What is SLI Memory?

[BMoffa]

What is SLI memory. The BIOS says None Detected. Do I need a certain type of RAM to use SLI features? (See my configuration below)

[xfxsupport]

SLI Memory for the most part is memory that comes equipped with EPP (as well as been tested by NVIDIA for compatibility with SLI systems). EPP is Enhanced Performance Profile. Basically the memory comes with two settings, the normal speed of the memory then a special overclocked setting. When you enable SLI memory in your BIOS the system will look to see if the memory has EPP settings, if so it will load the faster memory setting.

[BMoffa]

So I take it, my memory is not SLI ready. I see no place in the BIOS to enable it, if it is.

Buyer beware. I bought this stuff as a package. SLI Mother board, SLI Graphics card, SLI ready power supply and even an SLI ready case, but the memoy is NOT.:frown:

[Miker]

What memory did you get?

PS. My DDR400 is SLI Ready.

[BMoffa]

CM2X1024-6400C5DHX (4 Sticks = 4 GIG.)

[Miker]

That is great memory, SLI ready wouldn't gain you anything. 4 sticks will always be a pain in the @$$, try to get 2x 2G sticks.

[BMoffa]

Wouldn't I need SLI memory if I wanted to install second 8800 GT in an SLI setup?

[Miker]

No... Memory has nothing to do with SLI. It is a gimmic. You can run SLI with out a SLI PSU long as it is powerful enough too.

They just slap a label on saying is it good memory.

[xfxsupport]

Miker to the rescue!

[BMoffa]

Cool. Thanks for the quick info.:icon_tiphat:

[Miker]

Why would my DDR400 be SLI ready? Someone just had the idea if you put a SLI logo on something people will buy it. SLI Ready just means it is a good product, but that memory you got will be better then SLI Ready (Other then 4 sticks being flakey)

[foxmobouser]

The only thing the SLI memory feature does is automaticly set your memory timings to the optimal ones for SLI, you can always do the same thing with any performance memory in bios by yourself and they cost less $.

[Miker]

Only some SLI memory supports that,

[BMoffa]

As for the 4 sticks being flaky...... Could that have something to do with why my system freezes up once in a while when I have ths X-Fi Xtreme Gamer installed? Or, why when I power off for a few hours I can't get Windows to start without doing one or two resets?

If this thing can't handle 4Gig, what's going to happen when I want to go to Vista 64 and install 8Gig, which it is supposed to support.

[Miker]

Most motherboard like to have only 2 sticks of RAM, the size of the stick doesn't matter, if you have 4 sticks of RAM in you will get some odd problems.

[david.hill64]

Check in the BIOS that the memory timings and voltage are correct. I think for that memory it needs to be 5-5-5-18 2T and 1.8V. Miker is right: you can get strange things happening with all 4 memory slots in use.

[Schwarz]

SLI memory is a gimmick.
All it does is use optimal settings for the memory.
To tell the truth to get optimal settings you can do it yourself with a little bit of knowledge.
A SLI PSU is also a gimmick because nowadays most power supplies will be able to run 2 videocards.
As far as the 4GB thing try to run ONLY 1 stick of memory and check to see if your system still has problem.
If not then you have your answer.
Running 4GB for some reason is a pain in the butt.
Go from 1 stick check stability, then go for 2 check stability.
The big problem these days with many computers is usualy memory related.
Anyways as far as I know and all the systems that I fix, I usualy find instability in the memory.
I have a friend who can easily run 4GB of 6400 memory but when he swaped all the sticks for some 8500 he could not get his system to boot.
Another thing is that JEDEC specs usualy require 1.8v for DDR2 memory and motherboard makers puts 1.8v as default memory voltage but sadly many memory manufacturers these days will make their sticks need a little more voltage to be able to run at what they are advertised.
Try uping your memory voltage to 1.9v to 2.0v.
Back to the SLI memory thing, I would not worry about that at all, get someone you know or someone here or on another forum to help you out with how to tune your memory to get the maximum performance.