKnight Join Date: 2012-02-26 Member: 147496Members
    Found this for you, perhaps it will help.

    <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=123193" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=123193</a>
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2019502:date=Nov 11 2012, 01:12 PM:name=Davil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Nov 11 2012, 01:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2019502"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's what alternate frame rendering is, one card does the odd frames the other does the even frames. But it's only a slight improvement. There is a command called r_stats that will tell you if your gpu is the bottleneck. If it's not then your cpu is holding you back. I only gained about 10 frames with 2 gtx580's. Also I wouldn't recommend buying a 2 card sli setup. The heat is a pain in the ass to deal with, and it's more expensive than just having a single dual gpu card. Gonna drop a 1000 on a GTX690 next I think.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Uhm...

    Sorry, but you do know GTX690 is dual GTX680's, both underclocked on one PCB, right?


    It still uses SLI...if a game does not support SLI, it's like running one GTX680, but under-clocked...

    I forced it and yes, it helped my frame rate, but neither of my GPU's go above 50% usage, nor does my CPU go above 40% usage and I still get sub 60FPS all the time.
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  • Dictator93Dictator93 Join Date: 2008-12-21 Member: 65833Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I have a number of posts about this but you have to use another games profile (Dishonored Profile using Nvidia Inspector) to get SLI to work its best (near 100% scaling). Send me a PM to get the details
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  • SounDWavE1SounDWavE1 Join Date: 2005-02-06 Member: 40096Members, Reinforced - Supporter
    The new Nvidia beta driver 310.54 has added Sli profile today <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/geforce_310_54_beta_driver_download.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/geforc...r_download.html</a>
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  • rmbrown09rmbrown09 Join Date: 2012-10-17 Member: 162592Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2019395:date=Nov 11 2012, 03:10 AM:name=Davil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Nov 11 2012, 03:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2019395"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here is how you enable sli in NS2. Open nvidia control panel, click manage 3d settings, click the program settings tab, click add and locate your NS2.exe file. Under SLI mode select Alternate Frame Rendering 2 restart NS if you have it open already. It does give some performance improvement however slight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Just changing this setting I am getting now about 80FPS in infestation around hive and 120's everywhere else. Going to install the new driver and see what happens too.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    18% in BF3...I always love the claims they make. :P

    Anyways, can anyone give me the SLI Compatibility bits for NS2 so I don't go and update my drivers over nothing?
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  • Dictator93Dictator93 Join Date: 2008-12-21 Member: 65833Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=2021085:date=Nov 12 2012, 08:19 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 12 2012, 08:19 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021085"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->18% in BF3...I always love the claims they make. :P

    Anyways, can anyone give me the SLI Compatibility bits for NS2 so I don't go and update my drivers over nothing?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I think it is worth it to upgrade drivers, If not use nvidia inspector to switch out the .exe with the dishonored profile to get good scaling.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    I know about it.

    But you can please just tell me the SLI compatibility bits?
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2019984:date=Nov 11 2012, 01:03 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 11 2012, 01:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2019984"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Uhm...

    Sorry, but you do know GTX690 is dual GTX680's, both underclocked on one PCB, right?


    It still uses SLI...if a game does not support SLI, it's like running one GTX680, but under-clocked...

    I forced it and yes, it helped my frame rate, but neither of my GPU's go above 50% usage, nor does my CPU go above 40% usage and I still get sub 60FPS all the time.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Uhm, so? From benchmarks this card is only barely slower than 2 680's. And I don't think you've ever dealt with actually having 2 top end cards in one box before. It's a temperature and power management nightmare. I love my GTX 580's but they turn my machine into a space heater once they get going. Also here's some more news for you, you can force sli on just about any game. The profiles they add in with the patches are just more efficient ways of doing it.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    I have no idea what your post is about. I just said I forced it. I know you can force it with any game, I do it in alot of games.

    And 2 670's are pretty close to 680's in terms of temp. A 690 runs hot as well, unless you plan to water-cool that sucker.

    I have two Twin Turbo II's from Artic Cooling on my GPU's, keeping both under 60c during load, usually. And yes, it is a heat nightmare, as for power management, not at all, using my meter, it's drawing roughly 575watts of my 850w PSU. Not that big of a deal.

