Just a quick question about SLI

**MIG-31** · Jan 25, 2010, 09:13 PM

Im just a Little curious as i have never had a Motherboard that is capable of SLI before..

As i have a GTX 260 896mb GC as the Main GC card.But im not sure on the manufacturer of the card.

I have previously had a 9800GT 512mb card in the second slot as a dedicated PhysX card..Which was later sold on ebay as i needed some cash..

I just want to be certain on this question before i consider making an order..

If i ordered another Nvidia GTX 260 896mb GC to go to SLI..

Does the Specs and speeds of the GC have to match?

iPlayer · Jan 25, 2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIG-31

Does the Specs and speeds of the GC have to match?

You shouldn't have any problems in that respect, but you might want to have them run at the same clock speed.

**MIG-31** · Jan 25, 2010, 09:38 PM

Im looking at this Card as the addition but im still looking around if i can find one a little cheaper..

The card from the link is clocked a little higher than my current card..From what i have seen this is the closest specs to the card i have installed.

iPlayer · Jan 25, 2010, 09:43 PM

Or you could sell your current card and get something else.

**MIG-31** · Jan 25, 2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iPlayer

Or you could sell your current card and get something else.

I cant afford to buy something faster (they start to get ridiculously expensive in the uk) ,Then sell my card...

Thats partly why im asking the question about SLI.. This route will max out my pc i currently have.

IvanV · Jan 25, 2010, 10:06 PM

This is from Nvidia's official SLI FAQ:

Quote:

Can I mix and match graphics cards is 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.

I think that I also remember having read previously that if the cards differ in clock speeds the system is made to automatically downclock the faster card to the slower one's frequency when SLI is enabled, so it should be hassle free.

**MIG-31** · Jan 25, 2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanV

This is from Nvidia's official SLI FAQ:

I think that I also remember having read previously that if the cards differ in clock speeds the system is made to automatically downclock the faster card to the slower one's frequency when SLI is enabled, so it should be hassle free.

I have tried looking through Nvidias site but it keeps crashing every 30 seconds or so..

I offer you many thanks... I was around 75% sure that would be the answer...

I just needed a little confirmation... Thank Yu and a little + Rep sent your way.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 25, 2010, 10:49 PM

I don't know SLI but I was thinking the faster card would clock down without issues. Enjoy

Optix · Jan 26, 2010, 02:06 AM

To run SLI the cards will need to be the same model - 8800GT+8800GT, GTS250+GTS250 or in your case, MIG, GTX260+GTX260. The main specs need to match up but they can be different speeds because of factory overclocks but they will default to the speed of the slowest card.

***EDIT: Whoops. Looks like you had your questions answered.

**MIG-31** · Jan 26, 2010, 04:52 PM

No harm in making sure others also get good advice optix..

**MIG-31** · Jan 28, 2010, 04:26 PM

Ok i have an additional question..

My second GTX 2600 has arrived today,Which is now installed and the driver (196.21 WHQL) has set the cards to SLI status... But i have not installed the SLI Bridge yet...

Should the bridge be in place?

Secondly if so which port should the bridge be installed on.. Nearest the case or the one further back ?

EDIT: Never mind as i now have the sli bridge installed...First time round the pc would not boot up.

Optix · Jan 30, 2010, 02:28 AM

Sheesh, MIG. How am I supposed to answer questions after 3 other people if you solve them before they have a chance to respond?

gascieus · Jan 30, 2010, 06:59 AM

MIG-31, are you planning to overclock your GPU cards? There is a very stupid bug by NVIDIA in the 196.21 WHQL where it prevents the user from overclocking (it either grays out the area or would reset back to factory defaults after reboot). Even 3rd party programs lead to no result.

What you want to install is the 196.34. It just came out yesterday (Jan. 28th). The 196.34 fixes the overclocking bug, updated PhysX drivers, resolved other bugs introduced in the 196.21, etc. I would suggest you to just update to the newest version to relieve any potential headaches since the general consensus among the various hardcore NVIDIA drivers forums is that the 196.21 was pretty crappy and pain in the butt to use.

