How To: Enable SLI on pre-i7/i5 hardware

[coolmiester]

Just ran into a bit of a problem.

System spec:
Intel S5520SC Shady Cove motherboard
2x GTX295
Windows 7 64
195 Drivers

I downloaded Windows 7 64bit SLI Patch, version 0.7a and ran InstallSLI.cmd

Black box opened and said Sli command installed successfully.
Press any key to continue

Rebooted and got the run Windows 7 SLIEnabled x64 in boot screen and booted successful but only once.

On second reboot system either blue screens or goes into startup repair mode.

 

[anatolymik]

Just ran into a bit of a problem.

System spec:
Intel S5520SC Shady Cove motherboard
2x GTX295
Windows 7 64
195 Drivers

I downloaded Windows 7 64bit SLI Patch, version 0.7a and ran InstallSLI.cmd

Black box opened and said Sli command installed successfully.
Press any key to continue

Rebooted and got the run Windows 7 SLIEnabled x64 in boot screen and booted successful but only once.

On second reboot system either blue screens or goes into startup repair mode.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/shady_cove/295_sli.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/shady_cove/install.jpg

did sli appear in nv control panel?

 

[coolmiester]

negative anatolymik - i'm nearly 100% it did on the first reboot but haven't had it since

 

[coolmiester]

Let me check these cards first as it could be a bad card

 

[coolmiester]

My sincere apologies anatolymik, i have a broken 295 card which is obviously the problem

Let me get another one and run the Sli mod again as i'm sure this is the problem here.

 

[tifftrip]

Perhaps I should also try again the 191. But I bet, it doesnt work because my two 8800Gt have a different Board Layout.

 

[tifftrip]

Is it necessary for both Cards, to have the same Bios Version?


Ppl tell me, is it easier to force a Geforce Card in second slot working as a PhysX Device, when an ATI/AMD is main Graphics Card? Then doing this SLI Thing?

 

[tifftrip]

:-( In 191 Driver and 0.7a Sli Patch the SLI Option doesn´t appear.
In 196.36 and 0.7a Sli Patch it appears again. The Computer tries it a few seconds and then ends up with "Do not use SLI" again, in Windows 7 x64.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

:-( In 191 Driver and 0.7a Sli Patch the SLI Option doesn´t appear.
In 196.36 and 0.7a Sli Patch it appears again. The Computer tries it a few seconds and then ends up with "Do not use SLI" again, in Windows 7 x64.

both cards are not damaged, and your 100% sure about that?

 

[tifftrip]

Oh, someone answers me *happy*

Well...... :-/ The first Card I bought 2 years ago. It got defect 3 Month ago. I cooked it in an Oven, and since this time it runs again (3 Month) also in Games, the only difference is, I can´t overclock it so far anymore.

The second Card I bought as defect and cooked it also. It tried it, and it worked again. But I only tried it a few hours.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

Oh, someone answers me *happy*

Well...... :-/ The first Card I bought 2 years ago. It got defect 3 Month ago. I cooked it in an Oven, and since this time it runs again (3 Month) also in Games, the only difference is, I can´t overclock it so far anymore.

The second Card I bought as defect and cooked it also. It tried it, and it worked again. But I only tried it a few hours.

oh wait... youre working with 2 semi defect cards, and you are not telling us that fact? LOL

a dead cap can be brought back to life for a few minutes thru the heat. but it will be non working after that,again.

 

[tifftrip]

Well, I don´t know what you mean? They work.
I just passed the Stalker - Call of Pripyat Benchmark with the second Card.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

Well, I don´t know what you mean? They work.
I just passed the Stalker - Call of Pripyat Benchmark with the second Card.

you said the OC doesnt work. maybe some SLI regulating Part wont work also? you never can be sure. the best would be, to try it with 2 completly undamaged cards,as said.

 

[tifftrip]

Well, I will try to Underclock now. No, I never spoke of Overclocking.



I´m just trying to make SLI work, on a not SLI-able Mainboard with two defect Cards. Where do you see the problem?

 

[tifftrip]

Ok, I read this thread about taping the second card, http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88791
but I still don´t know what it should be usefull for, in our Case?

 

[Velvet Wafer]

Well, I will try to Underclock now. No, I never spoke of Overclocking.



I´m just trying to make SLI work, on a not SLI-able Mainboard with two defect Cards. Where do you see the problem?

no problem,nevermind

Ok, I read this thread about taping the second card, http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88791
but I still don´t know what it should be usefull for, in our Case?

if you board lacks switching IC´s for the PCI-E area, this may help you bringing the cards to run

 

[Mussels]

I´m just trying to make SLI work, on a not SLI-able Mainboard with two defect Cards. Where do you see the problem?

When you cooked the cards, you may have 'repaired' them enough to work on their own - but it doesnt guarantee that the parts controlling SLI are also fixed, one card could have a damaged resistor or capacitor, that screws them up when working in SLI.

It doesnt explain the oddities you get with your second slot, but its still entirely possible (you could have two problems, not just one)

 

[Velvet Wafer]

When you cooked the cards, you may have 'repaired' them enough to work on their own - but it doesnt guarantee that the parts controlling SLI are also fixed, one card could have a damaged resistor or capacitor, that screws them up when working in SLI.

