Can You Run Nvidia Dual Graphics Without SLI?

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Test Setup

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Processors
Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Manchester(2.4 GHz , 1 MB L2 Cache)
Motherboards
Socket 939 Epox EP-9U1697 GLIRev. 0.2 BIOS: 06/04/2007Chipset: ULi M1697
Socket 939 Abit AN8 32XRev. 1.0 BIOS: 03/29/06Chipset: Nivida Nforce 4 SLI x16
Memory
DDR400 2x 512 MB - DDR400 - (200 MHz)OCZ PC3200 512 MB El Dual Channel Platinum Rev 2(CL 2.0-2-2-5 1T)
Common Hardware
Graphics Card (PCIe) Asus 7800 GT (EN7800GT/2DHTV/256M/OSP/A)GPU: GeForce 7800 GT(400 MHz)Memory: 256 MB GDDR3 (1000 MHz)
Hard Drive I Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AD150 GB, 8 MB Cache, 10,000 RPM
Hard Drive II Western Digital Caviar WD1600160 GB, 16 MB Cache, 7,200 RPM
DVD-ROM Gigabyte GO-D1600C (16x)
Software
Nvidia nForce 4 x16 Forceware 6.85
ULi Chipset Integrated Driver 2.12
Nvidia Graphic Detonator 81.98
DirectX Version: 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
OS Windows XP, Build 2600 SP2

Benchmarks And Settings

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Benchmarks and Settings
OpenGL
F.E.A.R Version: 1.0 RetailVideo Mode: 1024x768Computer: HighGraphics Card: mediumOptions/Performance/Test settings
Quake 4 Version: 1.0.5 Beta (Dual-Core Patch)Video Mode: 1280x1024Medium Qualitytimedemo demo4.demo 1 (load textures)
3DMark06 Version 1.0.21280 x 1024 - 32 bitGraphics and CPU Default Benchmark
Doom III Version: 1.0.12621280x1024, 32 BitVideo Quality = High Qualitydemo1Graphics detail = High Quality
Video
Mainconcept MPEG Encoder Version: 1.5.11.2 GB DV to MPEG II(720x576, Audio) converting
Pinnacle Studio 10 Plus Version: 10.1.2.2150from: 352x288 MPEG-2 41 MBto: 720x576 MPEG-2 95 MBEncoding and Transition Rendering to MPEG-2/DVDno Audio
XviD 1.1.0 Version: 1.1.0 Beta 2Encoding type: Twopass - Single passProfile @ Level: DXN HT PALTarget size (kbytes): 570000
Audio
Lame MP3 Version 3.97 Beta 2 (11-29-2005)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 74 minwave to mp3160 kbps
OGG Version 1.1.2 (Intel P4 MOD)Version 1.1.2 (Intel AMD MOD)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 74 minwave to oggQuality: 5
Applications
Winrar Version 3.51(303 MB, 47 Files, 2 Folders)Compression = BestDictionary = 4096 kB
Autodesk 3D Studio Max Version: 8.0Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig"HTDV 1920 x 1080
Synthetic
PCMark05 Pro Version: 1.1CPU and Memory Tests
SiSoftware Sandra 2005 Version 2005.7.10.60 SR3CPU Test = Multimedia / CPU ArithmeticMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Though this is an old article i felt completed to comment. Having to pay royalties on a motherboard is obsceen. The obvious choice of where to place an additional SLI or Crossfire tax is on the graphics card itself. In that way, you choose which way to go when you buy your graphics card and if that multigpu tax is gpu card based, you pay appropriately as you increace the number of gpus in your system. To place a multigpu tax on the motherboard itself and then screw you end consumers by artificially limiting it yo AMD or Intel or in some other non competative way via is just a scam foisted on us all. SLI and Crossfire motherboard certification is just a marketing scam. Set up the SLI and Crossfire specs in an open way (as part of PCIe spec) and be done with it. If manufacturers stuff up their implementation, well they will loose business and this is how it should be.

    As is, both crossfire and SLI motherboard certification is a money grab.
    Reply