Inveterate gamers must have come across or at least heard about technologies called SLI and Crossfire, which are commonly referred to as the graphics system of a computer or laptop. In most cases, these terms apply more to stationary systems (this will be discussed a bit later). However, sometimes for the normal operation of the computer you will need to know how to disable Crossfire or SLI when these modes are not used. This will be discussed now.
SLI and Crossfire: General Concepts
Probably, it’s worth starting with the fact that, from the point of view of modern computer technologies, SLI and Crossfire are specialized modes that support the installation of two or more video cards on a computer.
In stationary systems, two independent video adapters are simply inserted into special slots located on the motherboard. Sometimes you can meet a situation where the “motherboard” already has an integrated graphics chipset, so to speak, “wired” into the board, and another one is installed in parallel with it.
Now we’ll dwell on both modes in more detail, but at the same time we’ll see how to disable Crossfire (SLI) using a few simple methods if necessary, especially since the two modes of operation technology are practically the same.
What is SLI?
SLI technology, which involves installing several graphics cards in the system, was developed by nVidia and involves the use of cards from this manufacturer only.
In principle, this mode can be called a kind of conditional electronic adapter that connects two video adapters, allowing you to combine their capabilities into a single whole.
What is Crossfire?
Crossfire is a complete analogy of SLI technology, however, the authorship of this development belongs to no less well-known corporation AMD.
An interesting fact is that, as practice shows, a bunch of two or more AMD graphics cards in Crossfire is much cheaper than using an SLI bridge when installing nVidia cards. In addition, the technology from nVidia does not allow installing such bundles on all motherboards in a row. But if you consider how to disable SLI-Crossfire Dual Graphics, the solution in both cases will be the same. But first, consider some features of their use.
Features of connecting video cards in SLI and Crossfire modes
Firstly, each user of a computer system must clearly understand that connecting two or more graphics adapters to the motherboard is possible only in cases where the motherboard itself supports this feature.
For example, to use the SLI mode, the board must be marked accordingly, otherwise, no matter how you try to install two cards on it, they will not work in conjunction. The same applies to the simultaneous use of a discrete adapter and an integrated one. Here you have to be content with only one of them.
Secondly, you should pay attention to the moment that to work in conjunction with SLI technology, you can install only video cards based on the same chips (for example, nVidia GTX 970 and 980 series, Titan series chipsets or two identical GeForce 9600 GT cards , etc. . d.). Note: the bundle of 9600 GT and 9800 GT will not work.
Another thing when using Radeon cards. Here you can use "multi-chip" configurations, for example, Radeon 2600 and 1950. Very often, R9 series cards are used to increase the performance of the graphics system. Indeed, such pairs allow you to use the maximum possibilities for games with a resolution of 4k or Full HD with a resolution of 2k. Some users use such bundles to increase the overall storyboard frequency, say, to achieve an indicator of more than 80 fps (frames per second - frames per second).
Thirdly, do not forget that a special adapter must be used for SLI cards, which is necessarily supplied either with the card or with the motherboard. Without it, two cards will not work together, again.
Myths about using Dual Graphics mode to increase graphics performance
Some naive users install two cards to increase productivity, believing that it will double (once two cards on board). It's a delusion. The performance gain, as practice shows, rarely exceeds 20-30%.
In addition, this indicator is calculated on a weaker map. For example, if we have one card with 8 GB of memory, and the other has 2 GB, anyway, the user will receive only 2 GB of output. The same applies to the installation of two cards, for example, with a memory of 4 GB each. The output will remain the same 4 GB.
Another point: if one card is MSI, and the second is EVGA, the calculation of the total performance will be carried out precisely by the one that has the lowest frequencies. So, as you can see, it’s not worth it to be deceived.
How to disable SLI / Crossfire in the simplest way?
Now we proceed directly to the process of disabling these modes. Probably, each user understands that the question "how to disable Crossfire or SLI mode" boils down to not using a second graphics adapter in the system. And, as already understood, the simplest solution is to simply remove one of the cards from the slot on the motherboard, which applies to desktop computers.
But you can install additional equipment on modern ultrabooks, in particular the same video adapters, which, in principle, can use the Crossfire mode. How to disable one of the cards on a laptop? Easy peasy. The methods described below are suitable for both stationary computer terminals and laptops.
How to disable SLI (Crossfire) mode for a discrete adapter via BIOS?
To disable both modes, you can use the BIOS settings. Log in by pressing Del, F2, F12, etc. (it all depends on the BIOS version and developer).
Here we are interested in a tab containing a configuration called Onboard, Integrated Devices, etc. We go into the parameters and set the mode to Disabled (sometimes Off). That's all.
You can go to the Advanced section, where the settings of the mode itself will be indicated if discrete adapters are used not integrated, but.
Using Device Manager
Now let's see how to disable Crossfire AMD or SLI nVidia using standard Windows systems tools. To do this, go to the standard "Device Manager". This is done either through the "Control Panel", or through the "Administration", or using the devmgmt.msc command.
Here you need to go to the video adapters section, where installed devices will be indicated. In this case, as in all other situations, the question of how to disable SLI-Crossfire comes down to making one of the cards inaccessible. Select the card to disable and right-click on the properties menu, where there is a button to turn off the device. You can use a similar command directly from the context menu. After that, you won’t even have to restart the system.
Disabling modes using "native" utilities
Despite the simplicity of the methods described, it is best (and safer) to use "native" utilities for configuring and managing graphics adapters that are installed automatically when the appropriate drivers are installed, or installed additionally.
For nVidia cards, it is mono to use the GeForce SLI Profile Tool, PhysX, Riva Tuner, etc. For AMD chipsets, utilities like the ATI Tray Tool or ATI Catalyst Control Center and others are useful. Their use is simpler, so that you don’t even have to "climb" in the system configuration or in the BIOS to change one or another parameter. If you understand, such a solution to the problem we are considering (how to disable Crossfire / SLI) will be more effective, while even the occurrence of conflicts between the installed equipment is eliminated (unfortunately, this also occurs).
Instead of an afterword: is it worth disabling dual-graphics mode?
It remains to add a few words about the advisability of using such modes. Actually, the answer to the question: “How to disable Crossfire (SLI)?”, I think, is already clear. As for the installation of two or more video cards in one system and their simultaneous use, there are quite a lot of conflicting opinions. The fact is that you can’t get a special performance gain, and equipment conflicts are not excluded.
Of course, if the system does not use the graphics capabilities to the maximum, you must disable these modes, because the simultaneous operation of two cards can lead to severe overheating of the computer, double power consumption of the graphics system (after all, two cards are installed), as well as the inoperability of some games whose program code is simply does not support such modes or is not fully adapted to their use.
In addition, it is not recommended to include bundles in the form of budget cards or mid-range adapters. It’s better to buy one more powerful one instead of two. Productivity will be much higher and fewer problems. And for money, this option is often preferable.
However, if you figure it out, you can sometimes use these modes, but in situations where two cards are not involved, it is recommended to disable one of them, and you need to use special software designed to manage all the parameters of the graphics adapters. And such a shutdown is carried out, as they say, in one click.