SO I just ordered $420 in computer parts

[Mango]

I guess there is no need to justify your opinion? Ill search, I just read an article a few days ago on hard about sli and I didnt see the "its a giant waste of money." statement anywhere in thier article.

The bottom line right now is nothing needs the kind of bandwith that SLi supplies. The consensus is that in the real world there was only a few % performance increase between SLi and non-SLi systems in the reviews. By all means go buy a system, don't let me stop you. Shelling out 5, 6 or even $800 just in video cards for your system, however, is "a giant waste of money."

[Miscue]

The bottom line right now is nothing needs the kind of bandwith that SLi supplies. The consensus is that in the real world there was only a few % performance increase between SLi and non-SLi systems in the reviews. By all means go buy a system, don't let me stop you. Shelling out 5, 6 or even $800 just in video cards for your system, however, is "a giant waste of money."

[Python14]

Indeed. If you want to pay $500 for another top end VGA, $150 for the new Motherboard, $150 for a powerful enough PSU, plus decent cooling, etc.....go for it. However, don't forget, visually, you won't know the difference.

[GT]

The bottom line right now is nothing needs the kind of bandwith that SLi supplies. The consensus is that in the real world there was only a few % performance increase between SLi and non-SLi systems in the reviews. By all means go buy a system, don't let me stop you. Shelling out 5, 6 or even $800 just in video cards for your system, however, is "a giant waste of money."

I would agree if it was only a few precentage points, however, on D9 games at 1600X1200 there is a pretty large leep in performance. I have yet to read one article that says the techonology, currently, is a giant waste of money. I can understand if you think it offers little performance per dollar, but that is not what I have read from the 'pros.'

If NVIDIA is able to get their SLI certification program successful enough and if motherboard manufacturers are able to get SLI boards cheap enough, then the upgrade value of SLI is significant.Then, as the price of the 6800GT drops, it may become more attractive for you to upgrade to a second card rather than buying a next generation GPU.

[WickeDKlowN]

Yeah, for the time being, SLI is just a novelty.....as it was 10 years ago. Heck, some games don't even support or recognize SLI.

I give it 3 or 4 more gen. before SLI really becomes worth it.....and even then it will be like the difference between a stock video card and a overclocked video card with good cooling.

I'm glad to see you opted for a good power supply. A good PSU can be the difference between a decent running system and a fantastic system because despite all the other factors, a good system is just an expensive box of parts without proper power.

I'd say use whatever extra money you have for watercooling. I know it might sound like an mod for people with too much money and not enough sense, but honestly, it's one of the best things I've done for my computer. Go with good quality components (aka....buy Danger Den parts) and you will be able to take your computer to insane levels.

Also, cosmetically, don't go overboard. Computers are one area where less is more. A pair of good cathodes, some cable sleeving, and good wire management,(and if you are H20 cooling, some water dye) can be done for less the $30 and you will have a nice beautiful computer.

BTW, just my personal opinion here but the odd shaped windows are overrated. Go with a good square one and it will be nice,

Oh yeah, nice case. Not quite a PC-V1000, but still hot

I'm definatley getting a Danger Den setup at some point, that's why I've stuck with stock cooling for now. Still havn;t decided on the window, my Thermaltake just has a normal square window and it looks pretty cool where it is so I might just be lazy and do that.

[Miscue]

I would agree if it was only a few precentage points, however, on D9 games at 1600X1200 there is a pretty large leep in performance. I have yet to read one article that says the techonology, currently, is a giant waste of money. I can understand if you think it offers little performance per dollar, but that is not what I have read from the 'pros.'

[Miscue]

"Q:"is SLI really worth it"
A:No.



I could probably just leave it at that, but I'll be nice and explain. In almost all tests we have seen that two 8-pipe 6600GT's do not equal the performance of a single 16-pipe 6800GT. Since you also need to pay extra for the SLI motherboard and two 6600GT's are allready $400, we can see that it's pointless to buy two 6600GT's instead of one 6800GT.

As far as two 6800GT's or 6800 Ultras, that's just a rediculous amount of money. I'm not sure what application would require this amount of performance, so unless you're able to wipe your *** with $100 bills, I think it's pretty damn foolish. No doubt that there will be a few people of questionable genitalia size that need to do this to show everyone up though.

There's some other very good choices on the PCIe front to further compound that, such as the $300 16-pipe X800 XL which should be faster than two 6600GT's, and the 12-pipe X800 vanilla which should easily be faster than the 6600GT for the same price of $200."

http://forums.firingsquad.com/firingsquad/board/message?board.id=hardware&message.id=21356

[Python14]

I look forward to ATIs new cards. Granted, I am a tad bit of an ATI Fan-boy, yall still have to admit the new cards are a great addition to the line.

[slateman]

Thats a lot like my system. Only I got a gig of ram and a 6800 GT. It friggin rules.

The only real issue I had with PCI-E was the fact that it just isn't gonna be used for at least a couple years. Its gonna take this year to get the technology mainstreamed. Then another for programmers to start to make software that uses it. Just now they're using the shaders that Nvidia showed off two years ago. By that time two things will have happened: You'll start to want another PC and the next technology will come out. Until that happens PCI-E will be $$ too.

Still that PC will play just about any game so . . . ENJOY!!!

[Muzikman]

I love how it's the gamming industry the drives the computer industry. It means that ever 5 years I can get a bigger and better computer for cheap to run MS Word on.

[slateman]

I love how it's the gamming industry the drives the computer industry. It means that ever 5 years I can get a bigger and better computer for cheap to run MS Word on.

lol!! True, but I can admitt my addiction. Just think how bad PCs would be if we didn't have it. THat 5 year old system would be considered top of the line. All the powerful computers would be used in database management and industry. Still, you have a good point . . . .

[GT]

"Q:"is SLI really worth it"
A:No.

I could probably just leave it at that, but I'll be nice and explain. ]

Well thank you for explaining to the little people...

There is no denying that the newest applictions show a stastical signfigance for the use of SLI. Now, we can sit back and argue all night what is a better choice. The difference bewteen your choice and mine has more to do with values and absolutly nothing to do with the facts.

Does Muzikman need 1k in mobo and gpu's to run word and edit photos? Probally not, why, becuase he does not value the cost of the product to justify an unreasonible level of performance.

If the only games I played were diablo 2 and starcraft I too could not justify the cost, but you cant deny the fact that SLI, even in its infancy, is a viable alternative to the single gpu. Give it a year, I'd rather buy 2 cheap gpu's than one that cost over twice as much.

Granted everything is opnion, but have not read any articles that say that sli is "a waste of money and shows no significant performance increase in gaming. "

[WickeDKlowN]

No doubt that there will be a few people of questionable genitalia size that need to do this to show everyone up though.

I believe they would be the one's that are willing to shell out $850+ for an FX-55. Which is a mix of insanity and pure stupidity considering thre will be something bigger and better in a few months.

[Can_Opener]

Like people that buy Intel, when really the bigger and better thing is AMD.

[Cougar]

Yea, the life of computer components is usually shortlived... Its too bad I got into the AMD crowd so late, because the Athlon XP has already lost support and the 64 is where its at now. So I think this summer I'll pick up an Abit athlon 64 mobo, a 64 3200+ and an Ati X800 XT, after the next iteration of vid cards releases in the spring its price should drop pretty low.

Too bad ATI is phasing out the X800 and replacing it with the X850.