Mobo and SLI.

arc@css · 25 Jun 2010 at 10:32

Hi,

My Gigabyte mobo (see sig) has two X16 lanes and is xfire only. However, in the future should I wish to, would I be able to put in a single nvidia dual gpu card into one of the X16 lanes? This would effectively mean running sli, wouldn't it?

MeatLoaf · 25 Jun 2010 at 11:04

No, a single nvidia card in the x16 slot is not SLI. You need at least 2 cards for SLI

A single nvidia card will work tho.

arc@css · 25 Jun 2010 at 11:08

So a dual gpu card like the 295gtx isn't sli?

Surely though I am running xfire with my 4870X2?

cmndr_andi · 25 Jun 2010 at 11:10

Well technically, dual GPU nvidia cards like the GTX 295 do run an internal SLI. However, as this is within the card it does not require the motherboard to be SLI capable so you would be fine using that motherboard and a Nvidia dual GPU card.

The reason a motherboard needs to be SLI (or crossfire capable) for multiple graphics card links to work is because there needs to be a connection between the man PCIe slots on the motherboard so that the cards work together. If this link is done within the card (GTX 295) the motherboard does not need to get involved in the SLI (or crossfire).

arc@css · 25 Jun 2010 at 11:16

Ok, thanks guys. So it looks like I could use this in the future, for example if they made it, a dual 470gtx single card. Nice 1.

mmpl · 1 Jul 2010 at 05:07

i read somewhere that some older nvidia driver after mod can work 2 sli nvidia graphic with crossfire mobo dunno do they still exist..

arc@css · 2 Jul 2010 at 19:03

Yes, I remember that from somewhere but I may end up changing the mobo before trying that.