SLI - what is needed ?

[hayate adil]

Hi guys, 

 

thanks for reading and participating here, really helps some guys a lot !

 

I am building my very first system with an intel 4670k and a ASUS Z87-K Motherboard.

 

All the reviewers always mention, there is crossfire support for the boards, however I would have liked to run 2 ASUS GTX 680 in 2-ways SLI.

To all you guys out there:

 

What is SLI ?

What is needed ?

Are the only system requirements 2 PCI-e 16x slots ?

 

Thanks for helping me out !

 

Have a nice day:)

[Flyguygamer]

Sli is Nvidias muli gpu technology.

You need 2 gpu's, a big enough psu, and an sli compatible motherboard.

No, you need an sli mobo.

[cjeffcoatjr]

1-Having two GPU's in a system to gain about 80% more performance in most games. That is what Nvidia calls it, it is Crossfire for AMD. 

2-for what you want, around 700-800w, the GPU's and what I said below

3-That, and SLI bridge and an SLI capable motherboard

 

Get 770's, they are the exact same thing just cheaper

[Altecice]

Ok well first things first.

 

You want a motherboard with two x16 PCI-E slots, the board you are talking about only have one.

 

SLI just means making two cards run as one and TBH, spend the money that you are going to spend on two 680's and buy a better single card. As SLI has drawbacks (such as if the game you are playing doesnt support SLI you will loose half the GPU performance)

 

What is needed is sort of listed above, two x16's a SLI bridge (norm comes with high end GPU's), enough PSU power and connectors and a small driver tick box change .

[Str_Mape]

Ok well first things first.

 

You want a motherboard with two x16 PCI-E slots, the board you are talking about only have one.

 

You need two Physical 16x but then only need to be running at 8x electrical.

[DudeWazap]

• Have 2 of the same GPU's

Around 800W PSU

An SLI compatible motherboard.

[FireFox]

 

• Have 2 of the same GPU's

 

 

Glad someone said that

 

To start you do need two (or more) GPU's but they have to be the same

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

If you are going SLI 680/770, go with one 780 (ti) and use the rest for a better mobo. The rest you can save up to SLI that.

[hayate adil]

Thanks for your help guys !

 

 

1-Having two GPU's in a system to gain about 80% more performance in most games. That is what Nvidia calls it, it is Crossfire for AMD. 

2-for what you want, around 700-800w, the GPU's and what I said below

3-That, and SLI bridge and an SLI capable motherboard

 

Get 770's, they are the exact same thing just cheaper

 

 

An ASUS GTX 680 costs 180 Euros, a GTX 770 costs 300+ Euros ?

 

Anyways, thanks for the help !

 

I didn't want to spend all my money on one beast GPU, since it was my first build. This is why I wanted to be capable of upgrading another GTX 660 later

 

I could spend 50 more Euros on the MOBO, but I am already a little short on money, so I'll just leave the dual GTX 660's.

 

Last question: 16X slots are the physically longest slots aren't they ? The Z87-K has got 2 of them, why isn't it capable of running SLI mode then ?

 

Big thanks ! 

[hayate adil]

Thanks again, but what does "running" on 16x mean?

 

Annother conern I had was created at Intel's database Arc-Intel, which says the 4670k supports up to 1 16x slot ?

 

 

Expansion Options PCI-Express-Version 3.0 PCI-Express-Konfigurationen ‡ Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8/2x4 Maximale Anzahl der PCI-Express-Lanes 16

 

 

I have searched for the  GA-Z87x-D3H, it costs 10 cents more than the Asus Z87-A, looks better, has more IO Ports and more USB 3, thanks for the recommendation!

 

And Again, many thanks !  

[hayate adil]

You guys are totally awesome

 

Thanks for the help, recommendations and advice !!!

 

I'll have a lot of fun building this machine

 

So I can just thank you for being so awesome ^^