How to disable Crossfire? What is Crossfire? How to disable Sli Crossfire?

Hardcore gamers have probably 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, such terms are applied more to stationary systems (this will be considered a little later). However, sometimes for normal computer operation it will be necessary to know how to disable Crossfire or SLI, when such modes are not used. This is now and will be discussed.

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 the computer.

In stationary systems, two independent video adapters are simply inserted into special slots located on the motherboard. Sometimes you can meet the situation when the motherboard already has an integrated graphics chipset, so to speak, "wired" into the board, and in parallel with it another one is installed.

Now we will look at both modes in more detail, and at the same time we'll see how to disable Crossfire (SLI) with a few simple methods if necessary, especially since both modes of operation technology are practically the same.

What is SLI?

SLI technology, which involves the installation of multiple graphics adapters in the system, was developed by nVidia and implies the use of cards only of this manufacturer.

In principle, this mode can be called a kind of conditional electronic adapter, which connects two video adapters, allowing to combine their capabilities into one.

What is Crossfire?

Crossfire is a complete analogy of SLI technology, but the authorship of this development is owned by no less famous corporation AMD.

Interestingly, as practice shows, a bunch of two or more AMD video cards in Crossfire is much cheaper than using an SLI bridge when installing nVidia cards. In addition, the technology from nVidia does not allow to install 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 of the features of their use.

Features of connecting video cards in SLI and Crossfire modes

First, every user of the computer system should clearly understand that it is possible to connect two or more graphic adapters to the motherboard only when the motherboard itself supports such an opportunity.

For example, to use the SLI mode, the board must have the appropriate marking, otherwise, no matter how hard you try to install two cards on it, they will not work in a bunch. The same applies to the simultaneous use of a discrete adapter and an integrated one. Here it is necessary to be content with only one of them.

Secondly, you should pay attention to the fact that for SLI technology to work, only video cards based on the same chips can be installed (for example, nVidia GTX 970 and 980 series, Titan chipset or two identical GeForce 9600 GT and t Etc.). Note: a bunch of 9600 GT and 9800 GT will not work.

Another thing is when Radeon cards are used. Here you can use "different-chip" configurations, for example, Radeon 2600 and 1950. Very often to increase the performance of the graphics system, the R9 series cards are used. Indeed, such pairs allow using the maximum of opportunities for games with a resolution of 4k or Full HD with a resolution of 2k. Some users use these bundles to increase the overall frequency of the storyboard, say, to achieve a score of more than 80 fps (frames per second).

Thirdly, do not forget that for SLI-cards a special adapter must be used, which must be supplied either with the card or with the "motherboard". Without him, the two cards work together, again, they will not.

Myths about using Dual Graphics mode to increase the performance of the graphics system

Some naive users install two cards to increase performance, believing that it will double (two cards on board). It's a delusion. The increase in productivity, as practice shows, rarely exceeds 20-30%.

In addition, this indicator is calculated from a weaker map. For example, if we have 8GB of memory on one card and 2 GB of memory on the other, whatever one may say, the user will get only 2 GB of output. The same applies to the installation of two cards, say, with a memory of 4 GB each. The output will remain the same 4 GB.

One more thing: if one MSI card, and the second EVGA, the total performance calculation will be performed exactly for the one that has the lowest frequencies. So, as you can see, there is no need to flatter yourself.

How to disable SLI / Crossfire by the simplest method?

Now let's go directly to the process of disabling these modes. Probably, every user understands that the question "how to disable the Crossfire or SLI mode" is reduced to not using the second graphics adapter in the system. And, as is already clear, the simplest solution is the usual extraction of one of the cards from the slot on the motherboard, which is applicable to stationary computers.

But even with modern ultrabooks, you can install additional hardware, in particular, the same video adapters, which, in principle, can use the Crossfire mode. How to disable one of the cards on the laptop? As easy as pie. The methods described below are suitable for both stationary computer terminals and for laptops.

How to disable the SLI (Crossfire) mode for a discrete adapter via the BIOS?

You can use the BIOS settings to turn off both modes. The input is carried out by pressing the keys Del, F2, F12, etc. (all depends on the version and the developer of the BIOS).

Here we are interested in a tab containing a configuration called Onboard, Integrated Devices, etc. We enter the parameters and set the mode to Disabled (sometimes Off). That's all.

You can go to the Advanced section, where you will specify the settings of the mode itself, if you use not integrated, but discrete adapters.

Using the "Device Manager"

Now let's see how to disable Crossfire AMD or SLI nVidia using the standard tools of Windows-systems. To do this, go to the standard "Device Manager". This is done either through the "Control Panel", or through "Administration", or using the command devmgmt.msc.

Here you need to go to the video adapter section, where the installed devices will be listed. In this case, as well as in all other situations, the question of how to disable SLI-Crossfire is reduced to making one of the cards inaccessible. We select the map for disconnection and right click call the property menu, where there is a button for disconnecting the device. You can use the same command directly from the context menu. After that, even the system will not have to be rebooted.

Disabling modes with "native" utilities

Despite the simplicity of the described methods, it is best (and safer) to use native GUI configuration and management utilities that are installed automatically when installing the appropriate drivers, or installed separately.

For nVidia cards, you can use the GeForce SLI Profile Tool, PhysX, Riva Tuner, etc. For AMD chipsets, utilities like ATI Tray Tool or ATI Catalyst Control Center and others are useful. Their use is simpler, so much so that you do not even have to "climb" in the system configuration or in the BIOS to change this or that parameter. If you understand, this solution to the problem we are considering (how to disable Crossfire / SLI) will be more efficient, and even conflicts between installed equipment will be eliminated (unfortunately, such is also encountered).

Instead of an afterword: is it worth it to turn off the dual graphics mode?

It remains to add a few words about the advisability of using such regimes. 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 there can be no special increase in productivity, and conflicts of equipment are not ruled out.

Of course, if the system does not use the graphics capabilities to the maximum, you need to disable these modes, because the simultaneous operation of two cards can lead to a strong computer overheating, double power consumption of the graphics system (after all, two cards installed), as well as to the inoperability of some games, 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 would be better to buy one more powerful instead of two. Productivity will be much higher, and problems are less. Yes, and for money often this option is more preferable.

However, if you understand, you can sometimes use these modes, but in situations where two cards are not involved, one of them is recommended to be disconnected, and use for this purpose special software designed to manage all the parameters of graphics adapters. And such a shutdown is carried out, as they say, in one click.