It doesnt explain the oddities you get with your second slot, but its still entirely possible (you could have two problems, not just one)

like mussels said, combination of Errors may also be possible

 

[rhem09]

never been so happy
newbie here from the philippines my p45 sli rig many thanks

system specs
e5300 @ 3.75ghz (375x10)
2x2gb ddr2 pc6400
emx-p45-pro
2x 9800gt in sli
1tb wd caviar black
win7 ultimate x64

using sli patch 0.55 and nvidia drivers 195.xx

 

[MarkWebber]

Still working with the new 196.21 drivers using Win7 X64, EP45-Extreme & 2x 8800GTX

 

[oiluj]

Today I've updated my Windows Vista Ultimate x64 via Windows Update, and after that, I always got a BSOD concerning 'nvlddmkm.sys' (I'm using "custom" SLIpatch 0.7a and nVidia drivers v196.21. I said "custom" SLIpatch because I don't use dual boot option at startup, I always boot with SLIpatched files, renamed and replacing the original ones)

I booted from other OS, and noticed that these updates modified the 'ntoskrnl.exe' to latest version: v6.0.6002.18160
SLIpatched one ('ntoskrnp.exe', I'm using it renamed to 'ntoskrnl.exe' and replacing the original one) is v6.0.6002.18082

Then I booted again from Ubuntu 9.10 and replaced the files again with SLIpatched ones, and I got no problem again. So now, I'm using SLIpatched 'ntoskrnl.exe' v6.0.6002.18082 again.

Anyway, anatolymik, it seems you have to make a new SLIpatched version of new 'ntoskrnl.exe' v6.0.6002.18160. Do you need the original one? I can send it to you or post it here. I can also try to find which KBxxxxxx Microsoft update is the one that comes with the new 'ntoskrnl.exe'.

EDIT: I'm almost sure that the Update that causes this is KB977165: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS10-015.mspx

 

[anatolymik]

Today I've updated my Windows Vista Ultimate x64 via Windows Update, and after that, I always got a BSOD concerning 'nvlddmkm.sys' (I'm using "custom" SLIpatch 0.7a and nVidia drivers v196.21. I said "custom" SLIpatch because I don't use dual boot option at startup, I always boot with SLIpatched files, renamed and replacing the original ones)

I booted from other OS, and noticed that these updates modified the 'ntoskrnl.exe' to latest version: v6.0.6002.18160
SLIpatched one ('ntoskrnp.exe', I'm using it renamed to 'ntoskrnl.exe' and replacing the original one) is v6.0.6002.18082

Then I booted again from Ubuntu 9.10 and replaced the files again with SLIpatched ones, and I got no problem again. So now, I'm using SLIpatched 'ntoskrnl.exe' v6.0.6002.18082 again.

Anyway, anatolymik, it seems you have to make a new SLIpatched version of new 'ntoskrnl.exe' v6.0.6002.18160. Do you need the original one? I can send it to you or post it here. I can also try to find which KBxxxxxx Microsoft update is the one that comes with the new 'ntoskrnl.exe'.

EDIT: I'm almost sure that the Update that causes this is KB977165: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS10-015.mspx

I specially made the selection before booting windows for these cases. And for the update case too.
Now i'm working on a hypervisor. I know there are means to make SLI available on pre-x58 systems without any subsequent supporting of the patch. And this is that i want. I want to make the patch once and for all. The hypervisor will help me to make it. And i need time for it.
As for v6.0.6002.18160 i think there's no any necessity to patch new kernel because you have your system run successfully. Tell me for what it's needed? If you want very much, i'll take time and do it.

 

[oiluj]

I specially made the selection before booting windows for these cases. And for the update case too.
Now i'm working on a hypervisor. I know there are means to make SLI available on pre-x58 systems without any subsequent supporting of the patch. And this is that i want. I want to make the patch once and for all. The hypervisor will help me to make it. And i need time for it.
As for v6.0.6002.18160 i think there's no any necessity to patch new kernel because you have your system run successfully. Tell me for what it's needed? If you want very much, i'll take time and do it.

Obviously, it's not a matter of life or death to have newest kernel v6.0.6002.18160 running in my system. Honestly, I don't know which vulnerabilities it fixes that v6.0.6002.18082 doesn't.

If you patch v6.0.6002.18160, I will be running a SLIpatched system with <almost> no vulnerabilities, and if you don't, I will be running a SLIpatched system with v6.0.6002.18082 unknown (by me) vulnerabilities.

Anyway, your work is great, and I really hope that you manage to do that hypervisor-patch. Once again: Keep going with this AWESOME work!! Many thanks!!!

 

[tifftrip]

no problem,nevermind



if you board lacks switching IC´s for the PCI-E area, this may help you bringing the cards to run

So, taping? Taping everything exept the last PCI-E Lane? So I get PCI-E 1x?

And, does this make sense anymore? Is there a Performance Gain with PCI-E 1x that´s worth it?

 

[tifftrip]

Ok, I did this. I taped it. Now PCI-E 1x is shown, but same problem. Option to enable SLi is there, he tries it, Screen goes to Black with some coloured Quadrats, Screen goes Black, Screen goes back to not enabled.