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Should I 3-way SLI or stick with 2-way?

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  • EVGA
  • Nvidia
  • Gigabyte
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
  • Asus
  • ATX
  • SLI
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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February 7, 2014 9:43:36 AM

Currently, I'm considering upgrading my system with either two EVGA 04G-P4-3776-KR or two Gigabye GV-N770OC-4GD 770's and running them in 2-way SLI. As of right now I have two MSI 660ti PE/OC 2gb cards in 2-way SLI, and am also considering buying a third and putting them in a 3-way SLI. I'd have to buy a new mobo since my current one can only handle 2-way. I'm leaning toward the 3-way, since it's cheaper for me to do, but price isn't an obstacle for me. Which would option would provide the best performance improvements for me? I intend to play resource intensive games like Crysis, Farcry 3, Battlefield 4, ARMA 3 and the like.

Current hardware specs:
Windows 8.1
Intel i7-3770k 3.5ghz quad-core
AsRock Z77 Extreme 4 ATX LGA1155
Kingston HyperX 16gb(4x4gb) DDR3-1600 RAM
Samsung 840 Pro Series 256gb SSD
Toshiba 2TB 7200 HDD
2 x MSI 660ti PE/OC
XFX Proseries 850w 80+ Gold Certified Modular ATX PSU
Raidmax Vampire ATX Full Tower Case

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a b Î Nvidia
a b U Graphics card
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February 7, 2014 9:47:45 AM

I THINK gtx 770 sli should be fine. You can sell your current gpus and buy two 770's which could be cheaper enough, so buy a new mobo and a 660ti. Your temps may also be affected with 3-way sli. So try to get 2 770s.
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February 7, 2014 9:51:23 AM

St0rm_KILL3r said:
I THINK gtx 770 sli should be fine. You can sell your current gpus and buy two 770's which could be cheaper enough, so buy a new mobo and a 660ti. Your temps may also be affected with 3-way sli. So try to get 2 770s.


If I go for the 770's, which variant of the two should I look at buying?
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a b U Graphics card
February 7, 2014 9:53:08 AM

Due to the 660ti having slow memory and 3 way SLI scales poorly AND you would need a new motherboard 770s would be way better. But why not 780ti? It is generally better to get one high end hpu rather than two mid range
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a b Î Nvidia
a c 101 U Graphics card
a b Ĉ ASUS
February 7, 2014 10:01:49 AM

It is better to buy 770s or 780 rather than buying new mobo and 660Ti. 3 way SLI with 660Ti! Hmmm! You are playing on 55" TV i.e one display unit not multiple so why are you considering 4GB models and then SLI of two 4GB models? Save the bucks buy 2GB models. They would be enough for your SLI and gaming need.

This is not a time to buy new mobo as expectedly DDR4 is set to come out resultantly new DDR4 enabled mobos will be due as well. Better wait for that and stick with 770/780 SLI.

Why are you not considering 780 or even 780Ti?
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a b Î Nvidia
a b U Graphics card
a b Ĉ ASUS
February 7, 2014 10:05:09 AM

chasem_94 said:
St0rm_KILL3r said:
I THINK gtx 770 sli should be fine. You can sell your current gpus and buy two 770's which could be cheaper enough, so buy a new mobo and a 660ti. Your temps may also be affected with 3-way sli. So try to get 2 770s.


If I go for the 770's, which variant of the two should I look at buying?


You should definitely try first for EVGA gtx 770. Get the superclocked versions if they are in the budget.
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February 7, 2014 10:06:56 AM

Sick with two SLI. SLI scaling is not good with 3 or more GPU.

I will personally to with a single powerful card rather than cards. I recommend going with a single 780Ti or 780.
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February 7, 2014 10:20:04 AM

EasyLover said:
It is better to buy 770s or 780 rather than buying new mobo and 660Ti. 3 way SLI with 660Ti! Hmmm! You are playing on 55" TV i.e one display unit not multiple so why are you considering 4GB models and then SLI of two 4GB models? Save the bucks buy 2GB models. They would be enough for your SLI and gaming need.

This is not a time to buy new mobo as expectedly DDR4 is set to come out resultantly new DDR4 enabled mobos will be due as well. Better wait for that and stick with 770/780 SLI.

Why are you not considering 780 or even 780Ti?


I am planning on using multiple displays sometime soon once I can get a bigger desk for them. I did think about it, but I saw that those cards were upwards in the $600-$800 range for good models. Eventually once I have a better paying job I'll probably go all out SLI with higher end cards but for right now I want to try to keep it simple.
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February 7, 2014 10:21:48 AM

gameboy1998 said:
Sick with two SLI. SLI scaling is not good with 3 or more GPU.

I will personally to with a single powerful card rather than cards. I recommend going with a single 780Ti or 780.


