Incorrect Video Memory for 7950GX2

[JaseUK]

Guys,
I just ran a 3DMark06 test on my machine to see what the difference would be between XP and Vista 64 bit Ultimate.

When I viewed the result on ORB it is displaying my 7950GX2 to only have 512MB of Video Memory, whereas on my older results using XP it shows 1024MB.

Is this something to do with the Vista drivers and that it does not recognise SLi, I dunno.

Any idea guys

 

[MeatLoaf]

Its correct. You have 512Mb per card, but as with all SLI systems half is wasted, so only 512Mb is useable

Im not sure if SLI works yet in vista

 

[JaseUK]

Hmmm,

Just looked in Advanced Display settings and it states 1006MB Total Available Graphics Memory and 512MB of Dedicated Video Memory.

When I go to Nvidia Control Panel I have got the Multi GPU Mode selected but when I go to the Global Settings under 'Manage 3D settings' It only gives me the option of Single-GPU under the feature 'Multi-GPU performance mode'.

 

[MeatLoaf]

Is this in Vista or XP?

Im not 100% sure, but do you need an SLI mobo to run the GX2 in SLI mode?

 

[JaseUK]

Is this in Vista or XP??

Its in Vista 64bit

Im not 100% sure, but do you need an SLI mobo to run the GX2 in SLI mode

Yeah but isnt that the reason the 7950GX2 was designed so u could have same performance in one card rather than buy 2 for SLi

 

[jrodga2k5]

PRetty sure u needed an SLI mobo also, the reason for the 2x in 1 card scenario was to allow Quad SLI

2xGPU's on the same board would be SLI without the need to

 

[MeatLoaf]

I dont think there are SLI drivers for Vista yet.

Can you enable it in XP?

Found this on the nvidia site :


http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce_gx2_sbios/us.asp

Also spotted this :

Q: Will the NVIDIA® GeForce® 7950 GX2 work with any motherboard?
A: With a properly configured SBIOS, the NVIDIA® GeForce® 7950 GX2 will work with any PCI Express-compliant motherboard. Please see www.nvidia.com/GX2 for a list of compatible motherboards and SBIOS that have been tested by NVIDIA.

 

[JaseUK]

I think u guys are right

Do you think I would be better suited to get 2 ATi cards for crossfire or for future proofing and get an 8800 series card

 

[willhub]

I think u guys are right

Do you think I would be better suited to get 2 ATi cards for crossfire or for future proofing and get an 8800 series card

Future proofing and waiting for the X2900 series.

 

[Rroff]

The 7950GX2 does NOT require an SLI motherboard to work in multi-GPU (SLI) mode, it only requires an SLI motherboard for quad SLI... however not all motherboards can handle the GX2.

The extra 512Mb isn't wasted, but the end product is only 512Mb of useable space (data is required to be stored on each card so they can each render either part of the current framebuffer or an alternative framebuffer)

I've not had much luck with the GX2 yet with drivers newer than 93.81.

 

[F4LL3N W4RR10R]

I have the same problem. Everest used to detect 1GB. After a reinstall it now only detects 512. Ive tried everything and I must say that this card is the biggest waste of money ever!

very poor support, very poor drivers, very poor overheating issues in the summer.

You post about this card and only get poor responses, mainly because there were only a handful of idiots like myself who was willing to spend £420 on a GPU that was marketed and billed as the next best thing.

IMO this card was only made to fill / compete with ATI for the short amount of time till the 8800 series was released.

Hardly any supplier stocks this card and it doesn't perform anywhere near what it supposedly benched according to Nvidia when it was previewed.

I know im ranting about ********, but I’m sick of this card. Yes we have checked if our MOBO supports it, yes we have the new drivers. This card has been causing problems with people who are computer literate from the start.

I really wish I had the balls to break the card and make out its just gone pop, send it back and get a 8800 or something, as the suppliers wont have any more in stock.

But I haven’t so I’ll probably just rant some more.

I know people will say STFU and you don’t need 200+ FPS as 60-80 constant fps is fine. I know its fine but we buy all this crap because we want to push things to the max! Its an enjoyment like a hobby.

Anyway… end of rant. I just think that this could possibly be the worst card ever! I know a lot of people have the latest drivers working and I personally get a 45ish fps increase in the HL2 CSS stress test, however my screen is always full of artefacts. I have to overclock the card to get rid of them!?!

Crazy.


Anyway, soz about the moan but there ARE people in the same boat m8. and there’s not many people out there that can help.

 

[MeatLoaf]

What difference does it make of it can only detect 512Mb? Only 512Mb is actually usable.

What mobo you running it on and what are the rest of your specs?

 

[Rroff]

F4LL3N W4RR10R - sounds like your motherboard doesn't properly support the card (not uncommon with the GX2 unfortunatly - seems they perform poorly if not used on an nforce or 975X chipset)...

I get double the FPS give or take 1-2fps in the source and lost coast stress tests between single and multi-GPU modes... but I did have to overclock my CPU to get it - at stock even my 2.4gig conroe wasn't enough to get the most out of this card.