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2x 285 SLI

Post Date: 2009-04-25
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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: 2x 285 SLI
    Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 4:39pm

Hey guys

Is watercooling needed for SLI two 285's?

Cooler Master S case
1000w OCZ Power Supply
Intel Core Duo E8400 overclocked to 3.2
Nvidia 780i
4g memory 800mhz
Stage 2 Air cooling
 
I was thinking about picking these cards up. Any advice would be helpful
 
thanks
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DST4ME View Drop Down
DS ELITE
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 4:41pm
first off save yourself money and go with sli 275, difference is like 4fps but the price difference is huge.

second if you don't know how to change the heatsink on GPU then don't do it, if you do then its not needed but you will have much better temps with LC on GPU.

what resolution are you going to be gaming at?

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 4:57pm
Thanks for your response. I am looking to replace my 9800gx2.  I game at 1900 x1200 for my gaming. I am able to max everything out in Age of conan even with the *experiemental* DX10 they have set up. 
So i assume for anything SLI watercooling is needed?
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 5:12pm
LC is never needed, its a preference and offers better temps, thats all, air can handle both also just the temps will be higher, depending on your case's temp and room temp.

Crysis WARHEAD:



Far Cry 2:


you can see how little the difference is between them, this all with 8x aa and 16x af

Edited by DST4ME - 25 Apr 2009 at 5:13pm

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 5:23pm
Thanks looks like 2x 275's for me.  I am sending my 9800GX2 back to DS for RMA.  I had to send my pC back for a blown power supply got it back gamed for 3 days and have these horrible red and blue lines across my screen.  Just need something to hold me over for the next few weeks since it takes so long to get the card back.  That would be a month or more without a PC and I can't do that with work.
 
Sucks they don't make the 9800GX2 anymore. Regret buying that card now should have just gotten two 9800's because then I would at least have a card left to do stuff.
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 5:59pm
I got a evga 9800x2 but I fold with mine, so far so good, what brand was your 9800x2?

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 6:06pm

It was a Zotac. Would you suggest getting an older card since they're cheaper? or just the 2 275's?

Ahh before i forget. I need two 6pin and 8pin connectors for each card? Or am I just plugging into one? First real SLI set up without a dual card like 9800GX2
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DS ELITE
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 7:07pm
the only other thing that will actually be cheaper is the 260+ GTX. the price difference is like $70 a pop on each card for a total savings of $140, there seems to be between 6 to 10 fps difference per card. so I guess you need to decide if that is worth it for you.

you can always get the 2 x 260 and OC them and match the stock 275. but then keep in mind oced 275 should at least match stock 285.

its up to to you the 2 x 260+ look like the best deal I suppose, but that is if you are getting them from newegg, the prices on the config page here are different, if you are getting them here then go with the 275.

Edited by DST4ME - 25 Apr 2009 at 7:07pm

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 7:17pm
Thanks DST.  One more question.  This is a really noob question. Since I had the 9800GX2 I had one card SLI. With my above setup do I need to do anything or purchase anything for real Dual SLI?
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<8) slunK parade View Drop Down
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Posts: 798 		  Quote <8) slunK parade Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 7:21pm
wouldnt it save nvidia more money just to make fewer cards since theyre all basically the same  :|
all you need is an entry, intermediate and enthusiast card

all they need is 3 or4, yet they have so many

all they need
GTX 295
GTX 275
9800GTX+ or 260
then you know the real cheapo card around 70-100$

ive got a bad feeling about that GTS line of cards LOL, imo big waste of time


Edited by <8) slunK parade - 25 Apr 2009 at 7:22pm
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 7:49pm
all the GTS-s are just renamed right?

@Bonoharvey, you will need a sli bridge to connect the 2 cards together, you need to take into account that A. its best that you install them apart, this means that your bridge needs to be the long one, below I have a pic of one that is with 2 cards that are apart:





Edited by DST4ME - 25 Apr 2009 at 8:01pm

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 8:13pm
I see that I will need one more 6 and 8 connector pins. Do those come with the cards? I only see one set connected to the 9800gx2?
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 8:52pm
those are power connectors, they need to come from your PSU, the cards will probably come with molex to 6pin or 8pin adaptors.

Edited by DST4ME - 25 Apr 2009 at 8:53pm

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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 9:51pm
yes I opened my case to look and see the other connectors. They do such a good job wrapping the cables I get afraid to touch anything. Thanks again.
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 10:33pm
just make sure the PC is unplugged and the light on the mobo is out, and ground yourself before you go inside your PC and you will be fine

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<8) slunK parade View Drop Down
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Posts: 798 		  Quote <8) slunK parade Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 11:20pm
yea the gts's are 9800s i thnk
not sure if the 9800 is out of production yet, but they still have alot of retailers that have them in stock
and if theyre just rebranded cards i would guess it costs less to keep making them the original way? cus they change the outercasing ,cooler and what not


Edited by <8) slunK parade - 25 Apr 2009 at 11:22pm
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Bonoharvey View Drop Down
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Posts: 78 		  Quote Bonoharvey Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Apr 2009 at 12:58pm
1. Turn off PC make sure no power to the motherboard *lights off*
2. Install both cards then add SLI bridge.  Turn PC on
3. Install disc with new drivers.
4. Restart PC
5. Game to my hearts content
 
Do the above steps sound about right for installing SLI?

Thanks
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DST4ME View Drop Down
DS ELITE
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Apr 2009 at 5:01pm
Pretty much, after you restart PC from installing drivers, you may have to change some settings and etc but other then that you are good to go.

also remember turn PC off an disconnect power cable.

Edited by DST4ME - 26 Apr 2009 at 5:02pm

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