How To: Enable SLI on pre-i7/i5 hardware

[derGhostrider]

Thanks TiN.

D:\Downloads\ACPI>asl /loadtable -d dsdt.aml
Microsoft ACPI Source Language Assembler Version 3.0.1NT [Aug 29 2006, 14:17:49]

Copyright (c) 1996,2006 Microsoft Corporation
Compliant with the ACPI 3.0a Specification

Registry data deleted

D:\Downloads\ACPI>asl /loadtable -v dsdt.aml
Microsoft ACPI Source Language Assembler Version 3.0.1NT [Aug 29 2006, 14:17:49]

Copyright (c) 1996,2006 Microsoft Corporation
Compliant with the ACPI 3.0a Specification


DSDT info for update image (dsdt.aml)
  Size of image: 31067
  OEM id.......: 10100
  OEM Table id.: 10100000
  OEM revision.: 00000000
SetValue 00000000
SetValue 00000001
SetValue 00000002
SetValue 00000003
SetValue 00000004
SetValue Action
Registry path:
System\CurrentControlSet\Services\ACPI\Parameters\DSDT\10100\10100000\00000000

Table overloading succeeded

I'll reboot and test after some other tasks have finished.

 

[TheWolf]

Benches with 3DMark06 in Windows 7 64bit

Q9650 E0 @ 4.0Ghz
Abit IX38QuadGT
2x MSI 260GTX

18777 3DMarks - SLI off
22110 3DMarks - SLI on

Not sure if this compare link will be good for others. Should show SLI off & on above scores. Let me know if it works. Thanks

http://service.futuremark.com/resultComparison.action?compareResultId=11987093&compareResultType=14

 

[derGhostrider]

@TiN:
It doesn't work.
Two possible combinations of the graphic cards in three available PCI-Express-Slots caused nothing to happen. As soon as I don't have one of the cards in the lowest 16x PCI-Express-Slot I get a bluescreen ("This PC is not fully ACPI compatible..." or something like that). I tried to boot with a single card: No difference, the same BSOD. Then I inserted a card to the lowest Slot: Bootprocess without any problems.
I guess that something was wrong...

----

@Thewolf: Yes, the link does work!

 

[TheWolf]

@TiN:

@Thewolf: Nope, the link doesn't work.

You have a account there?

 

[TiN]

derGhostrider

Do 2008 server OS support SLI? I'm using mainly 2003 OS, and it does not support SLI at all, even on native NVIDIA approved motherboards and all drivers. Even SLI-videocards, like 9800GX2, 7950GX2, GTX295 don't work in SLI, only 1 GPU. Maybe 2008 OS have same blocked SLI.

 

[derGhostrider]

@TheWolf:
The link works... I was just to blind to realize that the RED System was YOURS and not the "best" as usual. Sorry!
So once again: It works. I edited my post before.

----------

@TiN:
Uh... hmmm... might be possible. Damn, I really did not want to use any other OS. Seems as if I would have to try another OS (7 x64) as well. *sigh*

 

[TiN]

Just try to hook up another HDD and install fresh OS to try.

 

[soundood]

Benches with 3DMark06 in Windows 7 64bit

Q9650 E0 @ 4.0Ghz
Abit IX38QuadGT
2x MSI 260GTX

18777 3DMarks - SLI off
22110 3DMarks - SLI on

Not sure if this compare link will be good for others. Should show SLI off & on above scores. Let me know if it works. Thanks

http://service.futuremark.com/resultComparison.action?compareResultId=11987093&compareResultType=14

very nice wolf, if only i could get this going , none the less, nice to futuremark, spotting the unvalidated driver, lol

 

[derGhostrider]

@TiN
That's easy if you have spare harddrives. But as I don't have any spare SATA-drives and the IDE is blocked by the optical drive (the routing of the cable does not allow to add another harddrive) and my spare IDE harddrives are really old and too small (I sold 5x 80GB a few months ago - these would have been great for the test. The others are "up to 40GB" and partly defective).

I'll have to delay further testing for a few days as I don't have the time nor an available spare harddrive.
Sofar I'll reset everything to it's original state and report back, as soon as I find an "old" harddrive that is big enough for the installation of Win7 or when I have at least the time to image the current partition and install the new OS.

 

[salman8506]

Confirmed running on Ep45-Ud3P,Win 7 32bit dual 8800gt's

3dm06(Single) - 13500
3dm06(SLI) - 16171
There are some problem of display flicker but i guess there is some problem with my hardware.

Will test on Win 7 64bit tommorrow and get back..

