BSOD when enabling SLI

[Valkine]

Hello, I hope this is the right forum for this question. I was wondering if anyone can explain to me exactly what kind of problem I have.
I get a blue screen when I try to enable SLI using two 6800 ultra gcards. The exact error message I get is as follows: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. DEbug code is 0x000000D1.

System Specs:

AMD 4000+
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe (bios 1014) (nforce4 chipset 6.70)
XFX Geforce 6800 Ultra + OEM Nvidia 6800 ultra (forceware 81.85 for mixed vendor SLI compatability)
1Gb Mushkin memory (ddr 400)
enermax eg-701 600w SLI compliant psu

I would appreciate anyone's technical knowledge at attempting to correct this issue. I have tested each card independantly and both run fine, I've tested each card using each 12v rail on my psu. My system recognizes both cards and prompts me to enable sli in the nvidia properties screen. When I do, blue screen and restart. thanks again for any info.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

I have the exact same problem with ANY 8x.xx driver. I've tried every whql, beta, and tweaked driver set out there. My specs are a tiny bit different than yours, but close:

A64 3000+
DFI nf4 SLI-D
2x BFG 6800GTs
4x512mb Corsair VS
510w PCP&C SLI psu

Same thing happens. Drivers install fine. I can bench the heck out of the single card, and play any game. But get a BSOD after I "enable SLI".

I've gone to the 79.11 drivers. They're working for me fine (as does ANY driver prior to 8x.xx). I was beginning to think I was the only one having this issue.

 

[Valkine]

Well, the problem is I can't go back to prior versions because after reading about the 8xx's drivers enabling mixed vendor support on the cards I ended up getting a very good deal on my second card, which does not match my first. :disgust:

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Really, the only identical item in our specs is the fact that we're both on an nf4 SLI chipset and we're both using 6.70 drivers. I moved up to the 6.70 because my 6.39 got this BSOD. Obviously the 6.70 didn't help. Have you tried any of the later beta ones, because I haven't. I looked at some of the version #s and it didn't look like anything really changed, but maybe it's worth a shot.

There are some beta ones here:
http://fileismissing.blogspot.com/2005/09/nvidia-nforce-driver-package-812.html

I might try them tonight and let you know if it works. Let me know if you find anything yourself too! We can't be the only people with this problem...

 

[Valkine]

Hello again. Well, I fixed my problem. I doubt this will help you but I'll give you a full explanation of what happened to me. I have a cooler master CMstacker case. When I assembled my computer and went to connect my VGA to DVI adapter there were two metal burrs sticking down from factory drilled screw holes on the metal plate of the case directly above the DVI 1 slot on my graphics card. At the time, 6 months ago, I decided instead of taking the time and effort to file them down I'd just use the 2nd DVI slot on my XFX 6800 ultra card. About a month ago when I read that nvidia planned on releasing the forceware 80 drivers which included mixed vendor compatability and with the advent of the new gforce 7800 gcards, I figured I could get another 6800 ultra cheap and enable my SLI. I didn't realize that enabling SLI also turns off any extra DVI out slots on the cards, which turns out to the be the reason I crashed the moment I tried to enable. I finally filed those burrs off, hooked it up to DVI 1 and voila, SLI is now enabled. I've tested it on every game I can find and it works great. Although I still have one BSOD when I try to access the nvidia display properties screen, but since I have full SLI I can live with trying to fix this issue at my leisure. I'll keep reading about SLI issues to see if I notice anything that may help you.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Valkine
Although I still have one BSOD when I try to access the nvidia display properties screen, but since I have full SLI I can live with trying to fix this issue at my leisure.

I know you are saying that this might have fixed it for you, but a BSOD while trying to access the properties is bad. You can't add/change profiles or anything, which you will need to do in order to have certain games work with SLI.

Also, try this for me. Go to Start-->Run--> and type in DXDIAG

Click on the DISPLAY tab at the top, and then click the TEST DIRECT3D button and run the tests. It SHOULD show a spinning cub where you can EASILY read the DirectX word on the cube as it spins.

The reason I ask this is because I can enable SLI too, then it crashes, but it's enabled as well, just like you. However, Direct3d is broken. Try playing some games and see if they work too.

And ALL of this goes away when I use ANY driver prior to 8x.xx.

 

[Valkine]

Ok, I did the tests per your request and I passed all tests. I've played EQ 2, Tiger Woods 2006, Madden 2006 and SLI is definitely working. I can access the settings tab in my toolbar and adjust my AA, AF, and other display settings. I really think my issue now stems from a lingering compatability problem using mixed vendor graphics cards and the new drivers when accessing the properties screen. I only crash if I try to access the nvidia properties menu by right clicking on the desktop>properties>settings>advanced>Geforce 6800 Ultra. I can always get as far as the 6800 tab, but a soon as I select it I BSOD. I have made two changes since my first posted specs as well. I now use bios version 1015 and I bought 2 GB's of kingston hyper X ram and installed it. I'm going to do more searching on nvidia's website and see if I can find anything out.