Windows 7: GeForce 9800GT 1GB

PwnFrnzy · 10 May 2011

I'm planning the parts of a new computer I plan to put together soon and I want to put 2 GeForce 9800GT 1GB cards in it. But I don't know how I am to set-up the SLI.
So I have 2 questions:
1) How do I set up the SLI between these 2 cards?
2) Will I need any cables, ect. to get the SLI working?

This is the Graphics card I'm looking at:
Newegg.com - PNY VCG98GTEE1XPB GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Terronium 12 · 11 May 2011

First off you'll need an 'SLI-Ready' motherboard, and with that board comes (if everything is still the same. I haven't picked up a nVidia card since the G70/71 days) the SLI bridge. From there you just connect the two cards via said SLI bridge and you're good to go. I believe you have to enable it through ForceWare afterwards but let someone with experience clarify or deny that latter bit.

Now, a couple of questions of my own:

1. What kind of system are you putting together?
2. Why two 9800GT's? You can get one 550 Ti (1 or 2GB) that will wipe the floor clean with both of them from here to next year, and it'll be cheaper!
3. In addition to question one what kind of PSU are you eying?

LuzTeTT · 11 May 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Terronium 12

First off you'll need an 'SLI-Ready' motherboard, and with that board comes (if everything is still the same. I haven't picked up a nVidia card since the G70/71 days) the SLI bridge. From there you just connect the two cards via said SLI bridge and you're good to go. I believe you have to enable it through ForceWare afterwards but let someone with experience clarify or deny that latter bit.

Now, a couple of questions of my own:

1. What kind of system are you putting together?
2. Why two 9800GT's? You can get one 550 Ti (1 or 2GB) that will wipe the floor clean with both of them from here to next year, and it'll be cheaper!
3. In addition to question one what kind of PSU are you eying?

Actually, don't worry about what motherboard you get. You can, of course, opt for an SLI-ready motherboard, but since SLI is mostly a software-based thing, there are patches to get around having to use an SLI-ready motherboard.

Though it's rare to find one that isn't, especially a modern one.

cmd187 · 11 May 2011

That GPU is obsolete. I'd get a GTX 560 and forget about messing with SLI.

Terronium 12 · 11 May 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by cmd187

That GPU is obsolete. I'd get a GTX 560 and forget about messing with SLI.

A 560 Ti would be considerably more expensive than the OP's apparent target price range. A 550 will do the job and then some.

pparks1 · 11 May 2011

I agree with the others, that video card is old. Go with a newer high power single card and you will fare better.

PwnFrnzy · 11 May 2011

Newegg.com - EVGA 02G-P3-1559-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Found that one thanks to Terronium 12 for the recommendation.
It will save me about $20 and looks to have excellent performance. GDDR5 and 2GB of video memory will run today's games smoothly and then some.

Thanks to you all for the recommendations, but one question still remains:
How do you SLUI two graphics cards? Do you need some sort of wire between the 2 cards or does the motherboard do the work for you?

Terronium 12 · 11 May 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by PwnFrnzy

Newegg.com - EVGA 02G-P3-1559-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Found that one thanks to Terronium 12 for the recommendation.
It will save me about $20 and looks to have excellent performance. GDDR5 and 2GB of video memory will run today's games smoothly and then some.

Thanks to you all for the recommendations, but one question still remains:
How do you SLUI two graphics cards? Do you need some sort of wire between the 2 cards or does the motherboard do the work for you?

No problem.

As for SLI you'll need a bridge (SLI bridge, don't go out and start getting estimates on actual bridges. Lol), said bridge comes with any 'SLI-Ready' mobo, you connect the two cards using that bridge and from there I believe you have to enable it through ForceWare. The motherboard still has to do all of the communications data and whatnot, but the actual scaling comes from the cards themselves. There's been the problem of SLI and Crossfire over saturating the PCI-e bandwidth, even with boards that offer the full 16 lanes on two slots. So it's gotten to the point where even if SLI and/or Crossfire has perfect scalability 150% of the time, you'd never be able to tap into the entirety of the bandwidth because it just isn't available to you.

And that's before considering any possible bottlenecks.

PwnFrnzy · 12 May 2011

I don't think that will be an issue, the motherboard I selected is SLI-Ready and has 3 PCI-E 2.0 slots for what I believe was supposed to be used for a Tri-SLI setup, but just 2 slots will work.

LuzTeTT · 12 May 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by PwnFrnzy

I don't think that will be an issue, the motherboard I selected is SLI-Ready and has 3 PCI-E 2.0 slots for what I believe was supposed to be used for a Tri-SLI setup, but just 2 slots will work.

Then you're set!

Buy the best, cheapest modern GPU out at the moment (a 550?), and when your hardware is starting to get obsolete, get yourself a cheap 550 (secondhand if preferable—as long as it's cheap compared to today's prices) and SLI!

Windows 7: GeForce 9800GT 1GB

GeForce 9800GT 1GB problems?