what motherboard will support SLI and Crossfire?

[camaroz06]

Hi all,
I am looking to start a build soon and was wondering what board will support both SLI and Crossfire. This will be my first build in a longtime, so the Crossfire, SLI confuses me somewhat when thinking which mobos are compatable with what. As long as there are at least 2 x PCI 16X slots can SLI or Crossfire be supported. Any any mother board will support one ATI or Nvidia card right? The only reason is I might want to switch to an ATI card 1/2 way through the year if their new one kicks the 8800's @$$. Oh and a power supply that is "SLI cert." will also work with a Crossfire setup?

THANKS!!!
Eddie

 

[outlw6669]

All right. This is how I understand it. All MB's with a nVidia chipshet and 2+ pcie 16X slots support sli. All other boards with 2+ pcie 16X slots support crossfire. I do not belive that nVidia boards support crossfire, but I could be wrong. Any psu that is sli/crossfire certified will work with the other standerd. Just check the +12V amperage before you buy either one. The newest generation cards are really power hungry and will need a high end psu in crossfire/sli.

 

[camaroz06]

I hear mixed reports that this mobo, the ABIT AW9D, might run both SLI and Crossfire? I read a post somewhere on this board about it.

 

[outlw6669]

Interesting..........

This is the spec page for the AW9D MB.

Graphics
- Supports Dual PCI-Express X16 slots (dual ATI® CrossFire™ Graphics)

There is also a link that claims it supports sli.
Might just be a typo, or they like to give conflicting information.

Here is a 975 review that states

You need the Nvidia chipset to install an Nvidia SLI dual graphics solution, or the 975X to run an ATI Crossfire dual graphics setup.

Still interesting that the MB's site claims that it supports SLI when the chipset dosen't.

 

[Heyyou27]

There is no motherboard that can run SLI and Crossfire, with true support from Nvidia and ATI. Even if you do run SLI on a Crossfire board, you'll need hacked drivers and an SLI bridge, and even then you'll be limited to the outdated Geforce 7 series as even the official Nvidia Geforce 8 drivers are a bit unstable.

 

[sailer]

Interesting..........

This is the spec page for the AW9D MB.


Graphics
- Supports Dual PCI-Express X16 slots (dual ATI® CrossFire™ Graphics)

There is also a link that claims it supports sli.
Might just be a typo, or they like to give conflicting information.

I looked at that and at first thought that maybe someone in advertising didn't know what he was talking about. Then I clicked on the "Dual Graphics Option" button and it said that supports both Nividia and Crossfire graphics to give you all the options you could ever need. Makes me wonder if they've developed a set of drivers that will address either SLI or Crossfire. If so, that could be very interesting in the future.

 

[lp231]

Dell's XPS Gaming system which uses the 590SLI MCP is able
to run CrossFire and SLI :!: :?:

Here is their spec link which you can see it uses the
590SLI MCP, now go and customize it and you'll
have the option to choose CrossFire.

CrossFire on a SLI mobo?

 

[Heyyou27]

Dell's XPS Gaming system which uses the 590SLI MCP is able
to run CrossFire and SLI :!: :?:

Here is their spec link which you can see it uses the
590SLI MCP, now go and customize it and you'll
have the option to choose CrossFire.

CrossFire on a SLI mobo?

That's not true and it does not say that Crossfire is available on that motherboard on the link you provided.

 

[lp231]

Dell's XPS Gaming system which uses the 590SLI MCP is able
to run CrossFire and SLI :!: :?:

Here is their spec link which you can see it uses the
590SLI MCP, now go and customize it and you'll
have the option to choose CrossFire.

CrossFire on a SLI mobo?

That's not true and it does not say that Crossfire is available on that motherboard on the link you provided.

Sorry about that, maybe I'll go a bit more into details.

Click on the provided link, I've posted before.
Now on the top of the page, at the left side of the flash image you
should see the link called "continue", click on it.

Once you have clicked on it, you should see 4 XPS gaming systems.
Picked the $2,099 one and click "customize it".

After that you should see additional prices, choose
the $2,099 one and click again click "customize it".

In the bottom of the customization page, you should see a bunch
of components, move your cursor to the right pointing arrow
and you should see the components start to scroll.
When you see "video cards" click on it.

As you can see in that list you have the options to use
CrossFire. :lol:

Hey it's a Dell, what can you do about it?

BTW: If you can't find the customize link

Notice it's the XPS 700, which in the specs says it uses a 590 SLI MCP.
here it is

 

[Heyyou27]

I bet they switch out the Nvidia board for a Intel 975X based board if you choose the X1950XTXs.

 

[lp231]

I bet they switch out the Nvidia board for a Intel 975X based board if you choose the X1950XTXs.

Probably...
But according to a magazine...


It says:

The interiorof the Dell chassis is roomy. Still, the Dell left us scratching our heads. Despite the use of quad core, it seems like a last-generation 590 SLI for Intel, and the graphics are still Direct X 9.0.
As we were reather bemused to see a pair of ATI cards running in Crossfire mode in a Nvidia based motherboard.

Source: Games For Windows
January, Issue 02, page:121

Anyway back to the topic...
I don't think there is a motherboard that will let you
run both types of GPU configurations.
If you want to get a DX10 card real desperatly then go
with Nvidia, but it's better off to see how good Ati's no wait..
AMD's cards are once it comes out before you make your decision.

Level 505 posted some benchmarks, but I'm also kind
of skeptical like everyone else.