NVIDIA 3-Way SLI Technology Review - 8880 Ultra x 3!

[polonyc2]

When NVIDIA introduced the GeForce 8800 GTX last year, they were quick to point out the GPU’s ability to scale to additional cards. At the time, they were mum on what their specific plans were, but now we can finally reveal what that second SLI header on the GTX and Ultra is for: 3-Way SLI!

3-Way SLI is intended for the hardcore gamer who craves the very best performance, and wants the best image quality available. For this type of consumer, NVIDIA's 3-Way SLI solution clearly delivers: this is the fastest graphics platform on the planet right now...

PC Perspective - NVIDIA 3-Way SLI Technology Review - 8880 Ultra x 3!

NVIDIA 3-Way SLI Performance Preview

[fvbounty]

Can you imagne how hot that middle card would get!!!!! How would you cool those cards, not much room between them, you would have to have at least 2x120mm fans on the side panel blowing in!

[Sandog]

INSANE! I would be happy with a single 8800GTX Ultra's performance.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by Sandog

INSANE! I would be happy with a single 8800GTX Ultra's performance.

Did you notice the new 8800gts - G92 held its own against the ultra even at 1920x1200 on most games. I just looked my EVGA 8800gts 512 is out for delevery, and I think my QX9650 arrives today also, its a early Christmas!!!!!

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

Did you notice the new 8800gts - G92 held its own against the ultra even at 1920x1200 on most games. I just looked my EVGA 8800gts 512 is out for delevery, and I think my QX9650 arrives today also, its a early Christmas!!!!!

Good luck fvbounty with your new system. I can only dream of owning the QX9650 That and the new EVGA card are the most excellent choices you could make. Are you also getting the ASUS Extreme board with DDR3 or are you sticking to DDR2?

Try and take some pics if you can. Also there are new drivers at Guru3D I believe specifically for the new cards (NForce 169.11 I believe).

Also I believe that is one of the reasons the new GTS card has a slanted fan, to help in cooling next to another card. I noticed that when I saw it.

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

Did you notice the new 8800gts - G92 held its own against the ultra even at 1920x1200 on most games.

the 8800GTS is a very nice card but it still trails the GTX and Ultra performance wise...I'm waiting on the 9800 series to come out in February before I upgrade...by that time more Intel Penryn CPU's should be out as well...and maybe even updated Phenom CPU's which fixes the error found on their current batch

that's a nice system you got there fv!!...makes my system look ancient

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by Sandog

Good luck fvbounty with your new system. I can only dream of owning the QX9650 That and the new EVGA card are the most excellent choices you could make. Are you also getting the ASUS Extreme board with DDR3 or are you sticking to DDR2?

Try and take some pics if you can. Also there are new drivers at Guru3D I believe specifically for the new cards (NForce 169.11 I believe).

Also I believe that is one of the reasons the new GTS card has a slanted fan, to help in cooling next to another card. I noticed that when I saw it.

Thanks, I have the Asus P5E3 deluxe wifi and Corsair DDR3 1600 (Look at the bottom of my sig). I have my wife's rig on the kitchen table right now, I'll take hers apart and install new fans and clean up the Coolermaster case then I'll tear down mt FX55 rig and install it in her case for her then install my stuff in my Silverstone in a couple of days....By the way I downloaded new drivers for the 8800gts 512 over at Nvidia.com - 169.21 just came out on the 12th. Has soon has the EVGA gets here I'm signing up for the Step up program, I should have enought time to get the new 9xxxx series card has long has it comes out by the 14 th of March..

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

the 8800GTS is a very nice card but it still trails the GTX and Ultra performance wise...I'm waiting on the 9800 series to come out in February before I upgrade...by that time more Intel Penryn CPU's should be out as well...and maybe even updated Phenom CPU's which fixes the error found on their current batch

that's a nice system you got there fv!!...makes my system look ancient

Thanks Polonyc2, this will be my first muti core system, a big step up from my FX55 rig!!!

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

Has soon has the EVGA gets here I'm signing up for the Step up program, I should have enought time to get the new 9xxxx series card has long has it comes out by the 14 th of March..

so the step up program 3 month time period starts on the day you receive the card or the day you ordered the card?...how does EVGA know the day you receive it? people can just lie about the date of delivery in order to qualify for he step up program

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

so the step up program 3 month time period starts on the day you receive the card or the day you ordered the card?...how does EVGA know the day you receive it? people can just lie about the date of delivery in order to qualify for he step up program

I really don't know, either way its only going to be a few days either way. I'll post it here when I find out...

[SpeedDMN]

Doesn't make me happy they are pushing more redundancy. I was way more interested in a very fast sigle card they seem to be putting off. I thought I read Nvidia was dropping 3x SLi. I remember thinking that was good news.

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by SpeedDMN

Doesn't make me happy they are pushing more redundancy. I was way more interested in a very fast sigle card they seem to be putting off. I thought I read Nvidia was dropping 3x SLi. I remember thinking that was good news.

+1

The only thing SLI/Crossfire is good for is very high res gaming. Something along the lines of 1600x1200+. Too many people getting because they are trying to make up for something else that is small.

SLI/Crossfire =
1. More trash when cards go bad
2. More electricity used
3. More electricity used = more pollution
4. Price gouging because people will buy it to make up for something else that is small.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

so the step up program 3 month time period starts on the day you receive the card or the day you ordered the card?...how does EVGA know the day you receive it? people can just lie about the date of delivery in order to qualify for he step up program

From the eVGA website:
The EVGA Step-up™ Program is available to all EVGA graphics card customers who are within 90 days of their original purchase date (based upon their invoice date).

As you know, when ordering an invoice is generated. On the day that invoice is generated the clock starts ticking. You also have a copy of that invoice for your own records, thereby knowing yourself if you qualify for the Step-up program.
It works well. I exchanged my 7900GTX for an 8800GTX a year ago.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by TQ

From the eVGA website:
The EVGA Step-up™ Program is available to all EVGA graphics card customers who are within 90 days of their original purchase date (based upon their invoice date).

As you know, when ordering an invoice is generated. On the day that invoice is generated the clock starts ticking. You also have a copy of that invoice for your own records, thereby knowing yourself if you qualify for the Step-up program.
It works well. I exchanged my 7900GTX for an 8800GTX a year ago.

Thanks TQ, I just registered my 8800gts 512 yesterday and it shows me I have 88 days left on the step up program ( I bought it on 12/11/07), I also got the 2 day cross ship rma for $11, I hope I don't have to use it!