NVIDIA Quad-SLI vs. ATI Crossfire

W1zzard · Apr 29, 2006

At this year's CeBIT the most controversial and most debated new hardware was NVIDIA's Quad-SLI, which was awarded "best product of CES" earlier this year. We had the chance to put two identical retail 7900 GX2 QuadSLI and X1900 XTX CrossFire systems right next to each other and evaluate them. There were quite a bunch of surprises.

Show full review

POGE · Apr 30, 2006

W1zzard said:
Dear NVIDIA,
I have a great performance improvement suggestion for your next QuadSLI driver release:
if ((resolutionX<1600) && (resolutionY<1200))
   DisableQuadSLI();

Lol...

OOTay · Apr 30, 2006

Wow... very nice review! the way i see it now after this review is that quad sli is a huge waste of money.

FLY3R · Apr 30, 2006

OOTay said:
Wow... very nice review! the way i see it now after this review is that quad sli is a huge waste of money.

Yeah big waste!!!

By the way awsome review!!!

Migons · Apr 30, 2006

Wah??!! You freaking bought those systems?!?! :eek:

wazzledoozle · May 1, 2006

QuadSLI is just another example of how awesomely useless sli is.

zekrahminator · May 1, 2006

Not to mention the fact that crossfire is alot better then SLI...Crossfire is like graphics card raid lol. No SLI profiles required, high framerate, awesome quality, and sometimes better pricing. 2 of ATI's elite were better then Nvidia's new beast lol. Oh yeah and crossfire doesn't require an insanely long video card

. Though in my opinion, any multi-card configuration is useless, I'm perfectly happy with my single X850XT.

thedivinehairband · May 1, 2006

Single card ftw!!!

Maybe in the years ahead I'll scope out a x800 crossfire from ebay for a lil extra juice.

Or just buy a better card!

i_am_mustang_man · May 1, 2006

FINALLY!! the best quadsli v crossifre match up i've seen! thank you!

about the results themselves, all i have to say is wow. with such a price premium and all the hype, one would hope 4xSLI would pwn, but guess not. i was really hoping it would just obliterate everything, because nothing is better for us middle of the pack gamers (as well as everyone else!) than technological advancement at the top, so it can trickle down.

oh well.

i'm wondering if it could possibly be a driver optimization issue, because it does seem to be having some major difficulties. I know that some cards increase like 10-15% in speed as newer drivers emerge, maybe for this as well (and maybe more than that too?)?

so...what are you doing with the rigs now..... lol

PVTCaboose1337 · May 1, 2006

WOW! That was helpful. Would have liked to see a single x1900xtx.

DaJMasta · May 1, 2006

The GX2s dissapoint me....

Hopefully they'll get their drivers up to par and the raw power will show itself....

i_am_mustang_man · May 1, 2006

just a random question: any chance we could get most likely the sickest screenshot ever of FEAR at 2560X1600 using fraps of a grenade exploding? i think that would be the dankest pic of all time!

newtekie1 · May 1, 2006

After some time I found that changing the "PEG Link Mode" from "Auto" (CMOS default, system shipped with it) to "Normal" or "Disabled" helped stability a lot. PEG stands for PCI-Express Graphics, so it would make sense that ASUS overtuned something in their BIOS. Nothing is known about what this option really does.

I have this motherboard(A8N32), and the PEG Link Mode option automatically overclocks the graphics cards, that is its only function. Which explains the instability.

wazzledoozle · May 1, 2006

How the hell do the cards not overheat like crazy with them being so close?
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/QuadSLI/images/card1.jpg

WTF!?!?

HookeyStreet · May 1, 2006

WOW! Awesome review W1zzard and what an eye-opener! You would think that the QuadSLi setup would destroy the CrossFire setup, this review just shows that ATi's technology still towers over nVIDIA (IMHO no flaming please

)

gR3iF · May 1, 2006

what a waste of money omg!
quad sli is sensles or even crap?
no one would play a shooter on a high res lcd

but it shows that nvidias star is falling since years

RickyG512 · May 1, 2006

im am ATI all the way, but i still say we shouldnt bad mouth this until nvidia bring out proper drivers

Migons · May 1, 2006

Here you have, real live W1zzard in action! :rockout:

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31368

Is that Rolex? :laugh:

newtekie1 · May 1, 2006

wazzledoozle said:
How the hell do the cards not overheat like crazy with them being so close?
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/QuadSLI/images/card1.jpg

WTF!?!?

The severally underclocked the cards to get them to not overheat. They are basically clocked to almost 7900GT speeds.

