Current efficiency of SLI

[kileab]

Hi,

 

I made a new rig to run IL2 BOS on a 4K screen.

 

i7 6700K

Asus Z170 Pro Gaming

32Go DDR4 3200 Mhz

MSI GTX 1080 ARMOR 2C OC

Corsair RM650x 80PLUS Gold

 

I can't get constant 60 fps in ULTRA with SSAO and HDR on, its running good without SSAO and HDR.

One or two years ago, I was running BOS with a SLI of 780Ti on a 3440*1440 screen, I wasn't very convinced of the efficiency of SLI because the game was running the same with 1 or 2 cards and I replaced them with a single 980Ti.

 

My question is for current users of SLI setups : Is the current implementation of SLI ok now ? Does a second 1080 card will upgrade significantly my graphic power ?

Please I don't ask if SSAO and HDR are usefull, I'm only asking if SLI works good now in extreme settings. I'd like to have a margin of power to activate for example the 4x sparse grid supersampling.

 

Thanks a lot.

Edited July 21, 2016 by -IRRE-Biluf

[Dutchvdm]

I don't think a second 1080 is going to give you a big enough boost. There is talk about going to DX11 and i would wait for that. If you want to improve you're fps i would suggest you OC your I7. I went from 4.0 to 4.7 and it helped quiet a lot. 

 

Bottomline.. Until they leave DX9 some extra GTX's isn't going to do much extra.

 

And i must add, with the upgrade to 64bit my framerate is constant between 60 to 100 (Running in 1080 on Ultra). Even higher when all the way up in the sky. It only drops with large numbers of AI aircraft. But this is a known thing.

 

When does your framerate drop below 60?

 

Grt M

Edited July 21, 2016 by I./ZG1_Martijnvdm

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

This game likes overclocked CPUs like no one else. I have mine at 4,7 Ghz, on old i5 2500K 3,3 nominal clock, that oc gived me more fps than upgrade to dual gpu graphics card.

[GrendelsDad]

I have 2 980ti's and I stay above 60 online all the time. If I just run 1 I get 30 on the ground and 50-60 in the air. So it does really help min. Frames at large resolutions. The catch is I do not use ssao but I have HDR on. I too have tried with 2x sgaa and this will let me stay above 60 most of the time. For me at 4k I do not need AA at all but that is personal preference I believe. I wish I could solidly answer your question, but from my experience you would be able to stay above 60fps 99% of the time with 2 1080gtx cards. SLI may make no difference at low resolution but up here in 4k its the only way to get that magic 60fps. Really nice rig btw.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

Remember that if CPU is hogging yours system you wouldn't have any benefits in any resolution from SLI. At 4k SLI can be helpfull without a doubt.

[Dutchvdm]

These topics are always difficult. 

 

"Your mileage may vary" 

 

In the end if you really want that second GTX, you're going to buy it anyway. 

 

@GrendelsDad: More GPU power does help with high resolutions. As it should! But i would still be afraid of the framedrops in intense AI scenario's. And that is afaik DX9 bound.

 

Grt M

[kileab]

Thanks GrendelsDad, my screen is a 43', AA helps a lot. If I run all max, i'm like you, 50-60 in the air, I want more

If you deactivate VSync, what percentage of fps do you gain between 1 and 2 cards ?

 

@Martijnvdm : DX9 is a good point. But who knows when they go with DX11 (or DX12/Vulkan, let's dream).

 

In the end if you really want that second GTX, you're going to buy it anyway.

:D

Edited July 21, 2016 by -IRRE-Biluf

[Picchio]

[GrendelsDad]

Biluf I will try to run some compairison this evening with and without Vsync.

[kileab]

thank you

[Dutchvdm]

I run without V-Sync. Desktop and game resolution are the same and V-Sync doesn't do anything for me. The frame rate is a bit better, but it's definitely no game changer. 

 

Grt M

[kileab]

The goal here is to measure the gain obtained by activating the second card.

 

As a reminder, this topic is about "Current efficiency of SLI"

Edited July 21, 2016 by -IRRE-Biluf

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

Biluf I will try to run some compairison this evening with and without Vsync.

What is the point for doing this ?

[GrendelsDad]

I think he is just more interested in the results from an SLI setup I think Tomcat.  I am sure my results will reflect yours.  But SLI can be weird so I will still give it a go later.  I will say Tomcats and Martj suggestion of OC the CPU will probably give that boost above 60fps he is looking for.(with 2x1080gtx that is)

Edited July 21, 2016 by 6./ZG1_GrendelsDad

[SharpeXB]

I am running BoS in 4K and Ultra with everything enabled HDR SSAO 2xAA 4x distance etc.

when I tried it with a single Titan X I couldn't get a constant 60fps so I ended up adding another one. SLI works fine.

In heavy CPU situations like big dogfights the extra GPU power won't come into play but, OP you seem to have that covered with the 6770K

[Dakpilot]

Worth a read on some info on SLi and effects from CPU

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-what-is-the-fastest-gaming-cpu

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[SharpeXB]

Ran some tests

Ultra Graphics, 3840x2160 SSAO and HDR On, Landscape 4x AA 2x

Moscow Autumn Map

system specs below

 

The CPU limited scenario was on the runway parked with a flight of 4 Ju-88s

 

SLI       Min 27 Max 51 Avg 40

1GPU  Min 29 Max 39 Avg 34

 

You can tell the scenario is CPU limited because reducing the resolution to 1920x1080 gives the same performance as UHD

SLI 1080p Min 28 Max 48 Avg 40

 

GPU limited scenario, free flight

SLI       Min 90 Max 102 Avg 97

1GPU   Min 63 Max 81  Avg 70

 

So in the CPU limited situation, many objects and physics, AI etc. SLI doesn't offer any boost

But in other situations where the GPU governs the benefit is about 40%

Edited July 22, 2016 by SharpeXB

[GrendelsDad]

Sharpe please do not take this as a flame but here are my results.

