NVIDIA Release 80 Challenge winners selected!

NVIDIA Release 80 Challenge winners selected!

This Winter, over a thousand people took the NVIDIA Release 80 challenge, answering questions about the features of NVIDIA’s new Release 80 series driver, and NVIDIA SLI technology. Those who answered ALL the questions correctly were entered into a drawing this month to win an SLI certified power supply from Antec or Silverstone.

The winners are featured below – be sure to stay tuned for the next exciting promotion on SLIZone – you might be a winner next time!

Name City CLUB SLI Number
[What's Club SLI?]

Eric F. Colorado Springs , CO 2222

Gregg M. Bothell , WA 7321

William R. Parsippany , NJ 7054

Darryl M. Winter Park , FL -

David M. Cottage Grove , MN -

Jason M. Phoenix AZ -

Johann S. Guelph , Ontario, Canada -

Ron J. Morristown , TN -

Justin D. Bethel , ME -

Brian P. Washington , PA -

Dan H. Scotia , ny -

David M. South Beach , OR -

Eric Z. New Richmond, WI -

James L. Spokane , WA 655

Jason C. Hamilton , Ontario, Canada -

Jason S. Cranebrook , Australia 663

Jay B. Albuquerque , NM -

Micah M. Springville , UT -

Sean B. Aberdeen , MD 1047

Sephen F. Dillsburg , PA -

Steve D. Three Forks, MT -

Vasiliki K. Marietta , GA -

Did you take the challenge and want to see how you fared? Missed the Release 80 Challenge, but still curious about SLI and the Release 80 series driver? Check out the original questions, WITH ANSWERS below:

Question 1 Do you need dedicated hardware in order to run NVIDIA SLI?

Correct Answer Yes - you need an SLI certified motherboard and 2 SLI certified graphics cards

Incorrect Answer No - you just need 2 SLI certified graphics cards and any motherboard with 2 PCI-Express graphics slots

Incorrect Answer No - you just need a motherboard with 2 PCI-Express graphics slots, and 2 NVIDIA PCI-Express graphics cards

Question 2 What benefit does NVIDIA SLI offer if a game is CPU-bound?

Correct Answer You can turn on 8X or 16X antialiasing and get increased visual quality

Incorrect Answer None

Incorrect Answer You can increase the frame rates at lower resolutions

Question 3 Does SLI work with AGP graphics cards?

Correct Answer No

Incorrect Answer Yes - but only on nForce4 AGP motherboards

Incorrect Answer Yes - but only with nForce4 AGP motherboards and an AGP/PCIE adapter

Question 4 Which cards can I use together in SLI?

Incorrect Answer Any pair of "SLI-Ready" graphics cards, as long as they are the same model (GeForce 6800 GT and GeForce 6800 GT, for example), the same memory configuration (256 MB and 256 MB, for example) and the same brand (both ASUS, or both MSI, or both BFG, for example). You could have a 256 MB BFG Tech GeForce 6800 GT OC and a 256 MB BFG Tech GeForce 6800 GT OC work together in SLI mode.

Incorrect Answer Any pair of "SLI-Ready" graphics cards, as long as they are the same model (GeForce 6800 GT and GeForce 6800 GT, for example), and the same brand (both ASUS, or both MSI, or both BFG, for example). You could have a 128 MB MSI GeForce 6800 GT and a 256 MB MSI GeForce 6800 GT work together in SLI mode.

Incorrect Answer Any pair of "SLI-Ready" graphics cards, as long as they are the same model (GeForce 6800 GT and GeForce 6800 GT, for example), and the same memory configuration (256 MB and 256 MB, for example) - the actual graphics card brand (MSI, ASUS, BFG, for example) does not matter. You could have a 256 MB MSI GeForce 6800 GT and a 256 MB BFG Tech GeForce 6800 GT OC work together in SLI mode.

Correct Answer Any pair of "SLI-Ready" graphics cards, as long as they are the same model (GeForce 6800 GT and GeForce 6800 GT, for example). Memory and graphics card manufacturer do not matter. You could have a 128 MB MSI GeForce 6800 GT and a 256 MB BFG Tech GeForce 6800 GT OC work together in SLI mode.

Question 5 Does SLI support vertical sync?

