User’s Guide
NVIDIA SLI
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLIPowered PC
NVIDIA SLI is a revolutionary technology that allows two NVIDIA SLI graphics cards to work
together to deliver incredible 3D graphics performance.
To assist the do-it-yourself community, NVIDIA is providing the following guide on how to set-up
an NVIDIA SLI system.
Note: this guide assumes basic knowledge of how to build or upgrade a PC. If you do not feel comfortable with this level
of know how, please refer to our list of where to buy pre-built NVIDIA SLI systems
build or upgrade a PC.
, or refer to other resources on how to
STEP ONE
Determine your NVIDIA SLI component and operating system needs:
The following components are required:
1. An NVIDIA SLI-certified motherboard with NVIDIA SLI Connector
2. Two NVIDIA SLI-certified add-in cards
3. Windows XP operating system
Check here for a list of NVIDIA SLI-certified motherboards and add-in-cards
the best gaming and application experiences.
, for
STEP TWO
Determine your power needs:
Based on testing at NVIDIA’s SLI Validation lab, the following power supply suggestions should
be followed.
NVIDIA SLI System Type Minimum Recommended PCI Express Power
Supply
High-End: GeForce 6800 Ultra 500W–550W, +12V @ 30A
Mid-Range: GeForce 6800 GT or 6800 420W–480W, +12V @ 25A
Entry-Level: GeForce 6600 GT 350W–420W, +12V @ 20A
If the power supply specifies two 12V windings (i.e. 12V1 and 12V2), then these current numbers
can be added together to check against the specifications described above.
For systems with the 6800 Ultra or 6800 GT, please make sure the power supply also contains a
PCI Express auxiliary power supply connector:
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLI-Powered PC
If your power supply does not have a PCI Express auxiliary connector, please contact your
graphics board partner for a HDD to PCI Express power adaptor.
Note: NVIDIA SLI power supply recommendations are based on the following test configurations:
High-End NVIDIA SLI Configuration:
Dual GeForce 6800 Ultra Graphics cards
Athlon 64 939-pin CPU or Intel Xeon
Two or more HDD, including RAID 0,1, 0+1 or 5 configurations
Two optical drives
PCI sound card
Mid-Range NVIDIA SLI Configuration:
Dual GeForce 6800 or GeForce 6800 GT Graphics cards
Athlon 64 939-pin CPU
Single HDD
Two optical drives
PCI sound card
Entry-Level NVIDIA SLI configuration:
Dual GeForce 6600 GT Graphics cards
Athlon 64 939-pin CPU
Single HDD
One optical drive
© 2005 NVIDIA Corporation
1/28/05
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLI-Powered PC
STEP THREE
Installing your NVIDIA SLI-Certified Components:
Now that you have obtained the necessary NVIDIA SLI Certified parts and confirmed your power
supply needs its time to configure the system.
1. Install the NVIDIA SLI Certified Motherboard (per instructions in the accompanying manual):
2. Install both of the NVIDIA SLI Certified graphics cards (per instructions in the accompanying
manual):
© 2005 NVIDIA Corporation
1/28/05
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLI-Powered PC
3. Connect the PCI Express supplementary power connectors to each of the graphic cards:
4. Install the NVIDIA SLI connector to connect the two graphics cards:
Once the new NVIDIA SLI-certified components have been installed in the system, they will be
recognized by the operating system upon Windows boot-up.
A Found New Hardware message will be displayed:
© 2005 NVIDIA Corporation
1/28/05
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLI-Powered PC
You must now install the NVIDIA SLI software in order for the system to recognize the new
hardware. Go on to Step Four for software installation.
STEP FOUR
Installing the NVIDIA SLI Software:
As part of the NVIDIA Unified Driver Architecture, NVIDIA drivers include a full set of controls for
SLI systems.
Once you have installed the NVIDIA SLI components and booted up your system, do the
following:
1. Install the nForce drivers (provided with the motherboard)
2. Reboot the system
3. Uninstall any old NVIDIA graphics drivers from the system and reboot the computer. If
there are no NVIDIA drivers installed, go to step 4.
4. Install the latest NVIDIA graphics drivers (provided with the add-in cards or from
http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_betadrivers.html
5. Reboot the system.
).
After reboot of the system to the Windows desktop, you will see an SLI capable system
message.
STEP FIVE
Enabling NVIDIA SLI:
1. Click on the SLI capable system message (noted above) to open the following window.
2. Select the checkbox Enable SLI multi-GPU, then click Apply and OK to save the
settings.
You can also access these settings by opening the Display Properties, clicking on the
Settings tab and the Advanced button. Click the tab associated with your graphics card,
then select NVIDIA SLI from the left-hand menu options.
© 2005 NVIDIA Corporation
1/28/05
How to Set-Up an NVIDIA SLI-Powered PC
The system will automatically reboot, and you will be greeted with the SLI has been enabled
message:
You now have an NVIDIA SLI-enabled system and are ready to take advantage of scalable
games and applications!
© 2005 NVIDIA Corporation
1/28/05
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