[Massive17]

I'm waiting for my second gtx480 to arrive and I just want to make sure that I set it up properly. So uninstalling all my all drivers and installing both cards, I'm going to install all the drivers and I'm set right ? or do I have to install one card at a time, I've used crossfire before but have no experience with SLI.

Also will PhysX be automatically enabled or do I have to do it manually, and will both cards handle PhysX or will one of the cards be automatically assigned to handle all the PhysX ? I have a spare 8600gt but I don't think its gonna be much use for PhysX, what do you think?

 

[grunion]

Cram them both in, install drivers, restart, enable sli, choose physx card, I use auto select.

 

[bob808]

take my advice and uninstall your antivirus (at least if you have a Norton product), then download and install your drivers, then after sli is achieved, re-install your antivirus.

I could not get sli (quad in my case) to work until I uninstalled Norton 360 then it was cake.

Before I uninstalled 360, I put it in silent mode and disabled it, but I guess it was still blocking some things because until I completely uninstalled it, quad sli was a no-go. after uninstall = easy pie

 

[Massive17]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunion Cram them both in, install drivers, restart, enable sli, choose physx card, I use auto select.

Thanks! Does having both enabled improve performance and is there a point of using my 8600gt for physX or is my 480 enough to handle it ?

 

[grunion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive17 Thanks! Does having both enabled improve performance and is there a point of using my 8600gt for physX or is my 480 enough to handle it ?

Both enabled?

The 8600gt would be a waste of space, create more heat, total waste of time?

 

[Massive17]

I guess I'm not using the 8600.

Even though Nvidia recommends leaving room between the cards in order to improve cooling I was told over at the EVGA forums that the difference in temperature isn't big and I might as well have them next to each other. What do you think?

 

[bob808]

480's get hot. I would leave space between the 2.

Only a few games even use psysics, you could prolly do without the 8600 gt.

I have my 295's stacked on top of eachother but they're watercooled.

 

[AblueXKRS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive17 I'm waiting for my second gtx480 to arrive and I just want to make sure that I set it up properly. So uninstalling all my all drivers and installing both cards, I'm going to install all the drivers and I'm set right ?

Correct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive17 ...or do I have to install one card at a time, I've used crossfire before but have no experience with SLI.

Nope. Both at once will be fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive17 Also will PhysX be automatically enabled or do I have to do it manually, and will both cards handle PhysX or will one of the cards be automatically assigned to handle all the PhysX ?

Physx is enabled by default on an nVidia-only system. The 480 is powerful enough to handle its own Physx calculations itself, so neither will be dedicated to the operation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive17 I have a spare 8600gt but I don't think its gonna be much use for PhysX, what do you think?

The 480s are powerful enough not to require a dedicated physx card. Save the 8600 for a backup build or emergencies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob808 480's get hot.

Depends on the build, of course. My cards idle at 45, 42, and 40 with 50% fan at 28 ambient.

 

[Romir]

I'd recommend finding the stock VID on both cards and putting the lower vid one in the top slot.

Having my .987v 480 in the top and my 1.038v one 3 slots down kept then at nearly identical temperatures at stock speeds.

When overclocking I didn't bother setting different voltages for each card and saw a 6 or 7 degree difference IIRC.