Installing a dual video card is a fairly simple operation, but it also depends in part on the system used to configure its settings, whether it is Nvidia's "SLI" or ATI's "Crossfire" technology. The instructions below refer to Nvidia's SLI technology.
Steps
Step 1. Make sure your motherboard is compatible with the two graphics card support
Check your motherboard manual or, if you don't have one, find out what your card model is and check the manufacturer's website.
Step 2. Unplug your computer
Step 3. Remove one side of the computer case or the entire chassis, depending on how your PC case is configured
Step 4. Locate the two PCI Express slots where you will be inserting your graphics cards
Step 5. Depending on how new your motherboard is, you may need to move the "Single / SLI Video Card" switch to the indicated position for using the two graphics cards
The switch is located between the slots of the two PCI Express graphics cards. This step will not be necessary on some of the newer motherboards.
Step 6. Insert the graphics cards one at a time and press them firmly into place
Step 7. Connect the bridge that comes with your motherboard
The bridge, called the "bridge", connects to the top of each video card. The bridges are available in different sizes; if a bridge was included with the purchase of your motherboard then the length will be the exact one and it can be easily connected to the two video cards.
Step 8. Depending on your computer motherboard, you may need to connect a 4-pin molex supplemental power connector, referred to as "Easy Plug Molex"
This will allow the use of additional energy to power the graphics cards. Also, depending on your graphics cards, you may need to connect each card to the power supply.
Step 9. Once the physical component installation is complete, install the device drivers and reboot the system
Step 10. A message should appear in the Nvidia Control Panel (if you do not need to access the System Control Panel), indicating that the system is configured to take advantage of multiple GPUs
Click on the button to activate the setting.
Step 11. To make the most of the two video cards, you will need to activate either "SLI Mode" or "Crossfire Mode"
Once this is done, you may be prompted to reboot the system again. At this point, all settings should be configured correctly.
Advice
- If you intend to use more than one monitor with your graphics cards, please note that while SLI is enabled, only one monitor can be supported. One solution to this drawback is to install additional hardware.
- At the moment, with Nvidia's SLI you need to connect two graphics cards with the same chipset. For example, 1 BFG 7600 GT and 1 EVGA 7600 GT can be connected.
Warnings
- Before manipulating any hardware, be sure to discharge the electrostatic charge to the ground as it could damage the components of your system. Static electricity is a threat to all computer components. It is advisable to wear clothes that do not produce electrostatic charges, to keep close and in constant contact with the computer chassis, and to avoid touching the metallic parts of the circuits inside or outside your PC.
- Always unplug your system before installing any type of hardware.
