SLI issues causing 100% CPU usage

[ArcticFenrir]

Okay so I'm having some issues with my SLI setup. I have two KFA2 GTX 770 LTD OC set up in SLI and in some games I'm having some pretty severe issues. It seems that after a while in gaming I start to get some huge visual slowdown spikes, they also seem to affect the CPU, forcing the CPU to spike to 100% usage. This only fixes itself if and when the nvidia driver crashes and I can then use the computer normally. Otherwise I have to reset to do anything.

I've tried using both cards individually and both seem to run fine, I've tried reducing graphical settings in games and that doesn't seem to make a difference. I've even used one as a dedicated physx card with no problems.

The problem I'm sure is a bad SLI connection, I have seen that when the two cards are connected on one side with an SLI bridge the image stutters in game and everything has a weird green and purple hue to it. The other side of the SLI connectors seems to run fine but I still get the slowdown and CPU usage spikes. I've tried a few different SLI bridges and none seem to fix it.

So my question is how can I determine which card is the faulty one? And if it is just a bad SLI connection that's causing my issues? Both cards are from Overclockers and the oldest one was bought in September, the newest in January so I think I can still RMA them if need be.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

I've tried a few different SLI bridges and none seem to fix it.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

Thanks, Ill give that a test and see if I still have issues. Was unaware that you didn't actually need the bridge.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

Sorry about that, missed that little gem mate...

Just try one at a time, to be honest, I would take them both down myself and let OcUK test them while you are there...

Stelly

Yeah no worries mate, it happens. I can't take them down to the shop though cause I live nowhere near. My only option is to take it to a local computer shop and have them test it. At a charge of course.

I thought that you needed the connector to run SLi right??

Stelly

Without the bridge connected the nvidia control panel doesn't give me the option to select SLI.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

Just to clarify the left side SLI connectors on the cards give me the visual errors. The right side seems to work fine but after a while I just get the CPU overload in certain games. But even on low settings I still get those issues. But then those same games can run perfectly fine on high settings on a single card.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

Okay so uninstalled video drivers and now I'm running a fresh install. Gonna do some tests. If this doesn't work I take it my only other option is to take it to a shop and get it tested? Any other advice would be appreciated.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

Okay so everything seemed to be working okay last night. I spent a few hours playing Warframe which is one of the games that causes me issues and it ran fine. However today when playing Thief after a little over an hour of playing it starts to lock up. Any other suggestions on what might be causing this issue?

 

[ArcticFenrir]

I've had it happen in several games. Battlefield 4 being one of them. But it also happens in Warframe, Tera and Thief so I'm pretty sure it's not game specific. I'll try running them in PCI 2.0 and see if that resolves it. It's good to know that the CPU could be a problem though. I can still get hold of a 2600k if need be, but replacing the motherboard for a newer CPU is not much of an option costwise. I'll leave the CPU for now and leave that as a last option.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

I'll try underclocking both cards to the same level. One is higher than the other as standard but they only work at the speed of the slowest card I believe. I formatted my whole system today to check it wasn't a problem with any software hidden away I couldn't work out. This still hasn't really fixed it. I'll try underclocking both of them and if that fails I may just have to RMA both cards and be without for a little while.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

The bridge can't go on the left connectors. The left side connector on one of the cards is causing everything to look green and purple. However I will try swapping the cards around and giving it another go. The format though seems to have stopped the CPU overload but I still get driver crashes instead of the full system lockup. It's a step in the right direction at least though.