Need help with gtx quad sli

[Silverknite]

system specs ...

PC: XPS 720
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00 Ghz
Mother Board: Dell Inc. 0CK520
Ram: 4094MB
GPUS: GTX 295 sli= quad sli
Windows 7 64 bit Service pack: 1(version 6.1.7601
version 09.00.0904

long story short... i changed out my 750 watt psu to a Dell 1000W psu I got off ebay (new) the other night. Had to use two adapters to convert ttwo of the 6 pin connection from the psu to an 8 pin for both my gpus... except that one of those adapters has a Y split and only one of the 6 pin connections on that adapter is able to power the second gpu but I'm unsure wether that adapter needs to be powered by two 6 pin connections from the psu..... reason why is cause I'm having quite a bit of trouble running most of my games with sli enabled in the nvidia control panel.

if I do have to have a second 6 pin in that Y adapter please let me know...

Last night I did a clean install to EVGA's Beta drivers using driver sweeper in safe mode.

This is what my games are doing one by one after the clean install to the new Beta drivers:


Batman Arkham Asylum: - crashes every time with a message saying to install physx software... (currently re-installing this game to see if
anything changes)

Just cause 2: - I get a black screen and freezes the pcw with sli (enabled).... (game works with sli disabled)

Battle Field 2 BC: - game freezes when I try and join a server (enabled)... (game works with sli disabled)

Dead space 2: - game works perfectly with sli (enabled)

Shift 2 Unleashed: - game opens but crashes when I try and load a race with sli (enabled)... (currently have not tried it with sli
(disabled) but im sure it will work.


also need to test:

Red Faction: Armageddon
Star Craft II
Test Drive Unlimited 2
Mass Effect 2
Left 4 Dead
F1 2011
Fear 2
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Mafia II
Dirt 2
Bioshock 2
Crysis

I have a feeling that Y split adapter is not giving enough juice to the second GPU but I wont be able to verify it until I order another adapter on monday.

If anyone with real knowledge on quad sli could give me a hand on how to set up the games that support sli Id be incredibly appreciative, even willing to reward that person.


Moving from PC Gaming since Video people probably know more about this stuff.

Anandtech Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[biostud]

sell the 295s and buy a 570

 

[esquared]

sell the 295s and buy a 570

Yeah, that's helping his problem

 

[Silverknite]

sell the 295s and buy a 570

this I know, but in the meantime i have this 295 that i got for 100$ almost new so id like to see if i can get the two gpus to play nice...

thats not the kind of help im looking for but thx, besides one 570 only equals one 295 so id have to get two 570s to get the performance boost of quad 295s ...and im on a budget atm...

 

[nenforcer]

What model of Dell 1000W power supply did you buy? If its any Alienware or XPS Power Supply, even a Precision PS, I am surprised it does not have 2x8 pin (or even 2 X 6+2)PCI-E power connectors for your GTX 295?

I can't imagine any modern 1KW power supply which does not have those connectors.

And yes, I would suspect your issues are related to the adapters not supplying the full amount necessary. My XFX video card manual says specifically not to use MOLEX -> PCI-E y-adapters as 2 X 4 != 1 6 pin and 2 X 6 pin != 1 8 pin.

 

[toyota]

quad sli with an E8400? you might as well sell one of those since your cpu will not even fully push a single gtx295. in fact running 2 gtx295 cards in quad sli could be even slower because of your dual core trying to handle 4 gpus.

 

[Keysplayr]

Definitely sounds like improper power.

 

[lehtv]

Next time you'll probably know not to buy Dell power supplies...

 

[notty22]

Ideally you want to you use the psu's pci-e power connectors.
A 1K watt psu almost always has 4-8 pci-e power cables.
Some are 6 pin and some are 6+2 pin. They are rated to carry 75 and 150 watts respectively.
You can use 6+2 cables in 6 pin video card sockets, with the +2 part dangling.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/16229
According to that launch review of the gtx 295.
You need 2-6 pin and 2 -8pin pci-e cables.
Using adapters can lead to over-loading a rail and in older psu's actually tap power from non-12v rails.

I would find the model of dell psu you have and post it here, so we can see what you have for connections.
Then I would test 1 card at a time, and prove for complete stability, without adding more variables.

 

[Jacky60]

I'd agree with toyota I had that same cpu overclocked to 4ghz and it will not push 2 295GTx's fully. Your cpu is holding you back big time.

 

[WMD]

this I know, but in the meantime i have this 295 that i got for 100$ almost new so id like to see if i can get the two gpus to play nice...

thats not the kind of help im looking for but thx, besides one 570 only equals one 295 so id have to get two 570s to get the performance boost of quad 295s ...and im on a budget atm...

Not all games scale with quad gpu. Trust me you will game alot better on one powerful gpu vs 4 weak ones. If you sell both 295 you only need to top up a bit more for 570.

 

[Rifter]

As mentioned dont even bother trying with only a E8400, you will likely end up with little if any performance increase anyways.

 

[biostud]

Yeah, that's helping his problem

maybe be not, but it's the best advice

 

[Silverknite]

What model of Dell 1000W power supply did you buy? If its any Alienware or XPS Power Supply, even a Precision PS, I am surprised it does not have 2x8 pin (or even 2 X 6+2)PCI-E power connectors for your GTX 295?

