Triple-GPU Scaling: AMD CrossFire Vs. Nvidia SLI

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Two GPUs are great, but are three that much better? When it comes to multi-card scaling, can AMD finally beat Nvidia? Who really needs this much performance? We loaded a super-fast system in single-, dual-, and triple-GPU configurations to find out.

Benchmark Results: Aliens Vs. Predator

The first strike against AMD’s three-way scaling comes in Aliens vs. Predator, where overhead appears to make the triple-card configuration lose a little performance.

Multi-card scaling usually improves at higher resolutions and details, yet three-way CrossFireX still falls behind CrossFire using a pair of cards. It appears as though this title uses only two of AMD’s cards, and that might be a problem with Catalyst Application Profiles. Excellent scaling realized on Nvidia's three-way SLI setup adds insult to AMD’s injury.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.