Help, whats wrong with my SLI

[DebianDummy]

Ive got
2 x 7600GT's
1Gig of DDR2
3Gig 64Bit AMD Athlon
Asus M2N-E SLI Mobo

Using CS Source on the video stress test.

I get between 40 - 200fps (which i think is a too big fluctuation anyway) with one card, averaging 109fps

With SLI enabled, i get again 40 - 200fps
averaging 80fps!!!!!

worse still with SLI enabled, my fps can drop as low as 20 in game making it a hindrance.

Anyone got any idea what to do

any help much appreciated.

 

[DebianDummy]

200 is rapid yeah. but it hits that with one card. the point is, my average fps goes down when using sli as opposed to without it. surely this should never be the case

anybody else got a "helpfull" response they could bless me with?

 

[DebianDummy]

so what CPU would you recommend to go with these two cards? Needs to be socket AM2 if i need to upgrade.

Also, are you sure this is the problem? Wouldn't want to spend the money for nothing

And! you said you did some testing. What fps were you getting? was it anything like mine?

 

[DebianDummy]

I'm on the latest drivers

considering getting a new CPU.

can anyone recommend one.

 

[DebianDummy]

that is indeed the chip that ive got
im considering a new CPU now

selling these two cards and getting one better one would be expensive

 

[DebianDummy]

more on the topic

i just did a 3D mark and got 4570

which doesn't mean a great deal to me.

im thinking if i get an athlon 64 X2 6000+ and overclock the 7600GT's then my machine will be pretty good.

What does everyone reckon?

 

[DebianDummy]

No, I think he said he has an Athlon 64 3000+

Yep, thats right. Single core.

At the end of the day, i want a machine that kicks some ass so ill probably be spending a fair bit on it (as and when i can afford it).

I'm tempted to sell my graphics cards ... but. This will leave me without a graphics card because ill need the cash to invest in an 8 series.

So my plan is ...

Buy an AM2 Athlon 64 x 2 6000+ (i think ther just over 100 squids). Overclock it, buy another couple of gigs of memory. And overclock the 7600s, until i can afford to buy an 8 series (probably 8800 GTX) outright.

What is the overclocking potential for the 6000+? and the 2 7600s. Its got to be pretty good right?

Also, whats the difference between cheap DDR2 and shiny stuff?

Cheers dudes.

 

[DebianDummy]

On a side note, something for you to giggle at. I upgraded my mobo to an SLI board a while ago. When it come to swapping the CPU over i struggled with the gay plastic handle that comes on Athlons these days. After the relief of unlocking it, i then proceeded to rip the heatsink and fan, complete with CPU welded onto the bottom out of the mobo, obviously without lifting the handle on the socket. Whoopsie.

It all looked ok, but I did notice the CPU didnt fit in the new mobo. Further examination revealed a row of pins looking a bit like this //\\///\/\////. At this point i had commited to going to PC world to get any old CPU as a temporary fix. However, i thought i'd try and straighten the pins out.

After searching the house for my little screwdriver set without much success. I resorted to the chocolate fondue tool in the kitchen drawer.

It well worked aswell **ka-ching**.

NEVER .... underestimate the usefullness of a fondue tool when playing with PC hardware.

 

[DebianDummy]

Just for the sake of clearing this up.

I replaced the PSU with a 450W one (previously 350W) and added another gig of RAM
fps is now caining out 200ish constantly.

There we go