W1zzard · May 1, 2006

Migons said:
Here you have, real live W1zzard in action!
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31368

Is that Rolex?

no that's not me... thats theo

bruins004 · May 1, 2006

This is just like the problem Nvidia and ATI has with Crossfire and SLI in the beginning. You used to only be able to get about a 5% increase (which sucked). Now you get around a 30% increase average. I bet the same will eventually happen for Quad SLI, but thats only once they optimize the drivers. Unfortunately, there will never be a 100% increase bc there is always some overhead between the 2 cards, but it would be nice to see an 80% increase some day.

tofu · May 1, 2006

DaJMasta said:
The GX2s dissapoint me....

Hopefully they'll get their drivers up to par and the raw power will show itself....

LOL by the time they do that, I bet ATI will have quad Crossfire!!!
Too late for that. :banghead:

NVIdia the dissappointer, especially for the price you pay.

newtekie1 · May 1, 2006

The overhead on syncing 2 cards is already big enough...syncing 4 cards has to have a pretty big overhead.

Migons · May 1, 2006

W1zzard said:
no that's not me... thats theo

Damn... Thought you were Theo - all those glasses etc... :cool:

trog100 · May 1, 2006

i can give u some single x1900xtx 3Dmarks.. just add about 1200 points to the the 2006 score for the missing cpu core.. the one that matter to me is the 2005 score.. its a good general game comparison..

amd 3700+ cpu at 2.9.. x1900xtx card at 690/800.. 2 x 1 nanya memory 420 at cas-3..

3Dmark 2000 = 31237

3Dmark 2001 = 33202

3Dmark 2003 = 19254

3Dmark 2005 = 11934

3Dmark 2006 = 5385

trog

ps.. i also liked the oblivon results.. he he he.. and the ati explanation of why the x1900 runs sooo hot..

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

Processor	Turion 64 ML-34 1.8Ghz
Motherboard	Compaq Laptop Mobo
Cooling	Stock Compaq Laptop Fan
Memory	1x 256 DDR333
Video Card(s)	Radeon 200m
Storage	40GB 5200RPM HP
Display(s)	Stock Laptop LCD
Case	Laptop Case
Audio Device(s)	Onboard Realtek
Power Supply	Stock Laptop Powerbrick
Software	Windows XP Pro

Processor	AMD 3700+ SD Core @ 2.8gHz
Motherboard	DFI LanParty nf4 Expert
Cooling	Zalman
Memory	G.Skill Extreme Series (2x 1GB) PC4000
Video Card(s)	Evga 7800GT
Storage	80GB Seagate
Display(s)	ViewSonic 20.1" Widescreen 16:9
Case	CoolerMaster Centron
Audio Device(s)	Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
Power Supply	SeaSonic 600w SLI
Software	XP pro (sp2)

Processor	Athlon 64 3500+ ClawHammer
Motherboard	Asus A8V Deluxe Rev. 2.00
Cooling	Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
Memory	2x 512MB A-Data Vitesta DDR500
Video Card(s)	Club 3D GeForce 6200 128MB
Storage	Seagate 7200.7 160GB + 80GB SATA 8MB
Display(s)	Dell M770 17" CRT (!!!)
Case	Antec Performance PlusView1000AMG
Audio Device(s)	Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
Power Supply	Nexus NX-4090 400W
Software	FreeBSD 6.2 w/ custom kernel

Processor	X2 3800+ @ 2.3 GHz
Motherboard	DFI Lanparty SLI-DR
Cooling	Zalman CNPS 9500 LED
Memory	2x1 Gb OCZ Plat. @ 3-3-2-8-1t 460 MHz
Video Card(s)	HIS IceQ 4670 512Mb
Storage	640Gb & 160Gb western digital sata drives
Display(s)	Hanns G 19" widescreen LCD w/ DVI 5ms
Case	Thermaltake Soprano
Audio Device(s)	Audigy 2 softmod@Audigy 4, Logitech X-530 5:1
Power Supply	Coolermaster eXtreme Power Plus 500w
Software	XP Pro

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane @ 2.8GHz (224x12.5, 1.425V)
Motherboard	Gigabyte sumthin-or-another, it's got an nForce 430
Cooling	Dual 120mm case fans front/rear, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, Zalman VF-900 on GPU
Memory	2GB G.Skill DDR2 800
Video Card(s)	Sapphire X850XT @ 580/600
Storage	WD 160 GB SATA hard drive.
Display(s)	Hanns G 19" widescreen, 5ms response time, 1440x900
Case	Thermaltake Soprano (black with side window).
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Live! 24 bit (paired with X-530 speakers).
Power Supply	ThermalTake 430W TR2
Software	XP Home SP2, can't wait for Vista SP1.

