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Different Brand 970s in SLI?

Soldato
Joined
16 Jul 2006
Posts
6,552
Location
Jersey, Channel Islands
Hey guys,

Coming across something I've not had happen before until today.
Someone has bought a second (differing brand & not from OCUK) GTX970 and SLI isn't working.

The first card is: GTX 970 GAMING 4G
The new card is: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Superclocked ACX 2.0

According to EVGA, within their 15 different models there are certain cards that will only work with each other in SLI: http://www.evga.com/support/faq/afmmain.aspx?faqid=59534


Now, when I sold my Gigabyte 970 to another friend who had an ASUS it worked fine, lucky there. But to this point I've never experienced different brands of the same card having issues, it's always worked over the years.

However in this instance I went solely on the basis off what NVIDIA said
I can understand the semantics arguing that they aren't the same card, but they're Advertised as GTX970 with "SLI Compatible" with no other stipulation.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/sli/faq#c17

A: Can I mix and match graphics cards from different manufacturers?
Using 180 or later graphics drivers, NVIDIA graphics cards from different manufacturers can be used together in an SLI configuration. For example, a GeForce XXXGT from manufacturer ABC can be matched with a GeForce XXXGT from manufacturer XYZ.

B: Can I mix and match graphics cards if one of them is overclocked by the manufacturer?
Yes. A GeForce XXXX GTX that is overclocked can be mixed with a standard clocked GeForce XXXX GTX.


So the question is, who's muck up is it really?
I feel the ambiguity is in his favour, plus the lack of information on certain similar cards not working together. Well, the info is there after you realise things don't work like they used to.

Edit: Other than just going ahead and buying the exact same card, how can you tell if mixed brands are supposed to work right now if they're supposed to? :|
 
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If different brands of the same card don't work together either -

One of them is a dud.

You have a problem with the rest of your hardware/software.

Operator error.

If you can eliminate the last 2 then send the card back.:)
 
If different brands of the same card don't work together either -

One of them is a dud.

You have a problem with the rest of your hardware/software.

Operator error.

If you can eliminate the last 2 then send the card back.:)

Sadly not true, there are some issues (at least with the 970) where different models will not work in SLI. You can however use DifferentSLIAuto hack to get it work if you end up having the problem. Easier to get the same card or find out if someone else has confirmed cards that work in SLI with yours.
 
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