SLI question

[K PhaNTOM]

So in anticipation for MW2 I decided to upgrade some things. I already bought 2x2GB sticks to get my total up to 6GB of ram but I'm stuck at my GPU. I have a BFG 8800GT Factory OC'd @625. My first question is can I get a 8800GT lets say from Asus, or XFX and hook it up to my old card? My second question is if I SLI, do both cards have to be the same core speed? My PSU is definitely capable of handling them and more. Your help will be much appreciated.

Also, 95 more days until MW2

[Skud]

Phan old pal. I've never run SLI, because I worry things'll get too hot...but I did dig this up for you, don't know if it's any help:

http://forums.amd.com/forum/messagev...threadid=52464

P.S. I noticed that it's a quite old post, so maybe things have changed...?

Or here's something from wiki, lol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface

Caveats
In an SLI configuration, cards can be of mixed manufacturers, card model names, BIOS revisions or clock speeds. However, they must be of the same GPU series (e.g. 8600, 8800) and GPU model name (e.g. GT, GTS, GTX).[15] There are rare exceptions for "mixed SLI" configurations on some cards that only have a matching core codename (e.g. G70, G73, G80, etc), but this is otherwise not possible, and only happens when two matched cards differ only very slightly, an example being a differing amount of video memory, stream processors, or clockspeed. In this case, the slower/lesser card becomes dominant, and the other card matches.
In cases where two cards are not identical, the fastest card – or the card with more memory - will run at the speed of the slower card or disable its additional memory. (Note that while the FAQ still claims different memory size support, the support has been removed since revision 100.xx of Nvidia's Forceware driver suite.[16])
SLI doesn't always give a performance benefit – in some extreme cases, it can lower the frame rate due to the particulars of an application's coding.[17] This is also true for ATI's CrossFire, as the problem is inherent in multi-GPU systems. This is often witnessed when running an application at low resolutions.
In order to use SLI, a motherboard with an nForce4, nForce 500, nForce 600 or nForce 700 SLI chipset must be used. Although with the use of hacks and older drivers, one can make SLI work on motherboards with Intel, ATI and ULi chipsets, Nvidia has stated that only their own chipsets can allow SLI to function optimally, and that they will not allow SLI to work on any other vendor's chipsets. Some early SLI systems used Intel's E7525 Xeon chipset, which caused problems when Nvidia started locking out other vendor's chipsets as it limited them to an outdated driver set. In 2007, Intel has licensed Nvidia's SLI technology for its SkullTrail platform, and select motherboards supporting the Intel X58 (Tylersburg) chipset have unlocked SLI capabilities. Not all X58 motherboards support this technology, as Nvidia offered it to motherboard manufacturers at the cost of $5 per motherboard sold.[18]
Vsync + Triple buffering is not supported in some cases in SLI AFR mode.
A single high-end GPU is generally preferable to using SLI with low to medium-end GPUs when considering the above caveats and the price-performance ratio of the setup.[citation needed]
Users having a Hybrid SLI setup must manually change modes between HybridPower and GeForce Boost, while automatically changing mode will not be available until the future updates. The Hybrid SLI currently support only single link DVI at 1920x1200 screen resolution.[19]

[Donziboy2]

Well erm the first post is on an AMD forum.... thats propaganda.

And yes they will get hot.. If you leave them to run 1000 fps, Ive been turning on Vsync for many of my games since there is no reason to play at 100 fps in Cod and run the cards hot.

The problem will be finding another 8800 gt, if nothing else wait for the new g300 cards from nvidia to come out and when the gtx285's drop in price buy 1. 285 is like 2 g92's oc'd on steroids.

[{ETN}Dragon{CLR}]

Short answer is they have to match- same model. They can be different manufactures but I would get matching gpu speed to be safe could cause issue's not sure.
Any other ? about SLI check here.
http://www.slizone.com/page/slizone_faq.html

I have been running SLI since the 8800gtx OC came out. I water cooled mine and have not had any heat issue's with them. GL

[juneau]

Ditch the 8800GT on ebay and buy a HD4870 or GTX275.