**MIG-31** · Jan 30, 2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gascieus

MIG-31, are you planning to overclock your GPU cards? There is a very stupid bug by NVIDIA in the 196.21 WHQL where it prevents the user from overclocking (it either grays out the area or would reset back to factory defaults after reboot). Even 3rd party programs lead to no result.

What you want to install is the 196.34. It just came out yesterday (Jan. 28th). The 196.34 fixes the overclocking bug, updated PhysX drivers, resolved other bugs introduced in the 196.21, etc. I would suggest you to just update to the newest version to relieve any potential headaches since the general consensus among the various hardcore NVIDIA drivers forums is that the 196.21 was pretty crappy and pain in the butt to use.

I know about the 169.34 Overclock fix... This were from the read me when i posted the drivers in the forums here..

I have this set installed and i have no preference to Betas or WHQL drivers...

I don't O/C either.

The other thing i find a little odd is that after opening GPU-Z the clocks for both cards are still different.

gascieus · Jan 30, 2010, 07:34 PM

Hey, it's all good if you already knew about it. Man, I spent like 2 hours on the 196.21 drivers trying to figure why my oc kept getting set back to default after I reboot lol. Just didn't want the same thing happening to you if you oc, that's all

.

Jan 25, 2010, 09:13 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,843 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Just a quick question about SLI Im just a Little curious as i have never had a Motherboard that is capable of SLI before.. As i have a GTX 260 896mb GC as the Main GC card.But im not sure on the manufacturer of the card. I have previously had a 9800GT 512mb card in the second slot as a dedicated PhysX card..Which was later sold on ebay as i needed some cash.. I just want to be certain on this question before i consider making an order.. If i ordered another Nvidia GTX 260 896mb GC to go to SLI.. Does the Specs and speeds of the GC have to match? __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Jan 25, 2010, 09:38 PM	Thread Starter #3
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,843 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Re: Just a quick question about SLI Im looking at this Card as the addition but im still looking around if i can find one a little cheaper.. The card from the link is clocked a little higher than my current card..From what i have seen this is the closest specs to the card i have installed. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Jan 25, 2010, 09:43 PM	#4
iPlayer Filled with noobsauce Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: between the buns Posts: 1,450 Rep Power: 59	Re: Just a quick question about SLI Or you could sell your current card and get something else.

Jan 26, 2010, 04:52 PM	Thread Starter #10
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,843 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Re: Just a quick question about SLI No harm in making sure others also get good advice optix.. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here Last edited by MIG-31; Jan 30, 2010 at 12:26 PM.

Jan 28, 2010, 04:26 PM	Thread Starter #11
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,843 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Re: Just a quick question about SLI Ok i have an additional question.. My second GTX 2600 has arrived today,Which is now installed and the driver (196.21 WHQL) has set the cards to SLI status... But i have not installed the SLI Bridge yet... Should the bridge be in place? Secondly if so which port should the bridge be installed on.. Nearest the case or the one further back ? EDIT: Never mind as i now have the sli bridge installed...First time round the pc would not boot up. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here Last edited by MIG-31; Jan 28, 2010 at 04:43 PM.

Jan 30, 2010, 06:59 AM	#13
gascieus Under the Crimson Air Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 209 Rep Power: 25 System Specs	Re: Just a quick question about SLI MIG-31, are you planning to overclock your GPU cards? There is a very stupid bug by NVIDIA in the 196.21 WHQL where it prevents the user from overclocking (it either grays out the area or would reset back to factory defaults after reboot). Even 3rd party programs lead to no result. What you want to install is the 196.34. It just came out yesterday (Jan. 28th). The 196.34 fixes the overclocking bug, updated PhysX drivers, resolved other bugs introduced in the 196.21, etc. I would suggest you to just update to the newest version to relieve any potential headaches since the general consensus among the various hardcore NVIDIA drivers forums is that the 196.21 was pretty crappy and pain in the butt to use.

Jan 30, 2010, 07:34 PM	#15
gascieus Under the Crimson Air Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 209 Rep Power: 25 System Specs	Re: Just a quick question about SLI Hey, it's all good if you already knew about it. Man, I spent like 2 hours on the 196.21 drivers trying to figure why my oc kept getting set back to default after I reboot lol. Just didn't want the same thing happening to you if you oc, that's all .