Had enough of G9x. Got a 8800GTX!

[SpeedyVV]

Ok, so I had a 7600GT SLI setup for 3 monitors, 80%, but really wanted to use the 2560x1600 for games, so I decided to get an eVGA 8800GTX.

- if rumours of 9800GTX true for Nov I might Step-up
- if not I will be even happier that I did not waste my current setup waiting for air

So this is a "report" on how a upgrade from a SLI setup to a 7600GT + 8800GTX went with some small benchmarks and some pics.

So the upgrade worked!!! All I did was uninstall the drivers, remove the SLI bridge, replace the Slot 1 7600gt for the 8800gtx, reboot install drivers (163.44), enable monitors in Display Properties, nTune to rotate the 20" displays. DONE!!!

Well of course I am leaving out the tough part. Physically installing the 8800GTX. I actually had to use a sheet metal cutter because my case is one of them "tool free" jobs, and each expansion slot has its own cage to hold a card. Since the 8800 is actually 2 slots wide, I had to cut a space between the two slots to allow it to go in. Even then it was a tight fit all over. Man, that is one large sucker of a card.

Here a some preliminary benchmarks I did, with Vista32 3DMark06 (default) and FEAR (max settings a@ 2560x1600) Both with OCing and then stock.

[fixed]
7SLI|8GTX|CPU |GPU |3DMark06 |FEARFPS(Min,Avg,Max)Dist(<25, >25<40,>40)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
x | | 3.1|727/866 | 7071 | FPS(4, 8, 59), FPS % Dist (81, 7, 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| x | 3.1|625/1000| 11364 | FPS(26,42,60), FPS % Dist(0, 52, 48)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
x | | 1.8|650/800 | 5857 | FPS(3, 6, 49), FPS % Dist (98, 2, 0)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| x | 1.8|576/900 | 7689 | FPS(23,39,60), FPS % Dist(9, 39, 42)

[/fixed]

The key thing is that now my system can play a game like FEAR at MAX @ the full 2560x1600 res!!!

One happy surprise I got, was when I went to install the drivers in Windows XP, what everyone told me would not work, actually did work. XP can see both the 8800 and 7600! Kool. The only problem is that for some reason nTune wont let me rotate the 20" displays. I'll leave that problem for another day

The cool thing about going from a SLI config to this setup, is that now I can game and use the 2 side monitors at the same time, and dont have to turn on and off SLI to go from work mode (3monitor) to play mode.

The upgrades:

The eVGA 8800GTX and XFX 7600GT XXX purring away:

The result:

 

[pchoi04]

Awesome!... Sweet setup you got there.

 

[SpeedyVV]

Oh yeah, before someone calls me a liar again:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=3062206

I am using Vista Beta Driver 163.44 which is not an Approved driver.

 

[systemlord]

Drooling....

 

[mrmez]

Bloody americans.
Learn to change gears with ur left hand

 

[SpeedyVV]

Bloody americans.
Learn to change gears with ur left hand

Your mama is an American

I actually learned to drive in Macau, where I was born, so I know how to shift left hand, so there you go.

But the kids were born in Canada, so I have to let them pick the side, so right hand shifting won in my house.

GTR2 @ 2560x1600 with full goodies and stick shifting is like sim heaven!!! One thing that would beat it, would be if nVidia drivers would let me span across the 3 monitors, then it would be 4960x1600 of sim heaven.

 

[3Ball]

Paddle shifting FTW! lol

Best,

3Ball

 

[Valtiel]

I'm gonna have to step up to a GTX sometime this year myself hope they lower prices on the step-up website =(

 

[chookman]

That is an unreal setup you got there man... wish i had the dosh for that 30"er let alone the 2 20" either side. AWESOME!

 

[lunyone]

So this is where I would state "I'm working AND playing at the same time!!!" If I had his setup there!

 

[raptorxt]

wow! sweet setup you got there.
and it was smart that you upgraded to a gtx instead of wait for the rumored 9x series knowing 9x won't be released in november.

 

[killer_roach]

It's a bit more than I'd be willing to throw on a single card right now, but, if you're comfortable with shelling out the scratch, the 8800GTX is an awesome card.

Thinking your 3DM06 scores might be a bit low, as I can nearly touch 9000 with my 8800GTS and my Athlon X2 CPU... granted, that's with the CPU around 2.6 and the GTS at absolutely stratospheric clocks (675/1125). So maybe it's not too bad.

 

[Evilonigiri]

That's sick lol. I do believe your 3dmark06 score is a tad bit low, but whatever 3dmark only means so much. You[re getting excellent frames for fear at that res. :O I'm jealous

 

[SpeedyVV]

wow! sweet setup you got there.
and it was smart that you upgraded to a gtx instead of wait for the rumored 9x series knowing 9x won't be released in november.

Thanks for the compliment. Actually someone on a diff thread, mentioned that waiting months for something that may or may not be real, while my existing component become obsolete by the day was a real shame.

When I thought about it, it made sense, so when I saw a good deal on and eVGA 8800GTX, it was a no brainer with the step up program.

BTW, I am at a loss on how to OC the 8800GTX. Since I got 2 GPUs, how the hell to I specify that I only want to OC the 8800GTX?

I have the feeling that when I OCed 8800GTX I was actually OCing both because I started to get artifacts on the side lcds, and those are both connect to the 7600GT.

As far as the 3DMark06 being low, is this something I should worry about? I did think I was gonna get a bit more (just guessing), an then I thought maybe my E4300 is slowing things down, or the fact that nVidia Vista drivers kinda suck.

