Graphics Cards

[Howling]

Right, as I can't figure this one out by myself I figured I'd throw the question out there...
I've been looking for benchmark scores for the 4 power players in SLi, 8800GT, GTS, GTX and Ultra.. The trouble is any comparisons I find are the GT and GTS they use are always OC versions.. and thus tend to outperform dual Ultra and dual GTX. My question is really.. which is better to get.. a pair of factory OC'd GTS or a pair of GTX (or Ultra) and then Overclock myself? I know it seems obvious that if card A > card B.. then Card A OC > Card B OC ... But it all depends how well the GTX/Ultra overclock.
If dual GTX/Ultra overclock safetly and perform significantly better than the GT/GTS cards then I'll go dual GTX (or Ultra).. Otherwise I may save myself afew hundred bucks and get dual GT OC or GTS OC.

Anyone shed some light onto the performance of GTX or Ultra OCs?

Note: I realise that at this point in time dual GTX is plenty powerful enough to not require OC'ing.. I'm thinking more for future-proofing for use when all games require CrySis specs

[eternalchaos]

lol Howling.. when all games require crysis specks you'll only need a 8800gts :P

I have a 8800gts and I'm gaming on Crysis just fine with high settings. If anything getting a SLI GTX setup just isn't worth it. When the G100's hit a single gtx line g100 will probably double your SLI GTX set up, and cost you 25% less :P

however; performance wise

dual GTX > Ultra OC'd an Ultra is about 20% faster than a GTX.. but DUAL GTX's would theoretically be 80% faster (onlylike 30% faster in the end due to limitations on the game end) Why you often see Ultra's in high end rigs over a dual GTX setup. It would be more cosft effective to just get an Ultra and OC it

[Howling]

Originally Posted by eternalchaos

When the G100's hit a single gtx line g100 will probably double your SLI GTX set up, and cost you 25% less :P

That's technology for you though, buy today - something cheaper and faster always comes out tomorrow. I've yet to find some specs for the g100 gtx that were remotely reasonable or had actual valid sources to them.. I saw 1 "official specs" saying it was going to have 2gb of gddr5 ram and core frequency of 2.4ghz -_-

And I don't get how an Ultra OC would be any rival to Dual GTX.. the Ultra has.. what.. 30-40mhz core freq higher than gtx..? and thats about it.. benchmarking puts the Ultra barely ahead of the GTX with factory settings... Maybe I'm just missing some vital info? O.o correct me please ^_^

[knite16]

So.. I've got an 8800 GTX superclocked (not ultra) already. Considering getting a second for SLI. 1, will my 700w power supply be able to handle 'em both, and 2 will I see enough of a gain? I am also considering getting a second monitor- 24" 1900x1200 res, so take that into consideration.

[eternalchaos]

nope you aren't .. it is why I even questioned why my friend got an Ultra.. I mean he went from a GTX to a Ultra.. he gaiend what.. 20% ? (stock GTX to OC'd Ultra) and mind you 20% isn't much these days.. as he went from say.. 70Fps in a game to 80-85FPS .. for "lesS" money he could of bought a GTX.. SLI'd and went to 95-110 FPS

SLI'd GTX's will bowl Ultra's over; just not by a massive margine. Some games get litterally double the FPS; others only get like 20-30% it truely depends on how the game handles the SLI/Crossfire setup.

btw.. 700watts should be enough as long as your PSu is SLI ready + has a higher enough current on the +12v rail. (btw SLI ready is just a fancy term saying it has more than 1 PCI-E connector :P as "sli ready" psu's sometimes arent' strong enough to handle GTX's or Ultra's)

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator v2.5 here you go have fun (lite version)

according to the caluculator;

A QX9650 --- SLI'd 8800gtx OC'd -- 4 sticks of DDR2 -- 4 Sata drives -- 5 LED fans -- 1 burner -- Sound card -- 2 additional USB devices -- Keyboard/Mouse -- High end motherboard (like a nforce)

CPU operating at 85% load, w/ system operating at 90% peak load w/ 10% cap degreading(aka the PSU is say 1 yr old); 603 peak watts so a 700 watt PSU will have almost 100 watts of overhead. SLI'd 8800ultra STOCK actually only requires 588.. but when OC'd it will be around 620watts

However important to know.. you will want around 35-40amps on your +12v rail; or like 25-30 per rail... wattage is important, but amperage is even more important

[knite16]

My power supply

My Graphics card (which I would get a second of)

The PS says it has 2 PCI-e connectors, but I remember the GTX had two auxillary power connectors right to the card itself. Does each PCI-E connector have two heads or does this mean I'd need a PS with 4 PCI-E connectors?

