SLi a gogo?

[Disturbedguy]

Hey all

I have been thinking about going SLi for a while now with 2 x eVGA 512MB 7950GT KO Superclocked cards.

I have read a few posts on here where people have said SLi is a pain etc etc.

Now the thing is should i go for it with my current, mobo, cpu and ram setup which is below.

RAM: -Corsair 2Gb RAM

CPU: -AMD 4200 X2 S939 OEM

MOBO: - if i remember correctly the mobo is an ASUS A7N8 SLi ready or summet :S

Would that be ok for running SLi, atm the system has 3 80mm fans in there with another 2 i have got that need adding? Would i be better upgrading my mobo so i can run DDR2 ram?

Would the specs above be ok and the cooling or would i need better cooling?

Thanks

[tigerboyce]

How about selling the card for like £80-£100 and then combine it with the other money for buying the second 7950 and get an 8800GTS?

Far better idea Imo..

[Clunk]

What monitor do you have?

[Disturbedguy]

the monitor i have is an hyundai imagequest 19"

"How about selling the card for like £80-£100 and then combine it with the other money for buying the second 7950 and get an 8800GTS?

Far better idea Imo.."

I thought about doing this but as my system is relatively new, only a few months i dont really want to sell the card although if it comes down to it I would.

Thing is I could afford it but nearly everyone i know has or is getting the 8800GTS and i just want to be different because am awkward .

Like I said if it comes down to it and i cant get hold of another 7950 then id probably, eventually go for the 8800 side of things but i dont want to part with 189.99 (cheapest 8800GTS inc VAT) just jet...

Ill have to think about it i suppose.

[MouseMonkey]

the monitor i have is an hyundai imagequest 19"

"How about selling the card for like £80-£100 and then combine it with the other money for buying the second 7950 and get an 8800GTS?

Far better idea Imo.."

I thought about doing this but as my system is relatively new, only a few months i dont really want to sell the card although if it comes down to it I would.

Thing is I could afford it but nearly everyone i know has or is getting the 8800GTS and i just want to be different because am awkward .

Like I said if it comes down to it and i cant get hold of another 7950 then id probably, eventually go for the 8800 side of things but i dont want to part with 189.99 (cheapest 8800GTS inc VAT) just jet...

Ill have to think about it i suppose.

There is nothing hard about setting up Sli, I've been running Sli'd 7900GT's for over a year and a half and have had no problems. If you do decide to do it just make sure your PSU is up to the job and do not expect to double your max frame rates, you will get much better (higher) min frame rates and you will see the difference even if you run at a res of 1280x1024.

[Clunk]

By adding another card, and using it on a 19" monitor, all you will be doing is drawing extra power from the mains and add ing extra heat inside your case.

Stick with a single, unless of course, that is what you want to do.

[Disturbedguy]

good point clunk.

My case is actually a SoHo File Server case so is pretty big but heat can be a problem as i know from problems with the family PC.

And thanks MouseMonkey also, i didnt look at it like that..i wasnt expected double frame rates etc..just wanted two cards to be greedy lol..well thats not entirely true..i am/ was looking for a second monitor like mine aswell so i can run in dual mode...but seems they have been discontinued

Again thanks all

[vinnyT]

Clunk's right stick with the single card.

I think the main prob with SLI is not in setting the hardware up, but the support for SLI is patchy, if the games you like to play are supported, great, but if not, some games run slower in an SLI rig, than with a single card.

[aidanjt]

Indeed, it's much better to get one allmighty card than two scrappers that's barely run at half steam at the best of times.

[EarlGrey]

Stick with one card, until you wanted to upgrade to the 8800GTS 320MB.
It's not that you'll have problems running SLI, just what's the point unless you are running two of the fastest cards around? You don't get best bang per buck from SLI.

[Disturbedguy]

thanks for all replies, the card i have is a good piece of kit it along with my system spec allows me to run all the games I have full spec, no lag.

I have however decided am going up upgrade my RAM to DDR which in turn means a new mobo and CPU.

[benwoodcock]

E6750 is a good CPU unless you use loads of multi threaded stuff in which case the Q6600 qwould be better

No point to AMD atm imo cos they are bringing out new stuff so soon

[Disturbedguy]

in tht case ill wait am an AMD person so dont want to go near Intel thanks anyway dude

[nvening]

good point clunk.

My case is actually a SoHo File Server case so is pretty big but heat can be a problem as i know from problems with the family PC.

I think i was trying to say that its a waste of money putting a second card in as many games don't utilise sli and if your using vista there are some buggy drivers.

I agree that if you want to upgrade, sell the current card and get a GTS

[Mad-Max]

Don't go SLI waste of time plus the hassle with games, sell the card you have and get a 8800

[Disturbedguy]

not selling