SLI has failed on my motherboard

**ICantSpellDawg** · 06-10-2010, 05:58

I thought I could do it, but the GTS 250 is too thick and my motherboard has only the top 2 slots pci-express, with the bottom two slots pci. I guess my only option is to get a new motherboard (which isn't going to happen) or to save up for a better video card. Damnit. Any suggestions on bang for buck?

I have an nvidia graphics ship on my motherboard, does that mean that ATI cards are off limits? will there be a problem?

**ICantSpellDawg** · 06-10-2010, 17:18

You choads are no help!!!!!!!!!! jk, lol

**Monk** · 06-10-2010, 17:32

Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff

I thought I could do it, but the GTS 250 is too thick and my motherboard has only the top 2 slots pci-express, with the bottom two slots pci. I guess my only option is to get a new motherboard (which isn't going to happen) or to save up for a better video card. Damnit. Any suggestions on bang for buck?

I have an nvidia graphics ship on my motherboard, does that mean that ATI cards are off limits? will there be a problem?

My understanding of the ATI equivalent of SLI: nvidia chipsets do not play nice with it. Some time in google leads me to believe that your motherboard wouldn't support it, though I have no actual experience with it so I dunno for sure.

If you want bang for buck you can always try third-party card manufacturers, provided you stay the heck away from PNY.* My last two vards have been purchases that way, and aside from fan trouble with one i've had no regrets. Definitely keep an eye on newegg or tigerdirect for good deals. Newegg in particular, they love to spring out of the blue sales.

*Had no complaints with the card, it was actually very good. Far more than I expected a geforce 9600 to be, but the fan turned out to be a terrible piece of crap and failed within a year.

**ICantSpellDawg** · 06-10-2010, 17:36

Thanks. I got a second EVGA GTS 250 for $85 bucks!!! Alas, my sheapo move failed to net positive results. I'm now forced to spend double the amount on a GTX275 and I'll have a gts 250 lying around which seems like a massive waste.

**Monk** · 06-10-2010, 17:42

Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff

Thanks. I got a second EVGA GTS 250 for $85 bucks!!! Alas, my sheapo move failed to net positive results. I'm now forced to spend double the amount on a GTX275 and I'll have a gts 250 lying around which seems like a massive waste.

Well, you ~~shiv~~ live and ~~burn~~ learn.

**Tellos Athenaios** · 06-10-2010, 19:03

But... you can't do SLI you couldn't do Crossfire anyway (and vice versa). Simple matter of volumes.

Now a single PCI-express card should work wherever a single PCI-express port happens to be available. So if you haven't bought that GTX275 yet then you can have some more fun with comparing prices/specs of ATI cards, too.