Correct Answer Yes

Incorrect Answer No - you can only enable vertical sync when in single-GPU mode

Incorrect Answer Yes - but only with the GeForce 7 Series GPUs

Question 6 Do I have to reboot my system when I switch between single and multi-GPU modes using SLI technology?

Correct Answer No - SLI technology and the new ForceWare drivers allow you to switch dynamically between single and multi-GPU modes without rebooting your system

Incorrect Answer Yes - but it's a fast reboot

Incorrect Answer Yes - but only when you have a 3D application already running on the Desktop

Question 7 If my game doesn't already have an NVIDIA-created SLI profile, can I still take advantage of SLI?

Incorrect Answer Yes - just send a request for a new SLI profile to NVIDIA on the SLIZONE "Optomized Games" page

Incorrect Answer Yes - you can set up your own SLI profile using Coolbits

Incorrect Answer Yes - you can globally set up an SLI multi-GPU rendering

Correct Answer All of the Above!

Question 8 With which operating systems will SLI technology work?

Incorrect Answer Any 32 bit or 64 bit operating systems

Incorrect Answer Windows XP 32 bit and 64 bit operating systems

Correct Answer Windows XP 32 bit and 64 bit operating systems, as well as Linux

Question 9 What is the dynamic green line that sometimes appears on the screen when using SLI?

Correct Answer This line shows dynamic load balancing for both Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR) and Split Frame Rendering (SFR)

Incorrect Answer This line shows the dynamic temperature levels of each of the GPUs

Incorrect Answer This line indicates that my monitor's refresh rate is inadequate

Incorrect Answer This line indicates that my Hertz level is set too low

Question 10 Which of these GPUs does NOT support SLI

Incorrect Answer GeForce 7800 GTX

Incorrect Answer GeForce 7800 GT

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800 Ultra

Correct Answer GeForce FX 5900 Ultra

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800 GT

Incorrect Answer Quadro FX 4500

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6600 LE

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6600 GT

Question 11 Which of these SLI-ready GPUs does NOT use an SLI bridge connector to engage SLI multi-GPU technology?

Incorrect Answer GeForce 7800 GTX

Incorrect Answer GeForce 7800 GT

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800 Ultra

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800 GT

Incorrect Answer Quadro FX 4500

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6800

Correct Answer GeForce 6600 LE

Incorrect Answer GeForce 6600 GT

Question 12 What is the October SLI Game of the Month?

Correct Answer Age of Empires III

Incorrect Answer Call of Duty 2

Incorrect Answer Battlefield 2

Incorrect Answer Serious Sam 2

Question 13 In what city does the September "SLI Rig of the Month" winner live?

Incorrect Answer Seattle, WA

Incorrect Answer Caracas, Venezuela

Incorrect Answer Berlin, Germany

Correct Answer Hollywood, CA

Incorrect Answer Boston, MA

Incorrect Answer Dallas, TX

Incorrect Answer Toronto, Ontario

Incorrect Answer Panama City, Panama

Incorrect Answer Florence, Italy

Question 14 What is the power of 3?

Incorrect Answer 3 GPUs on one graphics card

Incorrect Answer Combining the power of 2 NVIDIA graphics cards and one motherboard-integrated GPU together using SLI technology

Correct Answer Shader Model 3.0 support, enabling high dynamic range rendering, and offering SLI support with the NVIDIA GeForce 6 and 7 Series GPUs

Incorrect Answer Dawn, Dusk and Luna

Question 15 Which NVIDIA system builder offered its first-ever nForce-based motherboard when it launched its first SLI-powered PC this August?

Incorrect Answer Falcon NW

Incorrect Answer Voodoo PC

Correct Answer Dell

Incorrect Answer Alienware

Incorrect Answer Gateway

Incorrect Answer Velocity Micro

Question 16 Which of these e-tailers offers an SLI-ready online store?

Incorrect Answer Zip Zoom Fly

Incorrect Answer Tiger Direct

Incorrect Answer Monarch Computer

Incorrect Answer Newegg

Correct Answer All of the above

Question 17 Which of these is NOT a wallpaper or screensaver found on SLIZONE?

Incorrect Answer Tailpipes

Incorrect Answer Luna

Incorrect Answer Mad Mod Mike

Incorrect Answer Twin Guitars

Correct Answer Dancing graphics chips