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SLI + 4 Monitors == Quad Display?

Jaxidian

Jaxidian

Platinum Member
I'm curious how well dual-card SLI setups work with a quad-monitor setup. Has anybody actually attempted this yet? This would be the ultimate setup for my desk at work where I do a lot of coding and other stuff.
 
Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Would this even be possible though? I thought each card does half the screen and the image is put together. Maybe thats only in 3D?
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That's exactly what I thought, I was under the impression SLI was just 2 cards sharing one workload. Acting like a single card.
 
If this is anything like Voodoos SLI and I am guessing that it is, then the VGA outputs are shared for one monitor. So I seriously doubt your going to be outputting to multiple monitors.

Even if you were it would still not be the type of view you are thinking. You will get the sam pic on each monitor, so cant do it in a spread out display like Matrox does. If thats what you are thinking.
 
I think you would have to take the SLI bridge out from beteween the cards. I think what the OP is talking about is running the two cards independent of each other. ...still not sure if this is possible.
 
IIRC, this won't actually work in SLI mode, however, the drivers have an option (via a little checkbox that enables/disables SLI) to disable SLI mode and simply run the 2 cards as 2 individual cards.

In SLI mode this wouldn't work.

In 2 card mode, it should work fine.
 
Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
According to these guys, it is possible.
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Everything I've read about NVs implementation of SLI states exactly the opposite of what the Inquirer states. It is not possible for a quad-head setup unless you run 2 separate, non-sli'ed cards.
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What you're saying is if you have 2 PCI-e cards and a SLI mobo you'll be ablo to run quad monitors system, right? The Inquirer didn't say the cards "should" be on SLI mode, so I think what they're saying is right.
 
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
According to these guys, it is possible.
Click to expand...


Everything I've read about NVs implementation of SLI states exactly the opposite of what the Inquirer states. It is not possible for a quad-head setup unless you run 2 separate, non-sli'ed cards.
Click to expand...

What you're saying is if you have 2 PCI-e cards and a SLI mobo you'll be ablo to run quad monitors system, right? The Inquirer didn't say the cards "should" be on SLI mode, so I think what they're saying is right.
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If the cards are capable of being run in a non-sli fashion (e.g. operating independently), then I can't see any reason why running 4 monitors would be a problem. However, if the cards are SLI'ed, you can't get a quad-head output, as one card functions as master (the display card) and the other functions as a slave (and its outputs are disabled). If you want 4 monitor output with the benefits of an SLI board, you could probably add in a PCI video card that has dual-head. You would be pretty hardcore having a 3 video card rig🙂
 
Originally posted by: JB1592
IIRC, this won't actually work in SLI mode, however, the drivers have an option (via a little checkbox that enables/disables SLI) to disable SLI mode and simply run the 2 cards as 2 individual cards.

In SLI mode this wouldn't work.

In 2 card mode, it should work fine.
Click to expand...

This is correct. Currently, with the cards in SLI mode, you will only be able to have a single display. In NON SLI mode, then you can have up to 4 independent monitors in "dual view" mode.
 
Originally posted by: sparkz
Originally posted by: JB1592
IIRC, this won't actually work in SLI mode, however, the drivers have an option (via a little checkbox that enables/disables SLI) to disable SLI mode and simply run the 2 cards as 2 individual cards.

In SLI mode this wouldn't work.

In 2 card mode, it should work fine.
Click to expand...

This is correct. Currently, with the cards in SLI mode, you will only be able to have a single display. In NON SLI mode, then you can have up to 4 independent monitors in "dual view" mode.
Click to expand...

Why can't you use 2 monitors on SLI mode since a 6800 Ultra has dual-DVI output?
 
But if all you are going to be doing is coding and the like it would be just as effective to use pair of pci dual display videocards to drive four monitors, and it would cost a whole lot less too.
 
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
Originally posted by: sparkz
Originally posted by: JB1592
IIRC, this won't actually work in SLI mode, however, the drivers have an option (via a little checkbox that enables/disables SLI) to disable SLI mode and simply run the 2 cards as 2 individual cards.

In SLI mode this wouldn't work.

In 2 card mode, it should work fine.
Click to expand...

This is correct. Currently, with the cards in SLI mode, you will only be able to have a single display. In NON SLI mode, then you can have up to 4 independent monitors in "dual view" mode.
Click to expand...

Why can't you use 2 monitors on SLI mode since a 6800 Ultra has dual-DVI output?
Click to expand...


You can hook up 2 displays in SLI mode. This guy is mistaken.
 
Originally posted by: TheSnowman
But if all you are going to be doing is coding and the like it would be just as effective to use pair of pci dual display videocards to drive four monitors, and it would cost a whole lot less too.
Click to expand...

PCI graphics cards are not an option for me. Some of the graphics work that I do requires a bit more sophistication. Additionally, I'd want all of the outputs to be DVI. Perhaps there is a good PCI card that can still pull its own weight as well as offer dual DVI outputs but I have failed to find one.

So based on the discussion here, it sounds as though if you can disable SLI and run the cards independently, then a quad setup in theory would be possible. It would be nice if we could get somebody to try it...
 
It should work...SLI is turned off for 2D anyway, the only time it's really on is when there is a need for 3D to be used, so you should be able to run 4 monitors in 2D stuff.
 
Two PCIe cards in PCIe slots will do 4 monitors just fine. You just don't activate anything SLI at all.

I run quad-head on my server with no problems (under Linux, though).
 
I know some brands of the 6600GT come in dual DVI...much cheaper than a pair of 6800GT's or ultras, and probably just as good for what you want.
 
Originally posted by: sic wil
I know some brands of the 6600GT come in dual DVI...much cheaper than a pair of 6800GT's or ultras, and probably just as good for what you want.
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Those are what I had in mind... 🙂
 
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