    I also ahve my GTX670's OC'ed, 10% faster than a stock clocked 680...and cost me over 100$ less. Sure the 680 can OC a little more than that, but I'm good with the money I saved.

    And the thing is, it's still SLI...which you complained about you wanting single GPU. It's going to generate a ton of heat, still.
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2021498:date=Nov 12 2012, 07:06 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 12 2012, 07:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021498"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I have no idea what your post is about. I just said I forced it. I know you can force it with any game, I do it in alot of games.

    And 2 670's are pretty close to 680's in terms of temp. A 690 runs hot as well, unless you plan to water-cool that sucker.

    I have two Twin Turbo II's from Artic Cooling on my GPU's, keeping both under 60c during load, usually. And yes, it is a heat nightmare, as for power management, not at all, using my meter, it's drawing roughly 575watts of my 850w PSU. Not that big of a deal.

    I also ahve my GTX670's OC'ed, 10% faster than a stock clocked 680...and cost me over 100$ less. Sure the 680 can OC a little more than that, but I'm good with the money I saved.

    And the thing is, it's still SLI...which you complained about you wanting single GPU. It's going to generate a ton of heat, still.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    2 670s don't even touch a single 690. And with big bulky coolers attached to your cards they're going to be significantly hotter than a gtx 690, 300w is a lot less heat than than 340w that should be coming from 2 670's. In fact the 690 idles at 38c with the stock cooler, which is pretty good considering my 2 580's idle at about 40c with pretty big aftermarket coolers on them.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    That's because the new GPU Architecture improves on heat efficiency and power usage.

    And what a choke...2 670's don't even touch a 690? YOu're right, they flat out beat it. These are GTX670's FTW Edition, which are on a 680PCB. I have both of them OC'ed past, 680's, so this is like OC'ed 680's in SLI, especially with the cooler. I reached 1300 / 6912, which is a fairly beefy OC for both cards. Idling around 29-30c.



    Don't even touch it? What a farce...

    <a href="http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/39605-nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-sli-vs-the-beasttm/?page=3" target="_blank">http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/396...beasttm/?page=3</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,15.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,15.html</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,12.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,12.html</a>

    Off by 2-3FPS in Metro 2033...and that's not OC'ed.

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,17.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,17.html</a>
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  • rmbrown09rmbrown09 Join Date: 2012-10-17 Member: 162592Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2021577:date=Nov 12 2012, 08:03 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 12 2012, 08:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021577"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's because the new GPU Architecture improves on heat efficiency and power usage.

    And what a choke...2 670's don't even touch a 690? YOu're right, they flat out beat it. These are GTX670's FTW Edition, which are on a 680PCB. I have both of them OC'ed past, 680's, so this is like OC'ed 680's in SLI, especially with the cooler. I reached 1300 / 6912, which is a fairly beefy OC for both cards. Idling around 29-30c.



    Don't even touch it? What a farce...

    <a href="http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/39605-nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-sli-vs-the-beasttm/?page=3" target="_blank">http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/396...beasttm/?page=3</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,15.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,15.html</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,12.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,12.html</a>

    Off by 2-3FPS in Metro 2033...and that's not OC'ed.

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,17.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,17.html</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    670's are cool and all, but it's much easier to manage 2 690's than 4 670's.
    That and in the Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge era you can't get a 4 lane 16x board. With my 690 I get 16x lane performance in one slot.

    Other reasons include total resale value, lower tdp, less heat, more cuda cores for adobe programs, maya, etc. (they can't utilize sli so if you have 1 670 or 10 it make no difference in rendering 4k video with premiere or after effects)
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2021577:date=Nov 12 2012, 08:03 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 12 2012, 08:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021577"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's because the new GPU Architecture improves on heat efficiency and power usage.

    And what a choke...2 670's don't even touch a 690? YOu're right, they flat out beat it. These are GTX670's FTW Edition, which are on a 680PCB. I have both of them OC'ed past, 680's, so this is like OC'ed 680's in SLI, especially with the cooler. I reached 1300 / 6912, which is a fairly beefy OC for both cards. Idling around 29-30c.



    Don't even touch it? What a farce...

