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SLI technology = 4 monitors?

K

KuJaX

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Jan 8, 2001
Messages
15,783
Hey,

I have a client that wants an FX-55 machine. Basically, he has four 2405fpw's that he wants to hook up to this new machine. I thought of running dual 6600gt dual DVI pci-express video cards in SLI mode. However, I am not so sure this is the correct application. Here is what I am planning on building:

FX55
Asus a8n-sli deluxe
2gb crucial ballistix pc-3200
2xwestern digital 74gb raptor 10,000rpm sata's raid0
2xXFX nvidia geforce 6600GT 128mb GDDR3 DUAL DVI Pci-express

BASICALLY, my question to you all, after reading some SLI reviews, it doesnt seem that my client will be able to run his FOUR monitors out of the four DVI slots of the 2 6600gt's. If he won't be able to run FOUR lcd monitors with the above setup, what setup should I build/talk to him about to run FOUR lcd monitors (he would want ALL DVI slots). Thanks to anyone that can helpout!
 
I'd love an answer to this since I can only run two monitors off of it in non-SLI mode and, in this config (where each card is outputting to a seperate monitor), there are issues I didn't have with a single 6800GT.
 
Back_Packer said:
just don't run it in SLI mode and it should work
Click to expand...

Yes, it should work fine if you don't run it in SLI mode. I'm too lazy to test that though, all that lugging of monitors around, meh.
 
He wont be able to run in SLI mode. So I dont really know why he's wanting such a high end PC if he's not going to be gaming (also, why such a low level graphics card for an extremely high end system?).

If its just for professional level applications then I'd suggest a more professional card (Matrox maybe, or some high end solution from other companies). Really coming down to it, it depends on what he'll be doing, with gaming I think he'd be disappointed with the graphics card.
 
Multi-monitor applications are one bennefit of the SLi setup. Just don't set it for SLi mode, which is for games/3D apps only and disables the extra DVI ports. If he wants a high end system for doing whatever, than you have quoted him a very good setup. Overkill of course more than likely, but it should last him quite a while.
 
like all other said, just need 2 dual head graphic cards, you could go quite a bit cheaper too, look at something like 2 Radeon x600's since SLi isn't an option, plus each card having 256mb of ram can help since each card needs to push 2 screens at 1600x1200. Also look at the DFI Ultra-D, its not SLi but supports 2 cards so it'll give you the same effect.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone!

What it boils down to is that he DOES NOT game. He is not a gamer. The computer will be used for professional reasons related to trading stocks/commodities/futures. Some people have said to just use two different video cards that both have DVI heads. However, wouldn't this require me to have one AGP and one PCI (of which I don't know of any PCI flavor dual DVI heads). Unless I went with the same setup with that SLI motherboard and dual pci-express 16x ports and just run it in non-SLI mode.
 
Get that board everyone was modding into the SLI board, I think it was a DFI Lanparty board, it has the Dual PCI-E 16 slots, you can then put in 2 video cards, if he isn't going to game then I would just to good but cheap dual head cards and put in there. 6600GTs would be overkill hoever if his LCD's are DVI the BFG 6600GTs have dual DVI but I would think there would be cheaper alternatives.
 
Yes,

I'm trying to find a dual DVI PCI flavor video card that would be compliant (drivers-wise) with a dual DVI AGP flavor video card.
 
Its not like its going to harm anything by having two 6600GTs, plus you will likely have a painless setup process w/them as the nForce 4 + SLI cards were designed to work together. And if he has 4 2005fwps I doubt he cares about the difference in cost for a cheaper video card(s).
 
KuJaX said:
what are your reasons?
Click to expand...

Research, that link shows specific design for exactly what you are looking for. Plus every review I've seen has put the DFI above the Asus board.

 
Yes, I would also go with the DFI board if he is not going to be doing any gaming on the system. DFI > all is pretty what I've been seening lately.
 
All I have heard are stability issues with DFI right out of the box. As far as this video card issue, two identical 6600GT's on an SLi motherboard is a good idea. It means minimal driver hassels and that's a good thing. Since he's not a gamer, he probably doesn't need to overclock. Personally I say go with an MSI SLi board or an Asus SLi board and two 6600GT's.
 
I would have trouble recommending the DFI for it's stability rep. Go with Asus A8N-SLI + 2 6600GTs. If this guy is doing stock trading, the last thing he needs is his system locking up before a big trade.

A8N-SLI w/6600GTs : The drivers will cooperate, the mobo will be stable, and the system will be reasonably fast.

PCI Express and AGP would create a driver mess, and the only motherboards to support that are with VIA chipsets (which you should stay away from)
 
bubblethumper said:
I would have trouble recommending the DFI for it's stability rep. Go with Asus A8N-SLI + 2 6600GTs. If this guy is doing stock trading, the last thing he needs is his system locking up before a big trade.

A8N-SLI w/6600GTs : The drivers will cooperate, the mobo will be stable, and the system will be reasonably fast.

PCI Express and AGP would create a driver mess, and the only motherboards to support that are with VIA chipsets (which you should stay away from)
Click to expand...

I agree with the choice of board. I'm not sure what people's problem with it is. Some people seem to think that it's a bad overclocker, but I'm running my system at the following specs:

241 HTT
Athlon 64 3500+ @2.651 mhz (1.58 vcore, air cooled)
PC-3200 @ 482 mhz DDR (2-3-3-5 latencies, 1T)

It is *rock solid*. The RAM goes a lot higher if I lower my CPU multiplier, but I find that this combination is working well for me.
 
This is kind of off topic but you may want to rethink your brand of Nvidia cards. I remember seeing a few threads in here about XFX not being so good as of late. May i recommend eVGA or BFG.
 
Kevin003 said:
This is kind of off topic but you may want to rethink your brand of Nvidia cards. I remember seeing a few threads in here about XFX not being so good as of late. May i recommend eVGA or BFG.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will take it into consideration. Just need dual DVI heads on both cards.
 
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