I would love to get all the performance I can, but right now, I am just happy with the setup, so I'd figure i would leave it alone. But if someone has suggestion, by all means I am willing to try and learn.

 

[Heyyou27]

Thanks for the compliment. Actually someone on a diff thread, mentioned that waiting months for something that may or may not be real, while my existing component become obsolete by the day was a real shame.

When I thought about it, it made sense, so when I saw a good deal on and eVGA 8800GTX, it was a no brainer with the step up program.

BTW, I am at a loss on how to OC the 8800GTX. Since I got 2 GPUs, how the hell to I specify that I only want to OC the 8800GTX?

I have the feeling that when I OCed 8800GTX I was actually OCing both because I started to get artifacts on the side lcds, and those are both connect to the 7600GT.

As far as the 3DMark06 being low, is this something I should worry about? I did think I was gonna get a bit more (just guessing), an then I thought maybe my E4300 is slowing things down, or the fact that nVidia Vista drivers kinda suck.

I would love to get all the performance I can, but right now, I am just happy with the setup, so I'd figure i would leave it alone. But if someone has suggestion, by all means I am willing to try and learn.

I have that same problem; I run an 8800GTX and an 8600GT for a 3 monitor display and I've not been able to overclock properly. It hasn't really been a problem because I'm only running at 1680x1050 and I don't need the extra power, but at 2560x1600 I'm sure it's a different story.

 

[Maziar]

u did the best thing , u didnt wait and i %100 agree with that , waiting is good but if u wait u cant every buy anything , i really enjoyed upgrading form 7900gtx to 8800gtx and i hope u will enjoy it to

 

[SpeedyVV]

I have that same problem; I run an 8800GTX and an 8600GT for a 3 monitor display and I've not been able to overclock properly. It hasn't really been a problem because I'm only running at 1680x1050 and I don't need the extra power, but at 2560x1600 I'm sure it's a different story.

That's because you dont play DiRT, or even at 1680x1050 you would need more power.

 

[SpeedyVV]

I have that same problem; I run an 8800GTX and an 8600GT for a 3 monitor display and I've not been able to overclock properly. It hasn't really been a problem because I'm only running at 1680x1050 and I don't need the extra power, but at 2560x1600 I'm sure it's a different story.

Heyyou27, I have just downloaded the latest nVidia drivers and now, not only can I properly rotate the side panels, but using RivaTuner 2.04 I can properly OC the just the 8800GTX.

 

[Heyyou27]

That's because you dont play DiRT, or even at 1680x1050 you would need more power.

Actually, I played DiRT on my computer, and it ran fine at 1680x1050, but I'm not a fan of racing games, especially ones on the PC. I'll give Riva Tuner 2.04 a try, thanks.

 

[killer_roach]

1680x1050 in DiRT shouldn't be a problem for a GTX... 1600x1200 is borderline playable on a GTS...

 

[emp]

Do you have a clutch/gas/brake pedals down there? That's sweet if you do, hell... that'd get ME back on racing games if I had a racing setup like that.

Anyway very impressive monitor setup you got there (Feeling almost envious with my 17" CRT ), but I wanted to know how you let your kid hold a GTX like that? I'd be pissing my pants if someone held my GTS like that...

On side note, If that setup of yours has also the pedals (I suppose it does) how much did it cost you? and what brand is it? My racing game instinct is starting to itch now...

 

[badders]

but I wanted to know how you let your kid hold a GTX like that? I'd be pissing my pants if someone held my GTS like that...

The Kids put the rig together, so it's only fair to let them help upgrade it!

 

[emp]

The Kids put the rig together, so it's only fair to let them help upgrade it!

I didn't say otherwise, just that hardware is delicate and you gotta hold it properly. And that would've been a bad thing if the GTX fell...

 

[SpeedyVV]

1680x1050 in DiRT shouldn't be a problem for a GTX... 1600x1200 is borderline playable on a GTS...

Wow, then thre is something wrong with my config... Unless you have a Q6600? Do you, cause my E4300 gets maxed out I cant wait to see if penryn will make things better\cheaper.

Do you have a clutch/gas/brake pedals down there? That's sweet if you do, hell... that'd get ME back on racing games if I had a racing setup like that.

Anyway very impressive monitor setup you got there (Feeling almost envious with my 17" CRT ), but I wanted to know how you let your kid hold a GTX like that? I'd be pissing my pants if someone held my GTS like that...

On side note, If that setup of yours has also the pedals (I suppose it does) how much did it cost you? and what brand is it? My racing game instinct is starting to itch now...

Yes 3 pedals, and each with different pressure to simulate the feel of Acc, Brake, Clutch.

It is a Logitech G25, leather wrapped steering and stick ;-). It was like $200, but I saw it on sale for like $120 last week :-(

I didn't say otherwise, just that hardware is delicate and you gotta hold it properly. And that would've been a bad thing if the GTX fell...

badders, tom and maria will be happy to hear someone stood up for them

But emp, you know what, they did a whole build and did not brake a thing!! It is a price I am willing to pay to get them comfortable with technology. Specially girls, it is hard to get them to embrace high tech, and if we make it too harsh they'll never will put up with it. But you are right in a way, my heart kind of pounds away anytime they hold a piece of expensive equipment

 

[emp]

Hahaha... I figured as much, but it's still a nice activity to do with your kids for bonding and that kind of stuff (Plus you get a badass rig...) I'll look onto that Logitech, who knows, might get me back into racing games.