SLI issues with 970's info below

[csanityy]

Asrock z97 extreme4
970 msi 4 gb
970 zontac 4 gb
sli bridge connected.
latest drivers from 12/20/2018 (so what ever the last drivers were)
(posted all pictures i think necessary)

i have removed cards 1 by 1 each slot tested. in correct spots according to manual.
unistalled drivers doing 1 by 1 and both at same time.
swapping cards back and forth in both spots booting an restarting.

When in nvidia control panel *attached* it says disable sli so it notices it is SLI'ed (i think) but wont let me enable im frustrated because im a sorta tech-savy kinda guy but no means the best and i'm stumped i never thought i would have to post on a forums page to get help. so if any one has any info on what i can do for my friends pc it was a xmas gift i gave him my old 970 to sli his current one. if anyone could help a friend and find a result that would be amazing. (also first time doing sli)

 

[newtekie1]

It looks to me, at least according to the nVidia Control Panel screenshot, that it isn't detecting that your SLI bridge is installed.

It could be faulty, or not pushed on all the way.

 

[27MaD]

SLI is disabled.

 

[er557]

You should install your chipset intel drivers from HERE:

https://www.station-drivers.com/ind...tory&Itemid=352&func=fileinfo&id=2917&lang=en

create a shortcut to the setup exe in the directory and add command line option -overall in the destination field, run it, it will install the inf and replace all drivers in the device manager.
screen will blink a few times, after which your SLI should be selectable to enable. Post back here with results.
It does not seem related to the bridge which you said is installed.

 

[eidairaman1]

You should install your chipset intel drivers from HERE:

https://www.station-drivers.com/ind...tory&Itemid=352&func=fileinfo&id=2917&lang=en

create a shortcut to the setup exe in the directory and add command line option -overall in the destination field, run it, it will install the inf and replace all drivers in the device manager.
screen will blink a few times, after which your SLI should be selectable to enable. Post back here with results.
It does not seem related to the bridge which you said is installed.

Id only get drivers from motherboard maker and, chipset maker and gpu maker only.

 

[er557]

True, but in his case we need to run the most recent and compatible version of the chipset driver, and nothing wrong with station drivers credibility. This version of the driver was tested by me and contrary to other versions or revisions of it, it does support SLI in the most complete form.

 

[eidairaman1]

I think this would be a good place to start.

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/st/5/kw/SLI/p/2/c/59/page/1

 

[er557]

or more specifically here
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/ans...uNnB4QzZSZVpYTVpLa2JXQ3NUaTFuTWxEUWVnJTIxJTIx

 

[king of swag187]

I believe that 970's had a lot of issues with SLI if they weren't from the same manufacture. I would personally sell them and get a 1070

 

[eidairaman1]

or more specifically here
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/ans...uNnB4QzZSZVpYTVpLa2JXQ3NUaTFuTWxEUWVnJTIxJTIx

When did nv start using nvlink instead?

 

[er557]

with turing cards (rtx) it is nvlink, an evolution of sli with more bandwidth, similar to the progress from sli to sli-hb bridges.
That knowledgebase article is strictly about SLI though, even though it talks about scalable link, it is just the long name for sli, not to be confused with nvlink.

 

[eidairaman1]

970 uses sli hb correct?

 

[newtekie1]

970 uses sli hb correct?

They'll work with either a standard or HB bridge.

 

[eidairaman1]

They'll work with either a standard or HB bridge.

Yeah couldnt remember when they switched from sli to hb to nvlink, never dealt with the dual card tech on each side since you couldnt get 100% out of it from day 1.

 

[Toothless]

Yeah couldnt remember when they switched from sli to hb to nvlink, never dealt with the dual card tech on each side since you couldnt get 100% out of it from day 1.

HB with 10 series. NV with 20.

 

[newtekie1]

Yeah couldnt remember when they switched from sli to hb to nvlink, never dealt with the dual card tech on each side since you couldnt get 100% out of it from day 1.

The interesting thing is even the GTX10 series will work with the standard bridge, it will just complain that you should be using an HB bridge.

 

[londiste]

Start from TPU Forums' own SLI with different cards thread:
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/sli-with-different-cards.158907/

SLI is not guaranteed to work with different cards. That includes cards that are on reference PCB but from different manufacturers. In your case, MSI is probably a custom PCB one as well (GTX 980 PCB if my memory serves right). It is more than likely that you will not be able to run legit SLI with these cards.

 

[newtekie1]

Start from TPU Forums' own SLI with different cards thread:
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/sli-with-different-cards.158907/

SLI is not guaranteed to work with different cards. That includes cards that are on reference PCB but from different manufacturers. In your case, MSI is probably a custom PCB one as well (GTX 980 PCB if my memory serves right). It is more than likely that you will not be able to run legit SLI with these cards.

If people would look at the screenshots, the nVidia driver IS saying the system is ready for SLI. That means the different cards don't matter, the motherboard is fine, if either was an issue it would say the system can't use SLI. The nVidia control panel is saying to use SLI, connect a bridge. The problem is for some reason, the nVidia driver doesn't think there is an SLI bridge connected.

 

[er557]

albeit even if the driver doesn't see it, the bridge is only recommended, not mandatory, so it calls for some more troubleshooting

 

[newtekie1]

albeit even if the driver doesn't see it, the bridge is only recommended, not mandatory, so it calls for some more troubleshooting

No, the bridge is mandatory for SLI to work.

 

[eidairaman1]

If people would look at the screenshots, the nVidia driver IS saying the system is ready for SLI. That means the different cards don't matter, the motherboard is fine, if either was an issue it would say the system can't use SLI. The nVidia control panel is saying to use SLI, connect a bridge. The problem is for some reason, the nVidia driver doesn't think there is an SLI bridge connected.

Typically the bridge is bad on these

 

[csanityy]

You should install your chipset intel drivers from HERE:

https://www.station-drivers.com/ind...tory&Itemid=352&func=fileinfo&id=2917&lang=en

create a shortcut to the setup exe in the directory and add command line option -overall in the destination field, run it, it will install the inf and replace all drivers in the device manager.
screen will blink a few times, after which your SLI should be selectable to enable. Post back here with results.
It does not seem related to the bridge which you said is installed.

Thanks for the quick replies I will do this and will have a update around xmas eve, and i have 2 different sli bridges tested should i go out and buy another bridge to test? but i try the troubleshoot page and go through all these comments an test everything next week, i live a hour away and work every day, so wont be till xmas eve, i will post pictures of cards, bridges ive used, and anything else that anyone else might think i should post to show what im doing.

 

[newtekie1]

Yeah, pictures of the setup would be nice, and the bridges you are using.

In my experience the connectors on the bridges tend to currode if they just sit for too long. This especially happens with the cheap bridges that come with motherboards.

Typically the bridge is bad on these

Yeah, that is my experience as well.

 

[csanityy]

Yeah, pictures of the setup would be nice, and the bridges you are using.

In my experience the connectors on the bridges tend to currode if they just sit for too long. This especially happens with the cheap bridges that come with motherboards.



Yeah, that is my experience as well.

but even if both bridges were still wrapped up not opened?

 

[jboydgolfer]

but even if both bridges were still wrapped up not opened?

Those are antistatic bags, they don't keep out times effect. Asrock merely rolls an anti static, & tapes one end in the middle. Ive never had one go bad, but that doesnt mean they cant i suppose.

you could also DL Asrocks AI suite, it will check if you need any bios, or other driver updates automatically.