SLI working on Mac Pro

[DougTheImpaler]

Oh, hey, I missed the GT on the 7300 part when I was looking at the website. I was reading it as the much-slower 7300GS...which usually has a 64-bit memory interface instead of the 128-bit memory.

Still, TechSpot's 7300GT review is scoring way higher in single-card mode than the Apple forum link, so I bet Apple is using slower memory.

 

[ksz]

Is the "Scalable" Link Interface (SLI) actually scalable to more than 2 GPUs?

If the nVidia 7950 GX2 has 2 GPUs and can be used in SLI mode, it means that 4 GPUs can work together over SLI.

Now, if you put 3 of the el cheapo 7300GTs into the MacPro using the x8/x8/x1/x8 electrical configuration, can the threesome work together or do you need to add GPUs in pairs (always an even number of GPUs)?

Hmm, I suspect nVidia does not support x8/x8/x8 anyway, but doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[cw2k]

Still, TechSpot's 7300GT review is scoring way higher in single-card mode than the Apple forum link, so I bet Apple is using slower memory.

The apple 7300gt cards have a core clock of 350 and memory clock of 666.

The free version of 3dmark2006 limits you to one resolution (1280x1024) and I don't think it lets you use FSAA etc, my 3dmark score is a about the same as the 7300 card at the same clock speed/resolution on techspots site.

I will check properly on the weekend and have a play with overclocking them.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Would 2 nVidia 7300GTs SLI in Windows be faster than 1 Ati X1900?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Would 2 nVidia 7300GTs SLI in Windows be faster than 1 Ati X1900?

Answer is 5 posts back.

No, but you get two things instead:

1.) Save $200 over an X1900XT
2.) Shorter shipping delay than the X1900XT

All told, they're probably about as fast as a single 7600GT or 7600GS, which is still a better gaming option than the X1600's in the iMac

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

I'm pretty sure that SLI now works with two boards from separate manufactures as long as they are the same chip and same speed etc. So you may be able to pick that second 7300gt for $75. You wouldn't be using it in OS X anyway.

 

[CyberPrey]

Well, dual 7300's is not really as fast as the 1900.. I would say they are about 60-65% of the speed of the 1900.

but as pointed out previously, they are cheaper and they will run cooler... And cheaper and cooler are good things

Athough... im still gonna get the 1900

 

[CyberPrey]

I'm pretty sure that SLI now works with two boards from separate manufactures as long as they are the same chip and same speed etc. So you may be able to pick that second 7300gt for $75. You wouldn't be using it in OS X anyway.

According to Nvidia/SLiZone, two different nvidia boards can run SLi....

In case of the same chip/memory from different manufactuers there are no problems...

In case of differences in gpu speed/memory speed, the SLi setup will work at the speed of the SLOWEST vid card.

 

[santa]

so what about two x1900's?

Can I link to x1900's together? That is what I would do if this is really an option...I am holding off my MacPro purchase until the SATA drive problem under Windows is fixed. When it is, then I will order my new machine. I will get a second x1900 if I can run games under Windows using SLI.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

ATI uses crossfire not SLI so no. Maybe someone will create hacked Crossfire drivers at some point, who knows!

 

[Mr. Mister]

The fact that people are even considering running bargain-bin graphics cards in SLI is a sure sign that there's something wrong with Apple's GPU selection. There should be more cards to choose from in a broader range of performance categories.

 

[CyberPrey]

The fact that people are even considering running bargain-bin graphics cards in SLI is a sure sign that there's something wrong with Apple's GPU selection. There should be more cards to choose from in a broader range of performance categories.

I agree with this. For Apple to be successful in the "PC" marketplace, they need to allow a bit of variety on hardware choices in order to gain a foothold with as many different types of consumers.

Getting systems to dual boot with xp is a great first step...

The next step is getting a good selection of video cards in order to allow us, the consumer, to have a large choice.

Then, they need to beat on game programmers to do UB games and forget this windows stuff