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Intel chipsets don't support SLI but why?

N

NoStateofMind

Diamond Member
Ok so I mention to a friend that Intel doesn't support SLI because nVidia doesn't want to give Intel the rights in order to keep their chipset sales up. But he says Intel doesn't want SLI for whatever reason I can't remember. It is my contention that Intel has been trying to twist nVidia's proverbial arm to allow them to implement it. I'm not making the argument that Intel doesn't have the capacity to run SLI, just that the licensing holds them back. Basically it's nVidia's only bargaining chip (pun) that Intel can't legally take away.

So long story short who is to blame?

1) Intel doesn't want SLI on their chipsets

2) nVidia doesn't want Intel using SLI

Please use links for proof.

Thanks for your time 🙂
 
The inquirer is anything but reputable. I am looking for reputable sources/opinions on who is to blame for Intel chipsets not being allowed to run SLI.
 
Nvidia doesn't allow Intel to use SLI on their mainstream boards because it's one of the few features (SLI support) that makes their Nforce series of motherboards attractive to enthusiasts.

Intel has had several winners in a row with their chipsets; P965, P35, X38, etc are all fantastic boards for overclockers and almost a no-brainer choice when going for an Intel CPU. SLI is one of the main ways Nvidia can compete in the chipset market (the other is price).

Nvidia had some glory days in the Socket 939 era with their NForce 4 series boards, but since then Intel has come roaring back with a vengeance, and with them, solid Intel chipsets.
 
^ Jiffy nailed it.

I've been itching to get ahold of the Asus X38 board...but alas, I'll be waiting for 790i on March 11 to do my upgrades.
 
i dont see why intel wouldnt want SLI on their chipsets. they have AMD cross fire and amd even competes with them on cpus. its purely because nvidia thinks it can become a "platform" company and wants to keep SLI exclusive.
 
Originally posted by: hans007
i dont see why intel wouldnt want SLI on their chipsets. they have AMD cross fire and amd even competes with them on cpus. its purely because nvidia thinks it can become a "platform" company and wants to keep SLI exclusive.
Click to expand...

Correct. If Intel chipsets had SLI functionality, think of the huge drop in sales of Nvidia chipset mobos.
 
'Huge drop' would be an understatement. 😉

To OP: NV is to blame here technically and possibly morally, but NV's share holders would disagree. I don't even think there is technical barrier to enable SLI on Intel chipsets. It's just that ForceWare drivers will recognize where the GeForce graphics card(s) are being installed, and if Intel chipset is detected it will not disclose the option of SLI. In the beginning of SLI, NV also shot down, via threats of lawsuits, 3rd party driver development for GeForce graphics cards, effectively eliminating SLI possibility via 3rd party drivers.
 
and of course, jiffys reasoning is true because that is why i will never go sli...intel's chipsets are just too damned good when it comes to overclocking. all of the nvidia boards ive had cant do jack in terms of ocing. their drivers are kind of iffy too...but thats just my personal opinion and experience.

intel chipsets >>>>>>>>>>> nvidia chipsets imo.
 
I have the P5N-T Deluxe board right now (780i) and it runs well, if not better than my P35 board (P5K Deluxe)
 
Originally posted by: Owls
I have the P5N-T Deluxe board right now (780i) and it runs well, if not better than my P35 board (P5K Deluxe)
Click to expand...

Stock for stock, Nvidia and Intel boards both run great. However, I'd like to see your 780i board hit 500mhz + (or 450 + with a quad core).
 
Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
The inquirer is anything but reputable. I am looking for reputable sources/opinions on who is to blame for Intel chipsets not being allowed to run SLI.
Click to expand...


That was also documented here at Anandtech I believe.
 
One word: Licensing


Nvidia is not licensing the tech. used in their chipsets to either Intel or AMD/ATI that would allow SLI support. The reason is simple: If you want to use SLI'd Nvidia cards, you must buy an Nvidia chipset. This puts money in their pockets. I'm guessing that if it didn't, they would license the tech. to Intel or AMD so they could sell more GPU's (and make royalties). Of course Intel got the licensing for Crossfire before AMD purchased ATI, so they can currently support Crossfire in Intel chipsets. This may change in the future as well, leaving Intel systems out of the running for dual GPU systems (which are really a small percentage of the market anyways).

