I'm gona be getting a new system & moneys no object. im goin all out. But i dont know if i should get SLI or crossfire. I want the best performance which I think is the 7900gtx not x1900xtx but i've heard that SLI either doesnt work or offer any extra performance over certain programs. Is this true and does it mean normal software or games or both? Thanks in advance.
Currently ATI's X1###X cards can do HDR and AA at the same time, Nvidia cannot reasonably do so (Its expected the next generation will, but its obviously going to be a little while yet since the 7900's only just came out) Both methods split an image between the two cards to render thus giving more performance (its not quite double since the communication required for them to coordinate slows them both down a touch) SLI shouldn't be useless for anything where Crossfire is usefull (both should be usefull for anything 3d mind)
The drivers for the x1900xtx have improved a lot but SLI beats out crossfire as it offers user customisable profiles for games so that users can provide support for games instead of having to wait for an official patch. However, ATI just rushed out a patch for Oblivion which worked really well so big red may still be able to contest SLI. I'd say the x1900xtx was a tiny bit quicker than the 7900gtx but this depends on the games you're playing. However, the 7900gtx will burn less of your electricity bill, is quieter and cooler than the x1900xtx. SLI doesn't offer extra performance in some older games but even running in sigle card mode with a 7900GTX you'll fly through at max detail on everything as these are older titles and not so demanding (I've got 7900GTs in SLI and I've not come across anything that I can't run maxed out at 1680x1050).
if money is truly no object, you should be looking at a quad SLI setup, as it will walk all over anything ATI can offer at this point
And dual or quad opteron setup. And then phasecool....all four. that should cost you a few pennies.....If you say this post is pointless, then so would saying "money's no object"
Is either system capable of offering dual monitor support yet? Until they do, I would never consider it. Not that I could afford it right now~
Dual mon yes, but anything past that, no using both gpu's together, they operate separate on triple or quad mon.
nice system but ive gone for an alienware wif similar specs. fx-60 2x 7900 gtx 4gb ram x-fi any1 no if there any chance of nvidia releasin drivers 2 enable both hdrr + AA o r we gona hav 2 wait 4 new hardware?
I'm putting in my bid for SLI I don't think ATi has a motherboard out there that's up to snuff and I don't think they have the product availabilility, either.
WTF?? yes they have : http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/01/ati_rd580_asus_a8r32-mvp/1.html even if i didnt use the xfire capability id still rather get this board over its Nf4 powered brother.
I would say it's better for a few reasons: 1st, it runs Crossfire, which gives insanely good-looking game play. 2nd, it overclocks like a DFI. Finally, the chipset is passively cooled without using heatpipes. This board will work just fine in a V-series case, while a A8N32-SLI (or even worse, the P5N32-SLI) will have heat problems.
ooh ive been pipped to my reply...but yeah those are the reasons. Personally i just like to be different and not go with "the norm" but it dosent mean that the xpress3200 chipset is in any way inferior to the nForce4. also it OC's like a madman.
