3D Vision and 3 or 4 way SLI GTX 680s Any Changes?
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Theree was a long thread a while back talking about how 3-way SLI and 3D version will not work together. With SLI (2 cards) 3D vision makes sense. 2 frames being rendered = 1 frame per videocard. However, if you use 3-way SLI what does the 3rd card do with only 2 frames to render?

Card 1 + Frame 1

Card 2 + Frame 2

Card 3 = ? / PHYSX

I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than I can. Basically, only 2 cards are used for 3D Vision with the 3rd being used for other tasks like PHYSX in 3-way SLI.
Theree was a long thread a while back talking about how 3-way SLI and 3D version will not work together. With SLI (2 cards) 3D vision makes sense. 2 frames being rendered = 1 frame per videocard. However, if you use 3-way SLI what does the 3rd card do with only 2 frames to render?



Card 1 + Frame 1



Card 2 + Frame 2



Card 3 = ? / PHYSX



I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than I can. Basically, only 2 cards are used for 3D Vision with the 3rd being used for other tasks like PHYSX in 3-way SLI.

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#16
Posted 04/19/2012 11:12 PM   
[quote name='Siberian_Khatru' date='19 April 2012 - 11:12 PM' timestamp='1334877127' post='1398508']
Theree was a long thread a while back talking about how 3-way SLI and 3D version will not work together. With SLI (2 cards) 3D vision makes sense. 2 frames being rendered = 1 frame per videocard. However, if you use 3-way SLI what does the 3rd card do with only 2 frames to render?

Card 1 + Frame 1

Card 2 + Frame 2

Card 3 = ? / PHYSX

I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than I can. Basically, only 2 cards are used for 3D Vision with the 3rd being used for other tasks like PHYSX in 3-way SLI.
[/quote]

Go to SKAUT profile and see his posts in other threads. He says that Just Cause 2, Crysis 2, The Witcher 2, etc...all gain normal gains when adding the 3rd card.
[quote name='Siberian_Khatru' date='19 April 2012 - 11:12 PM' timestamp='1334877127' post='1398508']

Theree was a long thread a while back talking about how 3-way SLI and 3D version will not work together. With SLI (2 cards) 3D vision makes sense. 2 frames being rendered = 1 frame per videocard. However, if you use 3-way SLI what does the 3rd card do with only 2 frames to render?



Card 1 + Frame 1



Card 2 + Frame 2



Card 3 = ? / PHYSX



I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than I can. Basically, only 2 cards are used for 3D Vision with the 3rd being used for other tasks like PHYSX in 3-way SLI.





Go to SKAUT profile and see his posts in other threads. He says that Just Cause 2, Crysis 2, The Witcher 2, etc...all gain normal gains when adding the 3rd card.

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#17
Posted 04/19/2012 11:18 PM   
I am on 3-way gtx480 (930-2000).
I didn`t set any gpu as a Dedicated PhysX card so it works using SLI profile (Batman). I`ve noticed that this way performance is way better then if you use 2-way gtx480 with third 480 as PhysX processor.

In case of Witcher 2 2-way sli doesn`t show much improvements but you can definitely feel the diference gameplay wise (it`s hardly seen when i try to find extra frame rate but it just feels like it`s way smoother).

At the moment Batman is my best example to prove 3-way sli adventage. Maybe it`s because of DX11 (which i use).
I am on 3-way gtx480 (930-2000).

I didn`t set any gpu as a Dedicated PhysX card so it works using SLI profile (Batman). I`ve noticed that this way performance is way better then if you use 2-way gtx480 with third 480 as PhysX processor.



In case of Witcher 2 2-way sli doesn`t show much improvements but you can definitely feel the diference gameplay wise (it`s hardly seen when i try to find extra frame rate but it just feels like it`s way smoother).



At the moment Batman is my best example to prove 3-way sli adventage. Maybe it`s because of DX11 (which i use).
When system is set to SLI mode it doesn`t render this way. Each gpu does not pick one frame at the same time. They all share operations - so second gpu kind of waiting for first one to deal with his job befor will be able to kick in with his.
Simply said.
When system is set to SLI mode it doesn`t render this way. Each gpu does not pick one frame at the same time. They all share operations - so second gpu kind of waiting for first one to deal with his job befor will be able to kick in with his.

Simply said.
Crysis 2 is using his own 3D engine so it is not depend on 3D Vision (it`s not involved) just plain SLI profile. Performance hit is massive when comes to 3-way.
Crysis 2 is using his own 3D engine so it is not depend on 3D Vision (it`s not involved) just plain SLI profile. Performance hit is massive when comes to 3-way.
[quote name='SKAUT' date='20 April 2012 - 12:26 AM' timestamp='1334877974' post='1398514']
When system is set to SLI mode it doesn`t render this way. Each gpu does not pick one frame at the same time. They all share operations - so second gpu kind of waiting for first one to deal with his job befor will be able to kick in with his.
Simply said.
[/quote]

I think that depends on the rendering mode. I believe AFR is most commonly used, and from what I've read they do both render alternate frames at the same time, as the name implies. There's probably a pause to 'sync' up the output at the end of each frame but if one waited for the other then I don't see how you'd actually get any benefit from SLI.
I don't have 3-way SLI so I can't prove anything, but Nvidia themselves have previously acknowledged that 3 and 4 way SLI don't scale with 3d vision. They may well scale with 3d vision surround though. This is my understanding from what I've previously read on this forum.
[quote name='SKAUT' date='20 April 2012 - 12:26 AM' timestamp='1334877974' post='1398514']

When system is set to SLI mode it doesn`t render this way. Each gpu does not pick one frame at the same time. They all share operations - so second gpu kind of waiting for first one to deal with his job befor will be able to kick in with his.

Simply said.





I think that depends on the rendering mode. I believe AFR is most commonly used, and from what I've read they do both render alternate frames at the same time, as the name implies. There's probably a pause to 'sync' up the output at the end of each frame but if one waited for the other then I don't see how you'd actually get any benefit from SLI.

I don't have 3-way SLI so I can't prove anything, but Nvidia themselves have previously acknowledged that 3 and 4 way SLI don't scale with 3d vision. They may well scale with 3d vision surround though. This is my understanding from what I've previously read on this forum.

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#21
Posted 04/20/2012 12:21 PM   
[quote name='rustyk' date='20 April 2012 - 08:21 AM' timestamp='1334924478' post='1398679']
I think that depends on the rendering mode. I believe AFR is most commonly used, and from what I've read they do both render alternate frames at the same time, as the name implies. There's probably a pause to 'sync' up the output at the end of each frame but if one waited for the other then I don't see how you'd actually get any benefit from SLI.
I don't have 3-way SLI so I can't prove anything, but Nvidia themselves have previously acknowledged that 3 and 4 way SLI don't scale with 3d vision. They may well scale with 3d vision surround though. This is my understanding from what I've previously read on this forum.
[/quote]
2d surround scales fine with 3 and 4 way sli. Although, with surround enabled you lose the option to change your rendering mode. So the default setting is always on. Turn off surround and it can be changed.
[quote name='rustyk' date='20 April 2012 - 08:21 AM' timestamp='1334924478' post='1398679']

I think that depends on the rendering mode. I believe AFR is most commonly used, and from what I've read they do both render alternate frames at the same time, as the name implies. There's probably a pause to 'sync' up the output at the end of each frame but if one waited for the other then I don't see how you'd actually get any benefit from SLI.

I don't have 3-way SLI so I can't prove anything, but Nvidia themselves have previously acknowledged that 3 and 4 way SLI don't scale with 3d vision. They may well scale with 3d vision surround though. This is my understanding from what I've previously read on this forum.



