Which sli bridge?

[rossta]

So I've recently installed 2 x EVGA 980Ti's into an Asus X99 Deluxe motherboard and the SLI bridge that came with the mobo is one of the flexible type that look awful. Can anyone recommend a nice looking alternative? I'm not sure on compatibility - does any sli bridge work or do you have to be careful in spacing /manufacturer /spec etc? 

 

Thanks 

[Moonzy]

for those flexible ones, as long as they're long enough then they'll do just fine

 

for hard pcb ones, you'll have to buy the correct spacing ones

 

or buy a non-conductive spray paint and paint it to w/e colour you want `-`

 

edit: manufacturer and spec doesnt matter (does SLI bridge have specs?  other than spacing and potential LED lighting )

manufacturer is just a branding for the same connector, which doesnt matter except maybe bling factor

[Denned]

Since you have EVGA cards, I assume the EVGA pro SLI bridge would be pretty fitting

[The Flying Sloth]

An SLI bridge is an SLI bridge, only difference is aesthetics (AFAIK)

 

EVGA one would be pretty fitting though

[Cela1]

Yea, all SLI bridges will work with different cards, but as Denned said the EVGA Pro SLI bridges look much better on EVGA cards. Just remember to get the short one if there is no gap between the cards and a long one if there is a one-slot gap between them.

[rossta]

Many thanks for the advice, just what I was after 

[done12many2]

9 hours ago, Cela1 said:

Yea, all SLI bridges will work with different cards, but as Denned said the EVGA Pro SLI bridges look much better on EVGA cards. Just remember to get the short one if there is no gap between the cards and a long one if there is a one-slot gap between them.

 

9 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

An SLI bridge is an SLI bridge, only difference is aesthetics (AFAIK)

 

EVGA one would be pretty fitting though

 

1 hour ago, rossta said:

Many thanks for the advice, just what I was after 

 

Actually bud, your going to want to look a little deeper.  The Asus x99 Deluxe does not use a normal SLI bridge spacing due to the configuration of 2-way SLI on that board.  You were absolutely right in that you do need be careful with regards to which SLI bridge you buy.

 

I have two 980 Ti's as well and when they are installed per Asus' guidance, they are in the 1st PCIe x 16 slot and the 3rd PCIe x 16 slot (numbers 1 and 4 of the blue numbers on the diagram).  This is not normal spacing and a standard 2-way SLI bridge will not work.

 

Additionally, the configuration I just described is for my 5960x or a 5930k.  If you have a 5820k, you'll actually be using the 1st PCIe x16 slot and the 4th PCIe x16 slot (numbers 1 and 5 of the blue numbers on the diagram).  This will not work with a standard 2-way SLI bridge either.

 

[Cela1]

2 hours ago, done12many2 said:

 

 

 

Actually bud, your going to want to look a little deeper.  The Asus x99 Deluxe does not use a normal SLI bridge spacing due to the configuration of 2-way SLI on that board.  You were absolutely right in that you do need be careful with regards to which SLI bridge you buy.

Well spotted, but would this not just mean that they need the long version if the EVGA pro SLI bridge?

[done12many2]

 

19 minutes ago, Cela1 said:

Well spotted, but would this not just mean that they need the long version if the EVGA pro SLI bridge?

 

Yes Sir, but that's only if he's running a 5960x or a 5930k (40 lanes) 2-Way configuration.  If he's running a 5820k (28 Lane) 2-Way configuration, he'll need a 3-way bridge.  He'll use the 1st and 3rd connections on that bridge.

 

So in this case it's a matter of long, short, 28 lane, or 40 lane.  Thanks Asus!   

 

[done12many2]

..

 

 

[Cela1]

8 hours ago, done12many2 said:

So in this case it's a matter of long, short, 28 lane, or 40 lane.  Thanks Asus!   

*EVGA

[DXMember]

XDMA

[done12many2]

2 minutes ago, Cela1 said:

*EVGA

What? 

[Cela1]

Just now, done12many2 said:

What? 

You said Asus

[done12many2]

1 minute ago, Cela1 said:

You said Asus

That's because we were talking about PCIe slots on an Asus board. 

[Cela1]

7 minutes ago, done12many2 said:

That's because we were talking about PCIe slots on an Asus board. 

*Casually wistles and walks away*

(My bad xD) /thread?

 

[rossta]

well i ordered a Long EVGA bridge before I read all these recent comments!!  I measured the gap with a tape measure and to my (rather poor) eye it looked like 60mm so hopefully it'll fit

 

Im running a 5930K so have got my 980Ti's in slot 1 and 4 as per the above.

 

Fingers crossed the bastard fits 

 

just out of interest done12many2 im assuming you've OC'd your rig? This was my first build so haven't dared do any overclocking but sounding like you've got a pretty similar setup so any advice you can point me towards would be greatly appreciated

[rossta]

10 hours ago, done12many2 said:

That's because we were talking about PCIe slots on an Asus board. 

this is my build FYI

 

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/qFJXXL

[done12many2]

6 minutes ago, rossta said:

well i ordered a Long EVGA bridge before I read all these recent comments!!  I measured the gap with a tape measure and to my (rather poor) eye it looked like 60mm so hopefully it'll fit

 

Im running a 5930K so have got my 980Ti's in slot 1 and 4 as per the above.

