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What is so bad about SLI?

Tags:
  • Graphics
  • Games
  • SLI
  • Compatibility
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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October 7, 2014 12:14:30 PM

Everyone keeps telling me about issues with SLI. Apprently some games aren't compatible and they lag and crash with it? I'm getting dual 980s and people keep telling me SLI sucks and games are always jittery and buggy and have tons of rubber banding with it. Is this true? I really hope not, as when I get my new PC I want to play MESOM (Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor) at ultra and also BF4 and CODAW. I'm really bummed right now can someone please tell me if this is true?

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October 7, 2014 12:17:40 PM

StaticDrift said:
Everyone keeps telling me about issues with SLI. Apprently some games aren't compatible and they lag and crash with it? I'm getting dual 980s and people keep telling me SLI sucks and games are always jittery and buggy and have tons of rubber banding with it. Is this true? I really hope not, as when I get my new PC I want to play MESOM (Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor) at ultra and also BF4 and CODAW. I'm really bummed right now can someone please tell me if this is true?


Some games have bad or no SLI support, so SLI isn't going to work well or work at all with every game.

Games that have good SLI support (most AAA games) run fine with SLI, no micro-stuttering or anything, but that isn't the case with every game.

One 980 can run most games maxed out at 1080p and even 1440p, so you shouldn't worry about it. If you are running 1080p, you don't need two.
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October 7, 2014 12:18:35 PM

get just one 980 lol. its the fastest gpu now
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October 7, 2014 12:18:49 PM

"Apprently some games aren't compatible and they lag and crash with it?"

This sums it up almost. Many games do support SLI/Xfire, almost all the popular titles do, and are optimised well and don't tend to crash and microstutter as much.

lag -> Microstutter, not bad and not every few seconds, you won't even notice it.

crash -> rare, tends to be older games when SLI support was poor.

All in all; Is it really that bad, No. Is it worth it to most, yes.
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October 7, 2014 12:19:46 PM

There's nothing wrong with SLI or Crossfire. Some software and driver versions have issues though.

It is just simpler/easier to go with a single high end GPU. It is also usually less expensive.
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October 7, 2014 12:24:52 PM

xSamaru said:
get just one 980 lol. its the fastest gpu now


one of the fastest. not the fastest ;) 
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October 7, 2014 12:26:44 PM

tsuneo6 said:
xSamaru said:
get just one 980 lol. its the fastest gpu now


one of the fastest. not the fastest ;) 


It is currently the fastest single GPU card.
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October 7, 2014 12:28:43 PM

I have been running SLI and Crossfire for years. There may be some games that do not support it, but I have never ran across one. Most all popular modern games contain support for SLI and Crossfire, and I have been pretty darn happy with my 560ti's. But I don't know if you really need two 980's in SLI though for the resolution you are running, 1 ought to run pretty nicely.
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October 7, 2014 12:31:45 PM

Thanks to everyone. This sucks, a 980 can't get 144 fps on ultra 1080p :(  i dunno wat to do
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October 7, 2014 12:35:34 PM

It probably can with FXAA.
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October 7, 2014 12:37:00 PM

StaticDrift said:
Thanks to everyone. This sucks, a 980 can't get 144 fps on ultra 1080p :(  i dunno wat to do


Turn down the AA and you will get there with some games.

If you have a 144Hz monitor and want 144 FPS, go ahead and buy two if you have the money.
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October 7, 2014 12:41:31 PM

alright. Will the 980s get really hot in a corsair 750d? And if a game is jittery can i disable sli?
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October 7, 2014 12:45:04 PM

StaticDrift said:
alright. Will the 980s get really hot in a corsair 750d? And if a game is jittery can i disable sli?


It will depend on how you have your case fans set up and the model of 980 you buy. Ideally, you want a fan or two blowing directly onto the cards.

Yes, you can disable SLI if needed.
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October 7, 2014 12:56:28 PM

You only need one 980 to run games at max setttings on 1080p for a reaaaaaaaaaaally long time the prices will drop till then and you can just add another one then :) 
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October 7, 2014 1:55:06 PM

frag06 said:
tsuneo6 said:
xSamaru said:
get just one 980 lol. its the fastest gpu now


one of the fastest. not the fastest ;) 


It is currently the fastest single GPU card.


silly me, I didnt know the titan z was a dual GPU card...this explain alot -_-
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