Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

[imported_Komrade Pedrovsk]

I've just installed a new system with an AMD X2 Dual core and 7800GT SLI.

Are there any problems with BF2 compatibility that I should be aware of and any programs that can fix them? Because I've been having a bunch of strange problems lately.

Problems like:

After installing nForce 4 drivers (less Realtek audio as I have an Audigy 2)through my motherboard's cd and the latest nvidia latest drivers I tried playing BF2. At first it seemed to be fine (could even alt+tab w/ SLI on) until after playing for about 10 minutes it froze completely with sound looping, forcing me to do a hard reboot.

I decided to uninstall all my Nvidia drivers and install the latest from Nvidia's website. Gave it a try and it seemed it didn't freeze this time but as soon as I tested playing with single GPU it gave me a random auto-reboot with screeching noises when it was finishing loading a map.

At the moment I'm using the drivers from the cd instead of latest and so far it has been ok, though I notice a strange stuttering if I change the settings of BF2. Can't alt tab though.

Thanks!

[I hate conflict]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

I use a X2 and a single 7800Gt. I have no problems and don't set any affinity to a particular core. :)

[lds4567]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

i'm using X2 and 7800GT SLI and i have'nt had any problems as yet

[imported_Komrade Pedrovsk]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

i'm using X2 and 7800GT SLI and i have'nt had any problems as yet

What's your mobo and sound card though? BTW I've heard some problems can be related to something called IRQ, whatever that is. Anyway here's mine:

IRQ 0 System timer OK
IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard OK
IRQ 3 Built-in Infrared Device OK
IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK
IRQ 6 Standard floppy disk controller OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK
IRQ 9 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 9 SCSI/RAID Host Controller OK
IRQ 10 NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management OK
IRQ 10 Multimedia Video Controller OK
IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK
IRQ 14 Primary IDE Channel OK
IRQ 16 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
IRQ 16 Pinnacle WDM PCTV Audio Capture OK
IRQ 18 Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
IRQ 18 NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT OK
IRQ 19 Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM) OK
IRQ 19 NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT OK
IRQ 20 Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller OK
IRQ 21 Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller OK
IRQ 21 NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator OK
IRQ 22 Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller OK
IRQ 23 Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller OK

IRQ 18 has both IEEE 1394 and GeForce 7800 GT and IRQ 19 has both Audigy 2 and GeForce 7800 GT. Can that cause problems?

[IndianScout]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

I run a X2 3800 @ 2.5 and X1800XT Crossfire..

no bf2 related problems at all...

good luck with the new hardware...

enjoy..

Indian

[jayhigh]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

DID YOU UPDATE YOUR MOTHERBOARD's BIOS?

YOu may also want to check on your memory timing settings...aside from the normal default.

not to mention, you might want to see if SLI is enabled, plus have that EZ- plug jumper installed....BY THE WAY..for SLI, you need at least a 500W P/S with a 24 VDC Rail (which most 500+W PS do NOT have)...also check your power connections.

[sackynut]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

mobo bios is a TINY possibility, and only for the Dual Core part. What mobo do you have?

heres what you should do:
update to the latest BIOS if you can. (unless your mobo ALREADY supports Dual Core)
download the latest nvidia nforce drivers which would be 6.70. (just install everything EXCEPT audio. and after you finish and it asks you if you want to install nvidia firewall and network acess manager say NO!!!! also, the storage driver kinda sucks. install ethernet but no firewall/NAM and no audio are the main ones.)
finish the uninstall of your current nforce drivers and use Drivercleaner (drivercleaner.net) to clean the nforce chipset drivers. then isntal the new ones the way I said.
then uninstall your graphics drivers and do driver cleaner with that.
then download the latest graphics drivers which would be 84.21 and install those. then enable SLi, and go to the "advanced" settings area of your nvidia drivers and set Sli to multi GPU.

sorry its so unorganized hope you understand what I wrote


BTW: as for not being able to Alt+tab with SLi, this is a problem that I and many others have encountered. the only way I found to solve it, was you have to set the resolution of the game, to a diffrerent Reso than your desktop, and you can alt tab.

[jayhigh]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

SLI and power is a big issue if you do not address it...if not, you can fry your card.

[I hate conflict]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

Do you have the probs if you disable sli?

Edit: sorry just re-read ya orig post!

[jayhigh]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

Do you have the probs if you disable sli?