Also it looks like its got 18 amps per 12v rail. Is this already hindering or will this hinder me in SLI?

[eternalchaos]

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail my PSU

3 12v rails of 18amps each... total +12v wattage = 600watts doing the math 600/12 aka.. I = P/E yields 50amps(max) add up the 12v rails.. 18+18+18 = 54amps Notice how each rail can deal 18amps.. but overall the 12v line can only handle 50amps

in english.. I can SLI 8800 Ultras no problem.. HOWEVER the wattage output will nearly max my PSU out (only 620watts) which can cause loading problems so I wouldn't use my PSU to SLI 8800gtx's or ultras; but the 9 series uses less power ^_^ wooho!

Anyhow; your PSU = 680watts total on the 12v line.. 680/12 = 56.7 max amps.. 18x4= 72amps notice the larger difference.. whiel each rail is rated at 18amps.. the PSU itself can only pump out 57amps.. :P hehe something most people don't realize.. you can hve 1 billion rails.. you don't add their currents up but you calculate it off the master 12v output. Doing the math, 57 amps is MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SLI GTX's
having 4 12v rails actually adds to your stability as you have 4 sources instead of 3 sources like myself.

While wiring in SLI being you only have 2x6 pci-e connectors.. Wire it this way

Connector A to Card A
Connector B to Card B

Splitters(being each card needs 2 6pin sources)
Splitter A - 6 pin to dual 4pin molex .. connect 2 4pin molex connectors off one 4pin strand on your PSU
Splitter B - 6pin to dual 4 pin molex ... connect 2 4pin molex connectors off different strand on your PSU DO NOT USE A SPLITTER TO TURN 1 MOLEX into 2

The reason you do this is to aviod loading stress. With multiple rails you can balance your load out. Assuming each strand is on a different voltage rail, strand A might use V1 V2 strand B might use V3 V4 PCIe 1 uses V2 PCIe 2 uses V3 so what you get is

Card A is getting power off V2(pcie) and V1/V2(4pin connectors)
Card B is getting power off V3(pcie) and V3/V4(4pin connectors)

Doing this eliminates something like.. Card A and B sharing the same source which might end up putting massive stress on V3 which only can do 18amps max.. you tap more than 18amps it can damage stuff or just reboot the PC. Why I always say SPREAD THE LOVE BABY!! alot of issues with SLI and PC's that act odd after being built sometimes can be due to wiring it up to heavy on one load (like using 1 strand of 4pin connectors for everything)


edit
the amperage rating per rail is actually used to show how powerful the rail is... more current on a rail the more it can handle w/o stressing out. Some PSU's have 20a rails even 24a rails.
PC power and cooling has a 610watt PSU that uses a single 47amp rail and it still is SLI capable. Their 1000watt continous PSU uses a single 72amp line this PSU can actually run 4 video cards becaues the single rail has 20amps more than our multirail PSU :P Raidmax uses dual 20amp rails which is like my triple 18amp rail.

[knite16]

Brilliant. TY much. I know how to plan out and build a rig for a single Video card, but this is my first look/attempt at SLI, so Im naturally ignorant in the topic. Thanks for the education.

[eternalchaos]

hehe np.. it really isn't that hard. SLI is litterally just another video card. hardest part really comes from buying card 2... getting quality SLI drivers and wiring it up so you don't end up overloading one line.

[Alafarus]

Does anyone know if this graphics card, or if its any good for Aion??? it was given to me as a gift, i just need to know if i have to upgrade...its


ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon X1900 256MB PCI-Express Video Card

Also, can my system handle it??


Pentium 4 2.8GHZ
2 Gigs of RAM
and a 120 gig SATA drive

sorry but i am a bit computer illiterate.


Alaf~

[Casket]

Resurrecting threads =Badddddd.

[Alafarus]

Sorry, just didn't want to start up a new one if the issue had been addressed. trying not to fill up the forums.