Help: 7950gx2 Not Running in Multi-GPU Mode in Vista x64?

[ShocWave]

I haven't played any games since I upgraded to Vista a few months back.
But, when I installed the new nVidia drivers in preperation for Bioshock, I noticed something strange...

I've enabled Multi-GPU mode as seen here:
Image 1

However, in the nVidia Global Options, Multi-GPU isn't an option:
Image 2

In the Program Settings, Multi-GPU is the default option for most games, however, it cannot be selected in the drop down box once changed:
Image 3

In older nVidia drivers, there was an option to view a GPU load bar during games, but it's no an option here... so I downloaded NVTray after reading that it works with Vista and the 7950gx2 but I cannot enable it:
Image 4

Any owners of a 7950gx2 want to shed some light on this issue?

 

[Acanthus]

A side note: Nvidias X64 drivers are pretty friggin terrible, and the general consensus is that SLI barely works at all.

Good luck with your specific issue I wanted SLI until i heard about how bad the drivers were.

 

[quattro1]

Once you have enabled Multi-GPU in the control panel, that is all you need to do. No need to mess with the gloabal options for multi-gpu, no reason.

People seem to think they have to dig in to the options and mess with rendering modes for each game when the don't. Once you enable multi-gpu, the NVIDIA profiles take over and use the correct rendering mode that has been determined already for each game. Why change it? Also, all those modes listed in the Global Options are multi-gpu modes.

Also, the load bar is still there, you just don't know where it is. Its on the under the 3D Settings drop down menu in the control when you are on the screen where you can enable multi-gpu.

Have you verified with any perf tests that you are not getting mulit-gpu perf?

 

[ShocWave]

The Vista Control Panel is quite different then the one on XP.
The Load Balancing Bar is no longer in the 3D settings.

After doing some tests. I noticed that I get around 1.5-2x more frames with Multi-GPU mode disabled (Multi-Display Mode). So something's seriously gone fubar. I even installed the SLI Hotfix from a few weeks ago.

 

[quattro1]

Vista and XP control panels are the same. You just don't know where to look for the load balance option.

Again,

When you are in the multi-gpu options window, at the top where you have those File, Edit, View drop down menu's, there is also a 3D Settings menu, that is where the load balance bar is. Its the same for XP and Vista. Though I do not recall if it is there for the 7950 GX2 since it is not really SLI, technically it is but you migh tbe limited to non-SLI options.

What are you using to test to see if it is working?

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: ShocWave

However, in the nVidia Global Options, Multi-GPU isn't an option:
Image 2

Split frame rendering and alternate frame rendering are multi-GPU modes. you can use those.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
A side note: Nvidias X64 drivers are pretty friggin terrible, and the general consensus is that SLI barely works at all.

Good luck with your specific issue I wanted SLI until i heard about how bad the drivers were.

SLI is working great for me now with either the 158.45 drivers or the new 163.44 Betas(Significantly faster). These are the only sets that I have gotten to work with SLI and they aren't that old, so I imagine even a month or two ago the SLI situation on Vista 64 was pretty grim.

 

[ShocWave]

I think I got it working, but the framerate differences are very minimal.
It's hard to determine if Multi-GPU mode is even working properly or not.

I've checked every single tab for the GPU Load meter, but I can't find it.

Screencap
File -> Page Setup, Print Preview, Print, Exit
Edit -> Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All
View -> Standard, Advanced, Define Custom View, Add Desktop Contect Menu
Help -> nVidia Control Panel Help, System Information, About

I swear I got it working in XP before...

 

[MyLeftNut]

I'm using 163.44 on Vista x64 with a 7950GX2 and I don't have the GPU Load meter either. However, I think my SLI is working properly. In BF2 with 1680x1050 4xAA, I'm hitting around 120-140+ FPS. Seems about right since my 7800GT was only getting about 50-60 FPS.