Enable SLI problems M17x - 260M main 280M secondary

I hope that I am not posting something redundant here, but here goes.

I purchased a 280M from a very fine upstanding member here after reading several posts that it would work, and it should... in SLI mode.

9400 is disabled in BIOS. Nuked and cleaned drivers and loaded 186.81 Nvidia drivers (Vista 64 bit) again.

I remember that there was no SLI menu item under 3D options with the single card, even though I read in my endless search for a fix that this should have shown up with just my 260M since it is SLI ready.

It definately does not show up for enabling it with both cards in. I've opened up and reseated the SLI bridge cable. Both cards show up in Device Manager (Vista 64 bit), and the PhysX option is available for the 280M in Nvidia Control Panel as well, so the card is definately there. However, Crysis demo and the 3DMark's do not improve at all over the single 260M runs.

I'm sure it's either something stupid I overlooked, or possibly the driver rev I'm running.

If I overlooked a solution to this, my apologies (searched for enable SLI and about every simple to complex combination of searches both here and on the web via google).

Old tech junky that has been out of the loop for a couple... hehehe
Feels like old times... LoL!!!

aCk!!! Thfpppttt!!!

 

Ok, people.

I sold him the card and I need everyone's help in figuring this out. I feel bad that it isn't working even though it should ( and I said it would).

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Where did you get the driver's from?

In the nv control panel, does it show your 260 and 280? (click the system information button).

 

you can flash the 280 to a 260 VERY easy

and poof no issues

 

That is another option. Thanks moo!

Now, does he need to install the 280 in the primary slot by itself (remove the 260) to flash? And could someone post their secondary 260 vBIOS?

 

Jeez you guys are fast... hahaha

I'm pretty sure I checked it in the info in the CP... don't have the laptop with me. I'll probably get it at lunch and hack on it.

Is the flash proggy on the Nvidia site? Haven't bothered to do a search yet...

Drivers were from Nvidia site. Grabbed the mobile 200 series for 64 bit Vista.

I've seen a lot of posts about driver versions. Laptop 2 go has posted a 186.94 version, but I'm not resorting to that stuff until we investigate these a little more.

I'll search for the flash for the 280M while you guys are thinking.

Love the Av, Moo!

 

You'll need nibitor (not sure which version works best).

Someone will need to provide the secondary 260 vbios. Then you make a bootable disc with nvflash and the bios, boot with it, and flash.

Moo can help out more, I hope

 

Screen shots would also help. One of device manager with the two cards and one of GPU-z.

 

Nvidia SLi only works with the exact same type of video card. For example, let's use desktop cards. An Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX will only be able to use dual-GPU mode (SLi) with another Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX. It does not matter if the first card is branded as ASUS, and the second branded as MSI, so long as they are the same card. You cannot use SLi with an 8800 GTX and a 9800 GTX. They are different cards. This same principle also applies to laptops.

What you're trying to do is pair a GTX 260m [which you have installed in the primary GPU slot (GPU0)], with a GTX 280m [which you installed in the secondary slot (GPU1)]. SLi will not function because these 2 cards are a different model/card. It won't matter what you try, SLi will just not function.

However, there is hope. Here is what you can do to make the most of your situation as it is. Don't flash your GTX 280m! That seems... extreme.

You said your GTX 260m is recognized and is being used as the primary graphics card, and that the Nvidia Control panel is using the GTX 280m as a PhysX processor. Well that is good news, however it should be the other way around. The control panel uses the secondary GPU in a non-SLi configuration as a PhysX/CUDA processor. So what it's doing is using the more powerful GTX 280m as a PhysX/CUDA processor. You should reverse this. Uninstall both cards from the Device Manager within Windows, driver sweep the Nvidia drivers, shutdown your computer, open your M17x and swap the GPUs slots so that the GTX 280m is now the primary display adapter, and the GTX 260m is now the PhysX/CUDA slave. That setup will work great, and the best part is that you won't have any SLi headaches when it comes to compatibility.

 

You are 1000%, completely wrong ettornio.

 

Going to get the machine in a few at lunch...

Can't swap the slots... the heatsink/fan and some connectors on the cards are specific to the slot sides in the M17x.

Don't want to try to pop heatsinks on these puppies.

I've never done a GPU BIOS hack... this could be fun... aCk!!!

 

I'll try to pop some shots sometime after lunch.

 

nbitor should let you choose which card you want to backup the bios with in windows, but when you go to flash it in dos, I am not sure how you would select the right card.

