Question about SLI

[comdude2]

So I currently own this 980ti: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YMIJP6G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

But I recently made the jump to 4K and my frames suffer a bit, the card is always maxed on GPU usage and I want to buy another 980ti and use SLI

 

The thing is, amazon no longer sells that 980ti, so I'm wondering, does it matter if i buy a different 980ti and use SLI? Does it need to be the same manufacturer etc?

[megaant4]

No, they just have to have the same amount of VRAM. Other than that any ther 980TI will work fine  But why not wait and just grab a 1080? or two?

[costacis21]

as far as they are not on different pcb designs it should be fine. For example, you can's sli with the G1 version from gigabyte, but you can with this.

[Daniel1]

I believe you can use a different gtx 980ti for sli.  

[comdude2]

Thanks for the responses, will order it, if it doesn't work I can always return it I guess

[Godlygamer23]

3 minutes ago, costacis21 said:

as far as they are not on different pcb designs it should be fine. For example, you can's sli with the G1 version from gigabyte, but you can with this.

You can use different versions of the 980 Ti together in SLI, even if the boards are completely different because they are ultimately 980 Ti's. 

[costacis21]

7 minutes ago, megaant4 said:

No, they just have to have the same amount of VRAM. Other than that any ther 980TI will work fine  But why not wait and just grab a 1080? or two?

as far as i know, if they are on different PCB designs, it might lead to issues. For example, you can't sli a reference pcb with a non-reference pcb.

[megaant4]

3 minutes ago, costacis21 said:

as far as i know, if they are on different PCB designs, it might lead to issues. For example, you can't sli a reference pcb with a non-reference pcb.

Why not? The SLI fingers are in the exact same spot? The only issue that is wrong with two different GPU is the VRAM?

[Shimejii]

5 minutes ago, costacis21 said:

as far as i know, if they are on different PCB designs, it might lead to issues. For example, you can't sli a reference pcb with a non-reference pcb.

You can SLI Them no problem. Please do not say stuff without knowing the facts, you only confuse those who dont know. See Linus video from their massive LG giveaway, one was a  reference card, the other was custom pcb. The only factor in what can and cannot SLI is Chipset, and all 980ti are the same chipset, just different binnings and coolers.

[costacis21]

I am not an expert and you might be correct, but even if the SLI fingers are in the same spot, their wiring might be different.

[Godlygamer23]

9 minutes ago, costacis21 said:

For example, you can't sli a reference pcb with a non-reference pcb.

Yes you can.

[Godlygamer23]

1 minute ago, costacis21 said:

I am not an expert and you might be correct, but even if the SLI fingers are in the same spot, their wiring might be different.

It's not. The pin functions are the same. 

[costacis21]

2 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

It's not. The pin functions are the same. 

Because you are a moderator, i will drop my case since your probably know more. However, i said "might" so don't quote me on saying that the fingers are not identical.

[Godlygamer23]

Just now, costacis21 said:

Because you are a moderator, i will drop my case since your probably know more. However, i said "might" so don't quote me on saying that the fingers are not identical.

Being a moderator doesn't make me right. Realistically, I could know very little about technology and still be a moderator. I've also been wrong on numerous occasions, so don't let my authority get in the way. Discussion is also good anyways. 

[costacis21]

1 minute ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Being a moderator doesn't make me right. Realistically, I could know very little about technology and still be a moderator. I've also been wrong on numerous occasions, so don't let my authority get in the way. Discussion is also good anyways. 

For some ungodly reason I thought you being a mod might have actually tested this  Anws, I remember hearing about SLI requiring identical PCB designs, but i can't find anything online supporting that! 

[Godlygamer23]

3 minutes ago, costacis21 said:

For some ungodly reason I thought you being a mod might have actually tested this  Anws, I remember hearing about SLI requiring identical PCB designs, but i can't find anything online supporting that! 

I haven't tested it, but NVIDIA standardizes the SLI fingers for their products so they all use the same design, unless otherwise specified. 

 

And to drive my point home, here's NVIDIA's response on the matter:

Spoiler

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/sli/faq#c3

[costacis21]

2 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

I haven't tested it, but NVIDIA standardizes the SLI fingers for their products so they all use the same design, unless otherwise specified. 

 

And to drive my point home, here's NVIDIA's response on the matter:

  Reveal hidden contents

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/sli/faq#c3

I stumbled on that FAQ while trying to find from where I read that they must have identical PCB designs, but I didn't realize by "Manufacturer" they also meant different PCB designs. Thanks for clearing that up!