same brand of video cards

skidro892007 · 12-February-08, 05:57 PM

I just rgot an xfx 8800 gts 320mb video card. i still have my EVGA 8800 gts 320mb. Can i still run these in SLI even thought they are different brands? I thought that I could, but I was talking to someone else that was having a problem with this issue.

reflux · 12-February-08, 07:23 PM

If they are the same models of cards - which they seem to be - they should be fine. Initially, when SLi first launched, you had to have precisely identical cards for it to work, but they cleared that up. Try it and see.

skidro892007 · 13-February-08, 11:56 AM

I tried it, and it failed to recognize. i went through the whole procedure again and it still wouldn't see it. I figure it might be my bridge because it's an old one that came with a different board. I'm going to try getting a different bridge to see if that's the problem.

reflux · 13-February-08, 12:36 PM

Make sure your PSU has sufficient power to take two 8800GTSs. I forget what the amperage requirement is but they need a fair bit each.

godling · 13-February-08, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reflux


	Make sure your PSU has sufficient power to take two 8800GTSs. I forget what the amperage requirement is but they need a fair bit each.

Funny how so many computer issues come back to a proper PSU ...

Just for giggles, what make/model PSU are you running? How many amps on the +12v rail(s)?? The cards don't just require a certain amount of watts, there's amperage requirements as well (IIRC).

-godling

/edit: one of my favorite PSU information links: Power Supply Myths Exposed!

Dex · 13-February-08, 02:48 PM

You don't need a bridge to run SLi anymore. Now im sure some people are going to refute this, but I assure you, my old pair of 7900GS worked perfectly fine in SLi without a hardware bridge. It was implemented into the driver with the release of Forceware 77.7x

Try it without the bridge, and if it still won't play ball, its either really outdated drivers, or lack of umph from your power supply.

reflux · 13-February-08, 02:55 PM

You don't need one, but with the high end cards there isn't quite enough bandwidth on the PCI-E bus for optimal performance.

Slaymate · 13-February-08, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reflux


	You don't need* one, but with the high end cards there isn't quite enough bandwidth on the PCI-E bus for optimal performance.*

I concur. I can run my 8800GTX's in SLI without the bridge but I lose a little performance.
Not alot, but some.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidro892007


	I just rgot an xfx 8800 gts 320mb video card. i still have my EVGA 8800 gts 320mb. Can i still run these in SLI even thought they are different brands? I thought that I could, but I was talking to someone else that was having a problem with this issue.

They should work fine, but they'll run at the settings of the slower card (if they have
different core/memory speeds).
If your system isn't recognizing the 2nd card un-install the driver and restart the system.
Then re-install the newest driver and it should work. What motherboard are you using?
If your not using a NForce mobo you may be out of luck. I've heard of people using
hacked drivers with Intel chipsets and running SLI, but that was months ago.

skidro892007 · 14-February-08, 07:32 AM

I'm running an MSI P6N Platinum mobo. This thing runs like a tank. I have a 700w Antec Greatpower PSU, with 4 12v rails. I figured that it would be enough, since it only requires 2 12v rails at 28amps.
I tried using it without the bridge and it also doesn't work. I think I MIGHT have outdated drivers, so i will try using the new disc that came with the card.
OH, and do I have to install both drivers for the different cards? Or does it recognize both cards as one?
Sorry for all of the questions, but I've never done SLI before and I have been having some severe technical difficulties. Thanks a ton for your help!!

reflux · 14-February-08, 07:38 AM

Go here and get the latest drivers:

Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

I've never set SLi up, but for CrossFire it was a cinch. Just stuck both the cards in the PC, connected the bridges and ticked 'enable CrossFire' in Catalyst Control Centre.

godling · 14-February-08, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidro892007


	I'm running an MSI P6N Platinum mobo. This thing runs like a tank. I have a 700w Antec Greatpower PSU, with 4 12v rails. I figured that it would be enough, since it only requires 2 12v rails at 28amps. I tried using it without the bridge and it also doesn't work. I think I MIGHT have outdated drivers, so i will try using the new disc that came with the card. OH, and do I have to install both drivers for the different cards? Or does it recognize both cards as one? Sorry for all of the questions, but I've never done SLI before and I have been having some severe technical difficulties. Thanks a ton for your help!!

From what I'm reading, the Antec Greatpower PSU runs at 18A on the +12v rails. You state the 8800GTX needs 28A on 2 12v rails ... is that total amps, or each rail needs 28A? If total amps, then it takes all four of your +12v rails to run those two cards in SLi. If you need 28A per rail, then you got a problem: your PSU can't handle the load.

