Q: Hi, I was wondering (this may be a stupid question) if SLI boards can only run cards with SLI (excluding Ati) and if Crossfire boards can only run cards with SLI (excluding Nvidia). I thought it was only Ati+Crossfire and Nvidia+SLI, but I'm not positive...
A: Let me see if I understand your question... You are asking if... 1) SLI motherboards only run cards that have SLI technology? 2) Crossfire Boards only run cards that have SLI? **I think you mean ATI Crossfire boards only run Crossfire cards, don't you? And you think that 3) Nvidia only works with SLI? 4) ATI only works with crossfire? Your answer to #1 and #2 is no. Both motherboards use PCI express slots for graphics cards. So if you choose to (though I can't imagine why you would), you could use an ATI card on an Nvidia Board and vice versa. But you cannot use dual card technology if you cross makers. The software drivers weren't designed that way. This answers #3 and #4. To use SLI technology on your motherboard, you need two or three Nvidia Chipset SLI capable graphics cards (all identical GPU's). The same goes for ATI and crossfire. Crossing makers would be just a waste of technology and money because you wouldn't use the stuff you have to it's full capability. It would be like buying a Ferarri Turbo Charger for your Porsche.