Probably quicker to just ask you guys, what the heck am I doing wrong? Horrible SLI performance [RESOLVED]

[Viper GTS]

[EDIT]

Only fair that I update this. I had another 550W power supply going unused so I offloaded one of the 7900's onto it. The problems were still there, so I looked deeper into software issues.

My problem was this. Even though it was not running it had somehow hosed the Q4 installation. Twice in a row, apparently, since my x64 install was doing the same thing. (I had even done an uninstall/reinstall of Q4, but apparently id doesn't know how to actually clean up after themselves.) I uninstalled it, uninstalled Q4 + deleted all id folders, Quake worked great on re-installation, & hasn't given me any problems when back on one power supply (the NeoHE).
[/EDIT]

Never done this before, so I've probably screwed something up. System specs:

EVGA 680i w/E4300 @ 3 GHz
2 GB RAM @ 667
2 x EVGA 7900GTO SLI @ GTX speeds

Fresh install of Win XP, latest WHQL graphics (93.71) and chipset drivers from nvidia, SLI enabled in the driver.

I installed Quake 4 and patched to the 1.4 Beta. I'm getting under 10 fps @ 1600x1200 Ultra quality. It's absolutely unplayable.

Any suggestions as to what would cause such horrible performance? Even one GPU should be able to do better than that, right?

Viper GTS

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Never done this before, so I've probably screwed something up. System specs:

EVGA 680i w/E4300 @ 3 GHz
2 GB RAM @ 667
2 x EVGA 7900GTO SLI @ GTX speeds

Fresh install of Win XP, latest WHQL graphics (93.71) and chipset drivers from nvidia, SLI enabled in the driver.

I installed Quake 4 and patched to the 1.4 Beta. I'm getting under 10 fps @ 1600x1200 Ultra quality. It's absolutely unplayable.

Any suggestions as to what would cause such horrible performance? Even one GPU should be able to do better than that, right?

Viper GTS

Do you have a good power supply?
Did you try with no overclocked componants?

 

[Viper GTS]

It's running with an Antec Neo Power 550, and the driver is not reporting any power issues.

Yes I've tried it at stock speeds as well.

Viper GTS

 

[happy medium]

To make sure its not a software issue(quake 4) download and run "3d mark 06" and post score .

Edit should score 7000/8000

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: happy medium
To make sure its not a software issue(quake 4) download and run "3d mark 06" and post score .

I did that prior to switching to XP 32-bit, I was getting mid 7000's on XP x64.

I didn't have time last night to download 06 but I did have the 05 installer handy. I got ~10,500 on the default settings.

I'll re-test tonight when I get home.

Viper GTS

 

[nullpointerus]

Your score sounds really low. I have one 7900 GTO and a 2.35 GHz X2 and get 9491 in 3DMark '05. With a 3 GHz C2D, DDR2 RAM, and 2x 7900 GTO, you should be beating me by a much larger margin than 1000 points. Sorry I can't help--never run SLi before.

 

[Viper GTS]

OK, ran 3DMark06.

6078 with the GTO's at stock speeds and the CPU at 3 GHz.

3DMark06 should have a profile to run in SLI with no intervention on my part, right?

Viper GTS

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
OK, ran 3DMark06.

6078 with the GTO's at stock speeds and the CPU at 3 GHz.

3DMark06 should have a profile to run in SLI with no intervention on my part, right?

Viper GTS

Something isn't right.

I get higher scores w/ my stock X1900XT.

Unlikely, but check CPU-Z's mainboard tab & verify that the PCI-e shows as running @ 16x (or 8x), if that's the default on that mobo, not say, 1x.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
OK, ran 3DMark06.

6078 with the GTO's at stock speeds and the CPU at 3 GHz.

3DMark06 should have a profile to run in SLI with no intervention on my part, right?

Viper GTS

Something isn't right.

I get higher scores w/ my stock X1900XT.

Unlikely, but check CPU-Z's mainboard tab & verify that the PCI-e shows as running @ 16x (or 8x), if that's the default on that mobo, not say, 1x.

It's a 680i board, they're both full x16 slots & cpu-z does report x16.

Viper GTS

 

[chizow]

Hmm check the driver notes. I think I remember seeing Q4 having poor performance in SLI in either the notes or in a review somewhere. What kind of FPS do you get with SLI turned off?

 

[Nightmare225]

He gets bad performance in 3DMark also, its not just Quake...

 

[chrismr]

Do the 680 boards require a setting to be enabled in the bios, or something similar?

I am assuming that SLI is enabled in the control panel for the cards. If you go into advanced settings there should be an option something like "SLI render type" or something to that affect - try setting it to auto.

Oh, and as a last resort try swapping the slots the card are in - when I had my 7900gs sli setup it did have an impact, though not as much as what you are experiencing.

 

[Viper GTS]

OK, after playing around with driver settings last night I finally got what I think is a decent 3DMark06 score - right at the 10K mark (9980 or so). That's respectable, right?

Quake 4 still runs like ass though, it's almost similar to what this guy is describing here except that even with one GPU it's horrible. I have had it lock up a couple times as well.

It seems odd that my system would run 3DMark happily, run Orthos or Intel's TAT for hours without incident but Quake 4 just dies.

I'm not running through a UPS, just a fairly beefy power strip. Should I try a more powerful power supply?

Viper GTS

 

[BFG10K]

I have had it lock up a couple times as well.

Run your system at stock speeds.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

I have had it lock up a couple times as well.

Run your system at stock speeds.

Already did, it does the same thing.

Viper GTS

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
It's running with an Antec Neo Power 550, and the driver is not reporting any power issues.

Yes I've tried it at stock speeds as well.

Viper GTS

This is not an adequate PSU for a system such as yours.

Please get a new PSU, preferably a nvidia SLI certified PSU, then report back to us.

Might I suggest that the Thermaltake toughpower 850W would be an excellent starting point? CHeap, quiet, powerful and nvidia certified.

 

[BFG10K]

Already did, it does the same thing.

It still locks up at stock? Okay, but it's still a good idea to keep it at stock until you get things sorted and then overclock.

 

[Gstanfor]

Two quick things to check, just in case (my advice about the PSU still stands though), have you plugged power into the molex at the bottom of the motherboard? Are you using a SLI bridge on the cards?

Oh, one more thing, is the monitor cable plugged into the card in the primary SLI slot (usually the top one)?

 

[Viper GTS]

Well crap, the NeoHE 550 is SLI certified but not for 7900GTX.

Guess I know what I'm buying next.

Viper GTS