One interesting thing of note is that Intel currently licenses it's FSB tech. (called GTL+) to Nvidia for their chipsets. With the release of the newer Nehalem core CPU's from Intel, this may change and it may end up being Nvidia who is left without a viable option to run the new CPU's in their chipsets. Although I doubt this will happen, it could.

One more note: AMD/ATI is currently in a bad spot financially, competing with both Intel and Nvidia which are offering better products, and behind schedule with their own. However, this is currently the only company to offer CPU's, chipsets, and GPU's. I'm very much looking forward to future products from this company, hopefully some that really beat Intel on quality and performance.
 
The proof SLI works on Intel Chipsets:

Abit includes an SLI bridge with their Intel 975X chipset boards. You then find hacked drivers and then you get Dual 8x SLI.
 
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Originally posted by: Owls
I have the P5N-T Deluxe board right now (780i) and it runs well, if not better than my P35 board (P5K Deluxe)
Click to expand...

Stock for stock, Nvidia and Intel boards both run great. However, I'd like to see your 780i board hit 500mhz + (or 450 + with a quad core).
Click to expand...

I'm running at 425Mhz (1700mhz QDR) right now. I've only had the board for a whole day and I haven't tried higher yet.
 
Originally posted by: Dane
One more note: AMD/ATI is currently in a bad spot financially, competing with both Intel and Nvidia which are offering better products, and behind schedule with their own. However, this is currently the only company to offer CPU's, chipsets, and GPU's. I'm very much looking forward to future products from this company, hopefully some that really beat Intel on quality and performance.
Click to expand...

Their financial situation has nothing to do with their compatibility. As far as I know, AMD/ATI has allowed Crossfire on other chipsets well before Core2 came out.
 
i went from a 9800 to an x1950pro to an 8800gts but due to no sli on intel based boards i know i am going back to ati for sure.

nvidia just assured me that i would only be a one time customer of their graphics card if the status quo continues.
 
Why?

nVidia is greedy.

It's that simple.

There was one guy who hacked SLI drivers to work on other chipsets for a little while, but i'm sure nVidia did a good job threatening to kill him & who knows what else, as he stopped a long time ago.
 
Greedy? It is a public company so you can't expect them to always do whats the best for the enthusiast market, shareholders have too much say in that matter so of course anything that nVidia has is going to stay theirs for a while, same reason they can't enter the cpu market because Intel won't grant them the x64 license.
 
The good thing is that Intel is apparently not granting nVidia a license for its CSI bus, which means nVidia wouldn't be able to make boards for Nehalem. Maybe some agreement will be made allowing SLI on Intel boards as well in return for the required license.
 
Originally posted by: n7
There was one guy who hacked SLI drivers to work on other chipsets for a little while
Click to expand...

Wasn't it a chipset company? ULI? Then, Nvidia bought them out and immediately killed their products and hacked drivers.
 
Originally posted by: n7
Why?

nVidia is greedy.

It's that simple.

There was one guy who hacked SLI drivers to work on other chipsets for a little while, but i'm sure nVidia did a good job threatening to kill him & who knows what else, as he stopped a long time ago.
Click to expand...

Intel is greedy.

It's that simple.

If SLI could easily/officially work on Intel chipsets, nVidia wouldn't even be allowed to produce chipsets for Intel's platform.


It works both ways.
 
Originally posted by: Extelleron
The good thing is that Intel is apparently not granting nVidia a license for its CSI bus, which means nVidia wouldn't be able to make boards for Nehalem. Maybe some agreement will be made allowing SLI on Intel boards as well in return for the required license.
Click to expand...

We can dream, right? Hopefully Skulltrail is the first and not the only...
 
Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
The inquirer is anything but reputable. I am looking for reputable sources/opinions on who is to blame for Intel chipsets not being allowed to run SLI.
Click to expand...

Haha, yeah Inquirer links are voided for this topic. I saw a good non-inquirer-fudzilla article that dove into this but I forget where it was from. I am still searching for it...Ok, I give up. Yeah like Dane said though...it is all about licensing and Nvidia playing the business game.

 
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