MSI K8N SLI / XFX 7950 GX2

[mcknight]

Just spent $600.00 on vid card and while it works, it doesn't work well. I'm running it on an MSI K8n SLI. Power supply is Enermax 535watt. Chipset is Nvidia NForce 4. I wont go into all the specifics, let's just say it isn't working right. Here's my questions:

1.) Should I switch around the little pcb between the two PCIE slots to SLI mode even though this is a dual GPU, single slot card? I haven't done that yet because I figured all that little SLI switch card does is activate the second slot and since this is a single card solution...

2.) What the heck is "SBIOS" I know what BIOS is but have never heard of "S"BIOS. According to Nvidia'a web site, this card will work on any SLI capable motherboard "with a properly configured "SBIOS".

Thankx

 

[Cookie Monster]

You spent 600 now? if so, you just made the biggest mistake of your life. (if not one of)

For 630~, you could have bought a 8800GTX which is much much faster than a 7950GX2 overall.

edit - even a 8800GTS wouldve been better.

 

[mcknight]

Thanks! That was real helpful... I got it through a Dell credit account so I KNOW the price was too high but I didn't have the cash on hand and got for $20.00 a month. Anyway...

Anybody have and decent comments about my questions? Thamks

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: mcknight
Thanks! That was real helpful... I got it through a Dell credit account so I KNOW the price was too high but I didn't have the cash on hand and got for $20.00 a month. Anyway...

Anybody have and decent comments about my questions? Thamks

Ummm... I understand your thoughts here, but seriously, that was not a wise move. You are going to be paying out the ass for an overpriced card on credit that was already outdated as a high end card before you bought it. To me, it sounds like your card is "broken" and Dell should take the card back and refund your money.

Anyway, if you're going to insist on getting ripped off, I'll be glad to answer your questions:

1.) Should I switch around the little pcb between the two PCIE slots to SLI mode even though this is a dual GPU, single slot card? I haven't done that yet because I figured all that little SLI switch card does is activate the second slot and since this is a single card solution...

No, it's a single card in that respect, leave it setup the way it is...

2.) What the heck is "SBIOS" I know what BIOS is but have never heard of "S"BIOS. According to Nvidia'a web site, this card will work on any SLI capable motherboard "with a properly configured "SBIOS".

I think "SBIOS" stands for system BIOS. I imagine that NVIDIA makes that distinction because video cards also have a BIOS of their own, maybe a "VBIOS"...

Here is a list from NVIDIA of MSI motherboards from that support the GX2 along with the BIOS they tested it with.

http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce_gx2_sbios/us.asp?vendor=msi&sortBy=chipset

...good luck and welcome to AT forums.