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It wasn’t so long ago that SLI was all the rage with PC gamers trying to maximize performance by cramming dual graphics cards into a single CPU. SLI is supported by most graphics cards today, but it doesn’t seem to receive much attention. A new era in PC gaming begins with Nvidia’s RTX 3000 Series. SLI is now considered obsolete by most enthusiasts.
Do most games support SLI? What are the advantages of SLI? This article will tell you.
Is SLI worth it?
For PC gamers, SLI is not a worthwhile investment. AAA games can benefit from modern graphics cards’ performance boost. It is, however, necessary to use SLI graphics cards in some cases in order to get the best results. In order to hit those high pixels at 8K, it would be better to use two GPUs in SLI.
Advantages of SLI
The following can be expected if your GPUs are set up in SLI:
An Increase in Performance
For us, SLI configurations offer the most benefits through higher resolution and refresh rate. PC gaming these days is best suited to monitors with 144Hz refresh rates. With an SLI setup, you can enjoy a significant performance boost when playing games at 4K or even 8K.
GPU input is required by monitors with higher refresh rates. It is impossible for a single GPU to meet this demand unless it is powerful enough. For better performance, you can SLI two graphics cards. If you don’t want to get into SLI, here are some graphics cards that are ideal for 144Hz 4K gaming.
Design
Hardcore PC gamers know how important it is to have an attractive gaming rig. With a transparent PC case, the SLI configuration looks absolutely gorgeous. Adding RGB lighting to both GPUs would be the cherry on top.
Disadvantages of SLI
In addition to the benefits of SLI, here are some cons:
More Power is Needed
The SLI configuration results in more power consumption from your power supply when two graphics cards are connected. You will also generate more heat, so be sure to have enough PC case fans to dissipate it.
Depending on the type of graphics card you are using, you will need a different amount of power supply for an SLI setup. A 1200W PSU is needed for two RTX 3090 GPUs running in SLI mode.
Setup Costs are High
Buying a motherboard with extra PCIe x16 slots and better VRMs is the first step before getting into SLI. And last but not least, the power supply. In order to meet the higher energy demands, you will need a high-end power supply.
Is SLI Worth it for Gaming
SLI is not suitable for every game on your computer. SLI mode requires game developers to code the game to support the graphics cards. SLI is no longer supported by most game developers because of a downtrend. Consequently, you cannot use your other graphics card to maximize performance there.
SLI is unfortunately not supported by many titles. To avoid any glitches or stuttering while playing non-SLI games, it’s better to turn off SLI mode.
Do Most Games Support SLI
List of SLI-Compatible Modern Games:
- Far Cry 5.
- Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds.
- Fallout 4.
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
- Grand Theft Auto V.
- Dark Souls III.
- Diablo III
- League of Legends.
- World of Warcraft
Do You Still Want SLI?
You’ve heard about the good and bad of SLI. If you’re still interested in trying it, make sure you’ve invested enough in hardware and have the right investment.
The first step is to purchase two graphics cards with the same chip and memory on board. It is not possible to SLI a 4GB GPU with a 6GB GPU. The graphics card must be installed in dual PCIe x16 slots on a motherboard that supports SLI.
Lastly, you’ll need a sufficient power supply to support your graphics cards and other components. That’s all there is to it.
Conclusion
SLI is not necessary for modern world PC games considering their requirements and the way they are coded. It is possible to play most games at ultra-high settings without losing frame rates with a single mid-range or high-end graphics card. It is possible that Nvidia will stop supporting SLI in their upcoming chips sooner or later. SLI setups consume a lot of power, produce a lot of heat, and burn through your budget as GPUs become more powerful and energy-efficient.
A SLI setup is the best option if you can afford it, and want to play 4K or 8K games on a higher refresh rate monitor.
