Maximum PC

Hey y'all, I've never folded, but have been interested for quite awhile. My newest (and soon-to-be-finished) build is going to have at least 2 8800GTX's (I already have them), and I know that they can fold, utilizing CUDA tech. My question is, how much possible difference could 1 vs. 2 vs. 3 8800GTX's in SLi / non-SLi mode make? I'd appreciate it if anyone could answer this honestly. This may very well decide the possible folding fate of said PC. Thanks.

Well, it's a moot point. You can't run the GPU client in SLI or crossfire mode. So you'd be configuring and running a GPU client per 8800GTX. Since you are running a separate client per GPU, it'll scale per GPU. So if each GPU was running a similar work unit, you'd get the same amount of points multiple times.

When I had my 8800GTX, it got around 4000-5000 ppd.

Since you have two cards, you should get around 8000-9000 ppd for the cards.

You can run in SLI mode, but...., your going to only run one client and no performance boost. 8800's used to get 5000 ppd when the nvidia gpu first came out. Now your more likely to get anywhere between 3-4somethin. Run the 3 and you should see somewhere between 10-15.

Thanks for da info. I think I very well may get the 3rd one then.

Don't forget, you'll need to have the power supply to support 3.

I've got three GPU's and an SMP running on a 500w PSU. The GPUs are a 9800gx2 and a 8800gt. Draw from the wall according to Kill-A-Watt: 480. Figure a minimum efficiency of 80% and you can say that the PSU's output is somewhere in between 384 and the measured 480.

I was thinking of having the correct number of plugs myself.

Incidentally, running a 500 watt PSU at 480 watts would make me nervous in terms of overloading the PSU.

Yes, I'm very well aware of the need for a better-than-just-good-enough PSU. I guess this just means I'll need to keep looking for an at-least-somewhat-affordable, high-wattage PSU, w/ enough amps on the +12v rail.

How are you planning on dealing with the extra plugs you need for the third card?

All the SLI PSU's I saw at the store only allowed for 2 cards with the 6 and 8 pin connectors. I'm assuming that there's PSU's that have connectors for 3 cards out there, but I haven't researched it enough.

Molex to 6-pin power converters are a couple of bucks each. Should be easy and cheap enough.

Hrm, why haven't I seen these at Frys? I'm disappointed in them...

Actually, 8800GTX's come with 2 of them.