Problems with 680 SLI

[Brendan]

I just recently upgraded a brand new system.

Old system. i5 2500, z68 mobo, 1x 680+, 8gb ram 600w power

My new system seems to be okay, but whenever i benchmark it or run demanding games like BF3 Ultra on 1600p, it crashes a LOT more easily. I can't reach the core clock of what i could have on a single GTX 680 without crashing.

New system: I7 3820, Extreme9, 2x 680+, 32gb ram. 850w 80+ gold power.

Same OS and everything.

Can anybody help explain why?

[Guest]

What's the specific PSU?

Also, how are you thermally? You sure they're not crashing out due to heat?

[Brendan]

Seasonic X-850 80Plus Gold 850W

I don't think it's the heat, it's around 62-65 degrees C. Which is similar to my single 680.

Although for some reason, both gpus don't go idle anymore and are at 1006 all the time as opposed to 380 something for non heavy use.

[Brendan]

Seasonic X-850 80Plus Gold 850W

I don't think it's the heat, it's around 62-65 degrees C. Which is similar to my single 680.

Although for some reason, both gpus don't go idle anymore and are at 1006 all the time as opposed to 380 something for non heavy use.

I have no idea how i posted in some weird format.

[Dim]

Seasonic X-850 80Plus Gold 850W

I don't think it's the heat, it's around 62-65 degrees C. Which is similar to my single 680.

Although for some reason, both gpus don't go idle anymore and are at 1006 all the time as opposed to 380 something for non heavy use.

Probably when you copy-pasted the first part about the PSU.

Dude, honestly, I'm racking my brains trying to think of what possible issue this could be.

What motherboard are you using? Are you positive everything on the hardware side is fine? That seems more likely the issue.

[Guest]

Seasonic X-850 80Plus Gold 850W I don't think it's the heat' date=' it's around 62-65 degrees C. Which is similar to my single 680. Although for some reason, both gpus don't go idle anymore and are at 1006 all the time as opposed to 380 something for non heavy use.[/size']

Aside from the thermals, i've got nothing. Your PSU's a quality unit. Your temps are fine. Is there another system you can chuck the cards in and SLI? That'll rule in or out the cards. If it isn't them, then it's down to your CPU or motherboard. Possibly something wrong with a PCI slot and a very remote chance there's something wrong with your PCI controller in your chip or though I don't see how that can happen.

[Brendan]

Um, I'm using Asrock Extreme9 mobo.

Sometimes when it crashes, the driver doesn't recover and i have to restart the computer. (Usually when fullscreening something)

When it's not full screen it crashes and usually recovers.

[Guest]

I've done a little digging around. You could try a CMOS reset and reinstalling the games a couple of times. The majority of problems I saw with 680 SLI's were crashing in BF3 because of something to do with DirectX - any thought?

[Dim]

I guess you could try making sure your cards are both on PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. That shouldn't matter, but at this stage you might as well do it anyway.

Make sure your PCI 6-/8-pins are connected properly.

SLI bridge in place properly? Seriously, that's the whole hardware side of it, I can't think of what software issues there could be.

[Brendan]

It crashes when above 1241 Mhz on Almost anything. Heaven, 3dmark11 and all games.

The absolute most it can do before crashing was 1254mhz (no crash but it was on breaking point)

Previously i could get up to 1301 mhz while doing 3dmark 11.

A little more info: The GPUs are EVGA 680+ FTW Editions. (Both of them) and they are both running on x16 slots.

I use precision X and sync them together for the OC.

There is one thing though, my psu has the option of 4x 8pin connectors but i had to use 8 for the CPU already.

I instead use 2 molex to 2 6pin adapters (In parallel).

I also have the molex connector thats on the MOBO which is located just above the PCI slots Not in use.

[Brendan]

It crashes when above 1241 Mhz on Almost anything. Heaven, 3dmark11 and all games.

The absolute most it can do before crashing was 1254mhz (no crash but it was on breaking point)

Previously i could get up to 1301 mhz while doing 3dmark 11.

A little more info: The GPUs are EVGA 680+ FTW Editions. (Both of them) and they are both running on x16 slots.

I use precision X and sync them together for the OC.

There is one thing though, my psu has the option of 4x 8pin connectors but i had to use 8 for the CPU already.

I instead use 2 molex to 2 6pin adapters (In parallel).

I also have the molex connector thats on the MOBO which is located just above the PCI slots Not in use.

2x8 for cpu*

[Dim]

It crashes when above 1241 Mhz on Almost anything. Heaven, 3dmark11 and all games.

The absolute most it can do before crashing was 1254mhz (no crash but it was on breaking point)

Previously i could get up to 1301 mhz while doing 3dmark 11.

A little more info: The GPUs are EVGA 680+ FTW Editions. (Both of them) and they are both running on x16 slots.

I use precision X and sync them together for the OC.

There is one thing though, my psu has the option of 4x 8pin connectors but i had to use 8 for the CPU already.

I instead use 2 molex to 2 6pin adapters (In parallel).

I also have the molex connector thats on the MOBO which is located just above the PCI slots Not in use.

Have you tried not overclocking them? 1240 is a pretty high OC, really, and if you have two you could probably get ultra @ 2.5K without overclocking.

[Guest]

Just re-reading your original post, if you mean you can't reach the overclock on the second card that you could on the first, each and every card is a little bit different. They won't OC identically.

But as Dim stated, remove the OC and you'll be fine.

[Brendan]

No, even the first card can't reach 1300 anymore.

Now neither cards can get anywhere close.

[Guest]

No, even the first card can't reach 1300 anymore.

Now neither cards can get anywhere close.

Okay, that's weird. Can you RMA the second card?

[Brendan]

No, even the first card can't reach 1300 anymore.

Now neither cards can get anywhere close.

I'm not sure

[Brendan]

I just encountered a new problem.

For some reason, the power that they draw keep going up and down and up and down.

From 40-80 and back down again. The FPS and Core clock both match this pattern. This only occurs when i SLI. Help?

[Brendan]

Here a SS of the Power and Core clocks when in SLI. I know that it doesn't show in the chart but the performance in benchmarks also mirror the pattern of power.

[Brendan]

What temperature should i call it at?

I just OC ed again with a few tweaked settings and go 1293 mhz until the temp blew over 75 c and crashed.