Will SLI benefit Multiple Screen Setup?

[Brenchen 51]

Hi all,

 

I currently have a GTX580 which by default supports 2 monitors. I have 2 1920x1080 monitors now plugged into this card and have FSX flying on one monitor in windowed mode.

 

Now my question is: As now I am building a CPU focused computer, with room to expand (both cooling and possibly PSU) to SLi; should I stay with just the single 580 now - with a powerful CPU, will I be bottlenecked by the GPU having FSX expanded across the two monitors (kind of like getting a wider view effect)? Or in my case, it would probably be better to get an additional GTX580 and have them running in SLi?

[Clutch Cargo 384]

If I remember correctly you cannot span across two displays in a "wide view" mode. Only creating a separate, 2nd Window and drag over to the 2nd display. But that hit's you FPS quite hard. You need three displays to take advantage of Nvidia Surround. But in order to get three displays you will have to buy a second GPU (I think 680's and above allow for three displays off one card, but not the 580).

 

I have two 580's working three 27" displays in Surround - good setup. If considering a 2nd 580 check out Ebay. I picked up a factory sealed 580 for $150! Lucky I one the bid, ha!

 

Clutch

[Crewecut 1]

Get single GTX 680 4 gb edition, you can Surround on that single card. As a general rule SLI decreases FSX performance, not saying you couldn´t get decent performance, I take it Clutch is happy. I haven´t tried it, but Jet Line Systems have published their results on different setups, I trust ´em so far. http://www.jetlinesystems.com/performance.php

I´m getting the above, and I even plan to add a fourth, touch, screen.

[Clutch Cargo 384]

Just to add upon what 'Crewcut' said, I am using Prepar3D where I see an increase of performance with SLI. I see a decrease in performance when I use FSX. So yea, I am one happy camper!

[GSalden 4,656]

In FSX using SLI you only benefit in Spotplane view.

In all other views it does not add anything.

 

I somewhere read that that has been fixed in P3D for the others views.

[Crewecut 1]

Also "cockpit view" without the cockpit is supposed to benefit from SLI, or at least not take a performance hit. So, if you build a cockpit and dont need the 3D pit, SLI for multi screen setup is a go. But not for "Traveling Uncle" Bren :wink:

[gboz 157]

Just to add upon what 'Crewcut' said, I am using Prepar3D where I see an increase of performance with SLI. I see a decrease in performance when I use FSX. So yea, I am one happy camper!

 

That's great to hear.

What sort of frame rate difference (SLI/non SLI) are you getting in P3D.

Thanks,

gb.

[Clutch Cargo 384]

In FSX, with Nvidia Surround with SLI I was averaging mid teens consistently across three 27" displays. Think I was using Southern California or Las Vegas for testing areas. In P3D I tend to achieve high 20's in the same areas. I very often get 29.9 as my framerates are locked down at 30.

 

Don't get me wrong, you can still throw in enough stuff to drag P3D to it's knees too, but overall I notice right off better performance. That's what sold me to head full ojn into P3D.