No option to enable SLI?

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 08:39

Hi.

I just installed a 2nd 8800gtx into my system, and I can see that the fan's spinning so it's getting power. SLI bridge is connecting both cards. When I booted into windows, it automatically started to install some driver, but I have no option to enable SLI or any mention of it in Nvidia control panel. In device manager I also see only one "8800gtx". Any ideas?

Running on a gigabyte DS4L 650 board. Drivers are upto date.

EDIT: Okay what the hell, I have 2 nvidia control panels now? One that has a tab for standard/advanced view. This control panel doesn't work at all and anything I click on comes up with an error message of "Can't find help file".. Okay..

The 2nd control panel is the one I've always been used to, which boots up with windows and appears in the tray. Weird..

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 09:52

Try Removing all nvidia drivers and then install them again..

And if that don't work then try swapping the cards around..

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 10:41

Done both of those, it's just the same, now it is only recognising the card in 1st slot.

My PC isn't recognizing either graphics card in that slot -.- and my faster 8800gtx doesn't clock down when it is in the first slot.

snaggster · 10 Jul 2011 at 10:57

Have you uninstalled all nvidia drivers including the control panel? If not i would boot into safe mode (hold f8 at start up) Then uninstall all nvidia drivers. Restart into normal. Then install the latest driver. Restart again. then fingers crossed it should be there.

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:04

I had to format my PC once to get SLI working
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18232524

rankftw · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:09

Try using DriverCleaner.NET to remove any driver and registry fragments that may be lingering about. It's a paid for program but it's the best at what it does and well worth a one off payment.

Arcane · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:09

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:16

snaggster said:
Have you uninstalled all nvidia drivers including the control panel? If not i would boot into safe mode (hold f8 at start up) Then uninstall all nvidia drivers. Restart into normal. Then install the latest driver. Restart again. then fingers crossed it should be there.

Uninstalled every driver and the control panel, and used driver sweeper to get rid of all traces of anything by nvidia.. still nothing, hmm, although one thing I did notice when changing them about, and looking into the 2nd PCI slot is that part of slot doesn't have the little ridges for connectors (on the inside) of it, it's just "filled"

I'm not sure if I can post a pic but this is what I mean: http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/773/Gigabyte_EP45T-Extreme_PCIe.jpg

Those two orange PCIE slots, that is normal right?

EDIT: just installed GPUZ and it's not recognising a second card, and it appears that my first card is running @ 16x, since the 650i chipset can only handle 8x + 8x or just 16x. That can't be the problem can it? I've seen loads of PC's with higher end graphics cards running at 8x each.

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:23

SLI will not work as Your motherboard does not support SLI ....http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2861#ov

Expansion Slots 1.1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16
2.1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8
(The PCIEx16 and PCIEx8 slots support ATI CrossFireX technology and conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
3.1 x PCI Express x4 slots
4.1 x PCI Express x1 slot
5.3 x PCI slots

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:27

chaparral said:
Think your motherboard only supports ATI crossfire

It does not support SLI ....http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2861#ov

Oh it does: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2679#ov

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:31

Deleted..

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:33

chaparral said:
Which motherboard do you have ??

As in the post above you linked to a Gigabyte_EP45T-Extreme_PCIe

Ah right, yeah, I did, but I was meaning to use those orange PCIE slots as an example, I was just wondering if them being a bit different to the blue ones would have anything to do with it, nevermind, but I have the one I just posted a link to on the gigabyte page :rolleyes:

snaggster · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:39

Silly idea but is there a setting in your bios you need to turn on?

Edit... i think you need to select pci-e x8+x8 in the bios

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:40

I looked through that, I couldn't find anything even mentioning SLI :confused:

hmm..

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:43

You need to change jumpers on your motherboard to enable SLI

Page 19 of the manaul...Direct link to manaul here http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-n650sli-ds4l_e.pdf

snaggster · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:46

im more than sure you need to set your pci lanes to x8 + x8. It will more than likely be under pnp/pci config.

Edit... try above post first.... looks more likely than my idea.

chaparral · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:47

snaggster said:
im more than sure you need to set your pci lanes to x8 + x8. It will more than likely be under pnp/pci config.

Post above yours

Rroff · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:50

Just to confirm you have to change a whole block of jumpers on this board to get SLI which locks the lanes to 8x8 even if you only have one GPU.

I had one of these boards with 8800GT SLI and its a right pain to change the jumpers once you have it in a case.

Ohnoezfail · 10 Jul 2011 at 12:15

WOOHOO!

Thanks chaparral, the computer recognises both cards now and running in SLI

rankftw · 10 Jul 2011 at 13:57

Glad you got it sorted man, this forum is full of great people always willing to help.

I love it when a plan comes together.