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9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 9th 08, 03:15 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Bryan
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Posts: 8
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

Hello all,

For the past year or so I have been running an 8800 GTX and have liked
it. The only problem I ever had was in one game (Star Wars Republic
Commando - had to disable bump mapping) and it was a known issue.

I have been tempted by the benchmarks of the 9800 GX2 cards but one
little thing that I can't find much information on is bugging me.

Some folks have mentioned certain compatability problems with SLI and
older games. Can anyone elaborate on that? I don't want to get a
slight increase in performance on newer games just to cause problems
with older ones. Everyone in my family plays older games like Quake
2, the original Unreal Tournament, Quake 3, and many others.

If anyone can list any cons to an SLI based setup I would be grateful.
If there are many known issues I might just wait until they release
the next generation of cards and go that route.

Many thanks,

Bryan
  #2  
Old April 9th 08, 03:33 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Augustus
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Posts: 738
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)


"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

For the past year or so I have been running an 8800 GTX and have liked
it. The only problem I ever had was in one game (Star Wars Republic
Commando - had to disable bump mapping) and it was a known issue.

I have been tempted by the benchmarks of the 9800 GX2 cards but one
little thing that I can't find much information on is bugging me.

Some folks have mentioned certain compatability problems with SLI and
older games. Can anyone elaborate on that? I don't want to get a
slight increase in performance on newer games just to cause problems
with older ones. Everyone in my family plays older games like Quake
2, the original Unreal Tournament, Quake 3, and many others.

If anyone can list any cons to an SLI based setup I would be grateful.
If there are many known issues I might just wait until they release
the next generation of cards and go that route.


It is a waste of money to go out and switch an 8800GTX or Ultra to a 9800
GX2. The difference is simply not worth the money. I've seen guys in my
local n/g selling 8800GTX 768Mb units for $275 to $300. If you must, grab
one of these and SLI it with your existing 8800GTX. It'll outperform the
9800 GX2
http://magicboxlive.blogspot.com/200...00-gtx-vs.html


  #3  
Old April 9th 08, 04:05 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Bryan
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Posts: 8
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)



It is a waste of money to go out and switch an 8800GTX or Ultra to a 9800
GX2. The difference is simply not worth the money. I've seen guys in my
local n/g selling 8800GTX 768Mb units for $275 to $300. If you must, grab
one of these and SLI it with your existing 8800GTX. It'll outperform the
9800 GX2
http://magicboxlive.blogspot.com/200...00-gtx-vs.html


Thank you for that link, I will read it over. The main reason I was
interested in the 9800 GX2 was because I am running an Intel 975
chipset board that I am very happy with (Asus P5W DH Deluxe) and do
not want to swap out, so dual 8800 GTX cards are not really an option.
If there was an Nvidia SLI board with similar features I might
consider it, but this board wasn't cheap, so as you say the upgrade
may be more money than it's worth.

If I do decide to go SLI, what are the drawbacks? I don't use dual
monitors, but I have heard of folks having to toggle SLI mode on and
off. Is that just done to enable dual displays? If I have a single
monitor could SLI stay enabled all the time?

Thanks again, all relplies are appreciated.
  #4  
Old April 9th 08, 10:38 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Dorph[_4_]
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Posts: 2
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

Thank you for that link, I will read it over. The main reason I was
interested in the 9800 GX2 was because I am running an Intel 975
chipset board that I am very happy with (Asus P5W DH Deluxe) and do
not want to swap out, so dual 8800 GTX cards are not really an option.
If there was an Nvidia SLI board with similar features I might
consider it, but this board wasn't cheap, so as you say the upgrade
may be more money than it's worth.



Be carefull Bryan i changed my 8800gtx with an 9800gx2 on a Asus
P5W DH DELUXE as i could not run true SLI on this mobo.
But the gx2 would not work with the mobo, on boot i got garbled
grafiphs as soon a windows started - i updated to latest mobo bios,
but i didnt help. I ended up buying a new Asus Striker II Formula
mobo based on nvidia 780i chipset.
Happy now with the Gx2 - feels a lot faster than the single 8800gts.
Cant say about compability for older games, i havent tried, but
the little program called nhancer http://www.nhancer.com/ will
let u turn off 1 of the cards if u want.
1 more thing - note that instead of the 8800gtx 2 6pins power connectors
the gx2 have 1 6pin + 1 8pin - i bet your psu dont have an 8pin.
I was not able to get an adaptor and ended up buying a new psu aswell .


Rgds Dorph


  #5  
Old April 9th 08, 12:57 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Bryan
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Posts: 8
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)



Be carefull Bryan i changed my 8800gtx with an 9800gx2 on a Asus
P5W DH DELUXE as i could not run true SLI on this mobo.
But the gx2 would not work with the mobo, on boot i got garbled
grafiphs as soon a windows started - i updated to latest mobo bios,
but i didnt help. I ended up buying a new Asus Striker II Formula
mobo based on nvidia 780i chipset.
Happy now with the Gx2 - feels a lot faster than the single 8800gts.
Cant say about compability for older games, i havent tried, but
the little program called nhancer http://www.nhancer.com/ will
let u turn off 1 of the cards if u want.
1 more thing - note that instead of the 8800gtx 2 6pins power connectors
the gx2 have 1 6pin + 1 8pin - i bet your psu dont have an 8pin.
I was not able to get an adaptor and ended up buying a new psu aswell .


