Is it possible to create a plug-in hardware solution to enable SLI on most Intel boards that have dual PCI-X slots? I know Skulltrail is supposed to do that, but I'm talking about retroactively and without infringing on Nvidia patents? Just a thought.
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No.
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No.
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You also have "PCI-E" confused with "PCI-X".
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The problem isn't the hardware. The problem is Nvidias drivers looking for an Nvidia chipset before allowing SLI to function. That's why hacked drivers allowed SLI on some older 6800 series cards.

The Skulltrail isn't a traditional desktop setup, and Nvidia was allowing SLI to work on that particular Intel chipset. Also, I'm pretty sure I saw SLI on other server grade Intel based motherboards, but I could be mistaken. But the key is the server part as Nvidia does not want to give up it's only real advantage over Intel in the desktop market.
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yes if nvidia licensed sli to intel, you would b e able to buy an intel chipset mb that supports both or either sli/crossfire and their (nvidia) motherboard business (maybe their only business when cpus start having on board gpu) goes right out the fucking window. you could assume same would apply with any kind of 3rd party hardware/firmware/software adaptor type thingie. there was/is skulltrail, and that hp $8000 thing.
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The only way I know to allow SLI on a non Nvidia board is to buy a dual card solution like the 9800GX2.
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There isn't any hardware limitations that prevents SLI from working with Intel motherboards. The problem is software and that's can be resolved if Nvidia releases their mainstream SLI driver codes to Intel.

And yes server grade motherboards can have SLI BUT only with expensive Quadro cards, not with mainstream cards.

And hacking the drivers is infringing on Nvidia patents in a way.
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There isn't any hardware limitations that prevents SLI from working with Intel motherboards. The problem is software and that's can be resolved if Nvidia releases their mainstream SLI driver codes to Intel.

And yes server grade motherboards can have SLI BUT only with expensive Quadro cards, not with mainstream cards.

And hacking the drivers is infringing on Nvidia patents in a way.

I was under the impression there is a hardware component. The Skulltrail boards, for example, have the nForce 100 chips on them, and the same mobos with the same chipset that do not have that chip (the Asus one comes to mind) cannot use SLI.
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You also have "PCI-E" confused with "PCI-X".

Thanks. That's right, I meant PCI-E and instead said PCI-X, but you got it for me.
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There isn't any hardware limitations that prevents SLI from working with Intel motherboards. The problem is software and that's can be resolved if Nvidia releases their mainstream SLI driver codes to Intel.

And yes server grade motherboards can have SLI BUT only with expensive Quadro cards, not with mainstream cards.

And hacking the drivers is infringing on Nvidia patents in a way.

Wait. So this is another crippleware issue with Nvidia drivers like the Creative Vista Drivers for X-fi? If that's the case, how possible would it be to hack the drivers and distribute them without asking for 'donations'?
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Wait. So this is another crippleware issue with Nvidia drivers like the Creative Vista Drivers for X-fi? If that's the case, how possible would it be to hack the drivers and distribute them without asking for 'donations'?

There used to be driver hacks, but they only worked with particular cards or on a particular chipset or something, then Nvidia changed something to make it impossible. I don't recall the specifics.
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There used to be driver hacks, but they only worked with particular cards or on a particular chipset or something, then Nvidia changed something to make it impossible. I don't recall the specifics.

7900gtx sli on 975x chipset. nothings worked since.
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Wait. So this is another crippleware issue with Nvidia drivers like the Creative Vista Drivers for X-fi? If that's the case, how possible would it be to hack the drivers and distribute them without asking for 'donations'?
There were driver hacks that allowed SLI for upto 7xxx series cards on other chipsets.
Afaik there are none for 8xxx or 9xxx gfx cards as nVidia started to strongly encrypt that part of the driver to prevent hacking.
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There were driver hacks that allowed SLI for upto 7xxx series cards on other chipsets.
Afaik there are none for 8xxx or 9xxx gfx cards as nVidia started to strongly encrypt that part of the driver to prevent hacking.

should I do a search for the 7xxx series hacked drivers? I own some 7xxx series cards that can definately be SLI'ed.
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i have them. they are intel_sli_85.96_mod.exe and they worked on my asus p5w dh with 7900gt sli. they work in xp 32bit pro
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I was under the impression there is a hardware component. The Skulltrail boards, for example, have the nForce 100 chips on them, and the same mobos with the same chipset that do not have that chip (the Asus one comes to mind) cannot use SLI.

I'm getting my info from this site:
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200803.ars/4

They recommended Tyan S5397 (S5397AG2NRF) Server Motherboard based on the Intel 5400 chipset. According to them, you can use SLI on that motherboard, just only with Quadro cards. So it looks like it isn't a hardware component requirement for SLI.

IIRC, the Skull Trail platform allows for consumer graphics cards to be used in SLI.
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Nope.
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He said crippleware... hehehehe
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He said crippleware... hehehehe

Well, if Nvidia is encrypting parts of their drivers to keep non-Nvidia chipsets from enabling SLI using their video cards, then I'd say that would be crippleware, but not paraplegic ware. :D
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