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Quad SLI vs 4 way SLI

Xaanix
Level 7

‎08-29-2013 07:03 PM - last edited on ‎03-06-2024 07:52 PM by Community Admin

is there ever a scenario where Quad SLI (example, 2 x gtx 690's) outperforms a (same series) 4 way flagship SLI configuration (4 way SLI using 4 GTX 680s)

I'm curious if there is any kind of advantage to having the dual GPUs on the same card.

I often see GTX 690 SLI benchmarks show up alongside GTX 700 series benchmarks, but 4 way SLI (for the 600 series) is omitted, I want to know if i cansafely assume that 4 way SLI (with 680's) would perform at least as good as 2 way GTX 690 SLI. I always assumed 4 way SLI would meet or exceed a setup such as 690's, but i wanted to confirm...
Motherboard Asus ROG Rampage IV Formula x79
CPU Intel i7 4820k Ivy Bridge-E @ 4.6ghz
GPU(s) 3 WAY SLI -- EVGA GTX 680 SC Signature (2GB)
Displays 5140x1050 @ 120hz using 3 x Samsung 2233RZ
RAM 16 GB 2133mhz G.Skill RipJaws Z
PSU LEPA G Series G1600-MA
Case Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra
Storage Vertex 3 256 (Games), Intel 320 Series 128 (OS), + 4TB HDD
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Masterbobo
Level 7

‎08-29-2013 07:55 PM

Im not entirely sure, for some reason I personally think that 2 dual gpu cards in quad sli will scale BETTER than 4 gpu's in 4-way SLI like I have. My theory is that dual SLI scales the best and 4 scales the worse so if I had to put my money on 1 it would be the dual gpu cards in SLI. 4-way SLI is actually pretty tricky, its not always guaranteed your going to increase frames in games, not sure if its cpu speed, or scaling, or both combined along with what resolution you play at, but having 4 gpus is extreme imo, I do like 3 to be my sweet spot although I know 2 scale the most.
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Xaanix
Level 7

‎08-29-2013 08:37 PM

yeah but those dual gpu cards are already SLI under the covers.
Motherboard Asus ROG Rampage IV Formula x79
CPU Intel i7 4820k Ivy Bridge-E @ 4.6ghz
GPU(s) 3 WAY SLI -- EVGA GTX 680 SC Signature (2GB)
Displays 5140x1050 @ 120hz using 3 x Samsung 2233RZ
RAM 16 GB 2133mhz G.Skill RipJaws Z
PSU LEPA G Series G1600-MA
Case Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra
Storage Vertex 3 256 (Games), Intel 320 Series 128 (OS), + 4TB HDD
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HiVizMan
Level 40

‎08-30-2013 03:16 AM

Firestrike extreme 680 4 way SLi = 11128 quad 690 = 11152 So not much in it.
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Masterbobo
Level 7
In response to HiVizMan

‎08-30-2013 09:50 AM

HiVizMan wrote:
Firestrike extreme 680 4 way SLi = 11128 quad 690 = 11152 So not much in it.


I thought the quad would have a slight edge against 4 way doesn't scale as good as 2 or 3 cards, but there are pretty much identical LOL interesting good info.
Rampage IV Extreme
55" Samsung 3D LED 1080p
19" NEC side monitor
4930k @ 3.9ghz (h100i)
Dominator GT 2133mhz 16gb
2xDomiatorGT RAM cooling fans
OCZ Vertex 4 RAID0 2x256gb
Silent Pro GOLD 1200
3xGTX 770's 4GB Windforce TRI-SLI
Sound Blaster Zx
Logitech Z5500 digital 5.1
2xLG 3D Blu ray burners
Silverstone Multi USB3 card reader
2x4terabyte WD backup sata6.0 drives
1x1terabyte WD backup sata6.0 drive
10 Antec tri cool 120mm fans
Razor Deathadder mouse
Corsair 600t
Win7-64bit
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Arne_Saknussemm
Level 40

‎08-30-2013 10:01 AM

Hmm I would have thought 4 straight cards would take it since they are a bit less constrained for power.....2 680s generally outperform a 690....but the 690 can run PCIe 3.0 with SB-E for example and four GPUs might start to show an advantage there over 4 680s on PCIe 2.0 if some of them are down on x4 lane speed.....

