MS flight sim '04 and SLI?

[lawless77]

Just finished building my SLI rig and have been trying to run Flight Simulator '04. What I can't figure out is if SLI will work with this game. Nvidia says SLI will work with 'ALL games', but when running this one, it shows no load balancing. Does this mean it's not working? Does it mean something else? I'm confused!! Not to mention that the frame rates aren't all that impressive and don't appear to change much regardless of whether I'm in single or double GPU mode.

I've just upgraded to the latest driver (82.12).

Can anyone offer some insight?

Thanks.

[ctjoyce]

FS was made before SLi was introduced and therefore the engine dosnt understand how to use it. What are you getting for frames, and what cards did you use in your rig? It might also be that you are expecting too much out of your system. Most people who fly SLi use the two extra outputs for extra monitors.

Cheers
Cameron

[4_Series_Scania]

If I recall correctly, you'll find FS 2004 isn't written for SLI and, apparently, makes little use of it.

I do believe however, you gain slightly at very high resolutions, over a single card, then again, I believe this to be the case with most games & SLI setups.I'm sure somebody else can help!

[lawless77]

Thanks Cameron,

I'm using 2- 7800 GT's.  And a 600 watt power source just to make sure it's got the juce it needs.  Also 1.5 G/RAM

Frame-wise I'm averaging around 30 with everything maxed and res at 16X12@32.  I know this is plenty, but when I get in the high 50's on a title like FEAR, I just expected more.  I've also noticed in combing the forums here, some much higher numbers being mentioned with machines that sound comparable.  

My initial impression was that it was just a compatibility issue between title and hardware, as you mentioned.  In looking for a definitive answer, though, I came across this quote on NVid's SLI site:  

"NVIDIA

[ctjoyce]

Well SLi will work for any game, its just that most games dont utalise it correctly so you dont get those High frames. But I think if you drop down to 1024x768 youll see your frames jump way up.

Cheers
Cameron

[lawless77]

Lowering my resolution is probably the best bet, as you suggested.  I've just become so spoiled.  If I go to 1024X768 I feel like next thing I know I'll be hunting mammoths with a pointed stick and a rock.  

My confusion still persists.  As well as wondering about the definition of 'every' now I'm trying to figure out just what 'work' means.  

I was looking over rhe updated list of SLI supported games and a quick glance will show several games which predate fs '04.  For example 'Alice' which came out in 2000.  How come that can be made to work and fs can't?  

Thanks.

[ctjoyce]

The engines are different. Some games with older engines are so similar to current ones that SLi knows how to deal with them. Also many companys have released patches to make their engines SLi enabled.

Cheers
Cameron

[Skligmund]

I run everything at 1152X864. Try that and see what you think.

With my setup (below), I never see below 35FPS with everything maxed out (forced by drivers). Normal FPS is around 60, 100+ in clear sky.

[lawless77]

Thanks all.  I will try that resolution compromise and see what happens.  I also finally figured out how to enable SLI antialiasing, so I'm going to try that too.

[GunnerMan]

I also heard somewhere that you actually loose a few frames with SLI in FS9. Im sure FS10 will be different.