Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe - two cards, non-sli

[SixtyFourBit]

What is the correct way to set up the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe board for 2 PCI-Express graphics cards (6800 Ultras), running 2 monitors each (4 monitors total)?

Do I flip the swich to 2 cards, but not attach the SLI connector, or leave it on single card and simply plug a card into each slot?

Thanks for any help.

 

[SixtyFourBit]

 

[NokiaDude]

You have to enable SLI mode for 4 monitor operation so attach the SLI connector and switch it into dual card mode. 2x6800Ultra's is a pretty sweet gaming setup. But if all you want is 4 monitors, it's your money.

 

[FastEddie]

Selector is set to dual, to give both cards equal bandwidth, then no sli bridge. Don't know if nVidia has a decent driver yet for multiple displays.

 

[NokiaDude]

I just think that if he has two 6800Ultra's in an SLI board, they should be run in SLI.

 

[steamnputer]

Not always NokiaDude, if you wantet to run dual monitors off a 6600GT with single outs(in my case) on each you would have to run the cards in non-sli, the secondary video port is disabled because of the bridge, if you were to actualy see what both cards were doing on the screens you would only see half of each image on each screen in sli. But since SLI disables the output of the secondary card its combined together off the first video output you can't.

Also when in sli the pci-e bus drops down to half becuase the cards are splitting it up.
in my case its like haveing double the gpu(since there are still 2 processors) of AGP and 256mb(128mb ea) of memory.
So if you wanted to run dual monitors off of each card if they are capable then you would need to run the jumper, the bios, and windows display at non-sli. Then set nvidia tray to what ever monitor setup you need, if it is supported(I have never heard of 4 monitors on this one yet)

steamnputer

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I have seen four monitors working on this board, so I know it does work

1. the selector has to be set in dual position, otherwize the second slot is only 1x and it won't work

2. No bridge, and SLI mode off. As someone else posted when SLI is enabled all outputs except the top output on the primary card are disabled

 

[SixtyFourBit]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
You have to enable SLI mode for 4 monitor operation so attach the SLI connector and switch it into dual card mode. 2x6800Ultra's is a pretty sweet gaming setup. But if all you want is 4 monitors, it's your money.

Try running MS Flight Simulator 2004 at 1600x1200 on 3 monitors (simulating a 100 degree cockpit view) with every setting on maximum in order to run pilot training simlations, and then tell me that 2x6800ultra's in non-sli is a waste of money ;-)

 

[SixtyFourBit]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I have seen four monitors working on this board, so I know it does work

1. the selector has to be set in dual position, otherwize the second slot is only 1x and it won't work

2. No bridge, and SLI mode off. As someone else posted when SLI is enabled all outputs except the top output on the primary card are disabled

You are right. And honestly, ASUS should docment this stuff. All they say is "you can run 4 monitors". No further explanation. You actually have to break a pastic tab to remove 6800 Ultra Cards from this board as the little pull tab is behind the heatsink.

I had to play with it, but the correct way for more than 2 monitors is: Selector card to Dual, No SLI Connector, Set SLI to off.

You have to put the monitors on in sequence (1 monitor on the first card, 1 on the second does not seem to work). You have to put two on the first card, and only then will it let you use the second card.

Somewhat quirky and trial and error to get multiple heads setup, but the above finally got me running with 3.

 

[ahurtt]

So you mean should you decide one day you want to enabl SLI mode, you are going to have to pop open your case and replace the SLI bridge? It doesn't work by simply leaving it on there and just turning off SLI on the nVidia display control panel? You really have to remove that bridge AND turn of SLI in the control panel for more than 1 monitor to work?

 

[SixtyFourBit]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
So you mean should you decide one day you want to enabl SLI mode, you are going to have to pop open your case and replace the SLI bridge? It doesn't work by simply leaving it on there and just turning off SLI on the nVidia display control panel? You really have to remove that bridge AND turn of SLI in the control panel for more than 1 monitor to work?

Unfortunately, yes. It will work for awhile with the SLI bridge on ... however, at random times the bottom half of my screen would disappear, while the top half would remain. In other words, I would have half of a display.

A reboot would restore the display, but after a coupleof hours or so, it would happen again. The only permanent solution was to take off the SLI bridge ... or switch to SLI mode and work with one head.

It may be a driver issue that is solved in the future. But for the time being, if you want to run multiple heads, or if you want to run in non-SLI mode, I would take off the SLI bridge.

Your Mileage May Vary, but I have found leaving the bridge on in non-SLI mode to be flaky.