Motherboard/Device Manager Doesn't Recognize Second GPU

[EJDrake]

Hi Forum,

After some lengthy discussion on this forum, and against my better judgment, I decided to pursue a custom build. This is the rig I went with (CPU fan is incorrect, but that's not relevant to this issue): http://pcpartpicker.com/p/33Syv

To protect my investment, I had the computer professionally assembled. Warranty and all that.

Everything looks great, but I noticed that the second GPU was not listed in device manager. While poking around in BIOS (and the board's nifty "Board exploration tool") I discovered that it was not registering both GPUs -- not simply ignoring the bridge, but the entire card. That seems highly irregular. I can tell you that both are properly (or at least "similarly") powered. The bridge looks properly installed, but this seems to go beyond the bridge.

What are the appropriate next steps in my diagnostic? Before swapping out the cards, I wanted to ensure that both SHOULD be listed with this particular board. Further, I wanted to know if I was simply overlooking something in the BIOS configuration, etc.

Thoughts?

 

[Alec Mowat]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

 

[Alec Mowat]

This should help with the SLI setup
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1716215/set-sli-config.html

I assume there is a bridge connecting the two cards?

Edit: Before doing anything, if you just PAID to have it built for you, bring it back to the same place and have them do the labour. If you start making changes, they'll blame you if there's an issue.
It's better to let them do it.

 

[EJDrake]

Right. I won't do anything to void the warranty. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in BIOS.

One last thing. Here is a photo of the motherboard explorer. Even though it only displays one GPU, for some reason, I'm reading the text at the bottom to mean that it's reporting the bridge and not the individual cards. Am I incorrect?

 

[Alec Mowat]

Right. I won't do anything to void the warranty. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in BIOS.

One last thing. Here's a photo of the motherboard explorer. Even though it only displays one GPU, for some reason, I'm reading the text at the bottom to mean that it's reporting the bridge and not the individual cards. Am I incorrect?

Oh I see it

That picture is useless

On Windows 8.1, right click on the "Start Button", and go to "Device Manager"

Expand the Display Adapters; should be two drivers listed.

 

[EJDrake]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

Right. I won't do anything to void the warranty. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in BIOS.

One last thing. Here's a photo of the motherboard explorer. Even though it only displays one GPU, for some reason, I'm reading the text at the bottom to mean that it's reporting the bridge and not the individual cards. Am I incorrect?

Oh I see it

That picture is useless

On Windows 8.1, right click on the "Start Button", and go to "Device Manager"

Expand the Display Adapters; should be two drivers listed.

Like the subject says, only one GPU is listed in device manager. The picture isn't really useless, because it shows you that the mobo is only registering the one GPU. I'm no computer expert, but something tells me that is...well...telling?

 

[EJDrake]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

Newegg offered an additional rebate on the 2x4s. Combined, it shaved $24 off my rig. One way or another, I was going to end up with 16GB.

 

[Alec Mowat]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

Newegg offered an additional rebate on the 2x4s. Combined, it shaved $24 off my rig. One way or another, I was going to end up with 16GB.

DDR3 RAM works best in kits.

It's also dual channel RAM, so two pairs of 4 would actual improve performance (slightly). It also allows for a slightly better overclock.

I find it hard to believe those two kits were cheaper than 1 kit of 8.

 

[Alec Mowat]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

Right. I won't do anything to void the warranty. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in BIOS.

One last thing. Here's a photo of the motherboard explorer. Even though it only displays one GPU, for some reason, I'm reading the text at the bottom to mean that it's reporting the bridge and not the individual cards. Am I incorrect?

Oh I see it

That picture is useless

On Windows 8.1, right click on the "Start Button", and go to "Device Manager"

Expand the Display Adapters; should be two drivers listed.

Like the subject says, only one GPU is listed in device manager. The picture isn't really useless, because it shows you that the mobo is only registering the one GPU. I'm no computer expert, but something tells me that is...well...telling?

What you need to do, is uninstall the driver (from add/remove programs), remove one card, reinstall the driver, power off the system, install the second card, and Windows should detect the second card right after that.

But I'd see if the place you had it built is willing to do this.

 

[EJDrake]

Wait,

Why did you buy two kits of 2x4 GB instead of 1 kit of 2x8?

Right. I won't do anything to void the warranty. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in BIOS.

One last thing. Here's a photo of the motherboard explorer. Even though it only displays one GPU, for some reason, I'm reading the text at the bottom to mean that it's reporting the bridge and not the individual cards. Am I incorrect?

Oh I see it

That picture is useless

On Windows 8.1, right click on the "Start Button", and go to "Device Manager"

Expand the Display Adapters; should be two drivers listed.

Like the subject says, only one GPU is listed in device manager. The picture isn't really useless, because it shows you that the mobo is only registering the one GPU. I'm no computer expert, but something tells me that is...well...telling?

What you need to do, is uninstall the driver (from add/remove programs), remove one card, reinstall the driver, power off the system, install the second card, and Windows should detect the second card right after that.

But I'd see if the place you had it built is willing to do this.

The place said thanks. All fixed. Both cards recognized.

They want to know if I need to do anything in NVIDIA Experience (or elsewhere) to "activate" the SLI

 

[Alec Mowat]

Quoted (not me)

6) Go into Nvidia Control Panel under '3D Settings'-'Set SLI and PhysX configuration' and the 'SLI Configuration' section choose 'Maximize 3D Performance' then click the 'Apply' button