Dumb SLI question

[bearlevel]

Do you have to use IDENTICAL graphics cards in a SLI setup?

 

[Zero82z]

No, they just have to be from the same line of cards. For example, you can run an XFX GTX260 in SLI with a BFG GTX260, but not with a 9800GTX.

 

[Superdemon]

The simple answer is yes.

The not so simple answer is mostly yes. Cards must be the same series(example: 8800) model (GT GTS GTX etc.) and if possible clock speed. If you use a card with a higher clock speed (such as a higher OCed card) along with one of a slower clock speed the faster card will slow down to match.

 

[evilsofa]

There are a few other rules.

For example, cards in SLI (or Crossfire) do not share RAM; the contents of the RAM on each video card must be identical, so if you have two 512MB cards in SLI, you will have 512MB available to games, not 1GB. If you have two cards which are otherwise identical but have different amounts of RAM, the lowest amount of RAM will be used; for example, a GTX 275 896MB and a GTX 275 1792MB in SLI will use 896MB on both cards, and have 896MB available to games.

Also, two cards with different clock speeds will run at the clock speeds of the slower card.