Possible to use 8800GTS 320Mb with an 8800GTS 640Mb in SLi??

[Sekrab]

Real quick (and possibly stupid) question: Is it possible to use 8800GTS 320Mb with an 8800GTS 640Mb in an SLi configuration, or must the cards be identical? (ie both 320mb or both 640mb)

Sorry, but I honestly couldn't find my answer using search.

 

[mdjmcnally]

Need to be the same.

 

[Sekrab]

Ok, thanks. I thought that might be the case.

 

[Will_3rd]

afaik the need the same BIOS to work together

 

[Nymins]

I thought you could use the 320mb+640mb together but the 640mb one has to drop down to 320mb to match. Probably not true, just thought i read it somewhere!

 

[Sekrab]

I thought I'd read something about the 640mb downscaling to 320mb as well,which is why I asked. But the "must have same BIOS" argument sounds right on the money to me.

 

[Gas Panic!]

From Wiki:

"Cards from two separate retail companies will work together in SLI mode, but they must be the same GPU model (e.g. G70, G73, G80, etc). The cards may have different BIOS revisions, different default clock speeds, or even different memory sizes. However, the fastest card – or the card with more memory - will run at the speed of the slower card or disable its additional memory."

I believe both the 320Mb and 640Mb have the same GPU (G80) - so basically the 640Mb would only run at 320Mb - and in effect you'd have 2 320Mb's in SLi.

 

[Sekrab]

Brilliant - I might have to give that a try then!

Thanks Rivey!

 

[mdjmcnally]

I thought that was what Crossfire did.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

I wouldnt bother, 320mb SLi is useless, your going to get no benefit at all as your going to be memory limited.

 

[Greebo]

It will work but I still wouldn;t bother.

Better to ditch the 320Mb and buy a GTS 512Mb or if you must have SLI buy two 8800 GST 640Mb.

 

[queamin]

I wouldnt bother, 320mb SLi is useless, your going to get no benefit at all as your going to be memory limited.

Agreed that why i not gone sli

 

[-iceblade^]

i don't think it is... at least, i haven't read of it being done. also, i'd do a bit, no, a lot more research before spending 50+ quid on a bit of wikipeda info. no offense, rivey, but it is not the most reliable source

 

[LoadsaMoney]

It will work, as both cards are exactly the same (both 8800 GTS's, and also the same G80 core), just one has half the mem of the other.

 

[Sekrab]

I didn't wanna blow one of them up or something.

Also; presumably 320MB in SLi is quicker than a single 640MB card? LOL

 

[ovia]

Also; presumably 320MB in SLi is quicker than a single 640MB card? LOL

That depends on what res and details you are running at etc, anything that requires mroe than 320mb of video memory will not actually gain any benefit from sli if it is restricted. So anything requiring more may actually benefit from a single 640 more than sli'd 320's.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

^ Yeah the 640mb will actually be better, as with only having 320mb, your gona have to start lowering details, turn down the AA, or turn it off, and even drop your res sometimes, where as on the 640mb you won't have to, as its got enough memory to cope.

 

[Sekrab]

Thanks for clearing that up

Looks like I'll stick to single 640mb