nVidia 7950GX2 Questions.....

[GAR]

Hey as you guys know 7900gtx's are having issues, ive gone through 2 of them now, i was thinking of getting the 7950GX2....just wondering do they work on the board i have, wich is the DFI nF4 SLI-D........also when you have these cards do you have to ENABLE SLI....or does it work just like a single card??? thanks guys.

[mdzcpa]

The 7950 works just fine on the SLI-DR. You do NOT need to enable SLI (nor do you even need an SLI chipset). The driver will self install as "multi GPU" using the single slot. It works very much like a single card. If you are using the older jumper mobo, or the the newer BIOS activated SLI mobos, make sure to set it to single card so that you are getting 16x for the single slot (again, set things up like a single card.)

[GAR]

Awsome Thanks alot bro.

[naelq]

i'm sorry, but could you clarify a bit more about the "7900GTX's problems..."??
i've heard/seen 7900GT problems, but 7900GTX??!


/// EDIT ///
just saw your other thread, well what can say? it very very interesting!!
i thought about some 7900GTX SLI action, but it seems that i should think a bit more!!
BTW, could you post an image of your VGA card? (not the one from Giga's website?)

[GAR]

i'm sorry, but could you clarify a bit more about the "7900GTX's problems..."??
i've heard/seen 7900GT problems, but 7900GTX??!


/// EDIT ///
just saw your other thread, well what can say? it very very interesting!!
i thought about some 7900GTX SLI action, but it seems that i should think a bit more!!
BTW, could you post an image of your VGA card? (not the one from Giga's website?)

The card looks the same as all 7900gtx's except for a gigabyte sticker on the fan....

[naelq]

1:1?

[Turok]

The 7950 works just fine on the SLI-DR. You do NOT need to enable SLI (nor do you even need an SLI chipset). The driver will self install as "multi GPU" using the single slot. It works very much like a single card. If you are using the older jumper mobo, or the the newer BIOS activated SLI mobos, make sure to set it to single card so that you are getting 16x for the single slot (again, set things up like a single card.)

So does this mean I can run SLI on any mobo, even if it runs on a ATi, Intel, or any other chipsets without SLI performance losses?

BTW, I have some other question:
- If I get a single 7950GX2, how can I watercool it?
- Do I really need to cool the memory if Im going to overclock? Putting ramsinks will make it really hard to pass tubes between the cards, since it obstructs access to the GPU.
- Do I need to cool the little chipset on the bottom card?

[naelq]

1st question, the answer is no. SLI is only possible with only an SLI capable chipset.

1. AFAIK, there isn't any aftermarket WB's yet, but you can always build your own. (tip: http://vr-zone.com/?i=3743 )
2. IMHO, cooling the RAM won't give more than extra 5MHz to 10MHz (without any vmods) but for some every MHz does count!
3. sure you do!

[mdzcpa]

So does this mean I can run SLI on any mobo, even if it runs on a ATi, Intel, or any other chipsets without SLI performance losses?

1st question, the answer is no. SLI is only possible with only an SLI capable chipset.

Actually this answer is wrong. Although SLI as a term is generally applied to multiple graphics cards, the Scalable Link Interface technology used to enable multiple GPUs in multi card set ups is the same technology that runs both GPUs on the 7950. So, technically speaking, running the 7950 in multi GPU mode is indeed running SLI. And this can be done on non SLI capable mobos without any performance loss. The technolgy that is implemented into SLI chipsets is just handled by an onboard chip on the 7950.

For example, I am getting the SLI performance of two GTX cores (albeit slower clocked) on my Intel Bad Axe mobo which is technically a non SLI mobo. The same can be done on ATI chipset mobos as well.

The only real difference is that there is a little less bandwidth available to the 7950 as it runs on only one x16 pcie lane. However, this has virtually no effect on performance. The real difference in performance does not come from using multiple slots or not, but rather the core and memory speeds of the GPUs and supporting memory used.

Bang for the buck, no two card SLI set up can touch a GX2. Two GTs are about equal in $$ but get crushed by the GX2 in performance. Two GTXs beat the GX2, but costs a lot more.

An upside to two cards is better cooling options. Right now there is little offered for the GX2...but it is coming.

The upside to the GX2 is: no SLI chipset needed for SLI performance, much lower power requirements than 2 card set ups, can be used on Intel and other non SLI mobos, and very quiet. Of course, you can always go quad SLI too

Watch your cooling on thse 7950 cards though, they doget warm. If you go with aftermarket cooling, make sure you cool everything originally cooled by the oem cooler.

[naelq]

Actually this answer is wrong. Although SLI as a term is generally applied to multiple graphics cards, the Scalable Link Interface technology used to enable multiple GPUs in multi card set ups is the same technology that runs both GPUs on the 7950. So, technically speaking, running the 7950 in multi GPU mode is indeed running SLI. And this can be done on non SLI capable mobos without any performance loss.

isn't the 7950's single card solution? (nVIDIA's words )

[mdzcpa]

isn't the 7950's single card solution? (nVIDIA's words )

Yes....but that has nothing to do with SLI. Single card or dual card doesn't matter. What matters is that multi GPUs are used and that Scalable Link Interface is used to coordinate the GPUs. The number of PCBs employed is irrelevant. The 7950 is SLI.

[guess2098]

basically, motherboard counts 7950GX2 as 1 ONE card, although it is two cards linking together. but DOESN'T matter to moterhboard. becasue it is using ONE slot

[Turok]

basically, motherboard counts 7950GX2 as 1 ONE card, although it is two cards linking together. but DOESN'T matter to moterhboard. becasue it is using ONE slot

It doesnt matter because one of the cards has a chipset that controls it like a SLI chip. You can run it in SLI in any motherboard.
nVidia's site says it can even run in mobos with Intel and ATi chipsets. Mobos that dont work with it will need a BIOS flash to support it.
IMO, I think the card could work probably in any board with a PCI-E slot.

Here's nVidia's list of mobos that can run the 7950GX2
http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce_gx2_sbios/us.asp

[gregorisvas]

Hi!I have an Asus P5WD2-Premium.Will the 7950GX2 work on this mobo?(i mean work without any problems )

[GAR]

Hi!I have an Asus P5WD2-Premium.Will the 7950GX2 work on this mobo?(i mean work without any problems )

Yeah it should work with no problem.