Windowless world.

[Liam Proven]

On 9 October 2010 16:09, Michael Haney <thezorch at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sat, Oct 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM, Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> [snip]
>>
>> Hmmm. The last 3 times Mac-using friends who came to me to ask me to
>> build dedicated Windows gaming rigs for them, I advised them to
>> upgrade to decently-specced Intel Macs and dual-boot them into Windows
>> XP using BootCamp.
>>
>> Both seem very happy with the results. They use Windows for games and
>> OS X for everything else.
>>
>
> Actually, I tried to get him to buy a Mac Pro but he was concerned
> that he wouldn't be able to do SLI.  I should do more research into
> that to see if it is possible.  With only one machine though you have
> to reboot each time if you want to go from one OS to another.  With
> his setup he can switch between the two machines using just keyboard
> commands.
>
> He first tried Alienware but didn't like the pricing nor what they
> were offering either, then he settled on iBuyPower which had better
> pricing and better quality parts.  Actually, they build from
> off-the-shelf parts and don't use OEM-only stuff, so if he needs to
> replace a component he can do so easily.

No, I don't think you can do SLI.

Now, disclaimer  - I am not a gamer & don't know a lot about it. /But/
I used to write the Linux column for a magazine for overclockers and
modifiers & I know the guys there. (Still have a free contributors'
subscription, in fact!) I trust their knowledge - they are very expert
indeed.

And in their tests, SLI is in almost all cases a waste of money and
effort. 2 low-end cards don't sum to the performance of 1 high-end
one. 2 high-end ones cost a fortune and deliver little more.  SLI only
works in some games, not others; in some, it reduces performance; in
others, it doesn't work at all.

Same for AMD Crossfire.

You are better off spending the money of the 2 cards you /would/ have
teamed up on one high-end card, which will work in all games and
always deliver.

The mag says never go for SLI unless you have 1 older card & can
cheaply buy a 2nd one to boost it, or something specialised like that.
They do not recommend multicard for anyone in normal use.

So I repeat this to friends who ask for my help or advice.

True, you have to reboot to play, but that is worth it for the
pleasure of using OS X, I feel.


-- 
Liam Proven • Info & profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/lproven
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