Processor	AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE
Motherboard	AsRock M3A785GMH/128M
Memory	Corsair 4GB DDR3 DHX 1600Mhz
Video Card(s)	XFX Radeon HD 4870 1024Mb
Storage	2 x Western Digital Caviar 250Gb 16Mb Cache (RAID 0)
Display(s)	30" Dell 3007WFP
Case	Antec P180B
Audio Device(s)	Soudblaster Audigy 2 Platimun eX
Power Supply	OCZ SilentXtream 600W
Software	Windows 7 RC 64 bit (soon to be Home Premium)

Processor	AMD X2 AM2+
Memory	2GB DDR2
Video Card(s)	7900gto
Storage	80GB+120GB 7200RPM IDE + 250GB SATA2 + 500GB SATA2
Display(s)	26" 1920x1200
Case	Antec Nine Hundred
Audio Device(s)	OnBoard
Power Supply	Ultra 600W with X-Connect
Software	Vista Ultimate

System Name	Whim
Processor	Intel Core i5 2500k @ 4.4ghz
Motherboard	Asus P8Z77-V LX
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Memory	2 x 4GB G.Skill Ripjaws @ 1600mhz
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GTX 670 2gb
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256gb, WD 2TB Black
Display(s)	Shimian QH270 (1440p), Asus VE228 (1080p)
Case	Cooler Master 430 Elite
Audio Device(s)	Onboard > PA2V2 Amp > Senn 595's
Power Supply	Corsair 750w
Software	Windows 8.1 (Tweaked)

Processor	Core i7 4770K
Motherboard	Asrock Z87E-ITX
Cooling	Stock
Memory	16GB Gskill 2133MHz DDR3
Video Card(s)	PNY GeForce GTX 670 2GB
Storage	256GB Corsair M4, 240GB Samsung 840
Display(s)	27" 1440p Achevia Shimian
Case	Fractal Node 304
Audio Device(s)	Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC
Power Supply	Corsair Builder 600W
Software	Windows 7 Pro x64

Processor	Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard	AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling	Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory	32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s)	RTX 2070 Super
Storage	500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s)	Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case	Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply	eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64

Processor	Intel I7 2600k@ 4.5
Motherboard	Gigabyte p67 ud4 b3
Cooling	AC Cuplex kryos Hf
Memory	8096 Exceleram 1600@ 1333 Cl9 1.35v
Video Card(s)	Palit Gtx570@950/1900@1.063v
Storage	Ocz Vertex 3 120gb, 2tb Seagate 7200rpm s-ata3
Display(s)	Asus 24inch Lcd
Case	Coolermaster Cosmos S
Audio Device(s)	Creative X-fi with Teufel Magnum Power Edition
Power Supply	Coolermaster 700W Silent Pro Gold
Software	Linux?^^ ;P Windows 7 64bit

Processor	E6600 @ 3.4ghz 60 degree load stock HSF 1.5v
Motherboard	P5B vanilla 0806
Cooling	All stock
Memory	2x 1GB geil @ DDR-2 850 4-5-5-12(7100 sis mem bench)
Video Card(s)	Powercolour X1900XT 512MB 681/792
Storage	c:250gb 16mb 7k2 d:320gb 16mb 7k2 both WD and Sata-II
Display(s)	Acer 19" 8ms widescreen 1440x900
Case	Thermaltake skull
Audio Device(s)	X-Fi eXtreme music
Power Supply	Enermax 620 liberty
Software	xp pro sp2

System Name	Dinosaur
Processor	939 Athlon X2 4200+ @ 2.64GHz
Motherboard	Sapphire RD580
Cooling	OCZ HDT-S1284
Memory	Corsair XMS 2x1GB CE-6 DDR480 2.5-3-2-8
Video Card(s)	Zotac GTS 450 1GB 850/1700/1850
Storage	OCZ Vertex 2 60GB + Hitachi 320GB + Seagate 1TB
Display(s)	2x Samsung 740B 17" LCD
Case	Antec 300
Audio Device(s)	ALC880
Power Supply	Antec Truepower New 650
Software	W7 Pro X64

System Name	money pit..
Processor	Intel 9900K 4.8 at 1.152 core voltage minus 0.120 offset
Motherboard	Asus rog Strix Z370-F Gaming
Cooling	Dark Rock TF air cooler.. Stock vga air coolers with case side fans to help cooling..
Memory	32 gb corsair vengeance 3200
Video Card(s)	Palit Gaming Pro OC 2080TI
Storage	150 nvme boot drive partition.. 1T Sandisk sata.. 1T Transend sata.. 1T 970 evo nvme m 2..
Display(s)	27" Asus PG279Q ROG Swift 165Hrz Nvidia G-Sync, IPS.. 2560x1440..
Case	Gigabyte mid-tower.. cheap and nothing special..
Audio Device(s)	onboard sounds with stereo amp..
Power Supply	EVGA 850 watt..
Mouse	Logitech G700s
Keyboard	Logitech K270
Software	Win 10 pro..
Benchmark Scores	Firestike 29500.. timepsy 14000..

NVIDIA Quad-SLI vs. ATI Crossfire

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