Is SLI that popular?

  • Thread starter Thread starter wizzzer
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wizzzer

I've noticed on the ASUS web site, the majority of their socket 939
motherboards are SLI.
Is SLI really that popular now?
 
Is SLI really that popular now?
Click to expand...

IMO it's the motherboard equivalent of Pimp My Ride. Might look cool down
the local car park burning it up with the other kids, but the benefits are
minimal unless you *really* need to run the latest games at stupidly high
resolutions and frame rates.

Tearing up money is probably a cheaper hobby. ;-)

Andrew McP

PS I suspect adding the second slot is cheap for motherboard makers hoping
to appeal to the enthusiast market.
 
I've noticed on the ASUS web site, the majority of their socket 939
motherboards are SLI.
Is SLI really that popular now?
Click to expand...

Since nvidia makes video cards and motherboard chipsets, they figured
out by putting two video card slots on their motherboards, they'd sell
a lot of video cards. We went through this with 3dfx ten years ago
(who nvidia bought and took in their people). The very next video card
out was a single card solution that was faster than the SLI cards
together. End of SLI.

Gee, look at the 7800 ;)

I wouldn't mind this nonsense, but it takes up too much valuable space
on motherboard layouts.
 
In message said:
Since nvidia makes video cards and motherboard chipsets, they figured
out by putting two video card slots on their motherboards, they'd sell
a lot of video cards. We went through this with 3dfx ten years ago
(who nvidia bought and took in their people). The very next video card
out was a single card solution that was faster than the SLI cards
together. End of SLI.
Click to expand...

This time I suspect that SLI will stick around for a while -- That next
single card solution that is faster is a lot harder to develop since
we're already approaching some massive heat issues with video cards.
Second, we're not limited to a single AGP slot, or the relatively slow
PCI bus anymore.

Shortly after that "very next" card comes out, there will be a
SLI-capable version of that same card, giving even greater performance.

Personally, I'm just happy to be able to run two relatively decent cards
at the same time (not for SLI, just for multiple monitors)
 
Takes up space unnecessarily. SLI can be done using a single card. I guess
one point is the initial layout of dough.$300 as opposed to $600.
 
In message <[email protected]>
dawg said:
Takes up space unnecessarily. SLI can be done using a single card. I guess
one point is the initial layout of dough.$300 as opposed to $600.
Click to expand...

It's not just the initial layout of cash, the total expense may well
drop too. Two $300 cards today might be the same as a $600 card, but if
you can get away with just one $300 card until they come down to $100,
your total cost is $400 but you get to start using part of it
immediately.
 
SLI is popular for two crowds :

1 - the money is no object crowd who HAS to have the fastest latest gizmo
going.

2 - the smart frugal computing enthusiast who buys ONE hot card and then
when the next gen or two come out, buys a duplicate card to his once upon a
time hot card, installs it in SLI, and runs as fast as the latest and
greatest for a fraction of the cost.

It has pros and cons, it's really just about options for the end user.
 
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