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husseyka
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2016/04/27 19:38:37 (permalink)
I have an EVGA X99 FTW and the I7 5930. I have two 980s in SLI (x16/x16) serving a ROG Swift G-Sync and a 750ti (x8) serving a side monitor. All 40 lanes accounted for, life is good.

My side monitor just gave up after 8 years (not bad) and I replaced it with an Asus 4K. Not bad but I don't think the 750ti is cutting it at 4K full screen.

If I were to drop in a 980ti for the 4K is it better to a) use a x16 slot for the 980ti and run the 980 SLI at x16/x8 or b) keep the SLI x16/x16 and put the 980ti in the x8 slot?

My other reason for the 980ti is for upcoming VR. So I guess what I'm asking is what's the best way to use 40 lanes among 3 potential x16s and still want to SLI? Who gets the x8?

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    bsmegreg
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/27 20:09:38 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby husseyka 2016/04/28 13:01:09
    If I were you I would sell the 980's and go with a 980ti SLI and then use the EVGA Step-Up program and step up to the 1080 when it comes out at the end of May or June.  
     
    Otherwise if you decide to get the single 980ti I would still step it up to a 1080 because its free.  As far as the configuration of that I would put the 980ti/1080 in x16.  Technically none of them need x8 as thats 8GB/s which is more than they need.  x16 is 16GB/s which it doesn't really help (A few frames per second extra).
     
    More on the EVGA Step-Up program: http://www.evga.com/support/stepup/

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    slayer_27
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/27 20:29:44 (permalink)
    Are you using anything GPU intensive on the 750? According to the product page the 750 Ti supports both "4K" and G-Sync.
     
    If you are only using it for display purposes, a 980 Ti would be a waste of money. You do not need a $600 card to display web pages.

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    stalinx20
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 06:39:23 (permalink)
    slayer_27
    Are you using anything GPU intensive on the 750? According to the product page the 750 Ti supports both "4K" and G-Sync.
     
    If you are only using it for display purposes, a 980 Ti would be a waste of money. You do not need a $600 card to display web pages.


    Well, he did say he was wanting to get into VR. So, a 980TI would be definitely recommended.

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    stalinx20
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 09:02:08 (permalink)
    A STEP-UP is not "free". That's very misleading. You would have to pay the difference between a 980TI and a 1080. We don't even know what these prices are going to be for Pascal. Don't get your hopes up; expect the unexpected.

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    the_Scarlet_one
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 09:22:34 (permalink)
    stalinx20
    A STEP-UP is not "free". That's very misleading. You would have to pay the difference between a 980TI and a 1080. We don't even know what these prices are going to be for Pascal. Don't get your hopes up; expect the unexpected.


    Not to mention, there isn't a drop dead release date for when EVGA can sell. Just like the 980, Nvidia sold them fora few days before other manufacturers were able to sell them, which means you could miss the window completely off of bad Intel from the forums. If you are going to move, hold at you have, and then go to 1080, or get the 980ti and be happy.


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    stalinx20
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 09:29:29 (permalink)
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    stalinx20
    A STEP-UP is not "free". That's very misleading. You would have to pay the difference between a 980TI and a 1080. We don't even know what these prices are going to be for Pascal. Don't get your hopes up; expect the unexpected.


    Not to mention, there isn't a drop dead release date for when EVGA can sell. Just like the 980, Nvidia sold them fora few days before other manufacturers were able to sell them, which means you could miss the window completely off of bad Intel from the forums. If you are going to move, hold at you have, and then go to 1080, or get the 980ti and be happy.

    I can see why the thought of it being free was said, though. Theoretically speaking, if the 980TI is $650, and the 1080 is supposedly $550, then it's free, so to speak.

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    bsmegreg
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 10:16:47 (permalink)
    Sorry if I was misleading. I should have explained it diffriently.

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    slayer_27
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 12:15:41 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby husseyka 2016/04/28 13:01:55
    stalinx20
    slayer_27
    Are you using anything GPU intensive on the 750? According to the product page the 750 Ti supports both "4K" and G-Sync.
     
    If you are only using it for display purposes, a 980 Ti would be a waste of money. You do not need a $600 card to display web pages.


    Well, he did say he was wanting to get into VR. So, a 980TI would be definitely recommended.


    But he already has 980 sli, adding a 980ti would be a waste either way. Why run 4k VR on a single card with 2 powerful cards already in sli? (I'm sure there will be adapters) Why have 3 from the same series but not 3 way sli or just titan? It's silly either way.

    If you really want a 980ti and VR, get 2 980ti for sli and sell the two 980 you have now to help cover the cost. Or wait.

    I, personally, would just wait for the new cards if you are planning on making this sort of investment especially for VR. Evga has a VR 980ti so it would not be a stretch that the newer cards will also have a VR edition. Maybe not at release but I can't see it not happening.

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    husseyka
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 13:00:35 (permalink)
    Thanks all. I really hadn't considered upgrading the SLI and then using the step-up program. That is an awesome idea. I was afraid that if I had two cards in SLI, all I could do with that setup was drive the one monitor - thought I needed another card for another monitor. What I'm hearing though is I can drive both monitors with the SLI then that's the way to go.
     
    Thanks!

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    the_Scarlet_one
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/28 14:28:01 (permalink)
    stalinx20
    I can see why the thought of it being free was said, though. Theoretically speaking, if the 980TI is $650, and the 1080 is supposedly $550, then it's free, so to speak.


    No. It's a $100 loss, plus the loss of shipping both ways, since EVGA requires the user to pay shipping for the step up.

    Buying another 980, then using it toward a stepup would save money, even if he had to pay a little more later. Rather than losing $175 after shipping, the user may spend $50-75 extra after shipping and fees.


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    stalinx20
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    Re: SLI Performance and PCI lane selection 2016/04/29 05:22:33 (permalink)
    slayer_27
    But he already has 980 sli, adding a 980ti would be a waste either way. Why run 4k VR on a single card with 2 powerful cards already in sli? (I'm sure there will be adapters) Why have 3 from the same series but not 3 way sli or just titan? It's silly either way.

    If you really want a 980ti and VR, get 2 980ti for sli and sell the two 980 you have now to help cover the cost. Or wait.

    I, personally, would just wait for the new cards if you are planning on making this sort of investment especially for VR. Evga has a VR 980ti so it would not be a stretch that the newer cards will also have a VR edition. Maybe not at release but I can't see it not happening.


     I personally would wait for the Pascal to come out, sell the 980s, and then buy a 1080, honestly.
     
     
    post edited by stalinx20 - 2016/04/29 05:33:54

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