Activating NVIDIA SLI on all motherboards, updated detailed HOW-TO
Description
So making multiple NVIDIA cards working together in SLI mode can be done on all motherboards for now. This became true due simplified verification procedure, which is implemented officially for Intel X58 platform, since 180.xx version of Forceware driver.
Originally, SLI-capability of motherboard checked by complex crypted routines in videocard driver, and thus bypassing this check was quite hard earlier. There only few old drivers present, which support SLI on non-NVIDIA chipsets, like 84.xx and 81.xx drivers made few years earlier. Now things changed, with officially SLI-capable Intel X58 chipset. In the case of Intel X58 motherboards, checking SLI support by driver was developed with a simplified scheme, which uses text strings and identifiers for all present and future X58-boards. Later P55 are also was added to support similar SLI certification procedure.
Modification tools described here can be used to force the NVIDIA graphics driver to detect supported chipset «Intel X58», regardless of what the real hardware chipset present in system. After receiving the identification of a "X58" chipset, videocard driver checks for the correct certificate from BIOS to check "compatibility" with SLI tech, which should be located in the system table DSDT, which is a part of ACPI. Initially, the data tables are loaded from the computer's BIOS, but later, if BIOS wasn't changed, used from the regular OS registry entry by Windows.
For today, after long time of tool development and research, we got latest version of patch available in beta-status for public testing. These modifications are for education purposes and are provided "AS IS", without any warranties. We (xDevs.com project and developers of SLI patch) cannot be held responsible for any errors, failures or data loss during this procedure, make sure you have backed up all critical data before trying this mod. So, before we give all instructions, please note that these operations interact with the PC's hardware at low level, so in case your PC fails, data loss or any other damage occur responsibility rests solely on you. . However, on all the systems we have tried, we have had no errors, all passed without any major mistakes.
Because of difference of OS kernels and HAL library in every os, every SLIpatch tool hardcoded and dedicated only for specific operating system type and version. Using wrong SLIpatch will cause OS unstable or even damaged. Be aware to use only proper tool version.
This method and tools has been successfully tested and implemented for following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Microsoft Windows Vista 32-bit Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Microsoft Windows 2008 R2
Install and usage
Using patch for operation system is very easy now. There is no need to mess with strings, decrypting values, and modifying windows registry to run SLI now. All these work done in background automatically by latest SLIPatch software tool. All that is needed :
1. Download proper tool version for your Windows OS in bottom of this guide. 2. Unpack it to some directory on harddrive. For Windows Vista or Windows 7 disable UAC. 3. Run command prompt with administrator rights ("Run" menu in Windows Start menu and type cmd there) 4. Go to directory with patch and run InstallSLI.cmd. 5. If everything ok, tool will report "SLI patch installed" and exit. 6. Reboot. 7. During boot there will be "extra OS" selection, marked "SLI enabled". This is one to use with SLI patch active. 8. Select SLI enabled system and boot it. 9. System should run SLI now, until BIOS or motherboard changed.
If you want to run SLI patched system always - just set default os and delay in System Properties >> Advanced >> Startup and Recovery >> Default operating system and Time to display list of operating systems.
If you don't need SLI patch anymore you can uninstall patch with next:
1. Download or use previously downloaded same version proper tool version for your Windows OS in bottom of this guide. 2. Run command prompt with administrator rights ("Run" menu in Windows Start menu and type cmd there) 3. Go to directory with patch and run UninstallSLI.cmd. 4. If everything ok, tool will report "SLI patch uninstalled" and exit. 5. Reboot. 6. System should boot in native state now.
Remember, this tool only allows driver to see chipset as X58, and inserts ASUS certification into windows registry. It don't allow to run SLI with different GPU's, don't allow to run NVIDIA GPU with ATI GPU together, don't do any magic, all just like running official "NVIDIA SLI-ready" system. It supports all SLI modes, present in current drivers, from 2-way SLI with two single-GPU videocards, to 3 and 4-GPU systems with three or four GPU's (Like two GTX295 in QuadSLI). Also some minor issues may occur here, if you left enabled SLI for multiGPU's in modded system, and then try to boot original one - in most cases you got BSOD, because NV driver will get errors from unknown mode. Be aware of that, and take attention to enabled modes.
