SLI issues

[Shinjitago]

Okay this is my first time into trying SLI, I am currently trying to get a MSI 970 4GD5T OC to SLI with an EVGA 970 SC ACX 2.0.

Specs-

Mobo - Gigabyte Z270X Gaming 7, BIOS V. F7 (latest)

CPU - Intel 7700k OC to 4.8Ghz

RAM - Corsair 16GB 3000mhz on XMP 

PSU - Corsair HX850i

 

EVGA card is in the x16 slot while the MSI is in the x8 slot.  Per manual - both turn to 8x when both slots are utilized, confirmed this in CPU-Z 16 total available, currently both running x8 v2

 

NVIDIA Control Panel states a SLI Bridge is not detected, and cannot run SLI 

I have tried 3 different SLI Bridges, one dual-bridge that was provided with the mobo, and 2 single bridges, one really old one and a new one I had just bought today, none have changed the outcome.

CPU-Z shows both GPU's are active, I can find both in Device manager, both can be overclocked with MSI afterburner or EVGA Precision XOC

 

Am I missing anything?  Only using 1 monitor, trying to utilize SLI to get a better framerate in 1440p without having to get a 1080, and with all the miners and price hikes its just keeping prices high.  
I got lucky and found a used 970 SC for 150.

[PeachyUwUSenpai]

did you install the bridge while the computer was turned off. also MINERS ARE NOT INCREASING THE PRICES OF THE 1080 thats only the 1060 and 1070 and the amd cards 1080s are at msrp

[Shinjitago]

Yes, all bridges had been installed while the computer was off, I had just swapped the locations of the GPU's and issue still persists.

 

I do notice when I log in, it defaults like the driver isnt installed and the resolution is out of whack.  I have to reinstall the driver to get both GPU's to come up. 

Currently MSI card is primary, but I did have the EVGA as primary before I swapped them.  

Should I try de-powering everything?  I.e switch to PSU off and wait till all power has dissipated?

[Shinjitago]

Did a GPU-Z check, found something interesting.  Sometimes its showing the EVGA card running at x8 on 1.1, while other times its running on x8 3.0, MSI card is always running on x8 3.0

Is this something that normally happens?  It tones its speed down then speeds up once its doing something? seems kind of odd. 

Just did a test where I starting utilizing GPU with a video playing and it stayed at 3.0

[Shinjitago]

Pics for reference

[faziten]

3 hours ago, Shinjitago said:

Did a GPU-Z check, found something interesting.  Sometimes its showing the EVGA card running at x8 on 1.1, while other times its running on x8 3.0, MSI card is always running on x8 3.0

Is this something that normally happens?  It tones its speed down then speeds up once its doing something? seems kind of odd. 

Just did a test where I starting utilizing GPU with a video playing and it stayed at 3.0

Yeah, it's normal. When the GPU is idling or low load, the link will fallback to a lower link state. That's why GPU-Z was first included with a tiny GPU stress mini app. Because you could not see the real link speed with the gpu idling. Try the "?" symbol next to Bus interface and you will see this stress test, it just forces the gpu a little bit so the link goes to full speed. 

 

SLI for Nvidia require a 8x, 8x connection. So read your motherboard's user manual to find which PCI slots should be populated in order to do this and how you should have plugged and configured everything.

Page 20 of this manual (english version) : http://ar.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270X-Gaming-7-rev-10#support-manual

 

Cheers. 

[Shinjitago]

8 hours ago, faziten said:

Yeah, it's normal. When the GPU is idling or low load, the link will fallback to a lower link state. That's why GPU-Z was first included with a tiny GPU stress mini app. Because you could not see the real link speed with the gpu idling. Try the "?" symbol next to Bus interface and you will see this stress test, it just forces the gpu a little bit so the link goes to full speed. 

 

SLI for Nvidia require a 8x, 8x connection. So read your motherboard's user manual to find which PCI slots should be populated in order to do this and how you should have plugged and configured everything.

Page 20 of this manual (english version) : http://ar.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270X-Gaming-7-rev-10#support-manual

 

Cheers. 

I did this correctly, both if you read that I can see them automatically switch between 1.1 and 3.0, NVIDIA Control Panel shows they are 8x and Gen3 connections