SLI vs. NON-SLI

[Monyet]

what does SLI means on the PSU? I'm planning to get 8800 GTS, but my PSU doesn't have SLI ceritification whatever... It's Antec SmartPower 2.0 500W..

 

[myocardia]

...

 

[theprodigalrebel]

It's a certification program run by nVidia which you can check out here
It is by no means an exhaustive list. A manufacturer has to send their unit to nVidia for testing. A non-certified PSU will have no trouble running an SLI (or Crossfire) rig as long as it has enough power.

At the very minimum, a PSU must have two six-pin PCIe power plugs to plug into two video cards and enough power to run them in a 'typical gaming machine'.

 

[ribbon13]

you're fine, but i wouldn't even one gts on that particular model of psu. let alone two.

 

[Monyet]

Originally posted by: myocardia
SLI just means that it has two SLI power cords/plugs. "SLI certified" means that nVidia has certified that it will run two 8800 GTX cards in SLI. That's why >90% of all "SLI" psu's aren't SLI certified. BTW, you don't need an SLI psu to power an 8800 GTS.

what's the SLI plug for? is that specially made to make the graphic card work in my PC? or just additional thing for SLI video card...? thx

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Monyet

Originally posted by: myocardia
SLI just means that it has two SLI power cords/plugs. "SLI certified" means that nVidia has certified that it will run two 8800 GTX cards in SLI. That's why >90% of all "SLI" psu's aren't SLI certified. BTW, you don't need an SLI psu to power an 8800 GTS.

what's the SLI plug for? is that specially made to make the graphic card work in my PC? or just additional thing for SLI video card...? thx

The SLI plug that came with your mobo? If so, then thats to connect 2 nvidia cards. Its basically a bridge so both cards work in conjuntion with each other. If you are referring to some SLI plug on a PSU it basically means the PSU has 2 PCIE video power connectors in case you want 2 video cards.

 

[Monyet]

ow... thank you for your information... I'm not planning to go for 2 cards though hehe..