Crossfire + SLI Hybrid???

This doesn't concern me since I'm getting an M15x, but those who have an M17x with an SLI or Crossfire setup would surely be interested in this. I have no idea whether this is truly possible or not, but i recently came across videos on Youtube where people are using an GTX 260 + HD5870 in a SLI/Crossfire hybrid setup.

If this is possible, check out the possibilities!

1. Awesome graphics in gaming using 5870 plus u get Physx engine using GTX 260!

2.Those who need Cuda and Physx for their applications will have GTX 260 as support, while they get their powerful juice from 5870!

So my questions are:-

1. Is it really possible?

2. If yes, is it possible on an M17x?

3. If yes again, why has nobody tried it yet?

Explore the possibilities guys!

 

it's sadly impossible nvidia driver disable physix anyway when an ati card is detected and even worst physix run in software mode 90% of the time to you could enjoy physix even with just ati card if you could find how to remove the nvidia blocking

 

Seems theoretically possible. Here's a link talking about the subject in general, multiple links.

Here's an example of how it's done on a desktop

Note sure what it would take on the m17x, but I'd have to guess it's not worth it since you'd only get PhysX out of the Nvidia card. Not sure the cost vs. normal xfire would stack up.

Mike

 

It will be the perfect setup for me,

I use cad and premier that works faster with cuda and the 5870 for games

do you have any links pls ?

 

Probably easier to wait for GTX 460m & 470m's in SLI as you'll get comparable power to the 5870's and cuda/physx as they're important for you...

 

I just have Youtube links where people claim in their description section that they are using the hybrid setup, probably on a desktop I'm guessing.

I'm not sure whether they are real or fake, but here you go(read descriptions, and comments):-

YouTube - Metro 2033 on ATI 5870 + nvidia GTX260 216SP

YouTube - Batman:Arkham Max Physx Benchmark ATI 5870 + GTX 260

Search Youtube for more.

Anyways what do you guys think? Possible on an M17x (practically)?

 

yes you are right ,

I find premier and cad fast enough as it is now (single 5870) should get the crossfire on 11th November but dell keeps delaying it

 

GTX 460M is up on Dell/Alienware USA. Check this thread:-

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/530098-1-5gb-gtx-460m-official-alienware-usa.html

 

Possible, but probably not currently available. These setups are done on desktop machines.
Alienware doesn't just allow for install of any GPU card, they have some BIO or other proprietary code to make sure you're using DELL parts.

That being said, my guess is the proprietary lock code would have to be bypassed in addition the the "patch" someone created to bypass similar nVidia GPU blocking of ATI cards.

Mike

 

not only that, but for some reason people have this idea that the MXM3.0B PCI-E cards are ordinary translations of PCI-E slots on a mainboard. This is absolutely not the case, the BIOS and hardware limitiations that physically allow 2 cards to be used in these laptops simply does not translate into anything except the specific SLI/CF setups Dell or Flextronics allows. Ie, it would just be impossible to use CF cards *and* hybrid SLI, the BIOS Hardware resources, and IRQ support is just not there.