Graphics multi-GPU: not ready yet! (Tom's Hardware Feature)

CrossFire, SLI, And Micro-Stuttering
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995-15.html

i've said this many times. current software half-hearted implementation is not ready yet. they need to treat two chips as one, have a third scheduler chip on the card. but this won't happen as they'll spend massive R&D money for a single high end product, for extremely niche market.

this is why Bit-tech always recommends single card in their builds. cheaper two-card setup are cheap for a reason.

 

*strokes 580s*

 

hehe, *strokes single 580*

the point of the article really is to say that buying two 550 or 6850 in hope of getting 580's performance simply doesn't make sense. these multi-GPU only has its place at very high end products, where single fastest GPU isn't fast enough.

 

You need to edit your profile pic. You need to add "x3" to it

 

Wait a second... aren't Tom's Hardware the ones who consistently recommend two lower end cards than a single higher end card?

 

Yes, funny that!

I have GTX 460 in SLI, identical brand and overclock equally, not noticed any micro stutter in games. At the time compared to a single GTX 470 or GTX 480 the GTX 460 offered better value and performance, also even though it's SLI they keep relatively cool and quiet in comparison to any single card solution offered at that time. Although a single card is always preferable I can't condemn a Multi-GPU PC as my own personal experience of GTX 460 SLI has been outstanding.

 

Interesting.

I've never tried it myself, but with BF3 coming out, I'm thinking of it. Bit tech make a lot of noise about micro stutter, and its really put me off (see new issue of CPC).

Don't really know what to do.

 

I'm also pretty lost. Was planning on buying a graphics card (or 2 if needs be) that could handle new games @ 2560x1600. A single gtx580 doesn't quite cut it. Gtx580 sli, gtx590 & 6990 could potentially suffer from micro-stutter (as well as the dual cards being hard to come buy), and 3 way crossfire noisy, hot, and not very well supported. That leaves.....not very much.

 

the article's main point seems to be that anything less than 6950/570 are not worth investment, thus might as well buy a faster single graphics card with similar price.

but if you already have fastest graphics card, then by all means get a second one, since the article seems to think that high end cards are not as affected by microstuttering.


i personally think might as well hold out for next gen.

 

Yeh, next gen for me too, as it's pointless me moving from my 5870 to the current gen as it still performs very well in all games...

 

I have 2 5770s and have never seen a hint of micro stutter. And as everyone probably knows, 5770s aren't exactly top end cards

But yeah, I'd always get the best single GPU I can afford at the time, then maybe add a second later if I need extra performance on a budget.

 

I have GTX 460 SLI and at a resolution of 2560 by 1440 it manages very well. Games range from The Witcher 2 all the way down to Homeworld 2 and Company of Heroes. Not tried Battlefield 2 under the new resolution yet which seems to be the game most players become dogs on heat over not to mention the up and coming BF3! I tend to operate an overclock of 815MHz with the Shaders linked and Memory untouched and it really smooths everything over compared to stock clocks. Some settings need to be knocked down a peg but the graphical quality is still high just not 'ultra'.

 

Sounds like it was written by someone with stocks in Nvidia or AMD (or both!).

I've now had many multi-GPU setups, and have not noticed any stuttering with either AMD or Nvidia, until you are either playing at ~30fps and should lower the settings a smidge, or have 1GB cards on games that are VRAM hogs. I'd dare say the majority of 2560x gamers will have dual card setups, and have not noticed any issues outside normal lag problems associated with optimistic setting.

 

That's good to hear! I might consider going gtx460 sli until the new high end single GPUs are released.

There seems to be so many conflicting views on micro-stutter! Was put off eyefinity/surround by micro-stutter stories, and now re-considering buying a large resolution monitor becuase of it. Might be much less hassle to go for a middle of road resolution with a single gpu. <<<<< Boring! ha.

 

Fair enough. There's a possibility that I've grown accustomed to microstutter without realising it. I think it's been about three years since I last played with a single GPU system for any length of time.

I'll try to do that at some point .

 

Strokes 3x480's

@ Pete you tried turning of Core Parking ?? worked for me

 

This is what it looks like guys!

 

*Goes to hospital after touching the exposed metal grills*

Core Parking? What's that mate?

 

Core parking is where the OS turns off one or more CPU core's so say you have 8 4 will be turned off so only 4 will be in use, Normally it wont make any difference but in gaming with multi GPU systems it can cause micro stutter

Here's a link to a thread I did about it I always turn it off on my systems never get micro stutter at all

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=187645&highlight=Core+parking

 

Interesting. Cheers Tell.

Although, does micro stuttering afflict all multi-GPU setups, or just multi-card setups?

I can't say I've noticed any on my GTX295.