It's highly recommended to use SLIPatch tool, as most simple and checked way to have SLI on systems non-supported officially.But there is also other method of making SLI available, using only modified driver for non-official SLI. This need extra tool to have ASUS SLI string certificate inserted to your system DSDT (for SLIPatch tool this operation made automatically). It's free to use any method, but choose only one of the methods, not both of them.
All latest SLIPatch OS versions are working good with any driver from 180.xx to latest 257.xx versions so far. SLI for Fermi-based cards, like GeForce GTX 465/470/480 still works with SLIpatch on X48 systems (another chipset should work too, but untested in hardware for now). If you tested SLIpatch with Fermis on non-X48 chipset, feel free to report this to update article.
Old HAL mods, available on net DO NOT work with drivers 195.xx, because NVIDIA recently added some protection routines to prevent people have SLI after our howto was released to public.
Current SLIPatch 0.8 override that extra protection and let you have SLI again. Please use only latest version of our tool (SLIPatch 0.8 beta).
Patched SLI drivers for specific versions, early experimental drivers
Section A. Windows XP 32, modded videodriver ForceWare 190.62
Step 2 Press ASUS, regardless of real motherboard vendor, to patch Windows registry with SLIC certificate
Step 3 Install modified Forceware 190.62 (link in bottom of this article) XP driver. Reboot. SLI must work now
Section B. Windows 7 32-bit, method 1, modded Forceware 190.62 Vista/7
Repeat steps 1-2 from “section A.”. All is the same without any change here.
Step 4. Disable UAC
Step 5. Copy modified driver file from bottom of article to c:/windows/system32/drivers.
Now, if everything done correctly, SLI must work after reboot.
Section C. Windows 7 64-bit, method 1, modded Forceware 190.62 Vista/7 Steps 1-2 are the same.
Step 5. Disable UAC, enter system to test mode, make modified driver file have certified for OS.
Step 6. Copy modified driver file to c:/windows/system32/drivers.
Now, if everything done correctly, SLI must work. Modified systems results And now the results after the modifications, and activation of SLI in the popular benchmark P5B Deluxe (Intel 965 chipset) + two GeForce 6600LE graphics cards in SLI:
3D'03: one card, QX9650 @ 4200MHz, 6600LE DDR3 660/670: 10044 3D'03: two graphics cards in SLI, Q6700 @ 3000MHz, 6600LE DDR3 580/522: 11087 3D'05: one card, QX9650 @ 4213MHz, 6600LE DDR3 646/660: 3729 3D'05: two graphics cards in SLI, Q6700 @ 3000MHz, 6600LE DDR3 580/522: 4975 3D'06: one card, Q6700 @ 3600MHz, 6600LE DDR3 580/585: 1510 3D'06: two graphics cards in SLI, Q6700 @ 3000MHz, 6600LE DDR3 580/522: 1808 Aqua: one card, QX9650 @ 4200MHz, 6600LE DDR3 670/670: 71435 Aqua: two graphics cards in SLI, Q6700 @ 3000MHz, 6600LE DDR3 580/522: 88,185 Aqua: two graphics cards in SLI, QX9650 @ 4510MHz, 2 x 7900GS 552/750: 213000 3D'01: QX9650 @ 5310MHz, Gigabyte X48-DS5, 2 x 7900GS 566/764: 78306 3D'03: QX9650 @ 5000MHz, Gigabyte X48-DS5, 2 x 7900GS 550/743: 39563 3D'05: QX9650 @ 5100MHz, Gigabyte X48-DS5, 2 x 7900GS 566/764: 17424 3D'06: QX9650 @ 5200MHz, Gigabyte X48-DS5, 2 x 7900GS 566/764: 10734 Aqua: QX9650 @ 5306MHz, Gigabyte X48-DS5, 2 x 7900GS 566/764: 232881
That's ALL what you need, to have SLI patch working. Nothing more needed. But we have some experimental files from early development stages. These are shared on next links:
Driver must use the certificate ASUS, regardless of the actual manufacturer of the motherboard. This would include even on SLI motherboards manufacturers, who have no Х58 solutions.
