SLI option not showing up. I thought Nvidia drivers 'just worked'

[Marvin]

I've already made fun of Nvidia in the title, so no need for the ATI brigade to come along unless you can help...

Got my 2nd GTX470 through yesterday, and installed this morning. Nvidia would have you believe that you simply put the card in, put the SLI connector on, then startup and everything will be fine. Did that. No SLI option in NCP.

Ok, reinstalled 256.98 drivers.

Nope.

Ok, uninstalled 256.98 drivers, restarted and then reinstalled 256.98...

...Nope

Ran a test of BC2 to see if there's an improvement - no.

Checked Device Manager - yep under display adapters, 2 GTX470s.

Checked System Info in NCP - yep, 2 GTX470s.

Updated motherboard BIOS, still nothing.

As far as I'm aware, there's no 'enable SLI' option on the motherboard, and I certainly couldn't find one.

I then uninstalled again, then rebooted, let Windows find drivers, rebooted, then installed 256.98. Nope. Tried getting the latest SLI Profiles, still nothing.

WTH! Why isn't this happening? I seem to recall I had issues getting 2 9800GTs working in my brother's computer some time ago, and this seems to be the same.

System specs are:
CPU: Xeon X3450
Mobo: Maximus III Gene (yes it's SLI compatible)
Memory: 4GB OCZ Intel Extreme DDR3
GPU: 2 GTX470s
PSU: Gigabyte Odin 1200W (yes, all leads are plugged in)

NCP allows me to set the Physx config, so I can set that to the second GTX470, but no SLI options.

Have I missed something? Any suggestions? 'Cause I'm a bit annoyed right now, and may not be thinking perfectly straight.

 

[Marvin]

Well let's hope.

I'll just try a different game though.

 

[Marvin]

I know, that's what is missing.

 

[Marvin]

Yeah, should have mentioned I've just spent some time putting each card in each slot both individually and together, and no fix there.

I'd rather not reinstall Windows, but I have considered it.

I'm just going to reinstall the chipset drivers, but I'm not hopeful...

 

[Marvin]

What do you mean 'the right way'? There's only one way? (it's symmetrical). It's on the SLI fingers closer to the back of the case.

 

[Marvin]

I had thought that. Haven't got a spare to test with unfortunately.

Got plenty of XFire bridges, but the pin pitch is different...

 

[Marvin]

Yup

 

[Marvin]

Have tried without an SLI connector and still nothing...

I really don't want to do a reinstall of Windows...

 

[Marvin]

Physx tab appears fine. NCP recognises both, and I can assign each to Physx, but nothing SLI wise.

I've also tried the 257.21 (I think) drivers to no avail.

I've tried the older card in both slots individually with the display, and the newer card in either slot with the display, and both work fine anywhere. Both together, I can switch the display between each card and that works fine. It's literally just SLI that doesn't work, which points to the SLI bridge, but if I don't have the bridge on, it should still show SLI as an option in NCP, but it doesn't...

 

[Marvin]

I'll see if Rroff can come up with anything for the new driver, then I'll go the driver sweeper in safe-mode route, then if all that fails, a new SLI bridge, then a reinstall of Windows (really don't want to/shouldn't have to)...

 

[Marvin]

Can still use SLI without the bridge just not as fast.

Re-install Windows fixes many unknown problems sometimes!

Good idea, also looked at any recent BIOS updates or fixes?

Got latest BIOS (updated earlier today after initial problems) but none of the releases mentioned an SLI or Crossfire fix.

I know a reinstall tends to help compatibility, but the install isn't that old, only 2 months or so...

 

[Marvin]

Had a look but latest drivers don't have any easy to use functions from the commandline for multi GPU stuff would need to code something.

Have you tried uninstalling the drivers, rebooting with just 1 GPU in, installing the drivers, shutdown and then adding the second card? bit of a drag just to check :S

Yeeeees. Unfortunately it's just occurred to me I've spent approximately 5 hours this afternoon installing, uninstalling and generally ****ing around.

 

[Marvin]

Yup. Going to try the new BETA drivers, then driver sweeper in safe mode for me...

 

[Marvin]

Under the view menu in the nv control panel do you have advanced ticked and in the define custom view option nothing has been changed to hide the SLI stuff?

Yup, and yup.

Trying some of the older Nvidia drivers might help fix the problem.

Tried that already unfortunately.

Could you get screenshots of both cards from GPU-z?

Here:

As you can see, GPU usage of card 2 (which was the older card - I've swapped them round many times now) is always 0.

The only differences on GPUZ is the different Sub Vendors (Asus and Nvidia - Asus is the new card, Point of View the older, both reference design).

Just curious...were you using the single GTX470 before, or have you intalled ATI cards with your current window in the pass?

Was using one of the GTX470s already, for around 2 months now. Think I reinstalled at the time.

To save some hassle could you install windows on another partition (dual boot) to try it then delete the partition if that makes no difference? Never tried this so don't shoot me if it's a stupid idea

Before I resort to a new install, I'll give this a try.

*snip*

Done already I'm afraid.

Another fix I found was to just install the graphics driver.

Never got any options to only install specific components.

Leave out the multi screen, couldA and fizzX stuff if you can.[/QUOTE]

 

[Marvin]

Quick update.

Seeing as Physx apparently works, I tried Just Cause 2 with Physx enabled on the second GTX470. At no point though was it utilised, making me fear motherboard issues...

 

[Marvin]

I am using a Maximus III Gene, which is SLI compatible.

Both cards show up without issues in device manager, and in NCP under the PhysX, which card tab. However, just no SLI.

I have now done a fresh install on a different partition, let Windows install default drivers for everything, then installed 258.96. And nothing. Seems more and more a mobo issue, but it physically works fine with a single card in either slot. I'm getting really confused now...

 

[Marvin]

I've done the latest BIOS update, and the only chipset drivers on a P55 seem to be SATA and USB related ones. Everything is up to date.

The thing is, randomly RMAing components could prove expensive if they find nothing wrong.

 

[Marvin]

Have you tried resetting your overclock? I'm wondering if it could be affecting the PCI-E controller built into the CPU...

I was also going to suggest flashing both cards with an identical BIOS (back up originals with GPU-Z if you do) but it's unlikely to be that if the second card isn't even working for Physx.

I checked GPU-Z and they both have the same BIOS revision.

I'll try running at stock (though I've only got the RAM overclocked at the moment anyway).

 

[Marvin]

Ok, running all at auto, and nothing.

I'm going to try installing Ubuntu, just to withdraw Windows from the equation.

After that, I should be able to get hold of 2 9800GTs on Tuesday, so I can eliminate the GPUs too.

 

[Marvin]

Ok, now running Ubuntu. Still no SLI option in NVIDIA X-Server under Open GL, so I conclude a hardware issue.

As I said, on Tuesday I'm going to try to run 2 9800GTs, and see if that works. If it does, then I have a GPU conflict, if not, then a motherboard conflict.

Fun...