Add a card or not for SLI

[Seaclam]

Hello,
I have a new system witch the core components consist of a 2600K i7, 8 GB of Corsair Vengence memory and 1 EVGA 3GB GTX580. I game on a 22" 1680x1050 monitor. With regard to a game like The Witcher 2, would I need to get another card to get UberSampling at a decent frame rate at my resolution? I have a 1200W Corsair PS so I hope that would be enough to support another card if need be. Also, my system is air-cooled and I wondering how much another 580 in the mix would jack up the temp. I have a HAF-X case and it stays AMAZINGLY cool. I have read that it is indeed do-able, but I'd like some input here from this group. Thanks

 

[016ive]

NO u don't need any other card urs is enough enjoy the Witcher 2 i finished it in 8 days with no cheats

 

[Energy96]

I have 2 GTX 580's in SLI currently with a 2600k. Whatever performance you are getting now you will roughly double it. It varies a little from game to game but on average that is what I see since adding the 2nd card. Whether that is necessary or not is up to you, some people don't care about full max settings at 60+fps others do. I can't stand playing games on anything less than that personally and 2x 580's in SLI is the only way to get that on many newer games. I play at 2560x1440 on a 27" and it handles anything I throw at it. One card was playable, but its so much better since I got the 2nd.

Your PSU is plenty for SLI 580's. I have a 1300w but I usually pull on average 600-700w from the wall.

Cooling should not be an issue with your setup either, but your "primary" card will always run a few degrees C hotter.

GL with it and trust me 2 580's in SLI is a MONSTER machine. Most people who will tell you it is unnecessary are just jealous that they cant have them.

 

[inzone]

The resolution that you game at now (1680x1050) is not enough to tax a single GTX 580. Some would say that two 580's in sli is overkill for what you have but when it comes down to it you want what you want and your the one paying for it and if for some reason you end up changing your monitor or getting another one for dual display , then you will be glad you got the second card. There could also be a game released that requires a lot of horsepower and you will be sitting there saying bring it on. I have three of the Evga GTX 580 3gb cards Hydro Copper 2 and do I really need that many , maybe not but it is what I wanted and I was the one footing the bill so that is what I got. That's why I said before that you are the one paying so if you want it get it.
Ps; if you do decide to get qanother make sure you get the same model for sli.

 

[Seaclam]

If I decide to go to something like a 24"-27" monitor running at 1920x1080, should I then consider a second card? How much of a performance hit is there going from 1680x1050 to 1920x1080?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The single 580 GTX is not even breaking a sweat at 1680 resolution. Scaling on the 580 is moderate at about an average of 155% .... in other words, you'll average 55% higher frame rates. Here's a summary from Guru3D at 1920 1200. 1st column is single card, 2nd is 2 cards in SLI ... scaling is better on the more demanding games.

COD-MW 168 265
Bad Company2 67 108
Dirt 2 96 149
Far Cry 2 104 164
Metro 2033 33 65
Dawn of Discovery 86 112
Crysis Warhead 62 90
Total 616 953

The 3GB thing is really for multiple or large resolution monitors.....1.5 GB will do just about as well at that res.