 

[TheWolf]

Benches with 3DMark03 in Windows 7 64bit

Q9650 E0 @ 4.0Ghz
Abit IX38QuadGT
2x MSI 260GTX

48685 3DMarks - SLI off
159893 3DMarks - SLI on right up there with the EVGA Classified



http://service.futuremark.com/resultComparison.action?compareResultId=6188301&compareResultType=10

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=6188319

 

[soundood]

Benches with 3DMark03 in Windows 7 64bit

Q9650 E0 @ 4.0Ghz
Abit IX38QuadGT
2x MSI 260GTX

48685 3DMarks - SLI off
159893 3DMarks - SLI on right up there with the EVGA Classified



http://service.futuremark.com/resultComparison.action?compareResultId=6188301&compareResultType=10

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=6188319

yeah that SLI on score is bang on the button, lol...maybe you should throw it inot the HWbot

 

[TiN]

159893 3DMarks

wtf?

 

[soundood]

darn i just checked out my cards to see if everything is ok, one of my 8500GT's seems to have pased away, mmmmmmmm, im gona need another to test this SLI thing out, anyone in London got one for sale or donation? lol

i say donation, cause they are garbage ehh?

 

[TiN]

Good news :

Make some drafts of english guide:

Activating NVIDIA SLI on all motherboards, detailed HOW-TO

Bad news

No time nearest days, urgent projects here, so I have no possibility to make another sections described at this moment, before monday 100%
.
If anybody can help with same step-2-step description of each step, i'll update article.

 

[TheWolf]

Good news :

Make some drafts of english guide:

Activating NVIDIA SLI on all motherboards, detailed HOW-TO

Bad news

No time nearest days, urgent projects here, so I have no possibility to make another sections described at this moment, before monday 100%
.
If anybody can help with same step-2-step description of each step, i'll update article.

Well written, looking very good. Thanks!
Bookmarked

 

[soundood]

Well written, looking very good. Thanks!
Bookmarked

i dont see a thing when i head over there, all i get is the title

Activating NVIDIA SLI on all motherboards, detailed HOW-TO

this is going to be a IE8 thing, i know it already

ok got it working with firefox

 

[Akula74]

TiN... Just two quick questions...
1. This will work for basically any motherboard that has 2 PCI-E slots and obvious things you need for SLI to work, it's not just fixated to that one motherboard? (FYI i'm running the GA-MA790X-UD4P)
2. My sli.dsl file compiles with errors unmodified, any advice? I'm running 7 X64...
Thank you

 

[derGhostrider]

Right now I am surfing in a VM on my Xeon-Machine. ... Because of the relative flawless installation of this VM using Hyper-V I may try to install XP 32bit (as it is also running in the VM) on a small and slow 20GB harddrive just to give the mod another chance. I really want to see "SLI enabled" on my rig so I'll see what I can do. And it would be quite interesting if it is possible with the dual-Xeon board.
I'll report back when everything is done.

----

@Akula74:
"Some" error messages are pretty normal as long as the .aml file is created.

 

[Akula74]

I will be thanking you derGhostrider and TiN...
But i was write about the first question this will work for any MB right, as long as all the prerequisites are there....

 

[TiN]

derGhostrider

I quite sure it will not work under VM. But still you may try.

"Some" error messages are pretty normal as long as the .aml file is created.

Error are NOT normal. Warnings may normal, but with error you can't get binary compiled AML.

Akula74

1. Yes, SLI mod is not dependent to any motherboard, but maybe some additional corrections needed for AMD. Sveetsnelda and anatolymik can answer here more detail, I guess.
2. You are not first who get errors on AMD DSDT's unmodded, have no AMD boards here to dig into details. I suggest you to wait, or try to analyze errors and try another ways.

 

[Akula74]

I have a bit of knowledge in computer engineering....
I had a crack at it, and it compiles with the a some warnings.

Windows loaded without errors thank god..
But don't understand this step :
Step 5. Disable UAC, enter system to test mode, make modified driver file have certified for OS.

 

[TheWolf]

I have a bit of knowledge in computer engineering....
I had a crack at it, and it compiles with the a some warnings.

Windows loaded without errors thank god..
But don't understand this step :
Step 5. Disable UAC, enter system to test mode, make modified driver file have certified for OS.

What OS?
I believe that has to do with this step:

Run the Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider
(http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=dseo)

Select "Sign a System File"
type in C:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys

 

[Akula74]

Running 7 X64...

 

[TheWolf]

Running 7 X64...

The above I posted is the last part you didn't understand.
Doing that should get it working if all else was done correct.