[K PhaNTOM]

Well I was telling myself that I'm not going spend anything over 200 bucks for a new card. ATi is out of the question since I'm a nVidia fanboy

My card is running hot as is (Long story, I opened it and things got screwed up really bad ) so I guess SLI is out of the question. I know a GTX280 needs 1x6pin and 1x8pin connections and I have a SLi PSU with 2x6Pins. Also my case isn't that huge, it's a mid tower that's comfortably holding my 8800GT. A GTX275 June suggested takes 2x6Pins which seems like a perfect card and I guess it could be more powerful than an SLi'd 88's

Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

There's one small issue with this card and the reviews. The first review right now says it's 10.5 inches. Which is almost to the nail perfect for my case. Then another review a few under says that it's huge and barely fits a Antec900 which I think is a full tower. Confusing the crap outta me. What if I get it and it's too big, what are my choices? Because if I'm buying anything new I'm getting this one. Also one of the reviews clock the temp on load @ 90C... that's a hot mama right there...

Oh, and thanks for all the help

[Caddys83]

Well I was telling myself that I'm not going spend anything over 200 bucks for a new card. ATi is out of the question since I'm a nVidia fanboy

My card is running hot as is (Long story, I opened it and things got screwed up really bad ) so I guess SLI is out of the question. I know a GTX280 needs 1x6pin and 1x8pin connections and I have a SLi PSU with 2x6Pins. Also my case isn't that huge, it's a mid tower that's comfortably holding my 8800GT. A GTX275 June suggested takes 2x6Pins which seems like a perfect card and I guess it could be more powerful than an SLi'd 88's

Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

There's one small issue with this card and the reviews. The first review right now says it's 10.5 inches. Which is almost to the nail perfect for my case. Then another review a few under says that it's huge and barely fits a Antec900 which I think is a full tower. Confusing the crap outta me. What if I get it and it's too big, what are my choices? Because if I'm buying anything new I'm getting this one. Also one of the reviews clock the temp on load @ 90C... that's a hot mama right there...

Oh, and thanks for all the help

Wee!

[K PhaNTOM]

@Caddys, I like nVidia, you worship nVidia lol

Oh just RAM question. I have 800Mhz DDR2 right now and I'm looking to get a 1066Mhz DDR2. It wouldn't really matter, right? I mean if I put them together at the same time.

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Desktop Memory

[Donziboy2]

Erm dont mix ram or you will have problems.

As for the card... Well erm if it dont fit dremel it:P

What exactly is it goin to hit?

[K PhaNTOM]

Well I just read my Mobo manual and it doesn't take 1066Mhz so I guess I'll stick to 800. As for the fitting, I'm hoping it would be fine but it might hit the HDD cage. One last question. I am sooooo confused about Dual Channel memory. So I have the 2x1GB sticks which I'm planing to put together and the ones I bought a few minutes ago will be on the other 2 slots, right? Or Do I have to put them like this: 1GB-2GB-1GB-2GB? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just not into hardware as much as software.

[juneau]

@Caddys, I like nVidia, you worship nVidia lol

That's just dumb tbh but oh well. Yes a GTX275 will destroy 2 8800GT's.

[DougBob]

From what I've read K I would ensure the cards are as close as possible, same manufacturer, RAMDAC clock, etc.
Ideally I run the exact same MSI 8800GT I bought at the same time which is what is recommended. As for overheating I've added dual-fan coolers and it helped a lot.

[DougBob]

Oh and just for the record, NVIDIA ROCKS

[juneau]

Oh and just for the record, NVIDIA ROCKS

So are you saying you'd never buy ATI?

[Pumpkin_Jack]

June ur outnumbered stop fighting NVIDIA!