And someone is going to have to send you the secondary 260 vbios.

Ichime, moo, anyone? Please

 

i dont have SLI so i cant help but you can specify which card to flash

 

Ok. Thanks moo, that is good news.

So it's pretty easy, glide. Just have to get someone to give you the slave 260 vbios.

 

yea then you just make a bootable flash driver then type nvflash -4 -5 -6 and your command for the 2 GPU


i know soviet sunrise knows the command it escapes me at the second

 

So someone has to backup their 260M bios and send it to me first?

 

I think this is it:

nvflash -4 -5 -6 -i1 newbios.rom (where "newbios.rom" is the name of the .rom file)

i0 would be the first card.

So download nvflash and nibitor. I'll try and find someone to send you the 260 vbios.

 

some one does (i have a single so i can't help )

 

if that doesn't work

-4 -5 -6 -y -a bios.rom

i had to do -y + -a on top of yours

 

And the link for nvflash.

 

Cool... I've already grabbed the proggies.

I figure the BIOS flash won't hurt to do first. I just want to make sure and backup the 280M secondary BIOS before doing it in case it needs to be reverted.

 

what is the -y and -a do?

I know the force flash is the -4 -5 -6.

 

you will prolly have to do this exact thing because you are not flashing the same bios to the card your doing different PCI id's and all


nvflash.exe -4 -5 -6 -y -a -i1 rom.rom

 

And the bckup command for the 280 would be:

nvflash -b -i1

Right?

 

if you do have a issue the 9400m will still work

 

I didn't think about that.

Will the 9400 mess up the order of gpu's (ex i0, i1, etc)?

 

if you have it disabled in BIOS no ( which i reccomend

 

So, just need to find someone to backup there slave 260 with nvflash.

Anyone?

 

Wait a minute!

Wouldn't it be easier for him to flash his 260 to a primary 280?

Scook, please backup your primary (i0)280 vbios

 

mine had some weried PCI id issues and drivers wouldn't install right

so i say just do the slave

 

Ah. I see.....

 

ettornio is right actually. Unless there is a hack, you can't run two different nVidia GPUs in SLi, even if they're close in performance.

 

That isn't true. The faster card works at the lower cards speeds.

In fact I have done it with my last desktop. lol

Cards do not need to be 100% matched (only in architecture).

 

What cards did you use for your desktop?

 

I sli'd an 8800GTX and older GTS.

Hmmmm.... You may be right as the name of the card is different (260 vs 280).

He just needs a bios flash, I guess.

 

i will like to help but i am at work and my laptop at home and also i don't know anything about backup gpu bios but if by this afternoon some one explain to me how to do it i can provide that if is not to late right

 

Well, I haven't seen it with the newer cards, but it's believable I guess. I know ATi's CrossfireX allows you to pair up different model cards as long as they're in the same performace category (i.e. 4870 + 4850 in crossfire, but not a 4770 + 4850).

Edit: my previous post contained potentially illegal links (it's a hack that might help with this). If interested, just PM me.

 

Yeah, looking at that link you might want to try it out, glide.

 

Just got back in... I think the link got nuked.

Doing a system restore to clean out some instabilities before I start
cleaning out drivers again. Won't take long.

I think I have my bootable jump drive with me, too.

 

I also have scook sending me his 280 vbios. So you can try that as well.

5 more posts then pm ichime for that link.

 

Exactly, this is how it should be done and problems will disappear.

 

Ok crylo.

I'm sending you a pm

 

I am not worthy...

 

As soon as crylo sends me the BIOS, it's going to you!

Then you can flash and all will be well (hopefully).

 

Cool beans... I'm going to peek around and see what shows up and what doesn't and then start nuking drivers again to the max.

Oh hell... just crashed... could be a format this weekend... hehe.

I'll hack on this and get it fixed and then once I get the BIOS, I'll try it.

I'm hitting the high school football game with Dad, my uncle, and two cousins, so if I don't get it before I leave work, I'll work on it late nite and tomorrow. Thanks for all the help so far, guys!

 

email sent, glide!

And a BIG thanks to scook and crylo!!!

+rep

 

No problem guys glad I could help.

 

Working on some screenshots now so you guys can at least see what's up and the missing SLI section of the Nvidia CP.

 

Okay... besides the system stability problems that require some serious driver stripping, here are some screenshots to show that the 260M and 280M are both showing up (besides the Hardware Viewer).

Going to try to flash backup and then load the 260 ROM to the 280.

*crosses fingers*