Please, do not post direct links for SLIPatch, this way you will leave users without present detailed description what to do with these files. Keep links to this howto, to let authors of SLI Patch develop better versions in future, not answering 101th question "how to enable sli on my system".
User feedback, already tested systems with unofficial SLI working
Intel 5520 (Supermicro X8DAH+) + 2 x Quadro FX 4800 (GT200GL) on Windows 2008 R2 by derGhostrider Intel 5520 (Supermicro X8DAi) + 2 x GeForce GTX 285 by coolmiester Intel 5520 (Supermicro X8DAH+-F) + 2 x GeForce GTX 285 by coolmiester Intel P55 (ASUS MAXIMUS III Formula) + 2 x GeForce 6600LE by xDevs.com Intel P55 (ASUS MAXIMUS III Formula) + 3 x GeForce 8800Ultra by Xtremelabs.org Intel X58 (ASUS P6T SE) + 2 x XFX GTX260 by reversedhex Intel X58 (ASUS P6T) + 2 x GeForce 8800Ultra on Windows2008R2 by TiN Intel X48 (Gigabyte X48-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce GTX 480 by GreQ, 257.15 driver Win7 x64 Intel X48 (Gigabyte X48-DS5) + 2 x GeForce 7900GS by Xtremelabs.org Intel X48 (Gigabyte X48-DS5) + 2 x GeForce 8800Ultra by TiN Intel X48 (Gigabyte X48T-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 216sp by DeDaL Intel X48 (ASUS P5E64WS Evolution) + 2 x GeForce 7900GS by Xtremelabs.org Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Extreme) + 2 x GeForce GTX 295 QuadSLI by Turrican Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Extreme) + 2 x GeForce 6800Ultra by Turrican Intel X48 (DFI LP LT X48) + 2 x GeForce 8500GT by AMD64 Intel X48 (DFI LP LT X48) + 2 x GeForce 7900GS by TiN Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Extreme) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX by Ghostleader Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Formula) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX by Ghostleader Intel X48 (ASUS P5E Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 9600GT by benjounou Intel X48 (Gigabyte X48-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 by TheWolf Intel X48 (DFI LT X48) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by nnygl Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Extreme) + 2 x GeForce GTX 275 by boboe Intel X48 (ASUS Rampage Extreme) + 2 x GeForce GTX 280 by gradus Intel X48 (Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by Kopi Intel X38 (ABIT IX38QuadGT) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 by TheWolf Intel X38 (Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by hansiii Intel P45 (ASRock P45X3 Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 8800GTS by hdcore Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q-Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 216sp by Goonit Intel P45 (Asrock P45R2000-WiFi) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 by Artyom Intel P45 (Gigabyte EP45-UD3P) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX+ by coop Intel P45 (Gigabyte EP45-UD3P) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX+ by deskilljoy Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q-PRO) + 2 x GeForce GTX 275 by tpp Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q Pro) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT by awdrifter Intel P45 (Gigabyte EP45-UD3P) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT (Win7 32bit) Intel P45 (Gigabyte EP45-UD3P) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX+ by cjer Intel P45 (Gigabyte EP45-DS4) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 by cxghjcqr Intel P45 (ASUS MAXIMUS II Formula) + 2 x GeForce 9800GTX + by sveetsnelda Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce GTX 285 by Death or Glory Intel P45 (DFI LanParty DK P45 T2RS Plus) + 2 x GeForce 8800GTS by BakMZi Intel P45 (ASUS Maximus II Formula) + 2 x GeForce GTX 285 by ovan_febriawan Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q-E) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 (65nm + 55nm) by manut2500 Intel P35 (Abit IP35ProXE) + 2 x GeForce GTX 260 (192sp + 216sp) by TheWolf Intel P35 (DFI LT UT P35) + GeForce 8800GTX + GeForce 8800Ultra by TiN Intel P35 (ASUS P5K Premium) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by oiluj Intel i975X (ASUS P5W DH DLX) + 2 x GeForce 7950GT by MikeTyson Intel i975X (ASUS P5W DH) + 2 x GeForce 6600LE by TiN Intel P965 (Gigabyte P965-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce 6600LE by TiN Intel P965 (ASUS P5B Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 6600LE by xDevs.com Intel P965 (Gigabyte GA-P965-DQ6) + 2 x GeForce 8800GTS G80 by masoninc61 Intel P965 (ASUS P5B Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 8800 Ultra by TiN on 195.62 WHQL w7-32 driver Intel P965 (Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3P) + 2 x GeForce 9600GT by adidd Intel 915P (ECS 915P-A2) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by p_o_s_pc
