So, as we have just seen, choosing the right CPU can prove to be a daunting task when looking at an SLI upgrade. First of all, lets explain that options that greet the immediate adopter.
If you have the money to buy two GeForce 6800 GT's right now, there are a number of options that you can choose to take. Of course, we have not accounted for overclocking in this upgrade guide, but hopefully our relatively stock CPU speeds should give you an indication as to where you should be spending your money.
If Doom 3 is your darling and you are also looking forwards to titles based on Doom 3 technology, like Quake 4, we see little need to buy an FX-55 to complement your pair of GeForce 6800 GT video cards. The same is true of Far Cry, The Chronicles Of Riddick, and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, although The Chronicles of Riddick may well change if and when NVIDIA add an SLI profile for the title.
The impact on game play from using a slower CPU was pretty minimal in many cases. Whilst there were small differences in frame rate in Far Cry, they did not stop us from enjoying the same quality of game play at the same settings. Without a frame rate counter, you would be hard-pushed to see a difference between an Athlon 64 FX-55 and a slower processor in the region of 3000+ to 3200+ in the title.
However, titles such as Half-Life 2 and The Need For Speed: Underground 2, show that in some cases, the faster your CPU, the better your gaming experience is. With a 3000+ and 3200+, you would not be getting the best out of your SLI configuration in these two titles. In both cases, we had to lower detail with our slowest CPU speed.
It ultimately depends on which titles you play, and how important it is to you to get the best possible performance out of your SLI system. Well, if you are buying two video cards anyway, we feel that you are looking to get the best possible gaming experience from your system, so buying a fast CPU to complement them would be the obvious choice. However, it does not need to be the fastest CPU available, and you can enjoy a high quality all-round gaming experience on an Athlon 64 3700+.
The only real worry on that CPU was Need For Speed: Underground 2, which seems horribly CPU limited - something that surprises us greatly when you look at some of the advanced DirectX 9 features in the graphics engine.
Moving on to the two-phase upgrader who can afford one GeForce 6800 GT now, and are looking to buy another one further down the line. Your choice is not quite as tough.
We don't think that you need to be spending a great deal on a CPU right now, if you are planning to upgrade to SLI in six months time. You may as well buy a faster CPU then, as there are likely to be faster CPUs available, which means that the current CPUs will drop in price. You could get away with a 3000+ and GeForce 6800 GT for now, and still be able to experience something similar to what can be experienced on an Athlon 64 FX-55, at less than a quarter of the price.
In six months time, you can find a second GeForce 6800 GT, and maybe upgrade your CPU. Alternatively, you can upgrade your cooling solution, buy some faster memory and overclock your CPU to give you the necessary kick in performance that will allow you to experience two GeForce 6800 GT's in all their glory.
There are many options, and it is all about thinking things through carefully if you are planning a two-phase upgrade to SLI. If you think your upgrade path through carefully right now, you could be saving yourself a lot of money when it comes to completing the upgrade to SLI in the coming months.
If you have the money to buy two GeForce 6800 GT's right now, there are a number of options that you can choose to take. Of course, we have not accounted for overclocking in this upgrade guide, but hopefully our relatively stock CPU speeds should give you an indication as to where you should be spending your money.
If Doom 3 is your darling and you are also looking forwards to titles based on Doom 3 technology, like Quake 4, we see little need to buy an FX-55 to complement your pair of GeForce 6800 GT video cards. The same is true of Far Cry, The Chronicles Of Riddick, and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, although The Chronicles of Riddick may well change if and when NVIDIA add an SLI profile for the title.
The impact on game play from using a slower CPU was pretty minimal in many cases. Whilst there were small differences in frame rate in Far Cry, they did not stop us from enjoying the same quality of game play at the same settings. Without a frame rate counter, you would be hard-pushed to see a difference between an Athlon 64 FX-55 and a slower processor in the region of 3000+ to 3200+ in the title.
However, titles such as Half-Life 2 and The Need For Speed: Underground 2, show that in some cases, the faster your CPU, the better your gaming experience is. With a 3000+ and 3200+, you would not be getting the best out of your SLI configuration in these two titles. In both cases, we had to lower detail with our slowest CPU speed.
It ultimately depends on which titles you play, and how important it is to you to get the best possible performance out of your SLI system. Well, if you are buying two video cards anyway, we feel that you are looking to get the best possible gaming experience from your system, so buying a fast CPU to complement them would be the obvious choice. However, it does not need to be the fastest CPU available, and you can enjoy a high quality all-round gaming experience on an Athlon 64 3700+.
The only real worry on that CPU was Need For Speed: Underground 2, which seems horribly CPU limited - something that surprises us greatly when you look at some of the advanced DirectX 9 features in the graphics engine.
Moving on to the two-phase upgrader who can afford one GeForce 6800 GT now, and are looking to buy another one further down the line. Your choice is not quite as tough.
We don't think that you need to be spending a great deal on a CPU right now, if you are planning to upgrade to SLI in six months time. You may as well buy a faster CPU then, as there are likely to be faster CPUs available, which means that the current CPUs will drop in price. You could get away with a 3000+ and GeForce 6800 GT for now, and still be able to experience something similar to what can be experienced on an Athlon 64 FX-55, at less than a quarter of the price.
In six months time, you can find a second GeForce 6800 GT, and maybe upgrade your CPU. Alternatively, you can upgrade your cooling solution, buy some faster memory and overclock your CPU to give you the necessary kick in performance that will allow you to experience two GeForce 6800 GT's in all their glory.
There are many options, and it is all about thinking things through carefully if you are planning a two-phase upgrade to SLI. If you think your upgrade path through carefully right now, you could be saving yourself a lot of money when it comes to completing the upgrade to SLI in the coming months.
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