Problems with A8N-SLI and two Gigabyte 6600GTs

[RowBob]

I recently purchased an A8N-SLI Deluxe motherboard and two Gigabyte GeForce 6600GTs (GV-NX66T128D-3), with the intention of running them using SLI. I went to Gigabyte?s website and saw that I had to update the VGA BIOS for the video cards in order to run them in SLI. So I shut my PC down removed both cards, switched the SLI selector to single, put one of the cards in, updated the VGA BIOS for that card, and then the same for the other card. I then put the SLI selector back on dual card, and placed both cards in their respective slots. I then booted up and tried to install NVidia?s Graphics drivers. (66.93) But during the installation, after the monitor turns on and off 3 times, while the installer says ?Installing Driver Components? the computer locks up. So after this point I tried many things, I tried some of NVidia?s beta drivers (all above 66.93 in the number screen) and some of them didn?t even blink three times in the installation some of them just caused my monitor to lose signal (at the same point). I also updated to A8N-SLI Deluxe Beta BIOS 1003.005, but still with the same problem. I also tried updating the chipset?s drivers to ones from NVidia?s site rather than ones on the CD that came with the motherboard. I then reinstalled windows, still with no change. I then switched the two video cards so the one previously in the primary slot was in the secondary, and vice versa, but there was still no change. I cannot install any of NVidia?s drivers ever since I updated the VGA BIOS. Please, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sreams]

Did you plug in a power supply 4pin molex connector near the #1 x16 slot? How much of a power supply do you have?

-S

 

[RowBob]

yes I did plug the connector into the EZ Plug or whatever they call it, and the red LED is off. I have a 430W power supply, although I must admit not a very expensive one. Also, I forgot to mention before that I have run into two other errors. I once ran my machine in safe mode and installed the drivers in safe mode. The installation finished but on reboot I got a blue screen. I then had to reboot in safe mode and remove the drivers to get past it. And the other error just happened while I was reading your reply. My computer just froze on the ASUS loading screen that pops up directly after when you turn your machine on. Any help?

 

[SkyBum]

Regarding the beta BIOS, you might want to take a look at this thread.

 

[RowBob]

hmm... you're right Skybum it does seem that many people have been having problems with 1003.005, but unfortunately I'm pretty sure that it's not causing my problem since it was occuring long before I flashed. Though it very well could cause me problems in the future if I can ever figure out this problem. ;-)

 

[FastEddie]

Sounds like Gigabyte doesn't have the bios just quite right for the cards. I'd try taking one of the cards out, clearing the cmos, flash the mobo back to the 1002 final (to take that possibility out of the equation), then try for an install of the os.

If at that point you can't get past your present limit, I'd consider rma'ing the video cards to Gigabyte direct. To let them figure out the problem.

 

[avey]

I tried setting this up with the same Giga-Byte cards with no luck. I was getting the exact same problem when installing the drivers. I even went as fas as flashing the bios on the cards them self. Still wouldnt work.

I think the issues was that they were not SLI certified. So nivida's driver wont alow you to enable SLI. I returned the Giga-Byte cards and got ASUS cards. Once I pluged them in I had it up and running in five minutes.

Check out Nvidia's list of certified cards:
http://www.nzone.com/object/nz...ardware_certified.html

 

[RowBob]

heh, I don't like that answer. Can really nobody run in SLI with Gigabyte
cards? Seems a pretty big mistake for a company like that...

*EDIT*
I finished the installation in Safe Mode... but then I got a blue screen on reboot.

 

[AlexBmur]

Originally posted by: avey
I tried setting this up with the same Giga-Byte cards with no luck. I was getting the exact same problem when installing the drivers. I even went as fas as flashing the bios on the cards them self. Still wouldnt work.

I think the issues was that they were not SLI certified. So nivida's driver wont alow you to enable SLI. I returned the Giga-Byte cards and got ASUS cards. Once I pluged them in I had it up and running in five minutes.

Check out Nvidia's list of certified cards:
http://www.nzone.com/object/nz...ardware_certified.html

I think you may be right. I have this same card (I am not running SLI, but I am worried that it might not work in SLI mode). I took a closer look at the box and noticed that no where do thay have an Nvidia SLI logo on the box, it just says PCIE. So I think you are right, they didn't get SLI certification. Looks like I will be RMAing this card so that I at least know that I have an SLI ready board that won't give me problems in the future.

 

[FastEddie]

Bet they work with Gigabyte's $300 plus SLI board. That would be wild if their own cards didn't work on their own boards.

 

[RowBob]

haha yeah it would... But I'd hope they would work with ASUS's board too...

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: RowBob
haha yeah it would... But I'd hope they would work with ASUS's board too...