AMD 890FX (ASUS Crosshair IV) + 2 x GeForce 8800GTS by Reagan AMD 790FX (DFI DK 790FXB-M2RS) + 2 x GeForce GTX 470 by largon AMD 790FX (ASUS Crosshair III Formula) + 2 x GeForce 280 GTX by dbphelps AMD 790FX (DFI LP DK 790FXB-M2RS) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT by aGeoM AMD 790FX (ASUS M479T Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 6600GT by OgaiB AMD 790FX (ASUS Crosshair III Formula) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by eRazorzEDGE AMD 790FX (ASUS Crosshair III Formula) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT by aGeoM AMD 790FX (Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P) by akula AMD 780GX (Gigabyte GA-MA780G-UD3H) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT by Mosfet321 AMD 790GX (ECS A790GXM-A) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT AMD 790GX (Foxconn A7DA-S) + 2 x GeForce 8800GT by Velvet Wafer AMD 790GX (ECS A790GXM-AD3) + 2 x GeForce 9800GT/2 x GeForce 250GTS AMD 790FX (ASUS M4A79 Deluxe) + 2 x GeForce 8500GT by Soundood AMD 790FX (DFI UT 790FX-M2R) + 2 x GeForce 7600GS by AlexLion AMD 770 (Abit AX78) + 2 x GeForce 8500GT by Soundood
Despite current list, this modification allow to run SLI on ANY chipset, and not just Intel or NVIDIA. Technically SLI can be enabled even on a Motherboard with an AMD or VIA Chipset. Of course, board must have two or more PCI-Express slots for that and have two SLI-compatible graphic cards installed.
Now, we understand the principle of SLI certification, so we can find similar pieces of code and modify any later drivers released by NVIDIA, before the release of new protection methods from NVIDIA which is only a matter of time.
Examples of DSDT files with inserted SLIC certificate:
Because lot of people ask same questions, we made short FAQ about using NVIDIA SLI technology (no matter officially supported, or with modded system)
Q:Will this mod work on my ASUS XXX-XXX / Gigabyte YYY-YYY / Vendor Z model AAA-BBB-CCC motherboard to get SLI? A: We don't give any 100% guarantee, but as far almost all motherboards which have two PCI-Express slots can do SLI. Only correct ID reports to videodriver and physical ability to drive all videocards from single hub/complex is necessary to make SLI technology enabled. There are some rare cases, when even mod from this article wouldn't help, by we have no such cases yet.
Q:Can I have SLI on my X58 board, with no official support of SLI (low-end X58 boards, server boards on Intel 5520 chipset, etc.)? A:Yes. All is needed - just run SLI String Installer and press your vendor button or ASUS if there is none.
Q: Is it possible to use different videocards to get SLI? A: You must use same GPU-s to get SLI. For example 8800GTS + 8600GTS or GTX 260 + GTX 280 will not work together, only as separate cards. If you have videocards with different memory size onboard, you still can use non-recommended SLI mode, by creating DWORD key named CoolBits with 1F value in registry HKLM\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\NVTweak. This will render "extra" videomemory unused. For example 8800GTS 640MB + 8800GTS 320MB will be the same as two 8800GTS 320MB cards. Having equal chip/memory clocks isn't necessary. But we recommend to install faster card to primary PCI-E slot, due to higher load to master card overall performance should be better.
Q: Can I have multimonitor setup with SLI-enabled system? A: Yes, if you have GPU newer than 8600/8800, use SLI bridge, use OS Windows Vista or Seven, and Forceware ver >180.xx. Also all monitors must be connected to mastercard (with first GPU0).
Q: Can I overclock cards in SLI? A: Yes, by default you can overclock both card at same time, to maximum stable clocks for mastercard. Or you can use separate values for every GPU. For this run Rivatuner tool, go to Power user tab, found key NVAPIMultiGpuClockControl in System section and set it to zero (0). After this you can select GPU's and tune clocks for each separate.
