Cannot enable SLI (GTX 970's) z97

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Cortic

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Mar 13, 2006
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Okay put together my new PC today and everything running perfectly - but I cannot enable SLI.

Specs:

i7-4790k
1x Gigabyte 970
1x Zotac 970 (verified the cards are compatible - see GPU-Z screenshot)
Asrock z97 Extreme Fata1ity mobo

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What I have done so far:

1) Tried numerous driver versions from Nvidia
2) Updated Motherboard Bios
3) Checked Bios to force x8/x8, but GPU-Z already reports both in x8
4) Tried the bridge on different connectors
5) Tried the bridge upside down
6) Tried the bridge only 1/2 way connected
7) Tried to uninstall completely - remove bridge - reinstall - then put bridge back on
8) Set the monitors to 60hz
9) Tried single monitors


Any other ideas? Im sure there are things I have done that I have not wrote about. There doesn't seem to be an "SLI switch/jumper" on the mobo either. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
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Rage,

Unfortunately I do not have a second to try. Was wanting to exhaust all other options before I go and buy one. The one I am using however is brand new with my z97 board.

Wolf,

That is my problem, the options are completely greyed out
 
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Actually, it only supports CrossfireX in 8x4x4x. SLI Requires both PCI-Ex16 slots at a minimum x8 and will not run in if a slot runs at x4. (See pg 18 or your users manual)

However, it appears that there is nothing installed in slot PCIE6 and your cards are correctly installed in slots PCIE2 and PCIE4 (please confirm). If that's the case, then either a driver install didn't complete successfully, there is a conflicting driver install, or (hopefully not), the motherboard is faulty

I'd try an complete uninstall of the graphic card drivers and reinstall. I'd also verify that each card works by itself in both slots.

-Wolf sends
 
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Hi Wolf,

Yes I can confirm that there are no other Pci-E lanes being used by anything, just the 2 + 4. As per GPU-Z, they are definitely running at 8x/8x. I have uninstalled and reinstalled drivers multiple times now, and even reverted to previous versions for drivers.

If there is nothing else you can suggest, I may have to go buy a 2nd SLI bridge connector.
 
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Wolfshadw made this suggestion, have you tried it - run each card separately and make sure it works. I would try each one, on its own, in each slot.
I was also under the impression that when using two similar cards but with different clock and memory frequencies that the set up would defer to the lowest performance for both cards; now that might be if SLI is working which makes more sense.
Before you buy a new bridge, do you know anyone running a working SLI setup that would be willing to let you try your bridge on their cards? Or maybe a friendly shop in town that would test it (if possible)for you? I have done a lot of bad things to my bridges on SLI rigs and never had one fail so I'm thinking its not the bridge. Always a first time, though.
 
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Hi Nostall,

Yes, i've just gone through the process of trying each card singularly and they work as intended. I also picked up a 2nd bridge for $5 from the local store, and still no luck.

Becoming very frustrated/depressed about this.
 
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Okay, so I found a tool on the EVGA forums called "DifferentSLIAuto v1.2", and ran it, and now my SLI is working.

Worried that its a virus and giving me a false-positive, but GPU-Z reports SLI working?
 
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Did you try this:

1. Uninstall the drivers using DDU and uninstall BOTH cards.
2. Install the first card, and install driver
3. Remove the first card, install the second card, let the drivers detect the card
4. Install the second card without the SLI bridge, boot it up and then shut it down
5. Install the SLI bridge, and check CP again.

During each step, shut the computer down and restart it after you have completed the 970 installation
 
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Chenw, I was excited to try your method as I had not tried everything in that specific order. Unfortunately, it did not work. Still greyed out in CP. Can confirm though that each card works 100% in each slot and singularly

 
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Cortic, Kwa-e made the suggestion I was going to suggest; go into you AV program, tell the program that the EVGA program is o.k. and to set it as an exception to the anti virus scan. I use Norton and I can go into my quarantine and restore a file and then mark as an exception. If you can't restore it, you should at least be able to mark it.
I was also going to suggest contacting Zotac or Gigabyte and as a last resort ASRock, but you seem to have found the solution with the EVGA software.
Try that software again with the AV change.
 
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Is the patch you are referring to the EVGA software?
Have you tried clearing the BIOS/CMOS to see if that changes anything?
In my humble opinion, if you can live with the watermark through Monday at least you will have SLI over the rest of the weekend for gaming.
On Tuesday it might be time to make phone contact with a real person at ASRock support and then one of the video card people to see what they can suggest.
 
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