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    Question about SLI...

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by firstwardo, Oct 11, 2009.

  1. firstwardo

    firstwardo Notebook Consultant

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    This question is mainly about Nvidia's SLI, but can also apply to CrossFireX.
    Why does SLI usually not yield double performance? Is it a driver thing, or is it a restriction in the physical SLI technology?
     
    firstwardo, Oct 11, 2009
    #1
  2. Baka

    Baka (・ω・)

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    Well it depends on the software really ._. It may go double performance and it may even reduce performance. It's basically all about the program's coding o.o
     
    Baka, Oct 11, 2009
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  3. firstwardo

    firstwardo Notebook Consultant

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    so it's the software's fault? So, you are saying Nvidia has perfected the SLI technology?

    I'm asking this question in the perspective that, if I buy an SLI enabled laptop, will improvements on the tech be mostly driver based? or GPU/physically based?
     
    firstwardo, Oct 11, 2009
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  4. Melody

    Melody How's It Made Addict

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    Yes it mostly depends on the protocols used by the program/application/game which will be using the GPUs.

    If a game isn't coded to properly divide the labor of its graphics into parts that can be addressed by SLI systems, then the SLI will not be taken advantage of 100%.

    I mean, it's the same situation with multi-core CPUs. More cores doesn't always yield double or quadruple the performance.
     
    Melody, Oct 11, 2009
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  5. Baka

    Baka (・ω・)

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    Nothing is really perfect, hence the release of newer drivers to patch up it's old faults and addition of support to certain programs as well increase of performance of programs that already supports SLI.
     
    Baka, Oct 11, 2009
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  6. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    Well we might soon have perfect scalling in the Hydra tech or whatever it is... but seriously a single card is more cost efficient and much likely to play games better even though SLI and CrossfireX are becomming supported by more games...
     
    sean473, Oct 11, 2009
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  7. firstwardo

    firstwardo Notebook Consultant

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    So, it's a software issue, not a problem in the design of the GPUs?
     
    firstwardo, Oct 11, 2009
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  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes, the problem is 99% software support, not hardware. There are two parts to the software, the drivers for the GPU and the game engine itself being able to utilize the two or more GPUs effectively.
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 11, 2009
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  9. me12345

    me12345 Notebook Evangelist

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    I was wondering this as well.

    How about the ATI X2 cards? Do they count as "x-fire" cards or single cards?

    Also, from what it is said, it sounds like it would be more cost effective to buy a 400 dollar card and upgrade in 2 years if need be, instead of buying 2 400 dollar cards and upgrading in 4 years.
     
    me12345, Oct 11, 2009
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  10. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There are no X2 cards in notebooks. In desktops, the X2 cards are two GPUs on one physical board and performance would be very similar to CF btw 2 single cards (but you save the space). Personally, if I were to go for a desktop, a single HD 5850 would suffice (and even beating out last generation CF in several games!)
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 11, 2009
    #10