SLI Installation

[TheGeek]

I'm going to be building a new SLI system, and I'm wondering if there is a certain order in which to install everything. For example, one site said to only install one vid card to start, then load the drivers for it, and reboot with the second one installed. Is that right?

 

[Edward Lee]

Get dual core.

Wait for 2 6800 Ultra dual core. That should be more exciting.

 

[TheGeek]

no. im too impatient. Could someone anwser my question?

 

[Alptraum]

Isn't there anything in the manual (the MB probably) about it? Or something on the Asus site? If not them, maybe whoever made your cards.

 

[sfgtwsac]

I just built my sli rig over the weekend. I put both video cards in at the same time. It worked just fine. Here's the order I followed:

PSU
MoBo
Processor HSF (I used Zalman fan, make sure you put its backplate for the heatsink on before mounting the mobo.
Memory
Video Cards
Tested the system to make it sure it posted.
HDs
Optical Drive
Floppy Drive
Sound Card
Wireless Network Card
Hooked up the keyboard and mouse, and loaded Windows!

Other than a dud network card, it was painless.

I've been working with computers for many years, but this was my first build. The biggest mistakes I made was just not paying close enough attention to where I hooked some things up. Other than that, I spent a lot of time tinkering with the best wiring paths so the case would look clean. Good luck.

In addition, check the mobo forum, there's loads of good info on the SLI motherboards.

 

[Operandi]

I would build up the system with 1 card first get the drivers installed then add the 2nd card. Also if your going with 6800's make sure you have decently strong PSU.

 

[TantrumusMaximus]

That is how I plan on doing mine too. Build the OS with one Vid card installed then add the second after all the drivers and OS are configured updated etc. I don't want any snafus to creep up with the SLI in a non service packed or updated load being confused about what to do with the extra HW. Maybe I'm a little too cautious but I always do my system builds very simple then add complexity after the OS.

 

[ohnnyj]

I too just finished building my SLI computer and had no trouble with installing WinXP with both cards in at the same time. Just be sure if you have the A8N-SLI that you place the little jumper card the right way indicating dual video card operation and connect the SLI bridge to the "golden fingers" on each card. WinXP recognizes both cards but obvioulsy does not have the drivers for them yet and so in the Device Manager they will show up a Standard Video Adapters or something of that sort. Then I went to nVidias site, downloaded the latest drivers, installed them, rebooted, and walla a little bubble popup comes up in the bottom right corner indicating I have an SLI capable system, please click this balloon to enable this mode. I click the balloon, click a checkbox for SLI, it asks me to reboot, I do, then another balloon comes up upon the second reboot indicating SLI has been enabled.

Really, this went a whole lot more smoothly then I had anticipated.