SLI for SCII

Is Starcraft 2 likely to support SLI? I'm getting a new computer soon, and I'm deciding which video card(s) to buy. I want to get two GTX 260 core-216's, as they will run the games I plan on playing (Crysis, GTA IV, Far cry 2, Dawn of War 2, WoW(I know it doesn't support multiple GPU's, but even a single 260 is overkill for it) and others) with ease. The other choice is the GTX 285. Two 260's outperform a 285 by quite a bit (about 20 fps on max settings in Far Cry 2), but SCII is one of my most anticipated games, and I don't want to be screwed over on the framerates. The prices are pretty close, but I'm leaning on the 260's, as I said before. Could someone tip me all the way toward them or at least even the playing field for the 285 by letting me know about SCII and SLI?

Tech forum? Seems like it's more for off topic tech stuff, but I don't know (I'm new to this forum) :err:

 

'Sup, welcome to the forums.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure SLI and CrossfireX will be supported. I have a 2x Sapphire Radeon HD4850 2x512mb and it runs like a charm *-*. I can run crysis at full graphics and I'm pretty sure It gives a lot more (specially if you pair up your GPU's with a good quad core processor)

Also, keep in mind this is a RTS.. as much as they'd want to improve the graphics, they need to tone it down a bit otherwise it would be unplayable if several hundred units clustered on the screen... so It would be safe to assume that any mid-to-high end card (specially 2 if you're considering SLI) will run this game perfectly.

Be sure to compliment the card with a good cpu and RAM though, otherwise you'll have a bottleneck.

 

Yeah, I'm getting a nice gaming computer. 6 GB G-Skill DDR3 1600MHz RAM and Core i7 920 processor. I figure it will support SLI, as it's a modern game, but like I said, I don't want to lose a third my fps if it doesn't (scaling for SLI and not being only GPU-based). But to be honest, I might opt for the 260's even if it doesn't, since they're so much better than the 285 in other games. I need to be pretty future-proof (which is why I'm getting the DDR3 RAM and i7; they have newer technology, so things will be more optimized for them later). Anyone else have info on support for SLI?

 

Blizzard hasn't released any specs yet, but like Maelstrom said it is a pretty safe bet that crossfireX and SLI will be supported. You have to remember though this is Blizzard they are designing the game to work with less than a third of what you plan to have as far as computer specs go, so you should still be playing the game at pretty high settings even if SLI and crossfire aren't supported.

 

Cool :twitcy: I thought the specs might be moderately high from seeing the battle reports. Although I guess it doesn't have the physics of more demanding games like Crysis and Far Cry 2, which explains some of the lesser hardware requirements. A single 260 will probably run it fine, but since it's modern, I'll likely be getting the full benefit of two. At least, I hope

 

I hope so too! GTX 295 here... The only comfort I could find was in the fact that I can run Crysis at full blast as well (at 1680x1050 anyway). You have to think that, as gorgeous as SC2 is, it's nowhere near as demanding as Crysis in any way. We should be fine at full blast.

 

Yes, I really want to get the full effect of Crysis and GTA 4. Getting 10 fps more on max compared to the 285 really makes me want the 260's even if I do have slightly less on other games :yes: And according to a test at a site who's name escapes me, the SLI'ed 260's perform 20-30 fps better in Left 4 Dead, Far Cry 2, Crysis Warhead (original Crysis wouldn't be as much difference in fps since it's not very optimized), and Call of Duty: WaW, being about par with the 295. That's 30%+ better in some of the games I'm going to play.

 

i will be getting about the same computer as you. maybe better depending on what i want to spend. but im curious as to which brand you will be going with? or will you be building it yourself?

 

I'm going to build it myself. I think I'm going to go with two http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150330 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150361. I'll probably go with two Black Editions unless reviews have some major cons like heat or being unstable. I'll have to do some homework.

 

imo multi card solutions really aren't worth the extra heat or the sometimes compatibility issues with some games, unless you want to game at 2560 X 1600.

For the amount you want to spend itd be easier to a get a BFG or EVGA preoverclocked GTX 285..

 

The case I'm going to get has four 120mm fans and two 140mm fans. I can use the nVidia tool download to turn the fans to 100% on the 260's, and it will be in a well ventilated area. I don't think heat will be too much of a problem. I'll still look around, but from the look of it now, two 260's will deliver better performance and at a better value when compared to a 285. I'll have an extra copy of CoD:WaW and Far Cry 2 to sell, if I can, so that makes it even more alluring

Oh, and about compatibility. The only game I think I'll have lesser performance with is WoW. But a single 260 is plenty to get ultra and if not, at least ultra with one tick off of shadows. If SCII doesn't support SLI, that's a pretty big punch to the face, but at least I'll have better performance in all my other games. When I get the new system, I'm getting quite a few games to play: Crysis Maximum edition (Crysis, Crysis Warhead, and Crysis Wars), CoD:WaW, Far Cry 2, Dawn of War 2, GTA 4, Left 4 Dead, and I already have WoW. I obviously plan to buy SCII once it comes out; that's why I created this thread . All of the games on that list support SLI except for WoW and maybe SCII.

 

and your gamming on a 30'?

 

I'm not going to be on a 30", but I need to be somewhat future proofed. I don't want to get anything new for a couple years. I could get a single 260 now and another later, but I don't see much reason in that. I'd rather have a kickass computer now and a decent one later

Edit-I'll be on a 23" 1920x1080

 

Just save up for a GTX 295, that will last years and you won't have to deal with possible sli issues.

Which reminds me, your power supply is?

 

Two 260's are within 5% of the performance of a 295...for a few hundred less. Sometimes the 260's are even 5% better depending on scaling of the game.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

Edit- I recently found this site that has a great comparison of single and multiple GPU selections: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=1

 

Hey guys, i just baught an acer with the new core i7 920, 12gb of DDR2 ram, radieon 4850 512mb graphic card but it may be the 1024mb if the box is more accurate then the poster at bestbuy. i also got a 25.5in HP lcd flat screen monitor with 2 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports. the computer also came with norton 360 and 3 year best buy warrenty for $2,300 oh and a free wireless mouse.

do u believe that is a good deal? and or did i over invest for SC2 and D3... also will i be able to play future games succesfully on it?

let me know what u think plz

 

This thread is kind of dead, but I'll give my two cents anyways. That seems like an amazing PC, but it looks as though the RAM is overkill and the video card will bottleneck it. For SCII, I think it'll be overkill, but that's not necessarily a bad thing once you realize that it can run much more demanding games. If the card is indeed 1GB, it should run pretty well on that monitor, but at 512MB it may be a bit under par. The extra video RAM of a 1GB would really help with the higher resolutions that it can support. I guess you'll find out only with use if the hardware is of good quality and if it was worth it. If you can overclock the 920 without much trouble and maybe sell the 4850 in order to get a higher end card or get an additional 4850, that's a great gaming computer. Even if not, you'll still be able to run very demanding games that are out now at med-high easily. :yes:

 

okay, thanks. i believe tho that the mother board doesn't support SLI or Crossfire but thats not terriable thing if i just buy a really high end single graphics card but i will check this all out tomorrow when i get my pc.

 

Cool The best single GPU is the GTX 285 (EVGA FTW edition is the best; it's factory overclocked). The GTX 295 is the best single card, but it's two GPU's on two PCB's. There is a co-op edition that has two GPU's on a single PCB that has identical performance to the normal dual PCB version when stock clocked.

 

4870x2 is so much better than 295 in terms of bang-for-the-buck.
And 4890x2 is going to rock the floor.

But it needs a ton of power.