First time SLI user - EVGA 970 GTX SLI problem

[brontosaurus]

Got another GTX 970 on a whim when it was recently on sale to try out SLI for the first time. My SLI options show up in Nvidia Control Panel, but they're all greyed out.

Mobo is Asus P8Z77-V LK, using top two PCIe x16 slots. Link for reference of mobo slots, asus bridge, and greyed out SLI options.

Top slot has EVGA 04G-P4-2976-KR GTX 970
Lower slot has EVGA 04G-P4-3975-KR GTX 970

Here's a picture of how I installed the SLI bridge.

Tried re-installing the latest Nvidia drivers. I only installed it once with the two cards installed. Not sure if that's all you need to do drivers-wise.

Any suggestions on how to rectify this issue? I'd like to try gaming with the SLI setup!

 

[LTC8K6]

Seems to be saying the cards don't have an SLI bridge?

 

[LTC8K6]

https://www.evga.com/support/faq/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=59534

Maybe they will not SLI...

The 2976 is not listed there, but judging by the pattern...

 

[MongGrel]

https://www.evga.com/support/faq/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=59534

Maybe they will not SLI...

The 2976 is not listed there, but judging by the pattern...

Appears not.

I always bought the same GPU's when doing it.

 

[brontosaurus]

damn i just thought if i bought the same 970 class, it was gonna be okay. I guess that was careless on my part...

 

[Termie]

Guys, sorry, but you're barking up the wrong tree here.

All 970s can be SLI'd with each other. There's no limitation on that.

OP - try installing the drivers with just one card in the system. Then reboot, make sure it took, and shut down. Then install the second card.

Typically it takes a couple of restarts for SLI to actually be allowed as an option in the control panel.

 

[MongGrel]

Hey, if that works, great !!!

Never tried it with those myself, I shouldn't have said anything.

 

[Termie]

By the way, OP, are you sure you have your motherboard model name correct? Asus released a number of boards in the Z77 series with very similar names. Some have PCIe x16/x4 configurations that do not support SLI.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

If his motherboard came with a bridge it will be sli capable.

 

[brontosaurus]

The mobo same is correct: Asus P8Z77-V LK

It is SLI capable per the manual. The LX version of this mobo is not SLI capable. I'm still under the impression that it won't work per Post #3. That link says:

"There are three versions of the GTX 970: A blower-style cooler with a short circuit board, an ACX cooler with a full size circuit board, and an updated version of the GTX 970, SSC, and FTW models. The three styles of GTX 970s will not function in SLI together. "

One of mine is ACX cooler (04G-P4-2976-KR) and the other is an SSC (04G-P4-3975-KR). Unless someone else has gotten it to work..

 

[Techhog]

The mobo same is correct: Asus P8Z77-V LK

It is SLI capable per the manual. The LX version of this mobo is not SLI capable. I'm still under the impression that it won't work per Post #3. That link says:

"There are three versions of the GTX 970: A blower-style cooler with a short circuit board, an ACX cooler with a full size circuit board, and an updated version of the GTX 970, SSC, and FTW models. The three styles of GTX 970s will not function in SLI together. "

One of mine is ACX cooler (04G-P4-2976-KR) and the other is an SSC (04G-P4-3975-KR). Unless someone else has gotten it to work..

If this is true, the EVGA did it on purpose and is officially one of the scummiest AIBs there is.

 

[brontosaurus]

@Techhog

It does seem a little scummy, doesn't it? I didn't even consider that different versions of GTX 970 of the same brand would be incompatible with each other...

 

[Termie]

I don't see an official source for that statement. I've SLI'd a huge variety of cards from different manufacturers and never experienced this, including my current evga acx and Asus reference 980 Ti. I find it highly improbable that EVGA added a silly limitation to the 970.

Try removing one card and reinstalling the drivers as I suggested.

 

[brontosaurus]

@Techhog @Termie

I just called EVGA tech support. They linked me to the same link as Post #3 as incompatibility issue.

They did admit it would be confusing for a first time SLI-er, and they would upgrade me the correct GTX 970 for SLI free of charge.

 

[Termie]

Wow, that's surprising but at least they are willing to help you out. I wonder if this affects other brands as well.

 

[Sabrewings]

Way to go EVGA! That's why I prefer their products if I have the choice. Strange about that compatibility issue, but the few times I've had SLI in the past I've matched part numbers exactly just to be safe.

 

[brontosaurus]

Yeah, I appreciate how EVGA did me a solid. I've stuck with EVGA since GTX 260 in 2008. I've heard their customer support took a dip since then, but I'm glad I've experienced nothing but great support!

 

[Sabrewings]

Yeah, I appreciate how EVGA did me a solid. I've stuck with EVGA since GTX 260 in 2008. I've heard their customer support took a dip since then, but I'm glad I've experienced nothing but great support!

I've never needed it for my own systems, but I've called them up for PCs I was troubleshooting and isolate it to a bad part of theirs. I've been using them for graphics cards since my two 8800GTs. This time around I bought the Nvidia branded reference card, and I would go through them for customer service. However, the card's BIOS betrayed that it was in fact made by EVGA, so I don't feel I strayed. When it was time to get a 980 Ti at launch, Nvidia themselves had the most reliable volume for purchase.

I have a motherboard by them and PSU, so if I ever need them I know they'll be there.

 

[Termie]

Just talked to EVGA to ask them about this as I own a number of their cards. Turns out it's specific to the GTX 970 and has to do with the use of two different PCB versions. There must have been a really good reason to change the design if it meant breaking SLI compatibility.

OP, glad you found the answer.

 

[brontosaurus]

@Termie

Just shooting in the dark now, but when I was deciding on GTX 970s back in March, I was doing research and found out about the coil whine issues. So I made it an effort to get the later iteration of 970 if possible, hence the 04G-P4-3975-KR. No coil whine issue.

I'm trying some gaming with the 04G-P4-2976-KR (swapped out the 3975, so same components otherwise) while I still have it, and I'm hearing pretty significant coil whine. Maybe this triggered a PCB change, haha.