Question about SLI and different memory size...

[jonkc]

I was considering adding another 6600GT card to my system. My current card has 128MB, but the 256 are easier to get from XFX. Will this matter? Can I use 1 with 128 and the other with 256? Or is there a card for the same price range ~100-150 that will out perform the 2 6600gt in SLI?

Thanks for the help...

 

[Slobogob]

I was considering adding another 6600GT card to my system. My current card has 128MB, but the 256 are easier to get from XFX. Will this matter? Can I use 1 with 128 and the other with 256? Or is there a card for the same price range ~100-150 that will out perform the 2 6600gt in SLI?

Thanks for the help...

Don´t go SLI!!!


Let me rephrase that...


DON`T GO SLI!!!


Just buy a 7600GT or, if that´s to expensive hold out a little longer and then buy a mid-range DX10-card.


edit: Heck, even the 7600 GS is almost faster than two 6600GTs!

 

[dverduzco10]

First off if you do decide to go SLI you need 2 of the EXACT SAME cards.

Second, if you are running resolutions @1600X1200 or higher then SLI makes some sense, but be prepared to upgrade in 9 months or so when Vista/DX10 comes out, and then they work out all the bugs.

 

[jonkc]

What is so wrong with SLI? Would this card be any good?

 

[Slobogob]

What is so wrong with SLI? Would this card be any good?

What´s wrong with SLI?

Let´s see...

1. You need a SLI Board. That equals extra cost.
2. You need a bigger PSU. That equals extra cost.
3. You need two Graphic Cards. That equals extra cost.
3.1 SLI doesn´t double the speed, yet it doubles cost, heat and power consumption.
4. If you´re unlucky a game may not support it or something alike.

A single card solution is always cheaper than a two card solution. You should check the THG Video Charts. Take a peek at all those 6600/6800/7600 SLI setups and compare them to the next bigger thing. Compare two 6600 to one 6800, compare two 7600 to one 7900 and while you do that, keep the price in mind.
SLI (or Crossfire) only make sense if you can get two cards unbelievably cheap or if you need the fastest video performance possible. And in the second case you don´t buy mid or low end cards!

Don´t get me wrong, i considered SLI myself once. I thought about getting two used 6600 GT off of ebay. But a single 7600 GT would have been just be a better deal. I looked at using two 1600XTs or Pros but a single 1800 is just waaay better. If you want SLI because you want to play around with SLI a little, then buying a second 6600 GT is a good idea since you won´t get SLI any cheaper. But from a performance oriented point of view, you´r e wasting money.

edit: And as far as i can see, the card you linked looks good. But you should (always) get a second opinion.

 

[jonkc]

What´s wrong with SLI?

Let´s see...

1. You need a SLI Board. That equals extra cost.
2. You need a bigger PSU. That equals extra cost.
3. You need two Graphic Cards. That equals extra cost.
3.1 SLI doesn´t double the speed, yet it doubles cost, heat and power consumption.
4. If you´re unlucky a game may not support it or something alike.

1. Already Own
2. Already Own
3. Have 1 already...Looking for an inexpensive way to hold me over until DX10
4. Give me some examples of games that don't support it... May not pertain to me.

As for the comparison, I forgot about the interactive charts.. and looking it up according to Toms 2 6600GT in SLI are only 1/2 as good(or so) as compared to 1 7600GT...

Thanks for the input!

 

[fredgiblet]

What is so wrong with SLI? Would this card be any good?

Looks good to me, I've got an XFX card (though it's a 7900GT) and it's worked great.