 

Fingers crossed the bastard fits 

 

just out of interest done12many2 im assuming you've OC'd your rig? This was my first build so haven't dared do any overclocking but sounding like you've got a pretty similar setup so any advice you can point me towards would be greatly appreciated

 

2 minutes ago, rossta said:

this is my build FYI

 

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/qFJXXL

 

Sound like you got the right SLI bridge bud.  Good call on measuring.  Let me know how it fits so I can order the same thing.  

 

As far as overclocking, I'm pretty sure my parts don't even remember what their stock speeds are!    

 

Our builds are indeed very similar and I can assure you that there are just tons of unused power in these things.  I'll PM you with some of my OC spreadsheets and some great guides that I used when initially switching over to x99.

 

It looks like you've built a beast!

 

 

[Dennis Miller]

27 minutes ago, rossta said:

 

well i ordered a Long EVGA bridge before I read all these recent comments!!  I measured the gap with a tape measure and to my (rather poor) eye it looked like 60mm so hopefully it'll fit

 

Im running a 5930K so have got my 980Ti's in slot 1 and 4 as per the above.

 

Fingers crossed the bastard fits 

 

 

23 hours ago, done12many2 said:

 

Actually bud, your going to want to look a little deeper.  The Asus x99 Deluxe does not use a normal SLI bridge spacing due to the configuration of 2-way SLI on that board.  You were absolutely right in that you do need be careful with regards to which SLI bridge you buy.

 

 

Thanks for posting this thread rossta (and for your reply done12many2).

 

Been trying to find an answer to this question for a little while now.  I'm planning a build with the Pro board (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WXDBf7) which has the same Asus-specific slot spacing.  Even called Asus tech support..."just get the 4-way bridge to be sure" was their answer.  

 

I think the Asus bridges are ugly, or at least won't go with my white and black color scheme, so I'll probably go with Nvidia's line of bridges, of which they have 40mm, 60mm, and 80mm variants, which I'll paint to match.

 

rossta, please let us know how that bridge works out for you.

[done12many2]

3 minutes ago, Dennis Miller said:

Thanks for posting this thread rossta (and for your reply done12many2).

 

Been trying to find an answer to this question for a little while now.  I'm planning a build with the Pro board (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WXDBf7) which has the same Asus-specific slot spacing.  Even called Asus tech support..."just get the 4-way bridge to be sure" was their answer.  

 

I think the Asus bridges are ugly, or at least won't go with my white and black color scheme, so I'll probably go with Nvidia's line of bridges, of which they have 40mm, 60mm, and 80mm variants, which I'll paint to match.

 

rossta, please let us know how that bridge works out for you.

 

No problem at all @Dennis Miller!

 

I've used Asus boards for many many years and love them, but lets face it, their customer support (at least via phone) leaves something to be desired.

 

You, much like @rossta are assembling one hell of a rig.  I'll include you on the PM about the x99 info.

 

Based on your picture I'd like to thank you for what you do!

[Dennis Miller]

46 minutes ago, done12many2 said:

 

I've used Asus boards for many many years and love them, but lets face it, their customer support (at least via phone) leaves something to be desired.

 

 

Same here, this will be the fourth system I've built on their boards...but yes, their phone support is awful.  Calling was a move of desperation.

 

46 minutes ago, done12many2 said:

 

You, much like @rossta are assembling one hell of a rig.  I'll include you on the PM about the x99 info.

 

 

Please do, I'm building a custom loop for this one with designs to really push overclocking.  I notice from your sig block that you're using EK blocks?  Did you use a cpu block or opt for the full monoblock?

 

46 minutes ago, done12many2 said:

 

Based on your picture I'd like to thank you for what you do!

 

 

You're welcome, thank you!  Its currently the wife's turn "over there"...which is really the only reason I'm getting away with spending this kind of money!  I don't want to be in the same room when she sees the price tag of that monitor for the first time lol

[rossta]

2 hours ago, Dennis Miller said:

 

 

Thanks for posting this thread rossta (and for your reply done12many2).

 

Been trying to find an answer to this question for a little while now.  I'm planning a build with the Pro board (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WXDBf7) which has the same Asus-specific slot spacing.  Even called Asus tech support..."just get the 4-way bridge to be sure" was their answer.  

 

I think the Asus bridges are ugly, or at least won't go with my white and black color scheme, so I'll probably go with Nvidia's line of bridges, of which they have 40mm, 60mm, and 80mm variants, which I'll paint to match.

 

rossta, please let us know how that bridge works out for you.

No problem, as soon as it lands and I have time to install it I'll let you guys know.

And thanks for the OC guides; not had chance to look at them yet but I'll be sure to pester you when I get round to misunderstanding them!   

[rossta]

23 hours ago, done12many2 said:

 

 

Yes Sir, but that's only if he's running a 5960x or a 5930k (40 lanes) 2-Way configuration.  If he's running a 5820k (28 Lane) 2-Way configuration, he'll need a 3-way bridge.  He'll use the 1st and 3rd connections on that bridge.

 

So in this case it's a matter of long, short, 28 lane, or 40 lane.  Thanks Asus!   

 

Sorry guys, one more question! How come some have dual connectors and some only single? Currently the floppy bridge I have at the minute has dual connectors but the one I've ordered has only single? Do I have a problem?! 

[done12many2]

3 minutes ago, rossta said:

Sorry guys, one more question! How come some have dual connectors and some only single? Currently the floppy bridge I have at the minute has dual connectors but the one I've ordered has only single? Do I have a problem?! 

No problem at all with the one you ordered.  When running 3-Way or greater, SLI requires both.  With two, you only need a single connection to each card.  Hope that helps.