SLi/X-Fire: seriously, is it worth it yet?

Chewy · Jan 16, 2010

I just got the 5850, it plows through all games atm and overclocks nice. When the time comes I think a second will most likely handle (real) dx11 quite nicely, hopefully as good as this card currently handles dx10

a bit of wishful thinking...

Either way, dx11 is still a ways away from being fully utilized? another year until we really start seeing titles I've heard, but could be wrong since I havent been very apt into gaming lately.

bpgt64 · Jan 21, 2010

I think that crossfire extends the life of graphics cards in generall, example being that if say you wanted to play a newer game you could buy another card instead of a brand new card. I had an HD 4870X2 and a pair of GTX275s. And they were probobly overkill, but I'll never not use a dual gpu solution anymore. It really helps keep the low end FPS stable in every game at HD resolutions.

FreedomEclipse · Jan 21, 2010

I went from a Single X1800XT to a single 8800GTS 512 (G92) to a single 4870 to Dual 4870's then back to a single 4870 when my 2nd card got ambushed by a dying PSU (currently awaiting return from RMA) & personally - Id say it really depends how much you want to spend.

just as everyone says - buying a SINGLE powerful card is usually a lot better then buying 2 cards since its less expensive & power hungry while still performing as good, if not slightly better in general since it also eliminates a lot possible driver issues & rendering issues... for example - If i run counterstrike with V-Sync off, the game is so jerky its literally unplayable because the graphics cards are trying to render the image TWICE. so you avoid a lot of hassle in the long run.

I love having crossfired graphic cards not just because I get to brag, but if I was given the choice of a single slot solution instead of dual that outperforms the dual, Id rather take the single.

but the downside is - my pc does function as my room heater....when it snowed here in the UK my room was freezing because my 4870 still hadnt come back from RMA.

So really the decision is down to your budget.

Processor	Q6600 G0 @ 3.2Ghz
Motherboard	Asus p5k-Premium/Black Pearl
Cooling	Luna Block, 240mm rad
Memory	Patriot Extreme PC2-6400 2x2GB
Video Card(s)	Saphire 5850 1GB
Storage	60GB SSD + 2x500GB/1TB/2TB
Display(s)	Samsung 226BW and 50" Panasonic S2
Case	Silverstone TJ-09
Audio Device(s)	X-fi Prelude
Power Supply	Enermax Galaxy Dxx 850watt
Software	Windows7 32Bit
Benchmark Scores	Super Pi 1M 14.333

System Name	My Rig
Processor	AMD 3950X
Motherboard	X570 TUFF GAMING PLUS
Cooling	EKWB Custom Loop, Lian Li 011 G1 distroplate/DDC 3.1 combo
Memory	4x16GB Corsair DDR4-3466
Video Card(s)	MSI Seahawk 2080 Ti EKWB block
Storage	2TB Auros NVMe Drive
Display(s)	Asus P27UQ
Case	Lian Li 011-Dynamic XL
Audio Device(s)	JBL 30X
Power Supply	Seasonic Titanium 1000W
Mouse	Razer Lancehead
Keyboard	Razer Widow Maker Keyboard
Software	Window's 10 Pro

System Name	Codename: Icarus Mk.VI
Processor	Intel 8600k@Stock -- pending tuning
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strixx Z370-F
Cooling	CPU: BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 {1xCorsair ML120 Pro\|5xML140 Pro}
Memory	32GB XPG Gammix D10 {2x16GB}
Video Card(s)	ASUS Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 512GB SSD (Boot)\|WD SN770 (Gaming)\|2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300\|2x 2TB Crucial BX500
Display(s)	LG GP850-B
Case	Corsair 760T (White)
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha RX-V573\|Speakers: JBL Control One\|Auna 300-CN\|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply	Corsair AX760
Mouse	Logitech G900
Keyboard	Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

SLi/X-Fire: seriously, is it worth it yet?

Chewy

bpgt64

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~