For the F@H brain trust

[Pokey]

Problem:

I have a Gigabyte MB (GA-EP45-UD3P) with two EVGA 9800GTX+ cards. Currently the number 1 slot is under-producing the number 2 slot. Slot 1 is doing approx. 1155 PPD (P5902) while slot 2 does approx. 5165 PPD (P5902).

Everything is stock, or default settings, no personal over clocking involved.

Here is what I have done:

1. Swapped the two cards, each to the other slot, but slot 1 still produces 1155 PPD and slot 2 still produces 5165 PPD.

2. Swapped the PSU rails when I swapped the cards.

3. Cleaned the video drivers: uninstalling, then deleting, then using Driver Sweeper, and then reinstalling.

4. Updated the MB bios to latest.

5. Run the video card in slot one by itself. (no joy)

6. Reinstalled FAH GPU client.

7. Thinking it is MB related, I sent query to Gigabyte Tech Support but no reply yet.

So I am appealing to the Folders Brain Trust for help.
Has anyone else experienced Slot 2 out-producing Slot 1 to this extent?

 

[Markfw]

WOW. Even with 11 of my systems with 9 of them having multi-card setups, I have NOT run across this. Have you tried EVGA's new utility that can control multi-cards ? and checked that somehow they are/are not running at the same speeds ? (a setup file migh be forcing slot one to be lower)

Also, I had a serious problem on my celeron boc using 182.08, and went back to 178.34 and now its fine. Tried multiple drivers ? I still supect my first suggestion at the first try.

BTW, the EVGA utility seems to work with non-evga cards !

 

[Drsignguy]

Pokey, I have the same board as you in 1 of my rigs and I have run across this problem more than once. I also have a EP45 DR3R board and an Intel XBX2 that has done the same thing as your experiencing. I have done what you have suggested and the outcome is always the same. I watched and sometimes they switch PPD production and sometimes they both have high PPD production.

I checked the shader clockes of each one at full load and something strange happens. Sometimes they clock themselves down. I noticed that my 216/192 core went from 1512 down to 799. I tried to reset it but no way. So, I rebooted and it now is back up to 1512 again. My temps were good so it wasn't that... I will keep checking.

 

[natethegreat]

Can the lanes for your pci-e slots be set manually in the bios? (i.e. x16, x8, x4, x1)

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
WOW. Even with 11 of my systems with 9 of them having multi-card setups, I have NOT run across this. Have you tried EVGA's new utility that can control multi-cards ? and checked that somehow they are/are not running at the same speeds ? (a setup file migh be forcing slot one to be lower)

Also, I had a serious problem on my celeron boc using 182.08, and went back to 178.34 and now its fine. Tried multiple drivers ? I still supect my first suggestion at the first try.

BTW, the EVGA utility seems to work with non-evga cards !

This is so much better! I am happy that EVGA has done this. :thumbsup:
It now makes it easier to keep an eye on temps and clock speeds. And I have an EVGA MSI combo in 1 rig for now and it does work on both cards. Thanks Mark!

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: natethegreat
Can the lanes for your pci-e slots be set manually in the bios? (i.e. x16, x8, x4, x1)

I don't think you can. P45's usually are 1st slot x16, 2nd slot x8. P48's are x16 on both slots. A bios fixed deal. Besides, I don't think it really matters of the slot speed with F@H.

 

[Pokey]

Thanks guys, I have the Precision software and both cards seem to be clocked the same...................

I will take a closer look tomorrow after I get a little shut eye. Stuff like this really get under my skin.......................

EDIT grammer...............

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Pokey
Thanks guys, I have the Precision software and both cards seem to be clocked the same...................

I will take a closer look tomorrow after I get a little shut eye. Stuff like this really get under my skin.......................
EDIT grammer...............

Me too!

Keep us informed Pokey.

 

[Drsignguy]

I got up this morning and checked my F@H situations. I took a snapshot of what you are mentioning Pokey.

These 2, pointed out in the shot are in the same machine, Q9450 @ 3.4 EP45-DS3R, 1 is top slot (x16) 2 is second slot (x8). Last night before I hit the sack, both were over 6000 PPD. Take note that both are sinked and both have temps around 48-54c with fans @ 65%.

Then I took this snapshot after rebooting, The PPD went back up. So, something in the system is causing this. Don't know what just yet but I will get to the bottom of it sooner or later.

 

[Pokey]

I surrender....................... :|

I tried unsyncronizing with Precision that did not help and I reset defaults with Precision again with no change.

I really don't think it has anything to do with the graphics cards since I can swap slots and get the same results.

natethegreat: Like Drsignguy said the slot X16 and x8 are fixed on this MB. So imagine my surprise when slot 2 out produced slot 1.

I hope Gigabyte will come to the rescue. In the meantime I will just settle down and adapt to conditions. (for now) :evil:

Thanks all for the input...............

Edit: spelling. (world's worst speller at work)

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Pokey
I surrender....................... :|

I tried unsyncronizing with Presision that did not help and I reset defaults with presision again with no change.

I really don't think it has anything to do with the graphics cards since I can swap slots and get the same results.

natethegreat: Like Drsignguy said the slot X16 and x8 are fixed on this MB. So imagine my surprise when slot 2 out produced slot 1.

I hope Gigabyte will come to the rescue. In the meantime I will just settle down and adapt to conditions. (for now) :evil:

Thanks all for the input...............

After the Gpu in the first slot was completed, it downloaded the new WU and it now is lower PPD than card 2. Just like the first screenshot I took, only switched.

