Video cards sli

[suicidesspyder]

Ok quick question i right now have a nvidia gts 250 1gb dedicated video memory card. I want to add another card but budget is the issue at the moment. So wondering if this one is compatible with sli or do i need the same card to bridge.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130522

[MiRai]

Ok quick question i right now have a nvidia gts 250 1gb dedicated video memory card. I want to add another card but budget is the issue at the moment. So wondering if this one is compatible with sli or do i need the same card to bridge.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130522
1. Almost positive they have to be the same model. GTS 250's only compatible with other 250's, GTX 260's only compatible with other 260's,etc.
2. The card you linked isn't even SLI capable.
3. Multiboxing World of Warcraft and SLI/Crossfire don't work very well together, unless you're using it for other games.

[Hivetyrant]

Yup, only ATI cards can be teamed with different model cards (though within a certain range)

And as Fenril pointed out, SLi/Crossfire has little to no positive impact on WoW (if anything it makes it slower/glitchier)

[lans83]

From what I was told in the past, I haven't checked in a while, when running cards in sli mode, your fastest card will be cut down in performance depending on how much slower the other card is compared to it. Anyone know if Blizz is gonna finally utilize sli mode for WoW after Cata comes out, like they finally did for multi core systems? Or still no word on this yet?

[Hivetyrant]

From what I was told in the past, I haven't checked in a while, when running cards in sli mode, your fastest card will be cut down in performance depending on how much slower the other card is compared to it. Anyone know if Blizz is gonna finally utilize sli mode for WoW after Cata comes out, like they finally did for multi core systems? Or still no word on this yet?
WoW is still stuck in 32-bit world and can't use more than 2gig of ram... So I doubt it...

EDIT: Not that the issues are related, just stating that their support for "modern" hardware is lacking

Cataclysm is supposed to bring along improved memory usage (not more, just more efficient) but I don't see them supporting SLI anytime soon, if only becuase they are more "friendly" with ATI and crossfire (which does little as well)

[suicidesspyder]

Ok so i would need a better care then the gts 250 since it only has two vga hookups. Or can it handle more with a splitter. All i want is three screens but can only connect two any ideas. That was the only reason for sli for me except for the new final fantasy this fall.

[Hivetyrant]

You don't need SLI for multiple screens, In fact, until a little while ago, you couldn't have more than two (or in some cases 1) screen while using SLI, you just needed multiple video cards.
If your motherboard can accomodate more than one video card, then it might be able to use them both.


I wouldn't take my word for it as all motherboards are different, as are video cards, but it has worked for me in the past.
I would recommend (if possible) testing it with a friends video card and see if it works

[suicidesspyder]

Hmmm good idea i might take one outta my other tower and try it.