is it worth getting SLI motherboard if you only have a minor interest in it?

[sygyzy]

I doubt I'll pay $500+ to run two video cards in SLI. But with that said, I definitely like options. Are there any cons to buying the SLI version of a motherboard if I don't intend to use SLI? Other than cost of course. Any performance hits? Any space constraints?

 

[vanvock]

Probably not other than general layout or if you need the extra PCI slot

 

[lifeblood]

3 possible reasons:
1. You find a second video card for dirt cheap to allow you to run SLI.
2. You have 3 or more displays connected to your PC so you have 2 video cards.
3. Nvidia releases a driver allowing you to use it's video cards as a physics engine like ATI claims. SLI will allow you to have one video card for video and one for physics.
Of these, #3 is a bit of a reach and 1 & 2 are not very likely. I have SLI because of reason 2.

 

[darkdemyze]

And with nV's new card lineup being released, chances are it'll be cheap to SLI with mid-range cards in the near future.

 

[sygyzy]

Is it true that the video cards have to have identical GPU's? Do they have to come from the same MFG?

If I got a SLI motherboard and don't run SLI, can I use the other/extra/spare PCIe slot for anything I want?

darkdemyze - What do you mean by your comment? That once the new cards come out, I can buy older cards cheap?