2x GTX 550Ti SLI, 3 monitors

[adamofgreyskull]

Hi there, I had a two-monitor setup that I used for working from home since...ages (VGA input 19" Widescreen (1440x900) monitors). I then inherited a second GTX 550 Ti and have had it in my non-SLI motherboard for a few months now. In the NVidia control panel, it's configured as a dedicated PhysX processor. About the same time I bought a third 1920x1080 23" monitor which I put in the middle. of my two 19" monitors.

At the moment, I game full screen on the centre 23" 1080p monitor plugged into HDMI on the primary graphics card.

A few days ago I decided to upgrade from my ASUS M5A97 motherboard to the ASUS Sabertooth 990FX and it's arriving in the next couple of days. It says it supports SLI and I wondered if I could SLI my two video cards and run three monitors? I've done some googling and it looks like the answer's no...

How should I set up my graphics cards/monitors? Each card has HDMI/VGA/DVI outs so could all three monitors be plugged into the primary graphics card? Or can I keep it as it is and will it Just Work(tm) when I run games. I've only ever played Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance on two monitors and wasn't that fussed by it so I don't really need to run games on more than one monitor. Is there a way to have the cards running 3 monitors while I work and then turn on SLI when I want to play a game?

 

[airdeano]

since you already have them, sure hook them into a x16/x16 SLI. it'll still be
a 1GB memory buffer, but spread to every other frame. i dunna know about the
tri monitor, though. not alot of horsepower in those card to support a high res
option, maybe in medium, but the late-model titles will prolly murder the FPS.
prolly, tbh, use the best monitor for gaming and the others for support, communications
and web browsing. but still all in SLI.

airdeano

 

[adamofgreyskull]

Thanks for your reply Will give it a go.

 

[adamofgreyskull]

Ok, so I tried them in SLI with only my HDMI monitor hooked up and tried to play Hitman Absolution, but the framerate was about 3fps. With a single 550Ti, I get 25-30fps with the same settings.

I've googled to try and find out why, and some posts seem to suggest my PSU might be the problem. I have a Cooler Master GX, 750W.

 

[airdeano]

silly question, yo do have the SLI bridge attached and 2x 6-pin connections (one
per card) and turned on in the nVidia control panel?

 

[adamofgreyskull]

No worries, perfectly valid question. Yep, the SLI bridge is attached and both have 6-pin power connectors attached. I'm going to try and do a clean install of the NVidia drivers to see if that makes a difference.

 

[adamofgreyskull]

(Also, SLI was turned on in the NVidia control panel)
I did a clean install of the drivers and that seems to have done it
Now get an average of ~45 fps in the Hitman Absolution benchmark with very nearly max settings! Sweet!
Thanks airdeano

 

[SuB]

This is an error i ran into, if you have drivers installed before they are sli'd it doesn't always work/detect properly. Glad to hear you've fixed it

 

[Permafrost]

i have a ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2 it's an awesome bored! wish i still had a fx 4170 it was really good but i switched to intel after the fx 8350 reviews now it's just gathering dust

 

[sonrise]

have you tried hypersli?? It enables SLI on non sli motherboards, I know some people running it, and it has been good so far, it just doesnt work with the 6 series cards

 

[Permafrost]

i only had 1 HD 6850 didn't crossfire.