I would like to know whay this would be such a thing.....

Don't surrender Pokey, There are a lot of wise folks in here that come up with a solution.

 

[Insidious]

You might try playing with the display settings. Of course, you have extended your display to the second monitor since you can fold on both cards... right? Next up, you might try adjusting the settings of the phantom display to see if that affects anything. ie: change the color to 32-bit and the resolution to something higher (or matching your primary display if available). I have NO idea if this changes anything in folding, just trying to think of buttons to push. :roll:

Also, you might experiment with your BIOS settings for which video is initialized first. You should have choices like PCI, PEG1 and PEG2.

While this does indeed sound like something in MoBo configuration, it also has a ring of 2D vs 3D operation of the slot 1 video.

I'm not familiar with the EVGA tool, but I know RivaTunner will set ALL modes when I tweak the shader clock. Maybe something is cueing that card for 2D clocks even though folding would like more.

Sorry I can't help more Pokey.... When I get hit with stuff like this I usually just start scouring BIOS and Windows display settings.... carying my trusty shtogun.... hoping one pellet will hit the mark. No button goes un-clicked.... No wonder I need a backup image to save me from myself. :evil:

-Sid

Did I mention trying to swap which slot is your primary display? (Don't forget to change your BIOS 'initialize video first' setting so you won't be blind when you boot)

 

[Insidious]

One more idea :light:

Try disabling (or even un-installing) PhysX

I didn't find anything definitive, but some folders seem convinced that PhysX can "distract" the second video card.... sometimes(?)

I have PhysX active here, so I am not optimistic.... but worth a try.

-Sid

 

[Drsignguy]

I have to head up north for the night so, when I return tomorrow afternoon, I will be giving all this advise a shot. I have worked with the bios settings and so far to no avail. But when I return and have more time, I will try just about everything. In the mean time, I hope that Pokey can get his issues somewhat repaired. If so, let us know what and how it can be fixed, if possible.


Edit: Thanks Sid

 

[Pokey]

Sid: there is a setting in bios to select PCI or PEG and I switched from default PCI to PEG (PCIexpress)............................no joy.

I'm still convinced it is MB issue and am checking bios settings but I have loaded "optimized" vs "fail safe" settings. I can't imagine how slot one could be crippled right out of the gate like that.

I have run one "known good" card by itself in that slot with only the one client and get the same reduced result.

 

[PCTC2]

Open up CPU-Z and check the PCI-e lane width on your primary graphics card (in the motherboard section). I've had weird instances where my 16x first slot has dropped to 1x because of not enough voltage being supplied to the MB northbridge. The second slot is usually handled by the southbridge, then over the link to the northbridge.

 

[Pokey]

Well PCT2 you might have something:

With GPU-Z Under
mainboard > graphics interface > Link width is X8 then in next window it has max supported X16.

Next question of course is how the heck do you correct that? I will look at the PSU cables to make sure I am using the correct rails. This is a Silverstone SST-ST70F (700W) modular PSU and I may have done something wrong there.

Will advise.

EDIT: I checked the cables and there doen't appear to be anything out of place on the PSU.

 

[Markfw]

8x vs 16x makes no difference.

 

[Pokey]

Mark I think I see what you are saying, otherwise slot 2 would have reduced output also.

Well I've got to fire this guy back up so I can get some production out of it. I will keep looking for solutions.

BTW I checked CPUZ on another computer and it reports X16, so while that may not affect crunching power it may be symptomatic of something else. I just don't know what.

 

[Insidious]

I poked around in all the usual places...

I couldn't find anyone having (and solving) this issue. The only thing close were the people that had mis-matched cards (differing number of shaders)

I'm stumped

 

[Markfw]

Here is s silly suggestion (maybe) Make sure the screen saver is off, and the power settings are set to always on.

 

[Pokey]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Here is s silly suggestion (maybe) Make sure the screen saver is off, and the power settings are set to always on.

Mark that is one of the first things I do............. but thanks anyway.

I queried Gigabyte's technical section but have not heard back from them yet, but it was only Friday when I did that.

I reinstalled the chip set drivers one more time just in case but no help.

I may just have a bad MB or IC or part. The fact that the slot only reports being X8 says something isn't right.

Thanks everybody for spending time on this. I do appreciate it. :thumbsup:

 

[Markfw]

Here is a good one that happened to me today...I had a GPU client all of a sudden stat getting "unstable machine" and I had not touched the box, hardware or software in weeks. So I assumed the card was bad. I tried the "test" on evga precison, and it said faield driver, even at the lowest clock speed I could select (495 mhz). So I removed the card. Then I tried it in another motherboard as the only card. It worked perfectly ! So then I decided to rubberband a piece of paper to the back side of the card, as they cards are very cramped (3 of them) being double wide on the K9A2 motherboard. Then when I fired back up, its now fine at 660 mhz (stock)

 

[Insidious]

What problem are you thinking the paper fixed? Did you have cards actually touching each other? (that would be bad)

I'm sensing the possibility that the card just wasn't seated properly, (they can be jostled loose by fan vibration and/or moving the case around) You might try removing the paper and see if that is indeed what fixed you up. It might just be moving the card that did it.

-Sid

PS: either way, I'm glad you got it up to snuff. Nice catch!

 

[Markfw]

Sid, you could be right on all counts.. I just got pissed and tried everything at once....

At least I am back to 100% Jeesh, it seems like a daily chore to babysit these things to get full ppd...

I really need a life.