I would be so deep in Gigabytes a$$, via the phone, that they would need a protologist to find my shoe. Seriously, it's their responsibility to make sure a product works as it is sold to work!

Edit: I just tried emailing Gigabytes Tech Support, to send them a link of this thread. Response from Gigabyte server is that manner of communication no longer exists!

Tech Support in Taiwan still exists. Sent them an email with a link to this thread.

Nope Taiwan tech support email bounced back too with the message that user mailbox exceeds allowable size.

Anyone think that Gigabyte is trying to intentionally duck something?

 

[Interfire]

I had my two gigabyte 6600gt's working fine with my A8N. They did the exact same thing that yours it, but once I installed the latest drivers they worked like a charm.

Also, gigabyte has given me terrific support when I've emailed them in the past. They always replied and fixed my problems within a a couple days. Good company imo.

 

[RowBob]

hey Interfire that's great news. I'm sorry to push, but do you think you could explain
how you got from my situation to yours a bit more clearly? For example, which drivers in particular
and were there any other steps that you took?

Oh and I emailed Gigabyte last night, but they have yet to get back to me, but they have in the
past so I'm sure that they will. But any other assistance I can get would me greatly appreciated.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: Interfire
Also, gigabyte has given me terrific support when I've emailed them in the past. They always replied and fixed my problems within a a couple days. Good company imo.

Great news. Go at it RowBob.

Just a question for Interfire: Have you recently tried any of the Gigabyte tech support email addys lately? I have four addys in the address book for Gigabyte tech---none of them are currently functional. To me, that's not good tech support!

 

[RowBob]

Gigabyte now has some sort of utility on their site that lets you email their tech support.
Let's see if I can grab a link for it....

http://www.giga-byte.com/TechSupport/ServiceCenter.htm

But they have yet to get back to me.

 

[Interfire]

I haven't emailed them recently, prolly about several months ago. And they responded within 2 days. They have even emailed me a beta bios not released a few times for my motherboard. They even called my house one time with some dude making sure my problem was fixed. Couldn't understand him but at least it was nice of him I guess.

I'll check my address book for the address I sent mine to, FastEddie. Once I get home from work.

RowBob, no problem. I had the same problem basically but when I first installed both cards in the system refused to boot. It would always hang POST. So I removed one card and tried that and it worked fine. Now installed the drivers I tried installed some pre-66.93 drivers to get things going but about I'd say 25% through the process the system froze one, and rebooted twice. So I tried the card again but this time downloaded the latest drivers (I was coming from ATI so I didn't have latest on my system) installed that and everything ran fine from then on. So then I once tried the dual setup again, booted up fine and everything has been normal/stable since then.

 

[RowBob]

out of curiosity Interfire, what exact model are your video cards, and what are the specs and brand of your Power Supply? Oh and did you have service pack 2 installed? Sorry for the barrage of quesitons. ;-)

 

[RowBob]

Nope, none of these solutions have worked. :-/ I tried something else though. I pulled out
one of the cards, and set the SLI selector on Single Mode. I then installed the drivers fine.
So it was working fine PCI 16x. I then tried shutting it down and switching the selector back to
Dual and putting the other card in. I actually got into Windows doing this and was very excited,
but then all of a sudden my monitor lost signal. Just completely blanked. I tried rebooting and
it was the same result each time I got into windows. A few seconds of Windows and then "No Signal".
I then went into Safe Mode to see if the same thing was happening, and a message box popped up
saying that it had finished installing hardware and wanted me to reboot. So I rebooted and got a
blue screen. So I went back into Safe Mode and unistalled the drivers. So I'm back to Square One.
Any ideas?

 

[FastEddie]

Found some beta sli drivers here, linked from nvidia's site, but don't try them just yet. dl and be ready---> 67.02

Nope, here's another beta, dated 21/1/2004---> 67.03

Here's the earlier nvidia drivers that are SLI capable--- 66.93

That's it, it's just the two sets of drivers.

 

[Interfire]

Got service pack 2, and I'm running a Enermax 435watt power supply.

Do both of your cards work in single mode? Maybe one of them is throwing things off.

 

[RowBob]

yeah both cards are working in single mode. So I'm pretty sure that both cards are fully functional... :-/

Oh and I've downloaded those drivers, but why don't you want me to install them yet?

 

[FastEddie]

I just wanted to see if you were running motherboard bios 1002, or one of the betas. If beta, you should flash your mobo back to the 1002 final as you shouldn't try to solve this kind of a problem running all beta (motherboard bios and video card drivers).

 

[RowBob]

no I've flashed back to 1002. I was originally using the beta drivers. But they were pretty unstable.

 

[FastEddie]

Rock and roll then. Go to single video card mode and install one of the beta drivers for the cards.