Is this SLI configuration possible?

[Voldy1]

Howdy, so I was wondering if I would be able to use these parts in an SLI configuration:

Zotac GTX 460: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500202&cm_re=zotac_1gb_gtx_460-_-14-500-202-_-Product
Gigabyte GTX 460: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333&cm_re=1gb_gtx_460-_-14-125-333-_-Product
MSI motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130235&cm_re=am3_sli-_-13-130-235-_-Product
600W PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017&cm_re=ocz_modxstream_pro-_-17-341-017-_-Product

I already have the Gigabyte card and the power supply. Essentially, I'm looking to add the Zotac card and a new motherboard is required for SLI. I have read on other sites that the PSU should be fine, while a stronger one would be better.

I am mostly wondering about the compatibility of the two cards to run in SLI.

Thanks for any help!
(If this thread needs to be moved, please relocate it to the proper place.)

 

[tecmo34]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Graphics & Displays by Tecmo34

 

[Timop]

It is possible, what is your current Mobo/CPU?

I would recommend a 990X board (wait for more selections too?), they are a bit more expensive, but offers AM3+, crossfire, USB3, SATA6, UEFI etc. and is a better chipset overall.

The PSU is fine, though power get a tad tight if you plan to OC.

 

[Cerealkiller45_86]

I suggest 750+ watt PS

 

[Voldy1]

My current motherboard is the MSI 760GM-E51 (linked below) and my CPU is an AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE (below again). The 990X series is much better, but it is also almost twice the price of the 750a. The change in mobos is essentially just for the SLI capability.

760GM-E51: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130254&Tpk=760GM-E51
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&Tpk=955%20be

I do not plan on overclocking, so that shouldn't pose a problem.

But, to be clear, the two cards could be run in SLI? They do have the same GPU, but, for example, they have (very slightly) different Core and Shader clocks. I imagine that's not a problem, but I want to certain.



Also, thank you to Tecmo34 for moving the thread.

 

[Estabon]

Yes, it will work, just make sure they are operating at the same frequencies. When you plug them both in, your mobo should correct, but if you have the time, plug them both in individually and check in a program like EVGA Precision to make sure.

 

[Estabon]

EDIT: I messed up. Since they are different clocks ===>>

if you have the time, plug them both in individually and check in a program like EVGA Precision to make sure. Use EVGA OC Scanner and make them the same shader and core frequency. I recommend taking the frequency of the lower gpu's shader and core clocks and applying it to the one with the higher clocks.

 

[Timop]

For Nvidia as long as they are the same model they will SLI. (just FYI, AMD cards only requires the same family)

Different clocks are fine though, no need to manually adjust it, I'm not sure about current drivers, but it will either automatically throttle the faster card or just use the slower clocks and seperate the workload accordingly.

HOWEVER, what is your monitor's resolution? a stock 955 could hold back a pair of 460s.

 

[Voldy1]

EDIT: I messed up. Since they are different clocks ===>>

if you have the time, plug them both in individually and check in a program like EVGA Precision to make sure. Use EVGA OC Scanner and make them the same shader and core frequency. I recommend taking the frequency of the lower gpu's shader and core clocks and applying it to the one with the higher clocks.

Ok. Thanks, Estabon, I'll follow your advice on checking the frequencies on the individual cards and making sure they scale to match each other.

Also, could I not do this with both cards plugged in without SLI configured? That is, put both cards in and then check with EVGA Precision that they are running at the same clock speed? I was under the impression that, without the cards configured to run in SLI, they would run as individual cards and I could clock them individually that way.

 

[Voldy1]

For Nvidia as long as they are the same model they will SLI. (just FYI, AMD cards only requires the same family)

Different clocks are fine though, no need to manually adjust it, I'm not sure about current drivers, but it will either automatically throttle the faster card or just use the slower clocks and seperate the workload accordingly.

HOWEVER, what is your monitor's resolution? a stock 955 could hold back a pair of 460s.

I'm running it at 1920x1080. I knew that the CPU may bottleneck it, but that's a future upgrade. I've read elsewhere that it shouldn't be a problem at all as it is quad-core and decently fast. Maybe you have information to the contrary? If I do need to upgrade, send me a link and I'll read up on what I need.

 

[Timop]

I'm running it at 1920x1080. I knew that the CPU may bottleneck it, but that's a future upgrade. I've read elsewhere that it shouldn't be a problem at all as it is quad-core and decently fast. Maybe you have information to the contrary? If I do need to upgrade, send me a link and I'll read up on what I need.

Depends on what games, CPU intensive games (DAO, BF series, FSX, SF2, WOW and most RTS games) stress the CPU and upgrading the GPU wont be much of a help. Other games would much MUCH less impacted.

However, if you plan to upgrade, the 990X is perhaps your best option. It allows you to both SLI and drop in a BD in the near future. You could always get an SB setup, but thats a CPU+Mobo. In either option, the MSI board won't do you much good, as the 955OCed is about as good as its going to get for AM3.

 

[Voldy1]

Best answer selected by Voldy1.