Missing SLI Connector?

Scott2010 · 15 Oct 2010

What the hell is a SLI connector? I had to reinstall my system because when I got home from work the other night & powered my pc up, I got a black screen and couldn't get past it, not even through safe mode. I'm running Windows 7 32 bit.

Anyway, I'm using 2 Nvidia GeForce 7900 cards, and I'm pretty sure I've had these cards 'SLI enabled' in the past, but now I just updated the drivers and it says I'm missing a SLI Connector? I've never seen this message before. Is that a piece of hardware? Should it have come with the cards, or is it a motherboard thing?

What kind of functionality will I be missing out on if I don't get it? In the Nvidia control panel, Disable SLI is set by default, but I *can* set 'Maximize 3d Performance'. Just did it, the screen went dark for a moment like the computer was about to reboot, came back up with no errors, and it looks like it's ok, but I don't really know how to tell if SLI is actually enabled or not...

The motherboard I'm using is 'ASUS Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 Crosshair IIV Formula', per Driver Detective.

Dwarf · 15 Oct 2010

An SLI connector, or bridge, is used to join 2 NVidia graphics cards together to provide an increase in performance. Although the connectors are standard, the distance between them can vary slightly according to the motherboard and, if the board is SLI-capable, you should have one of these connectors supplied with it.

Hopalong X · 15 Oct 2010

SLI connector as it says connects two SLI capable video cards together.
In the picture you can see there is a strap/wiring harness between the two cards.
Learn More About NVIDIA SLI
See if you can find info here on the Nvidia SLI site to get things working.

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizon...owtoguide.html
They have this do it yourself guide to walk you through.

Scott2010 · 15 Oct 2010

Thanks for the quick replies guys :) I've had this setup for about 4 years now and I never knew about that... Time to dig through my box of parts to see if it's there, though I don't recall ever seeing anything that looks like that, but you never know.

Thanks again!

Hopalong X · 15 Oct 2010

Designed for extreme HD gaming, the NVIDIA® SLI™-Ready GeForce® 7900 graphics processing units (GPUs) deliver the most graphics performance bang for your buck, including ultra-realistic gaming experiences and resolutions up to 2560x1600.

They are SLI capable.

I got a SLI bridge with my video card. So it is possible you have two some where.

thefabe · 15 Oct 2010

I have a couple I'm not using if you need one. One is for an Asus so let me know if you can't find yours(VIA Pm) and I'll save you a few bucks and send it to you. Same one as in Post #2 Fabe

Dwarf · 15 Oct 2010

You should be alright with that, as it is a flexible connector.

Hopalong X · 15 Oct 2010

Fabe

Nice offer.
I looked but just have the one.

$20 at newegg for a generic.

Mike

thefabe · 15 Oct 2010

Pmed you with some ideas, and links should do the trick.
Fabe

thefabe · 18 Oct 2010

OK it's in the mailbox should be their by Thursday at the latest. funny thing is it seems like everything I have to mail always goes all the way across the US mostly Florida or New York. Georgia just a few. Enjoy.
Fabe