SLI/Crossfire

bragr · 07-22-2008, 06:53 PM

I'm in the process of building a new system. In this system, I plan to get some high-end basics and then upgrade over time. For instance, I'm only getting on graphics card now but in a few months I plan on getting a second and using SLI. I have found my perfect board except it says that it supports crossfire, but I am planning on going the Nvidia route. I know that an Nvidia card will still work but can I still use SLI? Does the board have to specifically support one or the other.
If it helps, I'm planning on getting the ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe.

Pro tip: This is not an invitation to start an ATI v. Nvidia flame war. I just want to know if it will work or do I need to look for a new board.

WhiteFireDragon · 07-22-2008, 07:36 PM

you can only SLI on an nvidia chipset (northbridge). SLI and crossfire are never compatible. it's either one or the other. on some intel chipsets, you run 2 ATI cards in crossfire at x16 or only one nvidia card at x16. if you want to run two nvidia cards in SLI, the bandwidth will only be x8. if you want full x16 with SLI, look for another board

EDIT: have you considered intel CPU's? clock for clock, they are a little faster than AMD and a little better for gaming. there's more boards to choose from

bragr · 07-22-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

you can only SLI on an nvidia chipset (northbridge). SLI and crossfire are never compatible. it's either one or the other. on some intel chipsets, you run 2 ATI cards in crossfire at x16 or only one nvidia card at x16. if you want to run two nvidia cards in SLI, the bandwidth will only be x8. if you want full x16 with SLI, look for another board

EDIT: have you considered intel CPU's? clock for clock, they are a little faster than AMD and a little better for gaming. there's more boards to choose from

You forgot that they are more expensive in general and more expensive per clock cycle, but yes I am considering it.

maroon1 · 07-22-2008, 08:05 PM

Actually Q6600 is cheaper than its main competitor Phenom 9850.
Q6600 is a little faster and it consume less power as well

Vitek · 07-22-2008, 08:07 PM

You've got to pay for the good stuff...

WhiteFireDragon · 07-22-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bragr

You forgot that they are more expensive in general and more expensive per clock cycle, but yes I am considering it.

i'll just state any current things i know instead of bringing fanboyism stuff in here about intel and AMD. when athlon X2's came out, it was only against the intel's p4, who sat on their ass on netburst for the longest time. however, when the core2 duo's came out, intel took the crown in both dual cores and quads and it has been like that for a few years. now that octo-core nehalems will come out very soon, AMD will be in the dust unless some miracle happens.

yes intel chips might be more expensive when you compare it clock for clock, however, that comparison is not valid because intel chips are faster clock for clock. you'd have to look at performance benchmarks to compare. the last time i checked, majority benchmarks i saw when comparing inte chips in the same price range, intel came out ahead. core2 duo's already got athlon X2 beat, but there is no more comparison anymore when you look at q6600 vs phenom, especially when you can get a q6600 for only $210 now. you have much more mobos to choose from no matter if you go SLI or crossfire

Intel_man · 07-22-2008, 08:41 PM

Well from my understanding, Crossfire usually are on AMD boards and SLi are usually for Intel boards. Some maybe the opposite but the majority isn't.

WhiteFireDragon · 07-22-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intel_man

Well from my understanding, Crossfire usually are on AMD boards and SLi are usually for Intel boards. Some maybe the opposite but the majority isn't.

no, that's not true. intel is known for CPU's, but they also make motherboards. and even aside from motherboards, they also make chipsets (aka the northbridge). there are some intel motherboards that has intel chipsets that support crossfire at x16. what you're thinking of is companies like EVGA/XFX that make the complete motherboard with the included nvidia chipset to support only SLI. i would say that half the mobo with intel CPU can xfire and the other half SLI. dont confuse intel CPU mobo, intel chipset, and intel motherboard. intel chipsets ONLY support xfire

07-22-2008, 06:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
bragr Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bakersfield, Republik von Kalifornien Posts: 39	SLI/Crossfire I'm in the process of building a new system. In this system, I plan to get some high-end basics and then upgrade over time. For instance, I'm only getting on graphics card now but in a few months I plan on getting a second and using SLI. I have found my perfect board except it says that it supports crossfire, but I am planning on going the Nvidia route. I know that an Nvidia card will still work but can I still use SLI? Does the board have to specifically support one or the other. If it helps, I'm planning on getting the ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe. Pro tip: This is not an invitation to start an ATI v. Nvidia flame war. I just want to know if it will work or do I need to look for a new board. __________________ This has *been* wisdom from Bragr

07-22-2008, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
WhiteFireDragon Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 734	you can only SLI on an nvidia chipset (northbridge). SLI and crossfire are never compatible. it's either one or the other. on some intel chipsets, you run 2 ATI cards in crossfire at x16 or only one nvidia card at x16. if you want to run two nvidia cards in SLI, the bandwidth will only be x8. if you want full x16 with SLI, look for another board EDIT: have you considered intel CPU's? clock for clock, they are a little faster than AMD and a little better for gaming. there's more boards to choose from __________________ q6600 @ 3.2ghz maximus II 7900gt 512mb 2x1gb tracers @ 800mhz audigy 2zs 74gb raptor HX520watts Last edited by WhiteFireDragon; 07-22-2008 at 07:39 PM.

07-22-2008, 08:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
maroon1 Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Somewhere in Hell !!! Posts: 2,643	Actually Q6600 is cheaper than its main competitor Phenom 9850. Q6600 is a little faster and it consume less power as well __________________ Free softwares: Avast! antivirus - FireFox - FDM - OpenOffice - CCleaner

07-22-2008, 08:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Intel_man Platinum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 943	Well from my understanding, Crossfire usually are on AMD boards and SLi are usually for Intel boards. Some maybe the opposite but the majority isn't. __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 @ 1.86GHz MOBO: Asus P5BW-LA PSU: CoolerMaster Power Extreme 500W VGA: eVGA 9600 GT 512mb GDDR3 @ 750/1870/1000 HDD: WD 250 GB SATA RAM: 4 GB DDR2 PC2-5300 - Crucial Rendition MONITOR: LG Flatron W2242TQ, NEC MultiSync LCD1530V NETWORK: D-Link DNS-323 - SeaGate Barracuda 500GB SATA2 OS: Windows XP Professional SP3 __________________

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07-22-2008, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Vitek Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 47	You've got to pay for the good stuff...

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