i was wondering if it was possible to install two different graphics cards in an sli mobo and not run them in SLI. Its just an idea im toying with. or will i be stuck to using a PCI vid card for the other card.

MSI K8N diamond Sli Nf4
MSI GeForce 6800GT

You can and you could use the cards to have multiple displays for up to four monitor. SLI is for ultra high resolution monitor/display.

As for example, two 7800GT SLI can run 1600x1200 3D resolution on one single display. Or two 7800GT not on SLI can run up to 4 display/monitors at 1280x1024 running 3D application.

thanks chuck so i could seperately install a 6600gt with a 6800gt without using the sli bridge and all will be dandy even tho the are different model cards (i know that sli requires cards of the same revision)

SLI is set in software. Some boards have a paddle card between the x16 slots to switch it from single to dual card modes, and it's usually labelled "SLI", but that's not what it actually does.

Any two cards in an SLI board will function independantly unless SLI is turned on in the driver.

yes, this is what I have in my set up ... two 16x PCI-Express cards with NO SLI turned on -- driving 3 LCDs (in portrait). make sure to NOT span them so they can run independently

more details are here
http://www.instructables.com/id/EXLOGYUZR9EUMVDT56/