2d surround scales fine with 3 and 4 way sli. Although, with surround enabled you lose the option to change your rendering mode. So the default setting is always on. Turn off surround and it can be changed.

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#22
Posted 04/20/2012 03:03 PM   
Bit of misinformation in this thread, 3-way SLI does work in 3D, although it didnt used to in the past, back around time of GTX580 release and earlier.
Bit of misinformation in this thread, 3-way SLI does work in 3D, although it didnt used to in the past, back around time of GTX580 release and earlier.

#23
Posted 04/22/2012 01:52 AM   
It works but there is no performance increase as the 3rd card is relegated to Physx.
It works but there is no performance increase as the 3rd card is relegated to Physx.

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#24
Posted 04/22/2012 02:04 AM   
Not true, I have Tri 580's and see perfomance scaling in 3D.
Not true, I have Tri 580's and see perfomance scaling in 3D.

#25
Posted 04/22/2012 02:08 AM   
Ok I stand corrected, I just tested Metro (no PhysX), N:TW & Skyrim in 3D, and GPU usage was equal across all 3 GPU's in Afterburner, but frame rate didnt change compared to 2 GPU's. In metro for example, 2 GPU's were at 99% usage each, but with Tri they were at 66% each along with equal performance. Then tested Batman with PhysX, and of course, with the 3rd GPU being used for PhysX frame rate was increased.
Ok I stand corrected, I just tested Metro (no PhysX), N:TW & Skyrim in 3D, and GPU usage was equal across all 3 GPU's in Afterburner, but frame rate didnt change compared to 2 GPU's. In metro for example, 2 GPU's were at 99% usage each, but with Tri they were at 66% each along with equal performance. Then tested Batman with PhysX, and of course, with the 3rd GPU being used for PhysX frame rate was increased.

#26
Posted 04/22/2012 02:34 AM   
[quote name='demowhc' date='21 April 2012 - 10:34 PM' timestamp='1335062080' post='1399285']
Ok I stand corrected, I just tested Metro (no PhysX), N:TW & Skyrim in 3D, and GPU usage was equal across all 3 GPU's in Afterburner, but frame rate didnt change compared to 2 GPU's. In metro for example, 2 GPU's were at 99% usage each, but with Tri they were at 66% each along with equal performance. Then tested Batman with PhysX, and of course, with the 3rd GPU being used for PhysX frame rate was increased.
[/quote]
Thanks for putting in the time to run those benchmarks. It seems pointless to have proper scaling across 3 GPUs but no performance increase. What's up with that?
[quote name='demowhc' date='21 April 2012 - 10:34 PM' timestamp='1335062080' post='1399285']

Ok I stand corrected, I just tested Metro (no PhysX), N:TW & Skyrim in 3D, and GPU usage was equal across all 3 GPU's in Afterburner, but frame rate didnt change compared to 2 GPU's. In metro for example, 2 GPU's were at 99% usage each, but with Tri they were at 66% each along with equal performance. Then tested Batman with PhysX, and of course, with the 3rd GPU being used for PhysX frame rate was increased.



Thanks for putting in the time to run those benchmarks. It seems pointless to have proper scaling across 3 GPUs but no performance increase. What's up with that?

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#27
Posted 04/22/2012 02:47 AM   
No idea, just checked Skyrim again and each of the 3 GPU's are at 99% each at my settings (SSAA etc) but frame rate was the same /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />

Lucky I didnt buy 3 GPU's for 3D I guess.
No idea, just checked Skyrim again and each of the 3 GPU's are at 99% each at my settings (SSAA etc) but frame rate was the same /blarg.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':/' />



Lucky I didnt buy 3 GPU's for 3D I guess.

#28
Posted 04/22/2012 03:03 AM   
I used to have 3 480s. Scales good in 2d. Does not scale in 3D.Sucks I know.
I used to have 3 480s. Scales good in 2d. Does not scale in 3D.Sucks I know.

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#29
Posted 04/22/2012 04:09 AM   
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