gaming motherboard with multiple gpu slots

Then power up the system, let your operating system boot, and install the latest drivers for the graphics cards.Īfter you install the necessary hardware and drivers, you must enable CrossFire and SLI in your graphics control panel.

Once everything is properly seated and secured, connect your monitor (or monitors) to the primary graphics card-typically the card in the PCI Express x16 slot closest to the processor on the motherboard. For more than two graphics cards, you must use larger 3-way or 4-way bridges, or multiple single bridges. With the exception of a few low-end products, Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards running in multi-GPU configurations require a bridge connector to link the cards together. Then install the SLI or CrossFire bridge connector (or connectors) to link the cards together. Next, insert the graphics cards into the requisite PCI Express x16 slots on the motherboard and connect the necessary supplemental 6- or 8-pin power feeds for your particular cards. Setting up your own Crossfire and SLI systemsĪssuming you have plenty of cooling, a compatible motherboard, and a power supply powerful enough to power the extra graphics cards, i nstalling those cards in a system for SLI or CrossFire is relatively straightforward the process isn’t much different than installing a single graphics card.īegin by shutting down the system and unplugging it from the electrical outlet. The cards must also be linked together using a bridge connector, which is usually included with either the cards or the motherboard, and the SLI/Crossfire feature must enabled in your graphics driver control panel as well (we’ll show you how to do that in the next section). Two slots on this Intel motherboard look similar, but one features a full 16 lane electrical connection while the other has only eight.

Not all PCI Express x16 slots are created equal. You’ll also need a case that can physically accommodate and cool the graphics cards and a strong enough power supply to feed the cards with adequate power. First off, you need a motherboard that has the necessary PCI Express x16 slots and that is also compatible with either or both technologies. Here are a few things to consider should you want to upgrade a system with a multi-GPU SLI or CrossFire setup.

Gaming motherboard with multiple gpu slots