Of course 2 690s fit in two slots...space advantage there for some Mobos...

But HiViz's results surprise me.....
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Xaanix
Level 7

‎08-30-2013 10:23 AM

I run PCIE3.0 with x79 with 680s.


Also SLI doesnt work on x4 lanes. Not possible.... at least according to nvidia and asus reps on these forums. Thats why i went x79 in the first place (originally i was looking at the maximus V formula)
Motherboard Asus ROG Rampage IV Formula x79
CPU Intel i7 4820k Ivy Bridge-E @ 4.6ghz
GPU(s) 3 WAY SLI -- EVGA GTX 680 SC Signature (2GB)
Displays 5140x1050 @ 120hz using 3 x Samsung 2233RZ
RAM 16 GB 2133mhz G.Skill RipJaws Z
PSU LEPA G Series G1600-MA
Case Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra
Storage Vertex 3 256 (Games), Intel 320 Series 128 (OS), + 4TB HDD
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Zka17
Level 16

‎08-30-2013 11:29 AM

Two GTX680s will be always better than a single GTX690... for the single cards is easier to fit in the TDP requirements than the dual GPU card - I believe that for that reason the dual GPU cards are usually held back a little bit...

4-way SLI/quad SLI (same thing) sucks big time! It is barely better than the 3-way SLI but way more expensive... also, the drivers didn't grow up to the task yet...

So, if you want to have 4 GPUs the only rationale is to have them because you can and not because you expect so much performance gain... then, the two dual GPU cards seems to have more logic to me... you can keep them easier in the healthier power and temp target... - just for reference, if you want to heavily OC (just under water, not extreme) 4x GTX680s, you will definitely need two PSUs, there is no single one which would handle the demand...
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Xaanix
Level 7
In response to Zka17

‎08-30-2013 02:37 PM

In the marketing materials i saw, quad SLI consistently refferred to 2 dual GPU Cards (eg 2 690's) and 4 way SLI always referred to 4 single gpu cards (580, 680, 780).

Performance wise i always expected 4 way SLI to beat Quad SLI, because of the heat/lower clocks given to dual GPU cards.
Motherboard Asus ROG Rampage IV Formula x79
CPU Intel i7 4820k Ivy Bridge-E @ 4.6ghz
GPU(s) 3 WAY SLI -- EVGA GTX 680 SC Signature (2GB)
Displays 5140x1050 @ 120hz using 3 x Samsung 2233RZ
RAM 16 GB 2133mhz G.Skill RipJaws Z
PSU LEPA G Series G1600-MA
Case Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra
Storage Vertex 3 256 (Games), Intel 320 Series 128 (OS), + 4TB HDD
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Xaanix
Level 7
In response to Zka17

‎08-30-2013 04:18 PM

Zka17 wrote:
- just for reference, if you want to heavily OC (just under water, not extreme) 4x GTX680s, you will definitely need two PSUs, there is no single one which would handle the demand...


This is a good tip.

I was considering going for 4 way, i have an open slot and i have plenty of power (1600w LEPA -G and a 300W booster).

i'm not under water yet tho so that will be my next mission...

I was also considering dumping the 680s and going for 770s, though i dont believe 4 way is possible with those..
Motherboard Asus ROG Rampage IV Formula x79
CPU Intel i7 4820k Ivy Bridge-E @ 4.6ghz
GPU(s) 3 WAY SLI -- EVGA GTX 680 SC Signature (2GB)
Displays 5140x1050 @ 120hz using 3 x Samsung 2233RZ
RAM 16 GB 2133mhz G.Skill RipJaws Z
PSU LEPA G Series G1600-MA
Case Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra
Storage Vertex 3 256 (Games), Intel 320 Series 128 (OS), + 4TB HDD
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