SLI Problems

[{9thInf}Padre]

Just wondering if anyone else has had this kind of issue.

When only one card is enabled, I can Alt-Tab between BF2, BF2CC, Teamspeak, etc. When both cards are enabled, I can't get out of BF2 period.

Similar problem for Civ4. Single card, Alt-Tab works fine, both cards, Alt-Tab only shows the top half of the desktop, the bottom half of the screen shows the game still.

I've also had some other issues, such as boot failures (goes to XP screen, then back to BIOS) in dual card mode only, not in single card mode. A couple of crashes to BIOS, 'Windows has recovered from a serious error' messages that lead to a Microsoft OCA that blames a device or device driver.

System was freshly installed (reformat/reinstall) in December with one video card, added the second a couple of weeks later and ran into the problems. RMA'ed one video card due to artifacting when testing each card in single card mode, but both current cards seem to have no problems in single card mode. Newest drivers from Nvidia in use for the mobo, video cards.

System:

X2 4400+
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
Patriot 2x1GB PC3200 (2-3-2-5)
2x eVGA 7800GT n517
Silverstone ST60F PSU

Other stuff isn't relevant I think.

Any suggestions, let me know. I'm planning to reformat/reinstall Windows this evening, and if that doesn't work, RMA the mobo to Newegg. Just not sure if I want to get another Asus, or change to DFI or MSI...

[shaolinmasa]

Re: SLI Problems

Need some specific info to help...

I know you said the newest drivers from Nvidia for chipset, and Forceware drivers...

1) Are the chipset drivers from Asus or Nvidia? Which version #?
2) Forceware drivers are version 81.95 or 81.98?
3) Have you made any manual changes memory timings?

Lastly, are the crashes to the desktop or does the computer reboot?

[{9thInf}Padre]

Re: SLI Problems

1) Nvidia chipset drivers. v6.70
2) Forceware 81.98
3) No, AI overclock 8%. Been stable 12+ hours Prime95.

[shaolinmasa]

Re: SLI Problems

In our experience with the Asus A8N-SLI Premium mobo, the Nvidia chipset drivers have caused problems. If you are planning to go though with your fresh install of XP, I would recommend installing the chipset drivers from Asus' website (v6.65), and the Forceware 81.95 drivers from Nvidia's website.

During the fresh install, under no circumstances should you install the NV Firewall option. We have experienced problems with overall system performance after installing this application.

Let us know how things go.

[{9thInf}Padre]

Re: SLI Problems

Will do. I didn't install the Nvidia firewall last time, won't this time either.

[sackynut]

Re: SLI Problems

I have the same problem. when one card in use I can do it fine, but with Sli enabled in many games I cannot Alt tab and it screws up my computer. I asked nvidia and they told me to ask Evga, and niehter of my serial numbers will work so I cannot email evga. sigh.

[[=RDR=] RadoN]

Re: SLI Problems

I am having similar problems. I have the Asus NV7800GT Dual, which is basically SLI 7800GT's, and I can play BF2 on one GPU all day, but when I enable SLI I can only play for 10-15 mins before it reboots my system. I downloaded the Chipset v6.65 but I have no idea how to install it. I am running v81.98 Drivers on the Graphics Card. Should I go back to 81.95?

Any help will be appreciated!

[MonkMachine]

Re: SLI Problems

Ive got 2 6600GT's in SLI and I cant ALT+TAB out of the game. At least its not just me.

[{9thInf}Padre]

Re: SLI Problems

After reformatting/reinstalling Windows with the following drivers, I can now safely alt-tab out of BF2! (Kinda weird that I'm still having some funky stuff with Civ4, but oh well...)

BIOS: Asus 1011 Beta
Mobo drivers: Asus v6.65
Video drivers: Nvidia 82.12 Beta

Everything seems stable, 3dMark05 of 11654 @ 2.4ghz on the 4400+, no video card oc'ing.

[JAG_Scooly]

Re: SLI Problems

get a hold of me i have 2x 6800gt with the same on failure problem.fixed my problem.want to see if u did the same as me on install,if u did i may be of some help to you

[thw01f]

Re: SLI Problems

same problem here. tried old and new vid drivers and nforce drivers.

managed to get it working by having my display frequency for desktop different to the BF2 in game setting.

They were both at 85Hz but the desktop is now at 100 and game at 85.

PIA but until the problem is found it'll do

[{9thInf}Padre]

Re: SLI Problems

Yeah, I had though things were good. But, it appears, they're not. Despite scoring 12799 on 3DMark05, I was only able to get 40-75 fps in BF2. After disabling 1 video card via the bios, I'm back at 100 fps or so. I'm pretty dissapointed that I invested the $$$ to get a high-end SLI setup going and it just doesn't deliver the performance that it should. However, the single card performance is still pretty good. Anything other than Iron Gator is smooth and fast at mostly high settings.

[sackynut]

Re: SLI Problems

I believe I have found the answer to the Alt Tab problem. It will not work on games installed before SLi was installed. For example, I installed FEAR the other day with SLi setup, and I can alt tab fine. But I could not alt tab in SLi on the FEAR mutli player demo, which I installed while I only had one card. Bf2 cannot alt tab for me because I installed it before I had SLi .But I believe with the new patch, it will undo this, because patching it is like reinstalling it, so if you patch it with SLi it SHOULD work. corrrect me if im wrong.

[thw01f]

Re: SLI Problems

I've had sli from the start.

reinstalled patch anyway.

still

[sackynut]

Re: SLI Problems

I've had sli from the start.

reinstalled patch anyway.

still

one word: crap.