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

[mercalf]

So the Vista 64 hasn't been tested on AMD 790GX - I guess I'm the lab rat then? What exactly do I do to get it working (or try to get it working, lol).

 

[p_o_s_pc]

So the Vista 64 hasn't been tested on AMD 790GX - I guess I'm the lab rat then? What exactly do I do to get it working (or try to get it working, lol).

nope i haven't got around to testing it (sorry)
disable UAC
enter system into test mode (can be done using progy attached below)
download attached progry run and enter to test mode then restart
Download and run this first
restart the computer
and then download and run this
restart again and SLI should be working

 

[mercalf]

Okay, so to be clear.

1. My copy of Vista is modded and doesn't included UAC (do i need the original Vista?)
2. Download that thing, and enter test mode with it.
3. Restart
4. Download "this" and...run it?
5. Restart
6. Download the next "this" and run.
7. Restart, SLI should be working.


Did I follow that correctly? :s

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Okay, so to be clear.

1. My copy of Vista is modded and doesn't included UAC (do i need the original Vista?)
2. Download that thing, and enter test mode with it.
3. Restart
4. Download "this" and...run it?
5. Restart
6. Download the next "this" and run.
7. Restart, SLI should be working.


Did I follow that correctly? :s

you got the just of it. If your vista doesn't have UAC that is one less thing to worry about

the "this" are download links look at the names of them.And it kind of goes without saying to extract the files first. Sorry for my bad instructions not fully here tonight)

 

[zmgbyn]

That board shows to be SLI ready out of the box "by Everest"
Sure your installing the correct driver?
This should be the correct driver to use for those cards: http://www.nvidia.com/object/Quadro_win7_winvista_64bit_191.66_whql.html
You shouldn't need any hacks or mod drivers to run SLI with that setup from the way it looks.



Edit: If you want to run older drivers they can be found here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us
Pick from the list type: Quadro: OS: W7 64: vcard versions: & Language. That should get you a list of drivers.
BTW there is no 190.62 driver for Quadro cards. So its not the correct driver to use.

190.62 mod driver is on http://xdevs.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.30
This Page offer mod 190.62 driver, i down non_mod 190.62 form NVIDIA
It,s name is :190.62_desktop_win7_winvista_64bit_english_whql.exe

 

[anatolymik]

Hi W1zzard! Happy birthday to you!!!

 

[zmgbyn]

Testing

 

[p_o_s_pc]

its strange that you can't enable SLI on the X58...what method did you use?(assuming the HAL mod) did you use the automatic tool? http://www.xdevs.com/sli/HALMod v0.9 alpha.zip

 

[Mussels]

Hi W1zzard! Happy birthday to you!!!

how do you know when his birthday is?!?

 

[TheWolf]

Please see attached file,Can't enable SLI,is there somthing wrong?

Forceware 186.18,win7 x64

I've been tested Xdevs Release for many times, useSLIstring Install ,HAL mod diffrent version

hall.dll and windows.cer has different size and version.

takeown.exe /f C:\Windows\system32\hal.dll /a
icacls.exe C:\Windows\system32\hal.dll /grant Administrator:f
icacls.exe C:\Windows\system32\hal.dll /grant Guest:f
icacls.exe C:\Windows\system32\hal.dll /grant hcdz:f
certmgr.exe /add Windows.cer /s /r localMachine root
bcdedit.exe /set TESTSIGNING ON
copy hal.dll C:\Windows\system32\hal.dll /y

FIX hal.dll use bcdedit.exe /set TESTSIGNING OFF ,win7 restart autofix , use sfc/scannow verify, is it right?

test Forceware 186.18 to 191.66,SLI cannot enable?

P.S. From PIC list below motherboard manufacturer not ASUS, is it right?
From Everest 8086-4003 is Intel 5400 it is my real chipset,8086-3400(HAL) is x58, is it a provf HAL MOD success

I would say if you used the SLIstring Install you probably replaced the orignal SLI string.
By doing so the drive "Quadro" that should be use will no longer work correct.
First I would like to know why your trying to use mods on a board that doesn't need to be modded?

That board should have SLI enabled right out of the box when the correct Quadro driver is use.

