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I have an 8500GT XFX 512MB Video card(like the picture) and I noticed that it had an interesting looking connector at the top of it. At first I didn't really take it into much though, until the other day I saw another video card that had the same little port on the top. I was hoping that you could tell me what it was and what it is used for.
JVarhol
Posted 2014-01-22T16:23:25.123
Reputation: 193
4
What you are looking at is an SLI connector. SLI is a technology by which multiple Nvidia GPUs can be used in unison to provide better performance than a single GPU would.
Along with better performance, SLI provides other benefits. In an SLI configuration, a second GPU can be used in a game supporting PhysX as a PhysX processor, and SLI supports SLI Antialiasing.
Both AMD and Nvidia provide similar technologies on their cards. SLI is the Nvidia specific technology that enables this function, while Crossfire is a similar technology available on select AMD cards.
Supported SLI GPUs can be found here. For SLI you will need two (or more) of the same GPU, a compatible motherboard, and an SLI bridge like the one pictured below:
DanteTheEgregore
Posted 2014-01-22T16:23:25.123
Reputation: 2 417
Using a secondary GPU for PhysX is not related to SLI, by the way. – Daniel B – 2017-05-19T06:49:56.210
Okay, that makes more sense, I have a motherboard that I got a month or so ago that has one of these connectors with it but nothing to hint at what it is. – JVarhol – 2014-01-22T17:03:52.650
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For SLI to work, you will need the Bridge Connector, and then I believe the rules are that they have to be the same GPU. I've done SLI several times, and when I do, I just buy two of the same card to make sure that they are compatible.
I also believe I've read something that nVidia has come up with a way to SLI with cards that are at least in the same family, but not necessarily identical. It's been a while, so I don't have a solid answer on that, but a little bit of Google'ing or looking on nVidia's website for SLI requirements should get you a quick answer.
Steven Sowder
Posted 2014-01-22T16:23:25.123
Reputation: 1
2I suggest you research your answer and remove the two "I believe" statements and the "you should google this" otherwise its not really all that helpful of an answer – Ramhound – 2014-01-22T17:04:52.810
4Its to support SLI – Ramhound – 2014-01-22T16:24:44.863
I thought it was there to allow you to attach an additional D-SUB port? – NickW – 2014-01-22T16:26:10.640
@Ramhound Very Interesting, After reading what SLI was I am curious, do the two video cards have to be the same, or can they be different? – JVarhol – 2014-01-22T16:27:34.900
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Similar question(s) regarding SLI are already on here. IE: http://superuser.com/questions/370077/how-to-sli-a-system-need-expert-guide, http://superuser.com/questions/52175/is-it-possible-to-run-different-nvidia-card-models-in-sli?rq=1, etc.
– Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-01-22T16:29:16.650http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-01-22T16:30:21.110
2@JVarhol - Additional research on SLI will answer that question. – Ramhound – 2014-01-22T16:33:36.287