60fps all flight... this is with SLI on

 

8 109s on the runway...8 P-40s approaching head on at 1500m

 

4096x2160 SSAO off HDR on  no AA landscape 4x

 

I will try to match your settings and see what I get too.

 

Same resolution with SLI off

38-45 fps when looking around on the runway but hits 55-60 in the air after climbing a 100m or

 

Same resolution with SLI on

SSAO on HDR on 2AA in game 4x landscape 40-50 looking around on ground and 55-60  as soon as I get airborn

 

Same resolution and settings with SLI on and AA off gives me 50-55 on ground and 60 as soon as I take off...

 

Now at 6270x2160 I did some look around on the ground test in WOL and I get 30-35 fps on ground with SLI off, where as I get 45 on the ground with SLI enabled.  I know this is rough analysis but If you can live without AA it seems to keep the game above 60 in most cases for me.  I understand if you need your AA (i love the eye-candy too) but for me it has little or no affect for my monitor as the resolution eliminates the jaggies for me.

 

Also I am running these "tests"  in windowed fulls-creen mode fyi

 

I will update as I do.

I am not a bench-marker so to speak so let me know if I miss something with my settings.  what tool do you use to measure Min and Max frames?  I have fraps installed, will this work?

Edited July 22, 2016 by 6./ZG1_GrendelsDad

[Urra]

Sharpe please do not take this as a flame but here are my results.

60fps all flight... this is with SLI on

 

8 109s on the runway...8 P-40s approaching head on at 1500m

 

4096x2160 SSAO off HDR on no AA landscape 4x

 

I will try to match your settings and see what I get too.

 

I will update as I do.

I am not a bench-marker so to speak so let me know if I miss something with my settings. what tool do you use to measure Min and Max frames? I have fraps installed, will this work?

What do you get with 8 he111 heading you way?

[GrendelsDad]

I will check right now...but i suspect an head on air pass might be a better test just so i can fly right at them...I will try both but the last time I did the air test at 4K it stays at 60fps as I pull around if I end up with all 8 bombers in my view and they start to fire it will dip into the 48-50s. This test was with me in a 110 as well.

 

8 109s on runway with 8 111s on at 300m alt I am getting 50-60 fps when I look around  When I get behind the 8 111s with all of my buddies attacking it goes from  35-50 fps  if action is heavy.  This is all at 100-300m alt.

Edited July 22, 2016 by 6./ZG1_GrendelsDad

[GrendelsDad]

I just took 8- JU88s up against 8 he111s and it was between 30-50 until i approached the rear of the formation and gunner was landing hits fps dipped into the 20s quite a few moments but as soon as 2 or 3 111s fall off the screen frames are steady 50-60.  That was actually fun in a furball with bombers at 100m lol.

[kileab]

Interesting... thx !

I think I will stay with my current setup for now and try to overclock both CPU and GPU, it seems I have enough power for the moment until they update to DX11 or more.

All scenarios where we go below 60 fps, SLI or not, is due to the game engine (on ground / heavy fights).

[SharpeXB]

Sharpe please do not take this as a flame but here are my results.

60fps all flight... this is with SLI on

 

8 109s on the runway...8 P-40s approaching head on at 1500m

 

4096x2160 SSAO off HDR on  no AA landscape 4x

 

I will try to match your settings and see what I get too.

 

Same resolution with SLI off

38-45 fps when looking around on the runway but hits 55-60 in the air after climbing a 100m or

 

Same resolution with SLI on

SSAO on HDR on 2AA in game 4x landscape 40-50 looking around on ground and 55-60  as soon as I get airborn

 

Same resolution and settings with SLI on and AA off gives me 50-55 on ground and 60 as soon as I take off...

 

Now at 6270x2160 I did some look around on the ground test in WOL and I get 30-35 fps on ground with SLI off, where as I get 45 on the ground with SLI enabled.  I know this is rough analysis but If you can live without AA it seems to keep the game above 60 in most cases for me.  I understand if you need your AA (i love the eye-candy too) but for me it has little or no affect for my monitor as the resolution eliminates the jaggies for me.

 

Also I am running these "tests"  in windowed fulls-creen mode fyi

 

I will update as I do.

I am not a bench-marker so to speak so let me know if I miss something with my settings.  what tool do you use to measure Min and Max frames?  I have fraps installed, will this work?

Yes I'm using Fraps to do the benchmark tests. And my scenarios are deliberately artificial in order to represent extremes.

The "Ju-88 ground" test for the CPU is just sitting stationary on the runway and turning my head back and forth looking at the horizon.

Same with the "Free flight", I'm just flying level and turning my head back and forth. The test situations need to be simple and repeatable, they need to be live gameplay and not tracks because the replays run about 10fps higher than normal gameplay.

 

Normally I have Vsync On, it's off in the tests in order to see the real range of frame rate.