Graphics having a hard time with english and SLI

As an American, you’ll understand that I have a hard time with the English language. So I was reading this and wasn’t sure I completely understood. With SLI only the DVI ports work on graphics card 1, right? The second card isn’t available for use. But the article above suggests that 3 or more screens are possible.

Is it because the SLI is disabled by the driver? So you can run 4 screens with 2 cards, and only turn on SLI in the driver when you need it for gaming, thus shutting off the extra 2 or 3 screens? I realise the article is using two different card in this example, but the same situation would exist if they were the same model, wouldn't it? The reason I am asking is that SLI would be alot easier to swallow pricewise if I weren't limited to 2 screens when not gaming. Since you don't need (as if I "needed" 2 GPU's for anything) both GPU's when checking email, it would be nice to be able to spread out over a few screens.

 

only the ATi cards support the 3-4 monitors at once at the moment, but that is a waste coz the cards do not share the recources so there is a wasted card. if u really need 3-4 monitors u must have a heap of space and is in2 heaps of photoshop work. ATi SLi only allows extra monitors thus u may be wasting money for nothing. nvidia use the power of both

also looking at the rest of the article im not so trusting as its all in timedemo

 

I don't need 3 or 4 monitors, any more then most people need to overclock their CPUs or water cool. Need is pointless. As for space, 3 20.1" lcds will fit anywhere at that price. And it's hardly a waste of money, anymore then buying SLI with just one monitor. For me, that's a waste. I suppose I was looking for slightly more constructive help. If I buy 2 graphics cards-regardless of make or model, I can run multiple monitors. My question is: If I buy 2 SLI cards and run then in NON-SLI mode, is it possible to switch to SLI mode using one monitor simply by using the drivers? And then switch back to 3 monitors after gaming?

 

sorry if it sounded wrong and to answer ur question u can only switch between SLi via hardware

 

yeah, I'm starting to get that from other sources too. It sucks, now I'll have to get a pci card to run the extra monitors, that's 3 graphics cards. For the price of SLI you'd think it would be a little more flexible.

 

i read an article somewhere about folks running an ATi PCI-e card and a GeForce 6800 PCI-e card on the same SLI setup. Now i know these cards arnt running with each other in true sli mode, however, it did mentiom them being able to switch which card they wanted to use on the fly and therefore play HL2 with the ATi card and Doom 3 with the 6800 card.

Not sure if that makes anything to you, but seems to me there is some sort of software implementation which allows you to select which gcard you wanna use as the output?

I think the article was in The Inq. Will have a scan now for a linq.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19893
which has a link to
http://www20.graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20041123/sli-performance-33.html
inside

Proph.

 

Activationg SLi

As far as I am aware you are able to deactivate SLI in the drivers, this does however require a restart. I'm not sure where I read this but I think it was anandtech that posted it.

Otherwise e-mail nvidia they usually does get back within the week.