Problem with SLI mode.

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vindrow

n00b
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
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43
Hiya,


I seem to be having some trouble with my comp recognizing that I have 2 cards in SLI mode, the second card doesn't even show up in Device manager or anywhere else...anyone have any idea what could be the problem.

My specs:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-M55SLI-S4
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
4 GB G.SKILL 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400
GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB DDR3 (X2)
Rosewill 550 Watt PSU
 
You need to install the device driver twice. Do you see any exclamation marks in Device Manager?
 
...as much of a pain in the ass as this is, you may have to reinstall Windows to get it working properly. Mine was pulling the single card showing up thing on me initially.

Also, make sure SLI mode isn't an option in the Nvidia control panel, and isn't already on. Depending on the driver version both cards may show up as a single card in SLI mode.
 
silent-circuit said:
...as much of a pain in the ass as this is, you may have to reinstall Windows to get it working properly. Mine was pulling the single card showing up thing on me initially.

Also, make sure SLI mode isn't an option in the Nvidia control panel, and isn't already on. Depending on the driver version both cards may show up as a single card in SLI mode.
Click to expand...


I hope i don't have to reinstall windows, these cards were put in after a clean install of Vista, adn SLI definatly isn't an option in the Nvidia control panal.
 
install device drivers twice???? what??

have you tried switching cards between each pci-e slot?

check to make sure the card is seated correctly in the slot.
 
Domini said:
install device drivers twice???? what??

have you tried switching cards between each pci-e slot?

check to make sure the card is seated correctly in the slot.
Click to expand...



Yup, did that....guess the only thing left is to reinstall Vista and see if that corrects the problem.
 
its possible, rosewill isnt the greatest manufacturer.

its probably only outputting just under 500w.

9600gts take 200w at idle i believe
 
Guess I will need to invest in a better PSU.


Just one thing...If you put either card by itself in the second PCI-E slot should it work? (Just wondering since both work in the primary slot)

I did this and I didn't get any signal to my monitor was I supposed to or not?
 
As you noted OP, you should see TWO 9600GT devices in Device Manager. The nVidia installer should see the two cards and install two devices so I think the problem is with the install unless somehow the second card is not being picked up. In 2D mode I wouldn't think that its a power problem.
 
you should have a need to reinstall windows, you may want to reinstall the video drivers again.
 
this has nothing to do with video drivers^

its finding the hardware thats the problem.
 
When I get off work tonight I will reinstall Vista and see if that works.


As I asked...If I put either card by itself in the second PCI-E slot should it boot up and my monitor get a signal?

Just curious since I have never had an SLI mobo before, and if they should work in the second SLI slot by itself then I could have a dead slot.
 
It will get a signal but there will be a message that you have the card in the wrong slot. This will at least allow you to confirm that the slot is working. I had the first slot die on a 680i LT, so it's certainly possible. Just... unlikely and unfortunate.
 
i just got my 2nd 8800gtx today and had the exact same problem, heres what i did to get it working:

i pulled my original gtx out and put the 'new' one in as single gpu. once it was in i had to reinstall the driver b/c it acted like it was new hardware. once i reinstalled the driver, i was able to switch out both cards interchangeably between reboots without reinstalling. then i just dropped both in and the little sli balloon showed up at that point.

good luck getting it to work.
 
silent-circuit said:
It will get a signal but there will be a message that you have the card in the wrong slot. This will at least allow you to confirm that the slot is working. I had the first slot die on a 680i LT, so it's certainly possible. Just... unlikely and unfortunate.
Click to expand...



Well, I get no message when I power up with the card in the second slot..it just has a maessage that says, "no video signal" or something like that then the message disappears and I have a black screen and power light goes from green to orange.
 
Have you verified that the new card works properly by itself (plug into primary PCI-E slot)?
 
vindrow said:
Well, I get no message when I power up with the card in the second slot..it just has a maessage that says, "no video signal" or something like that then the message disappears and I have a black screen and power light goes from green to orange.
Click to expand...

Could be your second slot is dead. Could be your board doesn't do that. Hard to say.
 
Try booting into Safe mode then removing all drivers using Drive-Sweeper. then reinstall drivers. Also be sure to hit f8 on reboot to disable signed driver thing.
 
Well damn, tried reinstalling vista and my comp hangs up everytime...pulling my hair out about this and I don't have that much hair to begin with.
 
Was able to reinstall Vista, but still not recognizing SLI mode, so either the second PCI-E slot is bad or my PSU isn't powerful enough.


So, I have a Rosewill 550watt PSU(non-SLI certiffied) and if this is not powerful enough then it won't get enough power to the second PCI-E slot thus no SLI mode...is this correct?
 
...well, your PSU is far from great and should be replaced regardless. I wouldn't have even tried to run such a config with that thing.
 
Even if your PSU didn't have enough juice to power both cards that should not matter. Windows should still be able to reconize that you have two cards installed. My guess is either your BIOS needs to be updated or your second PCI-E slot is dead. I would put money on it being the slot but you never know....
 
I would go with replacing the PSU first. You need a bigger PSU anyway. If the second card can not get enough voltage it won't turn on. Also some motherboards will not show video if the first PCI-E slot is not filled. We know both cards work just not together so either not enough voltage or the slot in not working. Hope this helps.

Aloha :cool:
 
Well, i will update my Bios but I have a feeling that I will have to start hunting for a new mobo and PSU.
 
UPdate on this got a new PSU a Hyper 730 watt, but still no go, so I am guessing that the second slot on my mobo is bad so it looks like I will be looking for a new mobo.


Anyone have any ideas on a good SLI mobo for about 130-140 bucks?
 
Got it to work:D

It was so damn stupid of me too, I looked up the mobo manual online and found out that I had to change some pins on the mobo to enable SLI mode..once I did that SLI was recognized and enabled:eek:
 
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