Edit: I've tried to look up your hardware spec "HP xw8600" but couldn't find them or what type motherboard it carries.
Good luck on this one, I don't think I can help. Forget what I said before, I don't think its a true X58 board.

 

[zmgbyn]

I would say if you used the SLIstring Install you probably replaced the orignal SLI string.
By doing so the drive "Quadro" that should be use will no longer work correct.
First I would like to know why your trying to use mods on a board that doesn't need to be modded?

That board should have SLI enabled right out of the box when the correct Quadro driver is use.

Edit: I've tried to look up your hardware spec "HP xw8600" but couldn't find them or what type motherboard it carries.
Good luck on this one, I don't think I can help. Forget what I said before, I don't think its a true X58 board.

HP xw8600 chipset is intel 5400, it doesn't support nvidia SLI. need this hack.
My question is on my xw8600 SLI string and HAL MOD seems right,but SLI option doesn't appear,see my upload PIC pls!
Is there somebody test on Intel 5400 Quadro FX 5600 SLI? for Quadro FX 5600 is a professional card!

 

[mercalf]

Working on this now...currently installing vista. When I do the steps mentioned before, will it matter if the SLI bridge is connected before? Should it be something done after?..

 

[mercalf]

There are a bunch of applications in the HAL mod file. I ran the one that says 'install.cmd' and it gave me the window "not valid win32 application" - (my computer was still in test mode). Is that the right file? Should it be working now? :S

 

[oiluj]

I ran the one that says 'install.cmd' and it gave me the window "not valid win32 application"

As I said:

For all those who get the "takeown.exe is not a valid Win32 app" error message under Vista:
This is because "takeown.exe" included in the "HAL modification tool" is v6.1.7600.16385 (suitable for Windows 7). If you use the "takeown.exe" included in the "\Windows\System32\" folder of your Vista, you will not get that error message anymore, as this one is v6.0.6001.18000 (suitable for Vista).

Then you will probably have trouble with "hal.dll" file permissions. Then do this:

For all those having trouble with hal.dll permissions:
You can use something like any file manager included in Hiren's Boot CD or an Ubuntu LiveCD, for example, to boot from there and replace original hal.dll file with modded one (remember to first make a backup of the original one!!)

And for last, if you're under Vista x64, at least mine didn't boot anymore after replacing "hal.dll", as I think HAL modification is for Windows 7. So, your option is to use the "modded drivers" method, not "modded HAL" method.

I got SLI working great under Vista x64 with "modded drivers (v190.62)" method, and under Windows 7 x64 by using "modded HAL" method (with original v191.07 drivers). My board has an Intel P35 chipset (damn, second PCI-E only runs at 4x...) and two 8800GT. I got a +50% performance (under 3DMark Vantage, in Vista x64, with no OC to the CPU nor the graphic cards) from using only one card to 2 cards in newly discovered SLI hack (with bridge).

 

[mercalf]

Oh. My current dxdiag is showing that I have 2797MB Approx. Video memory, instead of the 1024 I WAS seeing. Logic would say that the SLI ended up working, but is this just something that's playing tricks with me because that last step was the 'not valid..etc'..?

 

[mercalf]

I've never had SLI so I don't know if I should be seeing some settings for 'SLI' in the nVidia control panel or what?

 

[oiluj]

I've never had SLI so I don't know if I should be seeing some settings for 'SLI' in the nVidia control panel or what?

Yes, in nVidia Control Panel, under "3D Settings" there's the option "Set PhysX Configuration" when SLI is NOT available. If SLI is available, this option changes to "Set SLI and PhysX Configuration", and from there you can activate SLI.

You can also download latest GPU-Z and at the bottom of it you should see at the NVIDIA SLI: "Enabled (2 GPUs)"

 

[mercalf]

This is what I have...

dxdiag: http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r238/Mercalf/safdsafd.jpg

nVidia control panel: http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r238/Mercalf/Untitled.jpg

 

[mercalf]

Okay so it took a few passovers to understand, but I replaced the takeown and it went through - but of course Vista didn't boot afterwards because the hal.dll was 'missing'. Fortunately my hard drive is easy to back up/start fresh...so I'm back online..