So which models of either would you recommend for me?
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February 7, 2014 7:21:46 PM

A EVGA Super clocked GTX 780
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a b Î Nvidia
a c 101 U Graphics card
a b Ĉ ASUS
February 8, 2014 12:05:35 AM

chasem_94 said:
gameboy1998 said:
Sick with two SLI. SLI scaling is not good with 3 or more GPU.

I will personally to with a single powerful card rather than cards. I recommend going with a single 780Ti or 780.


So which models of either would you recommend for me?


EVGA 780Ti classified. This single GPU is enough to fulfill your gaming requirements.
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February 8, 2014 12:11:21 PM

EasyLover said:
chasem_94 said:
gameboy1998 said:
Sick with two SLI. SLI scaling is not good with 3 or more GPU.

I will personally to with a single powerful card rather than cards. I recommend going with a single 780Ti or 780.


So which models of either would you recommend for me?


EVGA 780Ti classified. This single GPU is enough to fulfill your gaming requirements.


Looked at some reviews, that thing is absolute overkill for me. I only run a 1920x1080 TV monitor, reviews say that it's good for things like 1440p. If I could afford it I would definitely buy it though. Anyone want to recommend anything from the 770 or 780 line that isn't overkill and expensive?
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February 8, 2014 7:42:52 PM

780Ti is definitely overkill for 1080P gaming.

A GTX 780 will definitely get you PC for the upcoming graphic intensive games like Thief or Watch Dogs. I will recommend the EVGA Superclocked 780 Again.
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a b U Graphics card
February 8, 2014 7:47:02 PM

sorry to barge in but.. Why are you guys suggesting getting a new motherboard? not sure what 'new' motherboard he could get seeing as the 3770k is socket 1155 and only thing really better in the ASUS Maximum but thats in the $300 era.

So could I ask.. Why does he need a new mobo? Cause I plan on getting another 770 soon and I got the same MB, Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
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February 8, 2014 7:56:43 PM

BlankInsanity said:
sorry to barge in but.. Why are you guys suggesting getting a new motherboard? not sure what 'new' motherboard he could get seeing as the 3770k is socket 1155 and only thing really better in the ASUS Maximum but thats in the $300 era.

So could I ask.. Why does he need a new mobo? Cause I plan on getting another 770 soon and I got the same MB, Asrock Z77 Extreme 4


Because I believe the motherboard doesn't support 3 way SLI and the OP originally considered 3 Way SLI.
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a b U Graphics card
February 8, 2014 8:26:35 PM

gameboy1998 said:
BlankInsanity said:
sorry to barge in but.. Why are you guys suggesting getting a new motherboard? not sure what 'new' motherboard he could get seeing as the 3770k is socket 1155 and only thing really better in the ASUS Maximum but thats in the $300 era.

So could I ask.. Why does he need a new mobo? Cause I plan on getting another 770 soon and I got the same MB, Asrock Z77 Extreme 4


Because I believe the motherboard doesn't support 3 way SLI and the OP originally considered 3 Way SLI.


According to their website it says supprots Quad SLI/Crossfire that being said there's only 2x 3.0 PCIE slots so my best bet is you can get dual sli to achieve quad, youll need an expander of some sort
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Best solution

a b Î Nvidia
a c 101 U Graphics card
a b Ĉ ASUS
February 8, 2014 8:48:04 PM

chasem_94 said:
EasyLover said:
chasem_94 said:
gameboy1998 said:
Sick with two SLI. SLI scaling is not good with 3 or more GPU.

I will personally to with a single powerful card rather than cards. I recommend going with a single 780Ti or 780.


So which models of either would you recommend for me?


EVGA 780Ti classified. This single GPU is enough to fulfill your gaming requirements.


Looked at some reviews, that thing is absolute overkill for me. I only run a 1920x1080 TV monitor, reviews say that it's good for things like 1440p. If I could afford it I would definitely buy it though. Anyone want to recommend anything from the 770 or 780 line that isn't overkill and expensive?


Ok. Then you may consider using EVGA GTX 780 DUAL/FTW/ w /EVGA ACX Cooler version. If still it is TOO OVERKILL for you then dear go for EVGA GTX 780 SC. Btw there is a difference of $20 in the prices of these cards :) 

Happy Hunting!
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February 8, 2014 10:06:07 PM

BlankInsanity said:
gameboy1998 said:
BlankInsanity said:
sorry to barge in but.. Why are you guys suggesting getting a new motherboard? not sure what 'new' motherboard he could get seeing as the 3770k is socket 1155 and only thing really better in the ASUS Maximum but thats in the $300 era.

So could I ask.. Why does he need a new mobo? Cause I plan on getting another 770 soon and I got the same MB, Asrock Z77 Extreme 4


Because I believe the motherboard doesn't support 3 way SLI and the OP originally considered 3 Way SLI.


According to their website it says supprots Quad SLI/Crossfire that being said there's only 2x 3.0 PCIE slots so my best bet is you can get dual sli to achieve quad, youll need an expander of some sort


I didn't suggest it! Someone else did! I'm innocent :p 
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