About the SLI and adding a new graphics card

ZeroNeo · Rated PG Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 14

Right now i have a Gigabyte 6600GT graphics card in my computer, I was thinking to upgrade it by adding another graphics card.
I know they have to be exactly the same, but what i'm not sure if the really have to be EXACTLY the same in terms of manufacter.
Could i add a XFX 6600GT for example? or it really have to be another gigabyte 6600GT?

reptilezs · Rated PG Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 8

http://www.hwspirit.com/reviews.php?read=18&page=3 that faq recomends that you use an identical card

humanZOO · Rated PG Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 3

As long as the manufacturer follows the "reference design", you should be able to buy a card from any manufacturer as your second card.

unholy · Posted: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 03:03:57 Post Subject:

The card must be able to commuicate with the other therefore if Gigabytes cards uses the Same Firmware as The XFX cards u should have no problem, but on the other chance u will probably get the best performance from the identical cards, cause they response the same way, the same speed and run at the exactly the same Rendering engines.

Gigabyte Twins would be better just like u would run Corsairs TwinX's together, seem similair?

ZeroNeo · Rated PG Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 14

So, i guess i'll buy another gigabyte 6600GT, if i am going to spend another Â£125 in a card i will be looking for the best performance i could get for that.
Thank you all the answers.

dfu · Rated PG Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 7

think they both have to be exactly the same. even manufacturer. even if there is a small difference that wil mess it up and wont work corectly. cant wait till i can aford to build a new system so i can go back to sli...

unholy · Posted: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:54:19 Post Subject:

The thing is u normally get a SLi pack when u get two cards at the same time, don't forget to get SLi cards otherwise ur screwed :|

And do u normal buy twinx ram seperatly? Dual channel works similair to SLi, just the chips need to be same in size, and if there same in lantecny BONUS!

desolatax · Rated PG Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 6

im pretty sure that you have to use the same model of card...

unholy · Posted: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 09:37:12 Post Subject:

u don't have to, the revision does't mean they changed the SLi connection interface, they may have changed the board layout, or maybe even some bugs on the firmware leading to rendering in SLi mode, The cards do or should be the same brand, this helps u not waste your moey, and uf u have conflicts see if u can replace your older card... thats the only solution to not buying 2 SLi's at once...

Awoken · Posted: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 15:55:27 Post Subject:

Firmware and device ID must match up so it's best to buy from a store with a good rma policy just in case.