    <a href="http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/39605-nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-sli-vs-the-beasttm/?page=3" target="_blank">http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/396...beasttm/?page=3</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,15.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,15.html</a>

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,12.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,12.html</a>

    Off by 2-3FPS in Metro 2033...and that's not OC'ed.

    <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_670_2_and_3way_sli_review,17.html" target="_blank">http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gefor..._review,17.html</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Lol everything you just linked just proved you wrong. A single 690 beat 2 670's every single time almost. And the ones where it didn't I'd be interested to see what kind of platform was running it. Oh and might I add those are overclocked editions of that card vs a stock gtx 690.

    So let me get this straight to compare with the 690 you have to buy custom cooling and the most expensive version of those cards 3 times. Whereas you could spend 1000 on a single gtx690 with stock cooling and get equal if not better performance. Yea you're a real winner.

    Edit: Just had to blow more wholes in your theory a single 670 apparently runs hotter than a single 690. Refer to page 6 of the articles you mentioned.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    Wow, are you an idiot?

    Getting a 690 in stock, is over a grand.

    While one 670 is under 400$, easily. Didn't even NEED the custom coolers, but I did, and those are cheap 40$ ones. So I still save several hundred dollars...and get near the same performance.

    You cherry picked your examples.

    <a href="http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=971&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=9" target="_blank">http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?opti...mp;limitstart=9</a>

    I paid 200$ or more less than the price of one 690, and I am within 5FPS, at stock, of a 690. With OCing, I surpass a stock 690, and just barely lose out to an OC'ed 690, as you can see in all the benchmarks i linked.

    For me, an extra 3-5FPS~ is not worth, 250$ more.

    I don't get WHY you're so upset or even arguing about this. You just suddenly slammed my 670's in a previous post and refuse to let it go.

    <a href="http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_670_SLI/18.html" target="_blank">http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/...670_SLI/18.html</a>


    <a href="http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_670_SLI/10.html" target="_blank">http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/...670_SLI/10.html</a>

    Good enough to me.
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2021689:date=Nov 12 2012, 09:54 PM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 12 2012, 09:54 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021689"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Wow, are you an idiot?

    Getting a 690 in stock, is over a grand.

    While one 670 is under 400$, easily. Didn't even NEED the custom coolers, but I did, and those are cheap 40$ ones. So I still save several hundred dollars...and get near the same performance.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Oh no no no, you started this argument go back a page. Now you're changing your argument from how much better 2 670's are compared to one 690, to the price point which you're also wrong on. The cheapest 670 I find before rebates is $413 (not including the craptacular Walmart version). So to get equal performance you'd need at least 3 of those compared to 1 690, which is $1000. Also if you're buying it online you'd need to pay a bit more for shipping on 3 cards vice 1. AND you also have to deal with cooling and power which is going to be a pain for 3-way sli. Basically you pay more and get less. Nice try, can you stop arguing and admit that you're wrong now, cause I'm done explaining it to you.
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  • SixtyWattManSixtyWattMan Join Date: 2004-09-05 Member: 31404Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2021763:date=Nov 13 2012, 02:44 AM:name=Davil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Nov 13 2012, 02:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021763"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Oh no no no, you started this argument go back a page. Now you're changing your argument from how much better 2 670's are compared to one 690, to the price point which you're also wrong on. The cheapest 670 I find before rebates is $413 (not including the craptacular Walmart version). So to get equal performance you'd need at least 3 of those compared to 1 690, which is $1000. Also if you're buying it online you'd need to pay a bit more for shipping on 3 cards vice 1. AND you also have to deal with cooling and power which is going to be a pain for 3-way sli. Basically you pay more and get less. Nice try, can you stop arguing and admit that you're wrong now, cause I'm done explaining it to you.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130787</a>

    lol 670s weren't even $413 at launch.
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2021857:date=Nov 13 2012, 01:15 AM:name=SixtyWattMan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SixtyWattMan @ Nov 13 2012, 01:15 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2021857"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130787</a>

    lol 670s weren't even $413 at launch.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Like I said excluding the cheap ones. If you want a cheap Zotac or Gigabyte one go nuts. I prefer asus or the higher end evga ones. The cheaper ones use cheaper materials, run hotter, and give less performance. Might as well pay the extra $40 for a superclocked model if you're trying for sli imo.
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    edited November 2012
    3-Way 670's beat a 690, but is also more expensive.

