Dual GPU or SLI

[Strikerm4]

Which is better or will give better performance? Dual GPU cards or SLI with two seperate GPU'S

[supaflyx3]

SLI with two separate cards, dual GPU cards are usually downclocked to keep within a power TDP envelop.

[Razamatraz]

That's true but the price is usually far better on the dual gpu card.

Eg GTX 590 $700
2* GTX 580 $900 - $1000

2 580s were a bit faster but not by a lot. to get the same price it'd be 2 570s which were not faster.

I also wonder, given the reduced power consumption of the 680 if they might be able to dual it and still fit that within two 8 pin connectors with no downclocking this time.

[Pabz0r545]

Isn't a 590 essentially 2 570's?

[MARSTG]

Originally Posted by Pabz0r545

Isn't a 590 essentially 2 570's?

no, is 2 x 580 downclocked chips. Downclocking is done because of the constraints of operating under simple air cooling and taking only 2 slots. Fancier solutions (the triple slot Asus MARS II) or water cooled blocks can take care of that and simply overclock the chips. Power intake has never been a problem for any card : if you need a more powerful PSU you will have thought of that before getting the videocard.

[Arinoth]

Originally Posted by supaflyx3

SLI with two separate cards, dual GPU cards are usually downclocked to keep within a power TDP envelop.

Exactly what Supa said