About two Graphics cards

fOODa · 11-01-2009, 06:24 PM

Hi, i have two nVidia 8800GTs and i was wondering if they are both always running automatically, or do i have to go into my SLI settings and change it to on? Will it actually make my call of duty 4 performance be better? I get a constant 125+ with one i don't really need to use two, but i like playing around.

Is a 850w PSU capable of handling both of them running at the same time?

Is it actually worth using, or is it really there just "in-case"?

thanks !

Phædrus2401 · 11-01-2009, 06:29 PM

What's the make and model of the 850W PSU? Brand is more important than total wattage.

I don't know if SLI is automatically enabled or not, but if it isn't marked as enabled then it isn't enabled. It's something that runs all the time, not just when needed. Honestly though, the benefit from using two graphics card isn't really all that great unless you're using a very large monitor, 1920x1200 (~22") or greater.

fOODa · 11-01-2009, 06:31 PM

yea its a Coolermaster, and i do have a 22 inch monitor, ViewSonic. Some times i don't like it when playing FPS because its too much to be looking at all at once. I miss my 19''.

Phædrus2401 · 11-01-2009, 06:33 PM

What's the series of the PSU? CoolerMaster makes a few lines of PSU, some are good some are garbage. eXtreme Power, Silent Pro, Real Power Pro, etc.

fOODa · 11-01-2009, 06:39 PM

RS 850 EMBA, i think it is real power, not hundred percent sure.

Phædrus2401 · 11-01-2009, 06:41 PM

Ok, you're good on that front.

So yeah, just go into the nVidia control panel, enable SLI if it isn't already, and you're golden.

fOODa · 11-01-2009, 06:42 PM

Yep, exactly what i thought, ha. Thank you sir for your support. Love these forums!

AnteRep · 11-02-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phædrus2401

What's the make and model of the 850W PSU? Brand is more important than total wattage.

I would also recommend Antec PSUs as a stable power source. Antec's PSUs are equipped with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fans to realize the quietest working environment. Guarantee continuous output power instead of the peak power. Provide advanced protection mechanism (OCP, OPP, OVP) for the system. Use Japanese brand capacitors to ensure the product quality.

Phædrus2401 · 11-02-2009, 06:18 PM

Antec's quality has been spotty for the past couple of years. Originally their power supplies were all made by SeaSonic , but they started using other less reputable OEMs as well. Now they're moving back a little towards using SeaSonic, but there are still a lot of suspect units on the market. For that reason we do not currently recommend Antec power supplies.

11-01-2009, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
fOODa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 14 OS: xp home edition SP2 My System	About two Graphics cards Hi, i have two nVidia 8800GTs and i was wondering if they are both always running automatically, or do i have to go into my SLI settings and change it to on? Will it actually make my call of duty 4 performance be better? I get a constant 125+ with one i don't really need to use two, but i like playing around. Is a 850w PSU capable of handling both of them running at the same time? Is it actually worth using, or is it really there just "in-case"? thanks !

11-01-2009, 06:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,914 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards What's the make and model of the 850W PSU? Brand is more important than total wattage. I don't know if SLI is automatically enabled or not, but if it isn't marked as enabled then it isn't enabled. It's something that runs all the time, not just when needed. Honestly though, the benefit from using two graphics card isn't really all that great unless you're using a very large monitor, 1920x1200 (~22") or greater. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-01-2009, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
fOODa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 14 OS: xp home edition SP2 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards yea its a Coolermaster, and i do have a 22 inch monitor, ViewSonic. Some times i don't like it when playing FPS because its too much to be looking at all at once. I miss my 19''.

11-01-2009, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,914 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards What's the series of the PSU? CoolerMaster makes a few lines of PSU, some are good some are garbage. eXtreme Power, Silent Pro, Real Power Pro, etc. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-01-2009, 06:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
fOODa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 14 OS: xp home edition SP2 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards RS 850 EMBA, i think it is real power, not hundred percent sure.

11-01-2009, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,914 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards Ok, you're good on that front. So yeah, just go into the nVidia control panel, enable SLI if it isn't already, and you're golden. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-01-2009, 06:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
fOODa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 14 OS: xp home edition SP2 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards Yep, exactly what i thought, ha. Thank you sir for your support. Love these forums!

11-02-2009, 06:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,914 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: About two Graphics cards Antec's quality has been spotty for the past couple of years. Originally their power supplies were all made by SeaSonic , but they started using other less reputable OEMs as well. Now they're moving back a little towards using SeaSonic, but there are still a lot of suspect units on the market. For that reason we do not currently recommend Antec power supplies. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.