Q: What operating systems support SLI? A: SLI is supported only by Windows XP (32/64bit both), 2003/2008 Server (32/64bit both except Itanium version), Vista (all versions), Seven (all versions), Linux with kernel newer than 2.4.7, Solaris x86 and FreeBSD.
Q: Why SLI setup isn't faster than single card in Windows Vista? A: Due the error in Vista second card is not used in DirectX applications. Install system update SP1 and Forceware driver >162.18 to fix this.
Q: Do I need SLI bridge? Can I use Crossfire bridges? Can I run SLI without bridge? A:SLI bridge for MIO interface on card helps cards to transfer data between GPU's without need to use computer PCI-Express interface. Bandwidth of this MIO interface is close to PCI-Express x1. SLI Bridge isn't critical for SLI operation for two single-GPU cards but it helps to lower PCI-Express loading. In simple words FPS in games and tests will be better with SLI bridge. For complex SLI systems, like 3-way SLI or Quad SLI presence of SLI-bridges is essential. Crossfire bridge cannot be used with NVIDIA cards, the have different pitch, contact amount and configuration. You will damage card trying to use ATI Bridges on NVIDIA cards.
Q: I made all steps for my OS, but SLI don't appear, or my OS is crashed and don't boot anymore! Help me please! A: Recheck everything, just a single mistake can render your OS unusable. Try pressing F8 and selecting "Load last good state" or "Disable automatic reboot when failure", it can help you to boot flawed system. If you are sure that everything was done correct, and still have problems - send mail to our support address support"signofmail"xdevs.com with your DSDT table (received by tool with key iasl -g, and detailed system configuration and problem description). We will try to respond as soon as we can, but remember, this is free project, maintained only when there is free time, so be patient to wait some time.
Q: I installed two videocards into motherboard, tried everything, but SLI don't appear A: If you have old motherboard, based on mainstream chipsets like P965, P35, P45, P55 with lack of PCI-express lanes, you should check, which host feed PCI-Express slots for GPU's. For example if you have first PCI-E connected to northbridge PCI-E link, and second one connected to PCI-E from southbridge, then SLI can't be used. Graphics cards should have same host for SLI. For example, we tried three 8800 Ultra's on DFI UT P35 mainboard, but SLI enabled only for first two cards. On this motherboard, third GPU was connected to x1 PCI-Express of southbridge, no matter which slot size is. You can see this by looking pairs of traces from PCI-Express slot running to bridge.
Also check if SLIC certificate installed properly. To do this download latest version of Lavalys Everest diagnostic tool, and open section ACPI/DSDT there. You should have correct string in "SLI Certification". If there is "Not present" then try SLI patch install again.
Q: I followed guide, but my system based on AMD 770/790/etc chipset hangs, bsods, or I can't enable SLI at all. I'm using Windows XP.A: Currently NV drivers check not only chipset type, but also PCI-Express root hub ID's. So to have SLI on AMD chipsets with current mods, you should switch to Windows Vista/Windows 7, or wait for new patch version.
Versions of this article:
rev. 4.2 Added latest version 0.8 of slipatch, now fully ACPI compatible. rev. 4.1 Added Fermi info, SLI patch still works with 257.xx driver rev. 4.0 SLIPatch 0.7 tool usage desctibed, reworked layout, minor correction rev. 3.0 Forceware 195.xx drivers branch again patched to have SLI, major updated tools rev. 2.1 Added info about latest 195.xx drivers and SLI bridges question in FAQ. rev. 2.0 All sections filled in, added FAQ for newbies. rev. 1.0 Initial document available for public rev. 0.5 First test with unofficial SLI, russian version of article
Русская версия документа, как включить NVIDIA SLI на любой материнской плате This material would have been impossible without the participation of:
Author modifications and specialist programming Sveetsnelda Author of modifications HAL.dll and SLIPatch - anatolymik Support and testing by xDevs.com Information Support Resources techPowerUp!, Xtremelabs.org, 3Dnews.ru, Xtremesystems.org.
Big THANKS to:
TheWolf, SArd, DeDaL, cyclone, and all who are interested in going on.
Links to recent discussions on other resources on this topic:
