why dual video cards?

[Rulke]

Greetings,

So I will be building a new computer in a few months and Ive always just used one video card for all my gaming needs. I'm not into overclocking or anything, I just build a solid machine and things run to my satisfaction. With a game like FFXIV or Diablo3 what would dual video cards provide over just one? Anything noticeable?

[Weeks]

Get dual video cards only if you need to use a crapload of monitors, just one of the current top-of-the-line (5870) isn't enough to suit your purposes, or the rest of your system is perfectly functional and you just need a slight upgrade to your video card to tide you over until the next full system upgrade.

[Cephius]

Nowadays one video card is usually enough. However, two video cards can split the load and improve performance slightly. Some games support alternate or interlaced rendering, meaning that each card becomes responsible for every other frame or every other line on the screen. It's been awhile since I checked, but sometimes you can get about a 20% performance increase by using SLI or Crossfire.

[Akucaen]

It entirely depends on the game and if the drivers have optimizations for that game or the game was written with dual cards in mind. Figures range from a slight loss (1-5% from overhead on games where SLI/Crossfire does not work) to 50%+ gains.

[Isiolia]

Nowadays one video card is usually enough. However, two video cards can split the load and improve performance slightly. Some games support alternate or interlaced rendering, meaning that each card becomes responsible for every other frame or every other line on the screen. It's been awhile since I checked, but sometimes you can get about a 20% performance increase by using SLI or Crossfire.

It's more of a performance gain these days I think, but still not usually worth it IMO.

Unless you're using very high end cards, chances are you can just get a single card solution that'll be as good or better performance-wise, and won't have as many compatibility quirks for the same or similar money.

[fishstix]

I read a 30% preformance increase for double the cost. Keep in mind that not all games support SLI/xfire though. With ffxiv being multi-platform, I'd assume it wouldn't be but you never know. If the option is to pick 1-$300 card, or 2-$150 cards, I'd definitely always go with the single card option.

[virusiidx]

Also consider the extra power consumption and heat. If you're going for a top of the line card, then just one would do.

One reason I went SLI was because I didn't wanna shell out the extra money to purchase a top of the line card, instead I just purchased the same card, cheaper and for about close to the same performance of the top of the line card.

And yes, the game and drivers need to support SLI to take advantage of the performance gain.

[kareface]

Three words.... video.. card.. orgy..

[fishstix]

if you're shopping and looking for something good/cheap, it's sorta~ a good deal evga gtx 260 from Dell, coupon code $58BM$9$8QD81H for 25% instant off, $125 after mail-in rebate and free shipping. Note that it takes forever for your order to be processed, and THEN the 3-5day shipping.

[Rulke]

I just want a smooth playing game(s). If one quality card is enough to get me what I want, I am all for it even if its more expensive. Thanks for the input.

[Boyiee]

Currently I'm using Dual 1920x1200 monitors and one 4870X2... I don't see my current card on newegg anymore, and was debating if I should go sli/xfire (i really don't like this current card) and which cards would give equal if not slightly better performance than I'm currently getting.

I might need to get a full tower, this antec900 was so hard getting certain wires to reach around the card let alone to the mobo and other places.

[Amastacia]

The only game you'd be playing which supports dual monitors is probably Supreme Commander.

I've got a 26" 1920x1200 main display and 20" 1650x1080 secondary. A single 5870 runs everything just fine (including Supreme Commander in dual-head mode).

By everything, I include Crysis at 1920x1200, with 2x Adaptive AA, and Very High everything.

Edit: The only real reasons to go SLI/CrossFire now are for the e-penis, or to have a competitive edge in Crysis multiplayer (lol) at 2560x1600 by being able to utilize crazy maxed settings.

[sruon]

yet another GFX question but I'm being really confused.

I am about to upgrade my computer and I was going to buy a 4870X2, as i really want a competitive card this time (I often buy middle ones... 8600, 9600 etc), is it a good choice?

It's mostly for Aion, CoD MW2 (I currently play in 1024x768 as I still have a CRT... I am really old school with my 100 hertz) but about to change to a fairly large LCD by christmas

Anyway, is there some cheaper card that would allow to play these games fully in 1920x?

[Amastacia]

If you're not playing at high resolutions (like 1920x1200 or higher) the top-end cards aren't buying you anything anymore.

Unless you play a lot of Crysis, there's no reason to pony up for a 5870, 4870x2, GTX295, etc.

Your best bet if you're upgrading to a 24-26" LCD is a 5850. $250 or less and will play just about anything swimmingly.

[Boyiee]

The only game you'd be playing which supports dual monitors is probably Supreme Commander.

I've got a 26" 1920x1200 main display and 20" 1650x1080 secondary. A single 5870 runs everything just fine (including Supreme Commander in dual-head mode).

By everything, I include Crysis at 1920x1200, with 2x Adaptive AA, and Very High everything.

Edit: The only real reasons to go SLI/CrossFire now are for the e-penis, or to have a competitive edge in Crysis multiplayer (lol) at 2560x1600 by being able to utilize crazy maxed settings.

I'm not playing any games across multi monitors. I play one game at max settings at one, and have everything else I need on the other monitor (sometimes another game). Lately though, I've been noticing I'm getting a little tearing in WoW, I'm starting to get some lag that I don't want, and I think it's because of the upgrade to the 2nd monitor. So I'm looking for a way to reduce it since I'm just overly unhappy with the card, but since it still performs well. Either Dual card setup of 2 lesser cards, or I really don't know.

[Amastacia]

I still say go 5850. They're not outrageously expensive and are tremendous bang for your buck.

[Boyiee]

Xfire them you mean? Or just downgrade to the 5850 alltogether.

Is nvidia not in the ballpark right now? I went with ATI this time around for my gaming build and so far have been dissatisfied with the 4870X2 considering I'm getting tearing in WoW (LOLLLL) and haven't had any luck OCing it at all... probably just got a bad card.

[Amastacia]

Oh, I totally got you and the CRT poster mixed up because I'm an idiot.

But in any case, XFire'ing a pair of 5850s isn't a terribly bad idea if you're unhappy with the 4870x2.

I've used nVidia in most of my builds in the past, but they're just not competitive at the moment. None of their cards are as powerful as the 5800 series, and they can't effectively compete on price in the space where you'd be buying.

Edit: Not going to lie, nVidia's drivers are usually more refined than ATI's, but better drivers don't compensate for crappier hardware.

[richardd]

that 5850 is great. if i didnt already have a free GTX 285 OC+, i wouldve put my money on that card. even me, an ATI hater can give out my respect for the performance on that bitch lol

[Boyiee]

Yeah I'm looking at 5850's now, any word on when the next models are coming out? It's going to be a downgrade unless I crossfire them, so I want to make sure I get something I wont want to replace as fast as Im replacing my 4870x2