Is it possible to use 7900 GT and 7800 GTX together in SLI ?

DidlySquat

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Jun 30, 2005
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First, is that supported ? and second, will there be any issues ?
my understanding is that these cards are very similar and if they are clocked the same their performance will be almost the same.
 

Tig Ol Bitties

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Feb 16, 2006
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Probably not, still considered different GPUs although they give somewhat similar performance. GPUs must be same, they can be diffferent brands, but the gpus must be the same...7800gtx with another 7800gtx. Besides, even if you could do such a thing, the 7800gtx wouldn't still be overpriced as it still is right now >$400, it be around the same as the 7900gt if nVidia was the least bit smart about it.
 

dguy6789

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Dec 9, 2002
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Perhaps a bios flash could turn a 7900GT into a 7800GTX, or perhaps vice versa? If they have the same exact specs and clocks, then I do not see why this would not be possible.
 

keeleysam

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Feb 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: dguy6789
Perhaps a bios flash could turn a 7900GT into a 7800GTX, or perhaps vice versa? If they have the same exact specs and clocks, then I do not see why this would not be possible.

The hardware is much different.

That's like saying "Put the engine from that Camry into the Taurus, they have the same horsepower.:
 

letdown427

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Jan 3, 2006
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No it won't work, but only because nvidia won't let it work. They have chosen to make identical cards necessary. However they may 'unlock' this in the future.
 

fierydemise

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Apr 16, 2005
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If nvidia could make something like this possible I might actually see SLI as an upgrade path, but as of now no.
 

videopho

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Apr 8, 2005
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It appears a NO for now but if both gpu shares a common archictecture and engineering platform. It's a matter of time when Nvidia will release a new driver to accomodate this feature.
 

darkdemyze

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Dec 1, 2005
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Granted it would be nice. But why would nVidia want people to be able to use a $300 card in SLI with a $500 card? I doubt there will be any BIOS revisions from nVidia because for said question, it would lose them money.

Not to say it's not possible though..
 

videopho

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Apr 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: darkdemyze
Granted it would be nice. But why would nVidia want people to be able to use a $300 card in SLI with a $500 card? I doubt there will be any BIOS revisions from nVidia because for said question, it would lose them money.

Not to say it's not possible though..

It's not a matter of Nvida wants to mix and match pricing values in their sli. IMO, it has to do with the way the firmware to be written to accomodate the number of gpu chipset.
 

dguy6789

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Dec 9, 2002
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Originally posted by: keeleysam
Originally posted by: dguy6789
Perhaps a bios flash could turn a 7900GT into a 7800GTX, or perhaps vice versa? If they have the same exact specs and clocks, then I do not see why this would not be possible.

The hardware is much different.

That's like saying "Put the engine from that Camry into the Taurus, they have the same horsepower.:

I see. I was under the impression that the 7900GT was just a die shrunk 7800GTX. Thanks for the information.
 

DidlySquat

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Jun 30, 2005
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Originally posted by: videopho
Originally posted by: darkdemyze
Granted it would be nice. But why would nVidia want people to be able to use a $300 card in SLI with a $500 card? I doubt there will be any BIOS revisions from nVidia because for said question, it would lose them money.

Not to say it's not possible though..

It's not a matter of Nvida wants to mix and match pricing values in their sli. IMO, it has to do with the way the firmware to be written to accomodate the number of gpu chipset.

So I guess nvidia prefers that I sell my 7800 GTX and buy a new X1900 ? btw, 7800 GTX was a $500 card like 9800 pro used to be a $400 card. But now, 7800 GTX shouldn't be $500 for the same reason nvidia decided to price the 7900 GT at $300. Having said that, I better sell my 7800 GTX soon before prices drop.....