You're saying I need the modded drivers? Do I keep the first few steps, THEN install the modded driver as the step after installing the SLI string/rebooting ?

 

[zmgbyn]

Almost despire:

1. Format Hard disk ,Install win7 x64 CHS.
2. SLI Stringinstall
3. Install NV quadro 191.66 eng driver,reboot
4. HAL MOD,reboot
5. CPU-Z see X58, NV control panel no SLI option


My HW: HP xw8600, CPU:Intel XEON 5450 *2 , Chipset: Intel 5400B Graphics card:Quadro FX5600

 

[oiluj]

You're saying I need the modded drivers? Do I keep the first few steps, THEN install the modded driver as the step after installing the SLI string/rebooting ?

First of all, excuse my poor English. I'm from Spain, and trying to do my best explaining this, and to "translate" from my Spanish OS to what it should say in English.

Anyway, YES, I think you must use modded drivers to get SLI hack working on Vista x64. At least I did that way. This is what I did (for Vista x64):

Step 1 Disable UAC, if not already disabled.
Step 2 Download SLI String Installer v1.81 and unpack in to folder on HDD. Run slistringinstall.exe.
Step 3 Press ASUS, regardless of real motherboard, to patch Windows registry with SLIC certificate
Step 4 Download and install ORIGINAL Forceware drivers v190.62. Reboot. (The link given is for US original v190.62. If you want any other language, choose it here and then download v190.62 drivers for that language)
Step 5 Replace original "nvlddmkm.sys" file with modded one. Original one should be at "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\" folder. (Remember to first make a backup of the original one!!!)
Step 6 Download and run Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider 1.3b. Choose "Sign a system file" and give the path to the modded "nvlddmkm.sys" file (it should be "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\nvlddmkm.sys"). If you already don't have your system into Test Mode, you can also use this tool to enable it.
Step 7 Once the Dseo13b.exe tool says "The system file has been signed successfully", reboot again.
Step 8 At restart, you should see a message saying something like "SLI compatible system". You can go now to nVidia Control Panel and under "Set SLI and PhysX Configuration", activate SLI.
Step 9 Enjoy.

Hope it helps. I think I didn't forget anything I did to get it working. Sorry for my English.

 

[oiluj]

Almost despire:

1. Format Hard disk ,Install win7 x64 CHS.
2. SLI Stringinstall
3. Install NV quadro 191.66 eng driver,reboot
4. HAL MOD,reboot
5. CPU-Z see X58, NV control panel no SLI option


My HW: HP xw8600, CPU:Intel XEON 5450 *2 , Chipset: Intel 5400B Graphics card:Quadro FX5600

Quadro drivers v191.66 are the latest available, so perhaps you're having the same problem as we're having with latest GeForce drivers v195.62 (both launched in November 2009).

Try using prior Quadro drivers, as v191.00 or v190.38 ("equivalent" to our GeForce v191.07 and v190.62). Choose your language and version here.
Anyway, Simplified Chinese v191.00 version for Windows 7 x64 is available here, and v190.38 from here.

I would first try with v191.00 and if it doesn't work, then try v190.38.

 

[mercalf]

oiluj, do I need to be in test mode for the duration of the install?

Also, do I need to leave test mode on for SLI to work?

 

[mercalf]

I followed the steps exactly and got no results :s.

My first 'problem' is that I don't even have an nVidia icon docked on my toolbar. Secondly, in the nVidia control panel - it still only says physX instead of mentioning SLI.

There some sort of step we're missing/overlooking? I started again with a completely fresh install of Vista 64 with NO drivers installed yet. The OS is literally bare-boned, and all I've done is followed the above steps.

 

[TiN]

Today enabled 3-way SLI with three videocards on non-legal motherboard using HALmod 0.9 and slistring on Win7 X64.

Rig:

Intel SLBJH CPU
ASUS Maximus III Formula P55 chipset. SLI isn't working on in legally on 190/191 drivers.
2x1GB DDR3 DRAMs
Three GeForce 8800 Ultra
Enermax Revolution 85+ 1250W
Xtremelabs.org chiller for CPU

Middle card was not hooked to liquid tubing, just brief testing without any 3D here.

It works
Will perform performance tests these holidays.