X1900 on an SLI board?

[Artic_Kid]

What are the pros&cons of using ATI-based X1900XT graphics boards on an Nvidia-based SLI motherboard? Can it be done? What does one lose? Is there a hidden risk? (I'm actually considering doing such a thing, if it's not a screw-up.)

Or is it better to use ATI-based cards only with an ATI-based Crossfire board?

[GFiSH]

A lot of people do it. Don't think there are many disadvantages, one would be that you can't use Crossfire (ATi's version of SLi).

I don;t know if there are any performance increases with running an ATi card on and ATi board and the same with nVidia, would be interested to know though.

[kempez]

No problems with my X1900XTX

Dunno if an R580 runs better but I doubt it. I think NF4-32 may run cards a bit faster but not too sure tbh

[shaithis]

The only reviews of the NF4-32 boards I have seen actually show a small decrease.

As for ATI cards with nVidia chipsets, there are no drawbacks other then the Crossfire issue already mentioned. I have seen a few setups where having both nVidia chipset and graphics cards caused some wierd driver issues, something that you would totally avoid with that setup.

I currently run in my main rig a NF4-SLi + X1900XTX without any issues.

[kempez]

Seems to be pretty much better Anand at least by a little bit. No decrease

[Artic_Kid]

Am I correct in thinking that two ATI-based graphics cards will not work together (a la Crossfire), if used with an Nvidia-based SLI mobo? Is that our guess at this point? Or is that a firm conclusion?

[kempez]

No thats pretty much correct.

In theory they SHOULD be able to work.

In practice they dont

[shaithis]

Seems to be pretty much better Anand at least by a little bit. No decrease

As usual, benchmarks are inconsistant.....

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mai...li-deluxe.html

[iranu]

I run an x1800xt on a DFI-SLi board. There are no issues and I very much doubt there is any real increase in performance by keeping manufacturers the same. The only thing you lose is dual gfx card capability.

You have to ask yourself 2 questions imo.

1. Which chipset is best for what I need to do.

2. Do I intend on running 2 gfx cards in the future as an upgrade.

[Artic_Kid]

Using a graphics card as a physics processing unit (PPU) has given me a glimmer of hope for the dual-graphics mobos (SLI & Crossfire). Like this: I buy one good graphics card now. Say in two years PPU games are big, and I demote my graphics card to a PPU, and get a new/better graphics card for graphics. Smooth!?

Problem is, would that work when the mobo and two graphics cards are incompatible (an Nvidia mobo, and ATI graphics cards)? Seems everyone here is saying the incompatibility will not work for dual-graphics mode (GPU & GPU). But would it work for a PPU & GPU mode?

For that matter, would it work to use one brand (ATI) as a PPU, and another brand (Nvidia) as the GPU, and use an Nvidia mobo? Get complicated. Any insights on this?

[DanceswithUnix]

Problem is, would that work when the mobo and two graphics cards are incompatible (an Nvidia mobo, and ATI graphics cards)? Seems everyone here is saying the incompatibility will not work for dual-graphics mode (GPU & GPU). But would it work for a PPU & GPU mode?

For that matter, would it work to use one brand (ATI) as a PPU, and another brand (Nvidia) as the GPU, and use an Nvidia mobo? Get complicated. Any insights on this?

You aught to be able to use dual graphics cards such that you can drive more monitors, and if that is the case you should be able to do PPU as well.

What you can't do is the crossfire/SLI modes unless your setup is "approved".

Mixing brands of video card sounds fraght with problems though, as you would need both drivers installed at the same time. Sounds like a recipe for blues screens to me!

[kasavien]

Slightly off topic i admit but has anyone seen any articles where an attempt has been made to run 2 ATI cards on an SLI rig or visa versa? just interested to see if anyone has even tried.

[Artic_Kid]

Slightly off topic i admit but has anyone seen any articles where an attempt has been made to run 2 ATI cards on an SLI rig or visa versa? just interested to see if anyone has even tried.

Good question. I've been asking the same question, and several people here say it wouldn't work. But no one has reported actually trying it! So perhaps it's still got one foot in the "don't know" category. Has anyone actually tried it? (It seems ATI and Nvidia are not revealing much on this matter, as they want people to use only cards of their particular brand. So they have a motive to keep quiet about this issue.)

[Artic_Kid]

Mixing brands of video card sounds fraght with problems though, as you would need both drivers installed at the same time. Sounds like a recipe for blues screens to me!

Nvidia and ATI are saying you can mix families of graphics cards: one family card for PPU, and another family card for GPU. Those functions are pretty different, so it seems likely that you'd need to use two different drivers anyway (one for PPU and another for GPU). If that's the case, then it's not too far a leap to mix brands of graphics cards, as you'd still end up with two drivers (one for PPU and another for GPU).

I suppose it's all a bit of speculation at this point, since there are no PPUs on the market, and the info seems locked up under non-disclosure agreements. But the whole PPU idea is giving some hope that I might actually someday use that second graphics port on a SLI/Crossfire mobo. But does it have to all be within the same brand?

[ExceededGoku]

Nvidia and ATI are saying you can mix families of graphics cards: one family card for PPU, and another family card for GPU. Those functions are pretty different, so it seems likely that you'd need to use two different drivers anyway (one for PPU and another for GPU). If that's the case, then it's not too far a leap to mix brands of graphics cards, as you'd still end up with two drivers (one for PPU and another for GPU).

I suppose it's all a bit of speculation at this point, since there are no PPUs on the market, and the info seems locked up under non-disclosure agreements. But the whole PPU idea is giving some hope that I might actually someday use that second graphics port on a SLI/Crossfire mobo. But does it have to all be within the same brand?

Actually only ATi have claimed to be able to "mix families of graphics cards" nvidia's way of physics processing requires to similar graphics cards...

[Artic_Kid]

Actually only ATi have claimed to be able to "mix families of graphics cards" nvidia's way of physics processing requires two similar graphics cards...

If that's true, then ATI has out-foxed Nvidia again - by providing a reasonable upgrade path. (That is, when it's time to upgrade, you demote your graphics card to a PPU, then buy a new high-end graphics card for a GPU.) I'm quite surprised at my own turn-around in view. Six months ago, I thought Nvidia was way ahead of ATI in every respect. Now I'm thinking Nvidia produces less heat&noise, and that's about it.

I suppose one other thing too. I'm under the impression that Nvidia-based SLI boards have a slight speed-performance edge over ATI-based Crossfire boards. (Thus my interest in this thread, since I'm thinking about running an ATI X1900XT on an Nvidia SLI premium.) Is that true? Are Nvidia mobos faster?