ASUS release low-cost high-bandwidth SLI bridge

[WYP]

ASUS has released a new low-cost version of Nvidia's high-bandwidth SLI bridge, which will be available standalone and bundled with some future enthusiast motherboards.



Read more on ASUS' low cost HB SLI Bridge.

 

[SuB]

I notice the traces are still not shown.. or are deliberately obfuscated.. I'd love to know if these actually are just.. 2 SLI bridges.. because that's exactly what it looks like. Just seems no-one wants to actually admit it because it's a new pricey product..

 

[jimma47]

I'd be keen depending on the price. Whilst the HB will do nothing for my 980's performance the colour scheme is spot on

 

[Warchild]

I wouldnt buy it. Just seeing that garish ROG logo puts me off things these days. I'm in love with Nvidias own version, would just need some recolouring

 

[jimma47]

I wouldnt buy it. Just seeing that garish ROG logo puts me off things these days. I'm in love with Nvidias own version, would just need some recolouring

Anything would be better than the brown ribbon i'm currently using

 

[Dicehunter]

I notice the traces are still not shown.. or are deliberately obfuscated.. I'd love to know if these actually are just.. 2 SLI bridges.. because that's exactly what it looks like. Just seems no-one wants to actually admit it because it's a new pricey product..

I'll try and find the video but someone did a test showing there was a few percent difference between standard SLI bridges and the newer version, Although the difference is nothing to write home about.

 

[Warchild]

I'll try and find the video but someone did a test showing there was a few percent difference between standard SLI bridges and the newer version, Although the difference is nothing to write home about.

And even then, only when SLI works hurr hurr hurr...

 

[Greenback]

I'll try and find the video but someone did a test showing there was a few percent difference between standard SLI bridges and the newer version, Although the difference is nothing to write home about.

Didn't tom do some tests in 1 of his reviews

 

[FluxTape]

I notice the traces are still not shown.. or are deliberately obfuscated.. I'd love to know if these actually are just.. 2 SLI bridges.. because that's exactly what it looks like. Just seems no-one wants to actually admit it because it's a new pricey product..

Der8auer made a video showing x-ray images of the different bridges
https://youtu.be/Z0A3GXCbOwc

 

[jimma47]

I'll try and find the video but someone did a test showing there was a few percent difference between standard SLI bridges and the newer version, Although the difference is nothing to write home about.

IIRC on previous gen cards (9XX series etc) there was no difference between one connector, two connectors or an HB bridge as the cards only require so much bandwidth meaning one connector was sufficient. There could have been a percent or two difference from memory but nothing to cause any noticeable improvement.

Using two ribbon connectors on a 10XX series card gave significantly less performance than an HB bridge.

 

[SuB]

So. looked it up

http://overclocking.guide/nvidia-hb-sli-bridge-technical-review/#EVGA_2-Way_HB_SLI_Bridge

Nope. You can just use 2 any-old SLI Bridges (if they have matched trace lengths, then great) but other than that.. it's LITERALLY just two sli bridges stuck together..

No wonder no-one would give me a straight answer about it. Total. Marketing. Con

 

[jimma47]

So. looked it up

http://overclocking.guide/nvidia-hb-sli-bridge-technical-review/#EVGA_2-Way_HB_SLI_Bridge

Nope. You can just use 2 any-old SLI Bridges (if they have matched trace lengths, then great) but other than that.. it's LITERALLY just two sli bridges stuck together..

No wonder no-one would give me a straight answer about it. Total. Marketing. Con

Well there you go. I wonder if a higher refresh rate monitor will make any difference? Or surround? It's a shame Tom didn't test the different bridges in the overkill 1080 SLI rig.

edit- I still like the look of this one but nice to know it's not doing anything more than a second ribbon.

 

[SuB]

Aye, it's the whole idea that they made it a $45 SKU which does the job of 2 freebies.. Typical really.

And the fact they never directly answered the question of .. is that exactly what it is/does?

 

[AlienALX]

So. looked it up

http://overclocking.guide/nvidia-hb-sli-bridge-technical-review/#EVGA_2-Way_HB_SLI_Bridge

Nope. You can just use 2 any-old SLI Bridges (if they have matched trace lengths, then great) but other than that.. it's LITERALLY just two sli bridges stuck together..

No wonder no-one would give me a straight answer about it. Total. Marketing. Con

I always used to use two ribbons on mine any way. It looks better, and ribbons can sometimes be crap too, so with two on there I never got any artefacts.

 

[jimma47]

Aye, it's the whole idea that they made it a $45 SKU which does the job of 2 freebies.. Typical really.

And the fact they never directly answered the question of .. is that exactly what it is/does?

I read a few other reviews where they said in high refresh rate 4k or 5k there was a more noticiable difference but still not huge. Standard bridges run at 400mhz and HB at 650 off the top of my head.

Edit. I'd use two AlienALX but I only have one.

 

[SuB]

I read a few other reviews where they said in high refresh rate 4k or 5k there was a more noticiable difference but still not huge. Standard bridges run at 400mhz and HB at 650 off the top of my head.

Edit. I'd use two AlienALX but I only have one.

The Hz isn't decided by the bridge though, it's just traces.. the Hz is decided by which card you've got it hooked up to. Literally the *only* difference is that the new HB ones have matched-length traces, which will help with the higher frequency, but aren't what I'd call super-critical at all..

 

[Doomslayer]

It comes down to looks a lot of people would rather use a SLi bridge that looks nice instead of some crappy one that comes with the motherboard.

 

[Warchild]

It comes down to looks a lot of people would rather use a SLi bridge that looks nice instead of some crappy one that comes with the motherboard.

Indeed. I used two ribbons and stuck them on a dark green hue acrylic. Did the job well of masking the SLI and no silly RoG or ASUS logo showing

Quite like that technical post Sub. was a good eye opening read.

 

[jimma47]

It comes down to looks a lot of people would rather use a SLi bridge that looks nice instead of some crappy one that comes with the motherboard.

Yep agreed however it's good to know that all you're getting is a better looking connector not actual performance gains for the amount of money you're spending.

I'll probably still buy it.

 

[Bartacus]

Even though I agree it's a complete ripoff, I'd like one just because it looks easier to mod. Taping a piece of acrylic to that thing would be a piece of cake.