Dual Cards, non SLI

[labonn]

I'd like one card for CAD, and the other for HDPC (or HTPC...). Would two different PCIE cards in the two x16 slots work for this if SLI weren't enabled? Thanks...

 

[Mik3y]

nope, they wont work.

 

[PhattyB]

They would "work". Think of it like having an AGP and PCI video cards in the same system. They will work independantly from each other.

 

[Megamixman]

It is not recommended that you combine different GPU types (e.g. a 6600GT and a 6800GT) although doing so may still be allowed, yet resulting in some rather strange results in certain cases.

That?s from the Anandtech Review for the MSI SLI board. In other words, we still don?t know. It probably won?t work with two different manufactures. If you?re thinking something like a 6800U and a Quadro 4000, there is a good chance that they will work since the only difference is drivers. I can't wait to see how well dual Quadro 4000's do in Workstation benchies.

 

[xtknight]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as you tell your drivers not to enable SLI, you can plug whateverthehellyouwant into the dual x16 slots, as it's up to the drivers (ie. you can plug an All-in-Wonder into one slot and a 6800GT into the other). You might have to play around with it a bit, and I'm not sure if you need the daughterboard between the two graphics cards or not. Don't take my word for it though, because I haven't even used SLI. This is only an assumption, so don't go out and spend a fortune unless you're sure. 😉 What would you plug into the HTPC slot, though? An All-in-Wonder is just a video card with a TV Tuner. TV Tuners are more likely going to be x1 cards, not x16.

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as you tell your drivers not to enable SLI, you can plug whateverthehellyouwant into the dual x16 slots, as it's up to the drivers (ie. you can plug an All-in-Wonder into one slot and a 6800GT into the other). You might have to play around with it a bit, and I'm not sure if you need the daughterboard between the two graphics cards or not. Don't take my word for it though, because I haven't even used SLI. This is only an assumption, so don't go out and spend a fortune unless you're sure. 😉 What would you plug into the HTPC slot, though? An All-in-Wonder is just a video card with a TV Tuner. TV Tuners are more likely going to be x1 cards, not x16.

Your logic seems correct, although im not sure if the nv drivers will allow the cards to work independantly. From a hardware POV it seems like it would make sense for them to work independantly from one another.

 

[uOpt]

I am sure this will work as well as PCI and AGP cards together.

If you don't have ATI, my 8500LE AGP together with a 5200 PCI requires reboot to restart the graphics subsystem, works with two NVidia cards.

 

[Darth Farter]

I've seen this work on some hardware review sites.
They even put in a ATI (!) X800XT and an 6800ultra, so they effectively had 4 working Screen Outputs.
SLI makes for interesting options indeed....