SLI and CrossFire: Are Multi-GPU Builds Still Relevant in 2025?

In the early days of PC gaming, the quest for ultimate performance led enthusiasts down a single path: using multiple graphics cards. This was made possible by two well-known technologies: NVIDIA’s SLI and AMD’s CrossFire. By linking two or more GPUs together, builders could create powerful rigs with the promise of doubling their gaming performance.

However, a lot has changed. The question today is not how to set up SLI and CrossFire, but whether they are even worth thinking about anymore. Are multi-GPU builds still a good idea in 2025? We will explore the rise and fall of these technologies, look at their current status, and help you decide if a multi-GPU setup makes any sense today.

What is SLI and CrossFire?

SLI (Scalable Link Interface) is a technology created by NVIDIA that allowed two or more of their graphics cards to work together. It first came out in 2004. AMD’s version, called CrossFire, was released a year later. Both had the same goal: to combine the power of multiple GPUs to render a single game, giving you more performance.

In their prime, the SLI vs CrossFire performance debate was a big deal for gamers. Both required a special motherboard with multiple slots and a physical bridge to connect the cards. Both technologies tried to achieve the same thing, but they had their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

How Multi-GPU Builds Work

The core idea behind these builds was simple: divide the work. The most common way they did this was through Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR).

• Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR): GPU 1 would draw all the odd-numbered frames (1, 3, 5, etc.), while GPU 2 would draw all the even-numbered frames (2, 4, 6, etc.). This was supposed to double the frame rate.
• Split-Frame Rendering (SFR): A less common method where the screen was split in half, and each GPU rendered one part.

While these methods sounded great, they had big problems. The biggest issue was getting both GPUs to work perfectly together. This often led to a problem called “micro-stuttering,” where the frame rate looked high, but the game felt choppy and not smooth.

The Golden Era of SLI and CrossFire

From about 2008 to 2016, SLI and CrossFire were very popular. At that time, a single graphics card was not powerful enough to run games at very high resolutions like 4K or on multiple monitors. A two-card setup was the only way for PC enthusiasts to get the best performance.

For example, two GTX 970s in SLI could often be faster than a single, more expensive GTX 980 Ti. Many gamers built multi-GPU builds to get the best frame rates in demanding games like Crysis 3. It was a big part of the PC building hobby, and most companies fully supported it.

Why Multi-GPU Builds Declined

Despite their popularity, multi-GPU builds started to lose their appeal for several key reasons. The biggest one was a lack of support.

• Limited Game Support: This was the main reason for their downfall. For SLI and CrossFire to work, game developers had to spend time and money to add support for it. As the number of players using these setups got smaller, developers stopped making the effort.
• Driver and Stuttering Issues: The whole system relied on special driver profiles made by NVIDIA and AMD. These profiles were often late and not perfect, which led to glitches, bugs, and the annoying micro-stuttering.
• Higher Power and Heat: Two graphics cards use a lot more power and create a lot more heat than one. This meant builders needed to buy a larger power supply and a much better cooling system, which added to the overall cost and complexity.
• Single GPUs Became More Powerful: The final blow was the rapid improvement of single GPUs. Today, a single high-end card like the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX is so powerful it can run almost any game at 4K without needing a second card.

Are SLI and CrossFire Still Supported in 2025?

The short and simple answer is: no, not for gaming. The time for multi-GPU gaming performance is over.

• NVIDIA’s NVLink: NVIDIA has mostly given up on SLI for gaming. The old SLI connectors were removed from most of their cards. They were replaced with NVLink, which is a much faster connection. However, NVLink for gaming was only supported on a few very high-end cards like the RTX 3090. Today, NVLink is almost only used for professional work, like in data centers and for AI.
• AMD Discontinued CrossFire: AMD has also officially stopped supporting CrossFire on its newer GPUs. Their drivers no longer have the options to turn on a multi-GPU gaming performance setup.

Because of this, if you’re asking, “Are SLI and CrossFire still relevant?” in 2025, the answer for gamers is no. Almost no new games, which use modern APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan, have support for these technologies.

Multi-GPU in Workstations vs. Gaming

While SLI and CrossFire are dead for gaming, the idea of using multiple GPUs is still very much alive in other fields. This shows the difference between gaming and professional use.

• Relevant for Workstations: Multi-GPU setups are still common for professionals. Tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, and AI can be split up between cards very well. These programs are made to use multiple GPUs, so they can take full advantage of the combined power.
• Gaming Performance: For gaming, the technology is obsolete. If you try to run two modern GPUs in a game that doesn’t support them, one GPU will do all the work while the other sits idle. In some cases, it can even make your performance worse.

Alternatives to Multi-GPU Builds Today

Since SLI/CrossFire support in modern games is almost non-existent, what are the better ways to get top performance?

• High-End Single GPUs: This is the best choice today. A single powerful GPU is almost always a better investment than two lesser cards. It’s more efficient, less complicated, and works perfectly with every game.
• Upscaling Technologies (DLSS, FSR, XeSS): These technologies use AI to render games at a lower resolution and then make them look sharp and clear at a higher resolution. This gives you a massive multi-GPU gaming performance boost without needing a second card. This is now the main way to get more frames in a game.

FAQs

Q: Can I still use SLI in 2025? 

A: For all practical purposes, no. NVIDIA has ended consumer SLI support on modern GPUs.

Q: Is CrossFire supported on modern GPUs?

 A: No. AMD has also discontinued CrossFire on its newer GPUs. The technology is no longer supported.

Q: Do multi-GPU builds improve FPS in new games?

 A: In almost all new games, multi-GPU builds do not improve FPS. The second GPU will likely not be used.

Q: Are multi-GPU setups good for productivity/AI?

 A: Yes, they are. For professional work like 3D rendering, video editing, and AI, multi-GPU builds are still very useful because these applications are designed to use multiple cards.

Q: What is the biggest issue with multi-GPU gaming? 

A: The biggest issue was the lack of support from game developers and the problem of micro-stuttering.

Conclusion

The time for SLI and CrossFire in gaming has ended. Once the top way to get high-end performance, these technologies have become obsolete because of a lack of support and the massive power of today’s single GPUs.

For anyone asking, “Are SLI and CrossFire still relevant?”, the answer is clear: for gaming, their time has passed. The best way to get a high-end gaming experience today is to invest in a single, powerful graphics card and use modern upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR.