Can You Run Nvidia Dual Graphics Without SLI?

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True SLI: Abit AN832X (nForce4 SLI X16)

The Abit AN832X used in our tests features the nForce4 SLI X16 chipset. Our AMD testbed for the Abit board allows for a 38 lane flexible PCI Express configuration vs. 40 lanes if we had gone with an Intel platform. This board has gained Nvidia's seal of approval, it runs SLI and users simply have to download the latest graphics drivers on the Nvidia Website.

Utilizing HyperTransport technology, the motherboard attains a bi-directional 1 GHz system interface, supporting socket 939. It comes with Serial ATA 2 / RAID support for up to four ports. Abit has engineered a heat pipe into the motherboard, which it refers to as "Silent OTES." Product materials state that "heat generated by the chipset can be efficiently and noiselessly conducted to the back panel".

While the purpose of this article is to deal with the GLI/SLI issues, the Abit A8N32X has features for overclocking with increased voltage and memory frequencies - all is easily accessible through BIOS settings. Okay, let's get to the testing and results. Will GLI be able to match SLI performance?

slide show: Abit A8N32X

Jason Zushman
1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Though this is an old article i felt completed to comment. Having to pay royalties on a motherboard is obsceen. The obvious choice of where to place an additional SLI or Crossfire tax is on the graphics card itself. In that way, you choose which way to go when you buy your graphics card and if that multigpu tax is gpu card based, you pay appropriately as you increace the number of gpus in your system. To place a multigpu tax on the motherboard itself and then screw you end consumers by artificially limiting it yo AMD or Intel or in some other non competative way via is just a scam foisted on us all. SLI and Crossfire motherboard certification is just a marketing scam. Set up the SLI and Crossfire specs in an open way (as part of PCIe spec) and be done with it. If manufacturers stuff up their implementation, well they will loose business and this is how it should be.

    As is, both crossfire and SLI motherboard certification is a money grab.
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