nVidia stops SLI on the nForce4 ULTRA =/

[Gambit_2K]

From Anandtech:

"MSI confirmed with us that they are canceling their plans for an "SLI"-like motherboard based on the nForce4 Ultra chipset after pressure from nVidia to drop the project. The MSI "semi-SLI" Ultra has been mentioned a few times in the past, but apparently, the newest NVIDIA drivers prevent this SLI hack from working. EPoX and DFI are both introducing boards using a very similar principle to MSI's DBS solution, but they both also face the threat of NVIDIA pulling the plug with next generation drivers."

Not suprising There goes my plans of buying a cheap Ultra board and running "fake SLI" sometime in the future.

[quicksilverXP]

Relax... it's not that much more expensive for real SLI.

[shadowing]

True. I'd rather get a real SLI config then a "fake SLI".

[IvanAndreevich]

Drivers can be cracked easy as 1-2-3.

[jjcom]

yeah, I wouldn't be too surprised if a hack was made so you could still run a fake SLI. Fake SLi vs Real SLi...I'd rather just get real SLi and avoid the preformance hit.

jjcom

[Gambit_2K]

Here in Sweden there is pretty huge price difference between the MSI NEO4 ULTRA and the Diamond. About 100$! And between the Ultra-D and SLI-DR it's about 80-90$. Id rather spend that on graphics.

But I hope there will be a driverhack later on.

[MarilynMX]

I heard it. New driver prevents Ultra boards from setting up SLI?

[urbanfox]

What is semi sli?

[MarilynMX]

theres no "semi" thing. only "real" and "fake"

[urbanfox]

theres no "semi" thing. only "real" and "fake"

I don't understand, what is the problem then, what is MSI trying to do?

[MaxxxRacer]

use a pci express slot (8x) with no back end it as fthe second pci express slot. This is possible as all the nf4 chipsets are sli ready. so basicly you plug in ur pci express 16x card into the 8x slot, but one end of hte 8x slot has no end part so it basicly is a 16x slot that got cut in half. I really dont see why it is that this is such a big deal.

[omega65]

What is semi sli?

Real SLI has 2 16x PCIe slots both running at 8x speeds (Some Highend NF4 Dual CPU mobos are reported to have 2 16x slots both running at 16x speed)

Fake (or Semi) SLI uses a PCIe 2x or 4x slot in addtion to the 16x PCIe graphics slot.

[Murmlos]

So if i buy the non-si version,, the cheapest one, i should be able to use 2 cards and sli them just that it would be a bit slower? And now nvidia is making a driver making it "impossible" ? Did i get it right :O

[Rave]

I reckon driver hacking will not only enable SLI on the Ultra chipset- it'll enable it on the normal NForce4 too. There's no reason as far as I can see why it couldn't be enabled on Via, SiS and even ATi chipsets(!).

Hasn't SLI already been done on the Intel 925 chipset? All it requires as far as I can see is two PCI-E links (of any speed, 1x-16x) to the two cards, and the SLI connector to join the cards together.

Rich :¬)

[omega65]

So if i buy the non-si version,, the cheapest one, i should be able to use 2 cards and sli them just that it would be a bit slower? And now nvidia is making a driver making it "impossible" ? Did i get it right :O

Sort of. The other PCIe Slot has to physically allow a Video card to fit, most will not due to components in the way.

I think There's a thread floating around here with a picture of the Semi SLI board

[omega65]

Here it is MSI 7125 (NF4 ultra) can do SLI