Triple-GPU Scaling: AMD CrossFire Vs. Nvidia SLI
Table of contents
- 1. Is Multi-GPU The Game Changer?
- 2. Test Settings
- 3. Benchmark Results: 3DMark 11
- 4. Benchmark Results: Aliens Vs. Predator
- 5. Benchmark Results: Crysis
- 6. Benchmark Results: F1 2010
Two GPUs are great, but are three that much better? When it comes to multi-card scaling, can AMD finally beat Nvidia? Who really needs this much performance? We loaded a super-fast system in single-, dual-, and triple-GPU configurations to find out.
The battle for GPU supremacy is a bit of a waiting game. The recent launch of AMD's Radeon HD 6990 (AMD Radeon HD 6990 4 GB Review: Antilles Makes [Too Much] Noise) and upcoming introduction of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 590 help demonstrate.
Roughly every six moths, two companies with similarly-capable products wait to see what the other one will showcase, hoping to trump that introduction a few days later by tweaking the clocks, power, and configuration of their own product. Both firms use these delays to build anticipation among followers. Though, as that very same 6990 story showed us, being a "fan" of either company is just silly. Why make excuses for one design team's poor execution and then slam the competition for the very same thing?
Yet, in spite of the hysteria, the past few GPU launches have barely budged the performance bar. For those who prefer to play at high resolutions without giving up any of a modern game’s splendour, multi-GPU configurations (and that includes the latest and upcoming dual-GPU cards) are still mandatory.
Launch articles rarely include multi-GPU tests, partly because most reviewers have only one card. The few reviewers that do get multiple cards often find SLI and CrossFire bugs persisting until two or three software revisions after a new card is launched, leading to hopeful comments from loyal enthusiasts like, "just wait until they get their driver situation worked out!"
As a result, when we as reviewers get asked about multi-GPU scaling, it's often really hard to answer definitively. The real data has to be collected once availability is more stable, and after driver problems have been more thoroughly addressed.
It's Time To Explore Multi-Card Scaling
Today’s question isn’t which single-GPU card is best, but which cards operate best in pairs and trios. Currently, the least expensive AMD solution to provide three-way CrossFire support is its Radeon HD 6950 2 GB.
The closest competitor is Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 570 1280 MB, a model that also represents its cheapest-current three-way SLI configuration. Anything less and you only get a single SLI link, support two-way setups.
We've already seen fantastic scaling from three-way SLI, so perhaps the biggest question is whether AMD’s scaling had really improved to the point where it can yank the trophy out of its rival’s hands. We've seen two-way numbers that suggest yes, in fact, Radeons work much better together now than in the past.
Latest Graphics Cards News
- 20/05 – Qualcomm Hires Former AMD CTO Demers
- 18/05 – Nvidia Responds to GeForce 600 Series V-Sync Stuttering Issue
- 18/05 – Behold: Here Are The First Unreal Engine 4 Screens
- 17/05 – Nvidia Debuts GK110-based 7.1 Billion Transistor Super GPU
- 17/05 – GE Announces Kepler Graphics Card for Military and Aviation
Latest Graphics Cards reviews
- 18/05 – Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: May 2012
- 10/05 – Best Graphics Cards For The Money: May 2012
- 10/05 – GeForce GTX 670 2 GB Review: Is It Already Time To Forget GTX...
- 09/05 – Video Teaser: Radeon HD 7800 Series Remains A Solid Value
- 08/05 – Benchmarking AMD's 768-Shader Pitcairn: Not For Public...
This is a great bit of evidence for amd - but why know price comparison - the fact that at the moment in the uk a 2gb 6950 can be had for £205 on ebuyer versus the cheapest 570 (£270) should be mentioned. I'd be interested to see what results the 6970 would have produced seen as its priced more in line with the 570. Whilst your there you could have thrown in the 580's too, for a proper enthusiast article.
@shennan19
well at 2560x1600 you may be right but in most cases and for most customers 2x570 are as good as 3x6950, but they're cheaper, they draw less power and you get PhysX, CUDA and stereoscopic 3D
Well on behalf of the eight or so of us that might actually bother to do this, thanks for the effort.
Well this was obviously written by an AMD fan wasn't it?
@arrrrrere - the 2 570's only beat 2 6950's at 1680 x 1050 - but if your going to spend £540 on a pair of cards why would u use a monitor that small? At 19020 x 1080 there is less than a 10th of frame in in the 2card setups with anti aliasing (which again you'd expect to use for a system with so much grunt) - but cheaper and using less power on the amd setup. I see your point about 3d and physx but your paying extra for those two features.
^^ sorry 1920 x 1080
Nvidia's three-way SLI setup adds insult to AMD’s injury