    SLI 670's nearly match it.

    Geeze man, what is wrong with you?

    670 was 399$ @ launch, I can find EVGA FTW editions for 370$ now.


    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-DisplayPort-Graphics-02G-P4-2678-KR/dp/B0083Y6MV6" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-Displ...R/dp/B0083Y6MV6</a>


    These use the 680 PCB, hence handle voltage better, and some people have gotten up to 1380 MHZ / 7600MHZ, which is better than your 690 will ever clock. All luck of the draw due to binning though.

    You can go to most sites, Overclock.net, Guru3D, you name it, they'll tell you to get two 680's or two 670's because it's cheaper, and on the whole, faster.
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  • carlgmcarlgm Join Date: 2004-08-26 Member: 30907Members, Constellation
    Since when has Gigabyte been a cheap as in nasty GPU for the higher end?
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  • rmbrown09rmbrown09 Join Date: 2012-10-17 Member: 162592Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2022277:date=Nov 13 2012, 10:51 AM:name=carlgm)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (carlgm @ Nov 13 2012, 10:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2022277"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since when has Gigabyte been a cheap as in nasty GPU for the higher end?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    They have a reputation for being sub par. I have spent many years now on overclock.net in both ATI and Nvidia sections to know that people generally have more issues with those cards then others. Even on newegg you can see the cheap version looks like a nice steal, but if you want the triple fan higher clock version you start paying 450+

    <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=670+gigabyte&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;x=0&y=0</a>

    The 670 is a good card and if you are playing on 1080p or below, one should be sufficient, 2 should handle absolutely everything. But when you start getting into dual+ monitors or high resolution single monitors (1440p, 1600p) you need some more horsepower.

    Honestly if you were looking to try and get the best performance for the buck you're not going to be looking at Nvidia. The 7950 when overclocked beats out the 670, and with its higher available bandwidth throughput makes it perform better at higher resolutions. a 7950 Crossfire setup for about $600 will in many cases even beat out sli 680's.

    <a href="http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1726053" target="_blank">http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1726053</a>

    Combined with a AMD 8150, for about 850 bucks you can get a CPU and GPU combo that rivals and beats a $1400 Intel Nvidia setup. I personally won't go with AMD CPU's because they seem to have more issues with newer software (CS GO for example) but if you want pure power for not a fortune, that's where you want to really be.

    /rant
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2022265:date=Nov 13 2012, 10:40 AM:name=Mkilbride)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mkilbride @ Nov 13 2012, 10:40 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2022265"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->3-Way 670's beat a 690, but is also more expensive.

    SLI 670's nearly match it.

    Geeze man, what is wrong with you?

    670 was 399$ @ launch, I can find EVGA FTW editions for 370$ now.


    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-DisplayPort-Graphics-02G-P4-2678-KR/dp/B0083Y6MV6" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link-Displ...R/dp/B0083Y6MV6</a>


    These use the 680 PCB, hence handle voltage better, and some people have gotten up to 1380 MHZ / 7600MHZ, which is better than your 690 will ever clock. All luck of the draw due to binning though.

    You can go to most sites, Overclock.net, Guru3D, you name it, they'll tell you to get two 680's or two 670's because it's cheaper, and on the whole, faster.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    The list price on what you just linked is 419 but there is a sale so no, but maybe the basic cheap models were $399 at launch like I said.

    The bottom line is this, after a decade of dealing with 2 cards in sli or crossfire, I'm tired of it. It's too much money to put good fans on them, when I could spend the same amount for water cooling on one. If you want to spend ~800 on 2 670's then more on the cooling have at it, but it won't be as fast a 690. If you really want speed go with 2 680's which is what I did when I had the choice between 580's and a 590 a few years back. Problem with that was it's been a pain to keep my case cool, even with a high airflow case and giant 200mm fans. No matter what you say, cooling with these types of setups is a hassle. If you can't keep things cool enough you either burn up your cards too fast or they throttle themselves.

    Long story short, I'm going with a dual gpu single card cause it's faster and less of a hassle. I know previous dual gpu cards have had issues, but this one is actually different.
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