Edit: sorry just re-read ya orig post!

im not sure what the behavior will be, but if you have two cards, then why not turn/enable SLi on your mboard? if not, your just using onne card for GFX. wit one sitting there doing nohthing

[imported_Komrade Pedrovsk]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

mobo bios is a TINY possibility, and only for the Dual Core part. What mobo do you have?

heres what you should do:
update to the latest BIOS if you can. (unless your mobo ALREADY supports Dual Core)
download the latest nvidia nforce drivers which would be 6.70. (just install everything EXCEPT audio. and after you finish and it asks you if you want to install nvidia firewall and network acess manager say NO!!!! also, the storage driver kinda sucks. install ethernet but no firewall/NAM and no audio are the main ones.)
finish the uninstall of your current nforce drivers and use Drivercleaner (drivercleaner.net) to clean the nforce chipset drivers. then isntal the new ones the way I said.
then uninstall your graphics drivers and do driver cleaner with that.
then download the latest graphics drivers which would be 84.21 and install those. then enable SLi, and go to the "advanced" settings area of your nvidia drivers and set Sli to multi GPU.

sorry its so unorganized hope you understand what I wrote


BTW: as for not being able to Alt+tab with SLi, this is a problem that I and many others have encountered. the only way I found to solve it, was you have to set the resolution of the game, to a diffrerent Reso than your desktop, and you can alt tab.

Hey just a question, what do you mean about storage drivers and should I install latest nforce drivers before or after uninstalling current one? The latter seems obvious but asking to be sure nevertheless.

Also I've tested a bit more and it sounds ridiculous but I get a FPS boost when running with single GPU??? Yes, I get about a 25 fps boost when changing from multi-gpu to single-gpu. Something's not right with my 2nd graphics card?

Basically I run BF2 faster with SLi off

Cheers on the Alt+tab tip! I set my desktop reso to 1024x768 and now I can alt+tab... but:

I've just installed the latest BIOS for my Gigabyte GA-K8NXP SLi (think that's what it's called). This time when I try to alt+tab with SLi on (when desktop and game reso are the same) it actually minimizes the upper mid-half of the screen but the lower half of the screen has a still image of the game... What could this mean? When I alt+tab back to the game I start noticing random horizontal white lines flashing sometimes. It even flashes in other games.

These random lines appear even if I alt+tab with desktop reso different than game.

SLi works by dividing the screen in half for each video card am I correct? Could this mean one of the video cards is conflicting with something? (the one who works on the lower part) And now that I think of it it's the same one that is using IRQ 19 with my sound card (remember I've had loop noise with freezes and screeching noises with crashing before re-installing nvidia drivers).

Fortunately this horizontal lines flashing bug seems to go away when I reboot.

However I still have the feeling something's not right here. I'll try the drivers installation you wrote though.

Thanks again!

[thw01f]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

the latest drivers fixed my alt tab prob. (91.28)

now I can have the desktop and bf2 at 85Hz

and u did install the latest AMD driver, didn't u? helps with dual core and games http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...mdcpusetup.exe

:)

[sackynut]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

the latest drivers fixed my alt tab prob. (91.28)

now I can have the desktop and bf2 at 85Hz

and u did install the latest AMD driver, didn't u? helps with dual core and games http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...mdcpusetup.exe

:)

isnt that only for the Cool N' Quiet type thing? thats what the descirption says,...

[thw01f]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

isnt that only for the Cool N' Quiet type thing? thats what the descirption says,...

Soz, can't see cool n quiet anywhere, r u lookin at the right description.

"AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (exe) 1.3.1 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processors on Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 SP1."

sackynut, I think it used to have cool n quiet in the old driver description.

I've never used cool n quiet, but I think the main thing it helped with is addiing the modded boot ini.

This fixed my kicked from server every few mins probs :)

Play BF2, if you get stuttering or kicked from server regularly, patch it.

If it ain't broke, don't touch it

[phantasm11B]

Re: Any Dual core X2 or SLI user out there?

What's your mobo and sound card though? BTW I've heard some problems can be related to something called IRQ, whatever that is. Anyway here's mine:

IRQ 0 System timer OK
IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard OK
IRQ 3 Built-in Infrared Device OK
IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK
IRQ 6 Standard floppy disk controller OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK
IRQ 9 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 9 SCSI/RAID Host Controller OK
IRQ 10 NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management OK
IRQ 10 Multimedia Video Controller OK
IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK
IRQ 14 Primary IDE Channel OK
IRQ 16 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
IRQ 16 Pinnacle WDM PCTV Audio Capture OK
IRQ 18 Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
IRQ 18 NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT OK
IRQ 19 Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM) OK
IRQ 19 NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT OK
IRQ 20 Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller OK
IRQ 21 Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller OK
IRQ 21 NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator OK
IRQ 22 Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller OK
IRQ 23 Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller OK

IRQ 18 has both IEEE 1394 and GeForce 7800 GT and IRQ 19 has both Audigy 2 and GeForce 7800 GT. Can that cause problems?

Just a little FYI. IRQ stands for Interupt Request. Back in the ealier days (80/86, 80/88, 286, 386, 486) era you had to manually set the IRQ for certain devices in order for them to interact with the OS. Nowadays with the invention of Plug and Play (PnP), the end user doesn't interact with the IRQ's much. The OS detects the device and assign's it an IRQ. Sometimes more than 1 device with share the same IRQ as well.