Nvidia released a new beta driver to improve SLI performance with Crytek's 1.1 patch for Crysis. The only problem is, the game's performance is worse with 3-way SLI at a resolution of 2560x1600. We try to get to the bottom of this mystery.
You switched the color of the graphs on the second page. On the first blu means on, on the second blue means off. Is someone intentionally trying to confuse readers?
Surprise, surprise. This is why everyone has been recommending against tri-SLI. Even when it does show improvements over SLI, the differences are almost negligible over a dual-card SLI... especially when you consider the $ / frame ratio that the last card will often net you (or in some cases, take away).
Before any more PC builders / Nvidia try to push this any further, they really need to put more effort into getting it to actually improve performance by some worthy amount.
I know someone is going to argue and say it's the game developers fault, etc. etc. Well, Nvidia needs to get their butt going and encourage the game devs. to support their setups. By not doing so, they make their so called "Enthusiats-level" parts look terrible.
My $0.02.
Message edited by rgeist554 on 02-08-2008 at 02:09:18 PM
You switched the color of the graphs on the second page. On the first blu means on, on the second blue means off. Is someone intentionally trying to confuse readers?
I noticed this too. I had to take a second look for it to make sense.
i think below 30 is fine depending on if you are talking averages or heavy fire fights. I've played plenty of games at 25 fps in the past as I've never had the best equipment. And if it's a firefight heavy game, I usually either turn the graphics down or just lower my resolution from 1280. So if 25 fps is what happens when I'm being shot at by 5 or 6 guys and a tank all at the same time; I'm fine with that. As long as it's 30 while I'm walking through the jungle.
Now, what i want to know is why the concern over a 2560x1600 resolution? Do the majority of PC gamers really run their games at that resolution? Hell, I have a better question: how many PC gamers have monitors that support that resolution?
If I could get 30 fps with all the settings on very high and no AA or AF at a resolution of 1280; then to me that rig is running pretty well and i'd probably wouldn't even think about upgrading for a year or two. However, spending on my PC isn't as much of a priority as it was before and it was never that high to begin with.
Well you have to admit that the results are impressive.
BUT
Once again, more stuff that a lot of us wouldn't and couldn't buy. Up to now it is still hard to justify buying two slower cards, when one faster card is actually cheaper and would consume less power. Also some people don't consider the additional cost of getting an SLi/Crossfire board which would usually run you $200 above, a good psu $130+, and additional cooling. When in a single card solution would run you a board at around $150 or possibly less, and probably a $70~100 psu.
I’ve been running with SLI 8800GTX’s for almost a year and then went to 3 last December. I started out with SLI 7800GT’s before that and can tell you it made all the difference in the world visually and for game play. When I bought the 8800’s I also got a 24 inch Acer and started running all my games in 1920x1200 and can tell you for me it was well worth it. There isn’t a game I have that I can’t play at max setting with full AA & AF except Crysis. The only thing I can’t turn on in Crysis AA or AF other then that I run it with very high settings at 1920x1200 with this result.
Time Demo Play Started, (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
Time Demo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 69.55s, Average FPS: 28.76
Min FPS: 17.50 at frame 261, Max FPS: 39.98 at frame 980
Average Tri/Sec: -15067940, Tri/Frame: -523954
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.75
Time Demo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 64.67s, Average FPS: 30.92
Min FPS: 17.50 at frame 261, Max FPS: 41.78 at frame 95
Average Tri/Sec: -15885242, Tri/Frame: -513673
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.78
Time Demo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 65.04s, Average FPS: 30.75
Min FPS: 17.50 at frame 261, Max FPS: 42.84 at frame 61
Average Tri/Sec: -15745457, Tri/Frame: -512060
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.79
Time Demo Run 3 Finished.
Play Time: 64.82s, Average FPS: 30.86
Min FPS: 17.50 at frame 261, Max FPS: 42.84 at frame 61
Average Tri/Sec: -15800044, Tri/Frame: -512049
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.79
Time Demo Play Ended, (4 Runs Performed)
I also noted that when I had fraps running it ran slower and as soon as I shut it off the frame rate went up. I think there may be a memory leakage problem because during game play after a while the frame rate would drop to 7, 8 frames and I’d have to back out to the main menu then start again and everything would be ok.
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ASUS Striker II Extreme , C2D Q9450, 4 Gig Memory, EVGA 8800GTX Triple SLI, Thermaltake 1000W PSU, Thermaltake Armor + Case, Acer 24" AL2416WD LCD, Water Cooled, 12 Foot DVI Cable, Vista 64 Bit SP1
Please someone please tell me why someone would review a brand new tech on beta drivers? This is like wondering why a 1 week old baby cant do your taxes for you.
I understand that you have to use the Nvidia Drivers but in this case they don't perform correctly, i am using the 173.26 and works fine in 3 way SLI in crisis with the max res in a 47 inch westinghouse i can refer u to this web the have the 171 i never test them but according to the Nvidia partners they have more support for the 3 way SLI
I personally bought a 780i board. Unfortunately I have two 8800GT's and Nvidia forgot to add 3 way SLI feature to these cards. Seriously what was Nvidia thinking? Why would they release new cards than release a mobo that wont even support three of them while the older G80 will? Stupid! What are they thinking?
Now, what i want to know is why the concern over a 2560x1600 resolution? Do the majority of PC gamers really run their games at that resolution? Hell, I have a better question: how many PC gamers have monitors that support that resolution?
You know, if you can afford tri-SLI, you probably also have a 30+" monitor.
Please someone please tell me why someone would review a brand new tech on beta drivers? This is like wondering why a 1 week old baby cant do your taxes for you.
Do you say that about all those chinese reviews of unreleased hardware?