Guide: DFI NF4 Ultra-D to SLI-D mod

Introduction: SLI-D In Disguise

If you have the DFI nForce 4 Ultra-D, you may be surprised to hear that it is actually an NF4 SLI-D board with the SLI part not activated! The board is physically exactly the same apart from one tiny electrical connection on top of the chipset. So all that is stopping you from activating SLI on your supposedly non-SLI board is one tiny electrical connection. Of course, it takes a little work to get to it...

Well, last night I set up SLI on my main rig (that has a DFI NF4 Ultra-D). All I needed was a spacer thing and the silver pen, the rest I had already: 2nd 7800GT, 2nd VF700-Cu, official DFI bridge... A few people have asked me have I done it yet, well now I have, and here is a guide to show how I did it to illustrate just how easy it really is.

What You Need

• Silver conductive paint
• Scalpel / X-Acto / craft knife
• A bright source of direct light
• Cotton buds / Q-tips
• IPA (Isopropyl alcohol, Isopropanol)
• 40mm spacer (optional)

The silver conductive paint you can get in either a small vial or in a pen applicator. The first option means you apply the paint using a tiny paintbrush or toothpick that is dipped into the vial. It is also the cheapest option. The pen applicator is a lot quicker, neater, and easier, but is also often quite a lot more expensive so it really comes down to how much electronic modding and circuit work you think you will do when you decide which one to get. I went for the pen option. The cost of this mod really comes down to how cheap you can get the silver conductive paint (so if you already have some, it would cost you nothing!).

You really need some GOOD direct light, I have a handy halogen lamp that is really easy to point where I want it to. You might also need a magnifying glass later on, but luckily I still have good eyes (unlike the rest of my family that need glasses, I guess I have that to look forward to lol)