GTX 550 Ti SLI Scaling Review & Value Analysis Linus Tech Tips
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Description
ncix.com In short, you're still better off buying a single, more powerful card, but you should definitely watch the review if you've ever wondered about this. It's a miracle to me that some system builders in the States sell so many low end SLI systems... Makes no sense to buy them.
This Linus Tech Tips review investigates whether running two GTX 550 Ti GPUs in SLI is a worthwhile upgrade, especially when stacked against buying a single more powerful card. The host places the GTX 550 Ti SLI in a price-performance middle ground between a single GTX 560 Ti and a GTX 570, then tests four scenarios: a single overclocked GTX 550 Ti, GTX 550 Ti in SLI, a GTX 560 Ti, and a GTX 570. He runs DirectX 11 titles such as Hawk's 2, Lost Planet 2, and Metro 2033 at 1920x1200 with tessellation on and anti-aliasing off to measure actual scaling. The results show that SLI scaling is not always ideal, with the two 550 Ti cards sometimes underperforming versus a single 560 Ti or 570 given similar budgets. In Hawks 2, the 550 Ti SLI scales well, placing it near the expected midpoint between the 560 Ti and 570, but in Lost Planet 2 and Metro 2033 the performance delta grows, pulling the SLI setup away from the ideal target of roughly 50 fps for that price point. The reviewer concludes that while you can gain extra performance by adding a second 550 Ti, the overall experience is more inconsistent and power-hungry than simply purchasing a single, stronger card. If high-end HD gaming at demanding titles is the goal, a single GTX 560 Ti (or a more powerful card) generally delivers a more stable and cost-effective experience, whereas the 550 Ti SLI remains a marginal exception rather than the rule. The video ends with a clear takeaway: for most users, investing in a single more capable GPU is the better value, with SLI only occasionally delivering acceptable gains in specific titles.
Topics · hardware-review · graphics-performance · gaming-pc
Questions answered
- Is GTX 550 Ti SLI worth it compared to a single GTX 560 Ti?
- Generally not; while SLI can provide more frames in some titles, the gains are inconsistent and the total cost and power draw often make a single, more powerful card a better value.
- How does the GTX 550 Ti SLI perform in demanding titles like Metro 2033?
- Metro 2033 shows limited scaling for the 550 Ti SLI, resulting in a smaller performance delta from a single card and reinforcing the idea that SLI is not universally advantageous for this GPU model.