I can't imagine any modern 1KW power supply which does not have those connectors.

And yes, I would suspect your issues are related to the adapters not supplying the full amount necessary. My XFX video card manual says specifically not to use MOLEX -> PCI-E y-adapters as 2 X 4 != 1 6 pin and 2 X 6 pin != 1 8 pin.

MODEL #... N1000P-00

No it only comes with 4 6 pin connections.... so id have to use two 6 to 8 pin adapters for each card :L

so it seems theres nothing I can do with this pc then since my cpu is holding me back and the my psu cant supply enough power to both gpus even with the non Y split adapters?

one thing that surprised me last night is that for some reason I was able to play Just Cause 2 after getting power to the second 6 pin on the Y split adapter but I was getting a measly 20 - 30 fps in mid res on my 30" monitor. which sounds like a cpu issue if Im correct.

what I will probably end up doing is just using one 295 for now and finish building the new pc that im building then transferring the two 295s to that pc ...then modding the xps 720 with a atx mother board tray so i can use an I7 and a new mobo in it.

 

[Silverknite]

found out the dell psu I got off ebay doesn't have enough amps so im thinking about using my new cooler master 1250 watt psu to power the gpus and leave it outside the case for now untill i build my new rig....

anyone have any objections?

about the cpu...well i kinda knew that already but there really isnt much i can do in the meantime since dell's hardware sucks balls at future upgradability and id rather put the money into new generation tech then spending the money on a Q6600 for this pc.... unless anyone has one that's willing to part with it? and help a fellow gamer out lol

 

[WMD]

You are right. A Q6600 wont be much better a E8400. Lower IPC and lower clocks means that only heavily threaded tests will be faster.

 

[Silverknite]

You are right. A Q6600 wont be much better a E8400. Lower IPC and lower clocks means that only heavily threaded tests will be faster.

any thoughts on using a dedicated psu for the gpu outside the case?

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

any thoughts on using a dedicated psu for the gpu outside the case?

It should work fine. I have heard of that being done before. You might want to use something with less watts to power just the GPU's though.

Or just use the cooler master PSU for the entire system.

 

[OCGuy]

quad sli with an E8400? you might as well sell one of those since your cpu will not even fully push a single gtx295. in fact running 2 gtx295 cards in quad sli could be even slower because of your dual core trying to handle 4 gpus.

Do you have numbers to show this? I would still take a highly clocked Wolfdale over any AMD processor in most games.......

 

[toyota]

Do you have numbers to show this? I would still take a highly clocked Wolfdale over any AMD processor in most games.......

you have to be kidding if you think an E8400 can actually run FOUR high end gpus without a massive bottleneck. the cpu overhead alone pushing quad sli would make the E8400 crap itself.

 

[OCGuy]

you have to be kidding if you think an E8400 can actually run FOUR high end gpus without a massive bottleneck. the cpu overhead alone pushing quad sli would make the E8400 crap itself.

I have to disagree that the G92 core is considered "high-end" at this point.

 

[toyota]

I have to disagree that the G92 core is considered "high-end" at this point.

lol, are you okay today? first off that is NOT g92. next that is the equivalent of having almost FOUR gtx275 cards. not only is that a ton of gpu power, it carries with it the massive cpu overhead of pushing four fairly high end gpus.

 

[OCGuy]

are you okay today? first off that is NOT g92. next that is the equivalent of having almost FOUR gtx275 cards. not only is that ton of gpu power, it carries with it the massive cpu overhead of pushing four fairly high end gpus.

First off, no, i'm not okay today. My brain swapped 295 with 9800GX2. :/ TGIF?

Second, I still don't think a E8400 clocked high is that much of a problem, except on the few games that are actually coded to take advantage of 4 cores...the single/dual threaded IPC of Core2 is still beyond what AMD can do.....

Although I think anything over 2 GPUs is a waste anyway, because GPU scaling over 2 is terrible, no matter what CPU is pushing it...

 

[toyota]

First off, no, i'm not okay today. My brain swapped 295 with 9800GX2. :/ TGIF?

Second, I still don't think a E8400 clocked high is that much of a problem, except on the few games that are actually coded to take advantage of 4 cores...the single/dual threaded IPC of Core2 is still beyond what AMD can do.....

Although I think anything over 2 GPUs is a waste anyway, because GPU scaling over 2 is terrible, no matter what CPU is pushing it...

even just one gtx295 would be held back quite a bit in many games. adding another gtx295 would add almost nothing. and again there is chance of actually losing performance when trying to push 4 gpus like that with a core 2 duo.

 

[Silverknite]

you have to be kidding if you think an E8400 can actually run FOUR high end gpus without a massive bottleneck. the cpu overhead alone pushing quad sli would make the E8400 crap itself.

i may not know everything about cpus but I may have to agree with toyota without looking at any numbers since gtx 295 quad sli is one of the top gpu set ups there is right now along with 590 sli...that said, i do think my E8400 was about to burst when trying to run both cards.... i cant even get any difference in FPS when running (one 295) in Just Cause 2 when I lower 2560x1600 res to 1600 ... always seems to stay at a measly 20 to 30 fps... now how can that be with a gpu such as a 295. but no need to go off topic... just gonna have to start building that next gen rig soooooooon!!!!!!!!!