Video card purchasing question

[mrsaber]

So, new egg just sent me an email to let me know that I can purchase an EVGA GTX 480 for ~$200. I was wondering if my current system can SLI that with the current EVGA GTX 470 I have.

Power supply: SeaSonic M12II 620w SLI ready PSU
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X58
Processor: Intel Core i7 950
6x 2GB DIMMs for ram
3x 500 GB seagate HD
1x dvd burner (rarely used)
~6 120mm case fans.

The question is twofold:
a: can the GTX 470 and GTX 480 SLI together (corollary: on this motherboard?)
b: can the power supply handle this, realizing that I am NOT over clocking anything in this system.
b.2: can the power supply handle this putting up a heavy load running folding and similar software.
c: if this is on the verge of the power supply's limits, can I under clock the CPU/do anything similar to reduce other power usage in the system.

Thanks guys!

 

[alrobichaud]

I am fairly certain you cannot. They need to be exaclty the same. Even if the amount of VRAM is different but the cards are otherwise the same, you cannot. Well not exaclty the same. GPU clock speeds can be different.

 

[Scotty99]

Nope, you cannot SLI a 470 with a 480. Your power supply would also be slightly underpowered for that setup, a gtx 480 consumes up to 38amps and a 470 is just below that.

 

[ilysaml]

A) No, both cards must be identical from the same series and the exact model.
B), C) & D) No, and basically the 2 cards won't run together as mentioned in A.

 

[mrsaber]

thanks guys!
addendum to B then, does this PSU have enough juice to run a second 470, were I to purchase one?

 

[Scotty99]

Your PSU would be slightly underpowered for dual 470's, you would need a quality 750w with 4 pci-e cables and a good amperage on the 12v rail, something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027

That is an extremely good price for a 750w unit with a 62amp 12v rail and a 7 year warranty.

As for getting a gtx 470 for SLI, you have two options:

1.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133344
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121464

2. Find a used 470 on ebay/craigslist.

You need the one pictured, the one with the blower style cooler with black board with a hole in it. These models are able to be easily unlocked to a 470, you would need to call newegg first and make sure you are getting the model pictured, and not one with a blue PCB.