Setup Of Sli (Scalable Link Interface) Configuration - Gigabyte GA-M55SLI-S4 User Manual

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Setup of SLI (Scalable Link Interface) Configuration

NVIDIA SLI offers blistering graphics performance with the ability to bridge two NVIDIA SLI-ready PCI
Express graphics cards! The SLI design takes advantage of the increased bandwidth of the PCI
TM
Express bus architecture, features hardware and software innovations within NVIDIA GPU (graphics
TM
processing unit) and the NVIDIA nForce4 SLI chipset. Together, the NVIDIA SLI technologies work
seamlessly to allow two graphics cards to operate in parallel and share the work and deliver heart-
pounding PC performance. This section introduces steps to configure an SLI system on the GA-
M55SLI-S4 motherboard.
Before You Begin--
I. Understanding the GIGABYTE SLI Jumper:
You can find an SLI switch module socket inserted with an SLI switch module between the first and
second PCIe x16 slots. Pin 1-2 close for SLI mode, pin 2-3 close for Normal mode.
SLI Mode (Pin 1-2 close):
1
NV_SLI2
1
NV_SLI4 NV_SLI1
Normal Mode (Pin 2-3 close, default setting):
1
NV_SLI2
1
NV_SLI4 NV_SLI1
As not all PCIe slots are available while in SLI or Normal Mode, please refer to the table below to check
PCIe slots available in SLI or Normal Mode before installation.
PCIE_1
SLI Mode Available
Normal Mode Available
"*" can run at up to PCIe x8 mode.
Please double check SLI jumper setting when it's not available might damage the system.
In the SLI Mode, the two PCIe x16 slots can run in
two modes. You can either use them as two indi-
NV_SLI3
vidual x8 slots or install two SLI-ready PCIe x16
cards (Example: GIGABYTE GV-NX76T256D-RH)
of the same model and link them together with an SLI
NV_SLI5
bridge connector to enable SLI function to provide
enhanced performance.
Only the first PCIe x16 slot (PCIE_16_1) is available
and can operate at up to x16 in Normal Mode.
NV_SLI3
NV_SLI5
PCIE_16_1 PCIE_2
Available * Not available
Available Available
- 19 -
PCIE_3 PCIE_16_2
Available Available *
Available Not available
Hardware Installation