Bunch of SLI questions from a newbie

[bigrash]

First time installing an SLI setup. I already have an EVGA 570 gtx installed and I'm looking for a second video card. I'm looking at either the EVGA 550 ti or the 560 Superclocked (found deals on both of them). Is the 560 that much better than the 550, or are they about the same?

Also, does it make a difference if the video cards are 2 different brands?

 

[mattdallastx]

Match the same card.

 

[4ghz]

Cards have to be the same model for SLI. So you would need another gtx 570. Different brands don't matter.

 

[chimaxi83]

Also, if you get a matching card with a different amount of RAM, you will only end up with the lesser amount. The other posters covered the rest.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Yes, the amount of VRAM has to be/should be the same, as should be the clocks (also for the GPU, otherwise the faster modell will be clocked down to match the slower one).

 

[mattdallastx]

Another gamer converted to SLI *evil laugh WUAH HA HA HA HA!

 

[bigrash]

Thanks guys. I thought I read that in certain SLI settings you can have the lower card handle some graphics like PhysX, but I must have read wrong.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Thanks guys. I thought I read that in certain SLI settings you can have the lower card handle some graphics like PhysX, but I must have read wrong.

If you get a card that does not match then that second card can only run Physx, in every other game it would do nothing.

Identical cards in SLI can do physx and graphics in any game.

 

[notty22]

The Unofficial NVIDIA SLI Technology User Reference Guide

 

[nenforcer]

You can mix / match different brands, as well, as long as it's the same GPU. I mixed an EVGA 9800 GT with a XFX 9800GT my first time.

A GTX 560 would be overkill as a dedicated PhysX card along with a GTX 570, while I can see a GTX 550 Ti as a possible PhysX card companion to a 570.

The 570 is already so powerful though that you are better off just getting another 570 and pairing them for a true SLI setup. You will be able to maximize Battlefield 3 with that setup.

 

[bigrash]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'll wait untill I find a good deal on a GTX 570. No point in having another card installed if it's not used at all times.