Help powering too many cards.

[dark2099]

Right, I sometimes like to state the obvious.

 

[DanishDevil]

Then I will as well...PP me!

 

[cdawall]

Ok, in SLI you have to have exactly the same cards. But for Crossfire you don't have to have the same brands but same models.

not even you can xfire 3850s and 3870s

 

[DanishDevil]

^^ Nuff said.

 

[dark2099]

Then I will as well...PP me!

Then sell my DFI.

 

[DanishDevil]

No. You sell mine first

 

[dark2099]

It's going to JR most likely.

 

[newtekie1]

I'm not completely sure. I know you can't mix and match models like Crossfire X can. You can crossfire a 3870x2 with a 3870 and a 3850 if you like. I know that SLI needs the same model. Not sure if brand matters or not.

nVidia beat ATi to the multi-card game, but ATi has come a long way and surpassed nVidia since then.

You can also run Crossfire(x) on any board with multiple x16 slots, while SLI only runs on boards with an nVidia chip on it. Crossfire is completely software-driven.

That isn't true. You can only run Crossfire and CrossfireX on Intel and AMD chipsets. It will not work on an nVidia chipset. Both technologies are entirely software driven, and really only need a motherboard with multiple PCi-E slots. However, both companies have locked down their drivers to only work with certain chipsets. I hate it. I also wish nVidia would allow you to mix and match models as long as they were the same core like ATi does. IMO, nVidia really need to loosen some of their restrictions on SLI. There should be nothing stopping people from SLIing a 9800GTX and a 8800GTS 512MB. I understand on some of the cards where the core is cut down or the bus width is different, but on cards were the core is identical SLI shouldn't be a problem.

 

[DanishDevil]

Talk to fitseries3. He's seen it done.

nVidia is working on Hybrid SLI. ATi just beat them to it.

 

[newtekie1]

Talk to fitseries3. He's run Crossfire on a 790i.

nVidia is working on Hybrid SLI. ATi just beat them to it.

I'm sure there is a way, it just isn't officially supported, just like running SLI was possible with older hacked drivers on Intel and AMD chipsets.

 

[DanishDevil]

Nvm he hasn't done it himself. He's seen it done.

The point I'm making is, SLI needs a chip from nvidia themselves on the board. ATi does not.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Ok, DD, I need to say this. What about my board that came with an SLi bridge? It does 6/7 series through hacked drivers.

**whispers** Sorry I just had to .....

 

[DanishDevil]

I say great! Someone found a way to mod the drivers. I really hope that nVidia comes out with hybrid SLI soon, too. More competition for ATi.

 

[JrRacinFan]

LMAO, but they are old drivers and Geforce 8's will never be supported. That's the go-getter.

 

[newtekie1]

Nvm he hasn't done it himself. He's seen it done.

The point I'm making is, SLI needs a chip from nvidia themselves on the board. ATi does not.

And the point I'm trying to make is that the chip on the board isn't actually needed for SLI to work, nVidia just locks their drivers to require it. It is stupid, I know, but they do it. Probably so they will sell more of their own product.

 

[DanishDevil]

I agree. I'm sure someone will come out with hacked drivers eventually, and then they will have to make it hardware based if they get too popular.

Just imagine - proprietary PCI-Express lanes...:shadedshu