Rgds Dorph


Thank you very much for that information Dorph. Experiences like this
are what I was hoping to hear about. I knew that I would have to
change the power supply no matter which way I went (my 650 watt PSU is
not certified to power two 8800 GTX cards, and I knew about the eight
pin connector on the 9800 GX2). From what you have said I think I
will shy away from the 9800 GX2 for now unless I find any more
detailed info regarding the compatability between that card and my
board.

Speaking of your Striker II Formula board, what RAM did you decide to
use? I have four one gig sticks of Kingston HyperX 800 MHz memory
that I am using now. For the 1066 MHz bus CPU I am using now (QX6700
Core 2 Extreme Kentsfield) this memory has worked fine. The one
advantage I could see to upgrading the motherboard would be
compatability with the newer 1333 MHz bus CPUs. Maybe that would
convince me to spend over $500 (motherboard and PSU) just so I could
swap out a or add a video card. If I did that though, I would
probably just pick up another 8800 GTX since the board would run SLI.

Thanks again for all the info. I really appreciate it. If anyone
else has any experiences that they want to add I would be greatful to
hear them.

Bryan
  #6  
Old April 9th 08, 11:50 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Dorph[_4_]
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Posts: 2
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

Speaking of your Striker II Formula board, what RAM did you decide to
use?


I already had 4 sticks 1gb corsair XMS2 pc6400 in the P5W DH so those
are the ones in my Striker II aswell. If i had to buy new RAM i would have
chosen an mobo based on the newest nvidia chipset 790i and then DDR3
RAM.

Dorph


  #7  
Old April 10th 08, 08:54 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
DRS
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Posts: 588
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

"Bryan" wrote in message
news
[...]

are what I was hoping to hear about. I knew that I would have to
change the power supply no matter which way I went (my 650 watt PSU is
not certified to power two 8800 GTX cards,


Your system would have to be unusually heavily loaded for any decent 650W
PSU to have difficulties with 8800GTX SLI. Together they only draw peak
24.2A in 3D mode. Don't be fooled by Nvidia's greatly exaggerated PSU
requirements. They're just trying to protect themselves.


  #8  
Old April 11th 08, 12:50 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Bryan
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Posts: 8
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)


are what I was hoping to hear about. I knew that I would have to
change the power supply no matter which way I went (my 650 watt PSU is
not certified to power two 8800 GTX cards,


Your system would have to be unusually heavily loaded for any decent 650W
PSU to have difficulties with 8800GTX SLI. Together they only draw peak
24.2A in 3D mode. Don't be fooled by Nvidia's greatly exaggerated PSU
requirements. They're just trying to protect themselves.

DRS, if Power (wattage) is equal to voltage times current, then 24.2A
X 12V comes to 290.4 watts per card. However I have seen reviews
stating that the cards draw 165W each, so I'm not sure what to think.

I do know that the power rating of a PSU is devided amongst several
different output rails, so I can see where someone might get in
trouble just taking into account the total wattage of a PSU.

I am always in need of spare parts for projects here and there, so if
I can't find out for sure if my Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W
can't handle the load I don't mind buying another PSU.
  #9  
Old April 14th 08, 01:52 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
DRS
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 588
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

"Bryan" wrote in message

are what I was hoping to hear about. I knew that I would have to
change the power supply no matter which way I went (my 650 watt PSU
is not certified to power two 8800 GTX cards,


Your system would have to be unusually heavily loaded for any decent
650W PSU to have difficulties with 8800GTX SLI. Together they only
draw peak
24.2A in 3D mode. Don't be fooled by Nvidia's greatly exaggerated
PSU requirements. They're just trying to protect themselves.

DRS, if Power (wattage) is equal to voltage times current, then 24.2A
X 12V comes to 290.4 watts per card. However I have seen reviews
stating that the cards draw 165W each, so I'm not sure what to think.


24.2A for 8800GTX SLI equals 12.1A per card, or 145W each.

I do know that the power rating of a PSU is devided amongst several
different output rails, so I can see where someone might get in
trouble just taking into account the total wattage of a PSU.


Older PSUs tend to a different 3.3v/5v/12v balance to newer ones and often
lack sufficient 12v capacity full stop, but what you say about individual
rail capacity is also true.

I am always in need of spare parts for projects here and there, so if
I can't find out for sure if my Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W
can't handle the load I don't mind buying another PSU.


Annoyingly, Antec don't give the TP3's real 12v capacity. Each 12v rail is
a nominal capacity of 19A but you'll never get 19A on all three rails
simultaneously (12v * 57A = 684W). I still wouldn't be unduly concerned.
8800GTX SLI was demonstrated to run on a (brand new) 500W PSU early in the
piece.


  #10  
Old April 14th 08, 02:55 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia
Paul
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Posts: 13,364
Default 9800 GX2 question (any known SLI issues)

DRS wrote:


Annoyingly, Antec don't give the TP3's real 12v capacity. Each 12v rail is
a nominal capacity of 19A but you'll never get 19A on all three rails
simultaneously (12v * 57A = 684W). I still wouldn't be unduly concerned.
8800GTX SLI was demonstrated to run on a (brand new) 500W PSU early in the
piece.


In small print, under the table, it says 12V @ 52A for the three rails combined.
Which means, the other rails would be very lightly loaded, for that to work.

A more realistic number, would be to take 650W, subtract representative loading
caused by the other rails, and divide the result by 12V. Maybe somewhere in the
40-45 amp range or so. And that is assuming the thing will run up to 650W total,
without popping.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...371-001-14.jpg

Paul

 




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