Needed a SLI motherboard with onboard graphics

[vermakhil]

Hi Guys,

Can somebody please let me know if we have a motherboard available with following configuration :

1. Intel Processor Support
2. DDR 3 atleast 1333MHZ
3. SLI certified
4. onboard graphics

I am planning to buy graphics card later in the year. But I want to buy a mother board asap. Without onboard graphics I wont be able to connect my computer. Hence please suggest me...!!

 

[tecmo34]

You will have a hard time finding this, as all of the newer Intel chipsets (P55 & X58) don't come with on-board graphics. Only the H55/H57 have on-board graphics but don't support SLI.

You can look at an older LGA 775 motherboard but DDR3 suppor will be limited. Can you just purchase the cheapest GPU you can find from the Internet to get you buy until your upgrade?

 

[tecmo34]

1) Hybrid technology is currently just on AMD to provide mixing of GPU's; ATI to Nvidia, ATI 5870 with an ATI 4870, ATI 5970 with GTX 480... etc. I'm not 100% sure how the technology truly works, outside it allows mixing of graphics cards through the drivers on the motherboard.

2) The OP wants an Intel, which does support ATI & SLI but not a mixing. These boards don't come with on-board graphics, which the OP needs since doesn't have one.

 

[tecmo34]

Hybrid SLI

Also in response to the PowerXpress technology from AMD, a configuration of similar concept named "Hybrid SLI" was announced on January 7, 2008. The setup consists of an IGP as well as a GPU on MXM module. The IGP would assist the GPU to boost performance when the laptop is plugged to a power socket while the MXM module would be shut down when the laptop was unplugged from power socket to lower overall graphics power consumption.[9][10]

Hybrid SLI is also available on desktop Motherboards and PCs with PCI-E discrete video cards. NVIDIA claims that twice the performance can be achieved with a Hybrid SLI capable IGP motherboard and a GeForce 8400 GS video card.[11][12]

On November 5, 2008 in Microsoft’s Guidelines for Graphics in Windows 7 document, Microsoft stated that Windows 7 will not offer native support for hybrid graphics systems. Microsoft added the reason for the decision saying that hybrid graphics systems ‘can be unstable and provide a poor user experience,’ and that it would ‘strongly discourage system manufacturers from shipping such systems.’ Microsoft also added that ‘such systems require a reboot to switch between GPUs.’[13]

On desktop systems, the motherboard chipsets nForce 720a, 730a, 750a SLI and 780a SLI and the motherboard GPUs GeForce 8100, 8200, 8300 and 9300 support Hybrid SLI (GeForce Boost and HybridPower). The GPUs GeForce 8400 GS and 8500 GT support GeForce Boost, the GPUs 9800 GT, 9800 GTX, 9800 GTX+ 9800 GX2, GTX 260 and GTX 280 support HybridPower.[14]

Taken from... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface#Hybrid_SLI

Basically, it is on-board graphics working together with a GPU to be SLI, like two GPU's linked together. This similar to the Hybrid-Crossfire setup on AMD. This is an option, if the OP wants to run an older Nvidia chipset / LGA 775 socket but doesn't work on the newer Intel motherboards.

 

[vermakhil]

So even these FUZION motherboards from MSI would not support SLI.. correct?

 

[tecmo34]

MSI Fuzion boards will support SLI (I'm not 100% sure how well though... Not 100% sold on the technology either) but it is an AM3 motherboard not Intel. If you are willing to do AM3, I would recommend the ASUS Crosshair IV, since I trust ASUS' technology more in this regards.

 

[vermakhil]

But MSI site say negative about SLI..

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=171&cat3_no=&prod_no=2144

Not sure what to do...

 

[tecmo34]

1) Fuzion allows mixing of GPUs across brands so in theory you can run SLI but it is not list as supported because it isn't a "standard" feature (MOBO comes with bridge, drivers... Etc).

2) IMO... Your best option is to get Intel but purchase a really chip PCIe card to get you by & act as on-board until you get the GPU's you want... (My suggestion: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121360 )

 

[vermakhil]

Best answer selected by vermakhil.

 

[vermakhil]

I would buy the cheapest of all the graphic cards in that case..

Can anybody advise me how to check if my graphics card is running at x16 or x8 speed ??

 

[tecmo34]

Download GPU-Z and use it to determine what it is running at under "Bus Interface".

 

[vermakhil]

You are a Dude..Thanks a ton Man..!!