PCPower&Cooling FTW!

-godling

SexyPants · 14-February-08, 12:56 PM

Have you made sure that all settings motherboard-wise are as they should be? Sometimes there are jumpers, bios settings etc.

Slaymate · 14-February-08, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidro892007


	I tried using it without the bridge and it also doesn't work. I think I MIGHT have outdated drivers, so i will try using the new disc that came with the card. OH, and do I have to install both drivers for the different cards? Or does it recognize both cards as one? Sorry for all of the questions, but I've never done SLI before and I have been having some severe technical difficulties. Thanks a ton for your help!!

Don't use the driver on the cd that came with the card. Odds are it's an old out-dated driver.
Go here and download the newest one for your operating system.
Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

You only have to install the driver once. It will do all the work. You will have to enable SLI
in the Nvidia Control Panel though. If the system doesn't see both of your cards after this
then I have to say it's probably the power supply.

skidro892007 · 14-February-08, 11:37 PM

I made sure that I had the newest drivers installed. Should I try getting a better PSU? Cuz I have a good one as it is, but maybe it's not good enough for 2 of these? I don't have a lot of money, but I can probably spare like 200 bucks for a good PSU. Any suggestions?

12-February-08, 05:57 PM		#1 (permalink)
skidro892007 Apex Techie Lite	same brand of video cards I just rgot an xfx 8800 gts 320mb video card. i still have my EVGA 8800 gts 320mb. Can i still run these in SLI even thought they are different brands? I thought that I could, but I was talking to someone else that was having a problem with this issue.

12-February-08, 07:23 PM		#2 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: same brand of video cards If they are the same models of cards - which they seem to be - they should be fine. Initially, when SLi first launched, you had to have precisely identical cards for it to work, but they cleared that up. Try it and see.

13-February-08, 11:56 AM		#3 (permalink)
skidro892007 Apex Techie Lite	Re: same brand of video cards I tried it, and it failed to recognize. i went through the whole procedure again and it still wouldn't see it. I figure it might be my bridge because it's an old one that came with a different board. I'm going to try getting a different bridge to see if that's the problem.

13-February-08, 12:36 PM		#4 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: same brand of video cards Make sure your PSU has sufficient power to take two 8800GTSs. I forget what the amperage requirement is but they need a fair bit each.

13-February-08, 02:48 PM		#6 (permalink)
Dex Retr-hoe Reviewer	Re: same brand of video cards You don't need a bridge to run SLi anymore. Now im sure some people are going to refute this, but I assure you, my old pair of 7900GS worked perfectly fine in SLi without a hardware bridge. It was implemented into the driver with the release of Forceware 77.7x Try it without the bridge, and if it still won't play ball, its either really outdated drivers, or lack of umph from your power supply.

13-February-08, 02:55 PM		#7 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: same brand of video cards You don't need one, but with the high end cards there isn't quite enough bandwidth on the PCI-E bus for optimal performance.

14-February-08, 07:32 AM		#9 (permalink)
skidro892007 Apex Techie Lite	Re: same brand of video cards I'm running an MSI P6N Platinum mobo. This thing runs like a tank. I have a 700w Antec Greatpower PSU, with 4 12v rails. I figured that it would be enough, since it only requires 2 12v rails at 28amps. I tried using it without the bridge and it also doesn't work. I think I MIGHT have outdated drivers, so i will try using the new disc that came with the card. OH, and do I have to install both drivers for the different cards? Or does it recognize both cards as one? Sorry for all of the questions, but I've never done SLI before and I have been having some severe technical difficulties. Thanks a ton for your help!!

14-February-08, 07:38 AM		#10 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: same brand of video cards Go here and get the latest drivers: Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers I've never set SLi up, but for CrossFire it was a cinch. Just stuck both the cards in the PC, connected the bridges and ticked 'enable CrossFire' in Catalyst Control Centre.

14-February-08, 12:56 PM		#12 (permalink)
SexyPants 5-Hoe-1 Jeans	Re: same brand of video cards Have you made sure that all settings motherboard-wise are as they should be? Sometimes there are jumpers, bios settings etc.

14-February-08, 11:37 PM		#14 (permalink)
skidro892007 Apex Techie Lite	Re: same brand of video cards I made sure that I had the newest drivers installed. Should I try getting a better PSU? Cuz I have a good one as it is, but maybe it's not good enough for 2 of these? I don't have a lot of money, but I can probably spare like 200 bucks for a good PSU. Any suggestions?

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