Adventures in SLI

[d0z3rr]

Never tried SLI so I thought I would go with SLI 560s. It hasn't been great. My 650w Antec appears too weak to handle them during BF3 sessions.

I then tried hotwiring a backup PSU I had to the setup, that did not work either, after a fiew days my display was randomly going blank and reappearing, just sitting at the desktop (even though I folded on the two 560s for about an hour with no issues right after I set it up). The random blanking out went away as soon as I removed one gtx 560 from the setup.

So I decided to order a supplemental PSU from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104054

I'll let you know how it goes.

Here is what I meant by having two PSU's:

http://184.172.152.93/~stark123/images/compsetup/DSC_0023.JPG

Of course I have more issues. The current case I have cannot fit the PSU next to the second 560; it simply won't fit due to the size of the hs/f on the 560. I will now have to shell out about $170 for a full tower case. Another thing that sucks is the second 560 will be in PCIE x8 mode. I know it's not a huge performance hit, but pisses me off just enough that I am on the verge of selling my entire setup and building a 2600k comp with a 580.

Another thing is I fucked up while ordering the supplementary PSU from newegg and accidentally chose 3 day shipping. I really need the thing here before Friday so I can use it while I play Skyrim.

At this point I can safely say SLI is the biggest mistake I have ever made.

[d0z3rr]

If you're interested in how to hotwire a second PSU, you need to put a wire that connects the green wire on the motherboard connector to the black wire that is right next to it. Then all you have to do is plug the PSU in and flip its switch on the back - voila, PSU is powered on and ready to serve you.

I used to use the PSU to power a car amplifier for my 12inch subwoofer I had, until I discovered it caused earthquake like symptoms on the apartment above and next to me.

I think it's incredibly terrible design that the two x16 slots on my motherboard are so close together. When I had the 560s plugged into those slots, they were so close to each other it caused the top 560 to go into nuclear meltdown - it was approaching 90c when my computer crashed. The fan was going full speed.

[d0z3rr]

The supplemental PSU worked beautifully. Can fold on both 560's and play BF3 for hours with no issues.

[remanz]

Remember to get the new beta driver from Nvidia that supports SLI for skyrim. Otherwise one of the cards won't work.

Skyrim is pretty well made and scalable. My GTX 295 was able to run the game with "high" settings and keep it at 60fps. (max is "ultra"). and it looks decent. Comparing to another game "Witcher 2" , Skyrim is much easier on the system spec.

I am thinking about upgrading GPU as well. Either grab a 580 GTX or 590 GTX.

[Lyonheart]

I would wait for the 600 series http://www.techpowerup.com/153097/GeForce-BETA-Driver-Hints-At-First-GeForce-600-Series-Models.html nothing confirmed, but a lot of speculation of the first 600s to be out before the end of the year.

[remanz]

low end 600 series and mobile chips are due for Xmas 2011. High end 600 series will be Q2 of 2012 from what it looks like. By then I would have to get new PC all together.

GTX 590 now is for stretching my i7 920 builds a lot longer.