LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] No SLI & only 1 detected GPU

- Slackware (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/)

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No SLI & only 1 detected GPU

Hi! I discovered that in despite of having a SLI capable laptop (2 identical GT8700M GPU's) and having successfully setup this in the past (with Slack 12 & OpenSUSE), I am no longer capable of doing so as there is only 1 GPU's detected by the nvidia-settings application. I do remember that I normally have to add the options MultiGPU SLI both to "ON" to use the SLI feature but not having 2 GPU's wont help...

I added these options to xorg.conf using the xnvidia-settings command but the second GPU is still not detected.

Trying:

Code:

/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

gives:

Code:

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8700M GT] (rev a1)

and as you can see, there is no 2nd GPU...

also trying:

Code:

/sbin/lspci -t

gives:

Code:

-[0000:00]-+-00.0

          +-01.0-[01-04]----00.0-[02-04]--+-00.0-[03]----00.0

          |                              \-01.0-[04]--

          +-1a.0

          +-1a.1

          +-1a.7

          +-1b.0

          +-1c.0-[0b]--

          +-1c.1-[0c]----00.0

          +-1c.3-[0d-0e]--

          +-1c.4-[0f]----00.0

          +-1c.5-[09]----00.0

          +-1d.0

          +-1d.1

          +-1d.2

          +-1d.7

          +-1e.0-[05]--+-01.0

          |            +-01.1

          |            +-01.2

          |            \-01.3

          +-1f.0

          +-1f.1

          +-1f.2

          \-1f.3

I got these commands from the Nvidia Linux support forum. According to NVidia, this could be caused by a kernel that does not detect the PCI link between the video cards (the SLI link).

I am currently using a generic kernel 2.6.33.4-smp. I use stock slack 13.1 (except the kernel).

I have Nvidia driver 195.36.31 with X server 11.

Anybody know what I need to do to get the second GPU detected? I reverted from Hugesmp to generic because I have been recommended to do so to avoid misc problems (such as fatal errors with NFS shares, etc...) and improved compatibility.

just tried with slackware generic-2.6.33.4 (but I'm on x86_64) and SLI is working here with the latest nvidia stable drivers

Code:

-[0000:00]-+-00.0

          +-01.0-[01-0a]----00.0-[02-0a]--+-00.0-[09]----00.0

          |                              \-01.0-[0a]----00.0

Code:

# lspci | grep GeForce

09:00.0 3D controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600M GT] (rev a1)

0a:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600M GT] (rev a1)

I boot with no framebuffer (vga=normal, not really sure if related) and I got only

Code:

Option "SLI" "auto"

in the device section of xorg.conf.

are you using a custom kernel? try building one starting from Pat's config.

can it be some hardware/bios setting problem? maybe you can check with some live distribution if it works...

ponce, thanks for the reply! no I am not using a "custom" kernel, just the generic one. I was previously using the hugesmp kernel but I was having problems with NFS shares and other incompatibilities and I was suggested to replace the hugesmp by a generic kernel. Thats what I did.

Thats funny, lspci will throw:

Code:

01:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:01.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8700M GT] (rev a1)

so it seems that the PCI bridge (link) is recognized but not my 2nd card... My xorg.conf looks like:

Code:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings

# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder75)  Wed Jun  2 00:21:51 PDT 2010



# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig

# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder75)  Wed Jun  2 00:20:35 PDT 2010



Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier    "Layout0"

    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0

    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"

    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"

    Option        "Xinerama" "0"

EndSection



Section "Files"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"



    # generated from default

    Identifier    "Mouse0"

    Driver        "mouse"

    Option        "Protocol" "auto"

    Option        "Device" "/dev/psaux"

    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "no"

    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"



    # generated from default

    Identifier    "Keyboard0"

    Driver        "kbd"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

    Identifier    "Monitor0"

    VendorName    "Unknown"

    ModelName      "Seiko"

    HorizSync      30.0 - 75.0

    VertRefresh    60.0

    Option        "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Device"

    Identifier    "Device0"

    Driver        "nvidia"

    VendorName    "NVIDIA Corporation"

    BoardName      "GeForce 8700M GT"

EndSection



Section "Screen"



# Removed Option "TwinView" "0"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"

    Identifier    "Screen0"

    Device        "Device0"

    Monitor        "Monitor0"

    DefaultDepth    24

    Option        "MultiGPU" "on"

    Option        "SLI" "on"

    Option        "TwinView" "1"

    Option        "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"

    Option        "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0"

    SubSection    "Display"

        Depth      24

    EndSubSection

EndSection

can you try with this xorg.conf (I moved the sli option in the device section and removed some things, just to see if twinview is involved)?

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier    "Layout0"

    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0

    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"

    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"

    Option        "Xinerama" "0"

EndSection



Section "Files"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"

    FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"



    # generated from default

    Identifier    "Mouse0"

    Driver        "mouse"

    Option        "Protocol" "auto"

    Option        "Device" "/dev/psaux"

    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "no"

    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"



    # generated from default

    Identifier    "Keyboard0"

    Driver        "kbd"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

    Identifier    "Monitor0"

    VendorName    "Unknown"

    ModelName      "Seiko"

    HorizSync      30.0 - 75.0

    VertRefresh    60.0

    Option        "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Device"

    Identifier    "Device0"

    Driver        "nvidia"

    Option        "SLI" "auto"

    VendorName    "NVIDIA Corporation"

    BoardName      "GeForce 8700M GT"

EndSection



Section "Screen"



# Removed Option "TwinView" "0"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"

    Identifier    "Screen0"

    Device        "Device0"

    Monitor        "Monitor0"

    DefaultDepth    24

    SubSection    "Display"

        Depth      24

    EndSubSection

EndSection

but it's not good that lspci doesn't show it.

I would have a try with a live distribution that supports the nvidia driver (slax-remix, ubuntu, whatever you prefeer).

hey ponce! I am downloading ubuntu live cd as we speak and wil try this.... the twinview options in my xorg.conf were there because I tried to connect my laptop to my lcd tv a few days ago... only got problems from there...

I had to "reinstall x server" and fool around with the nvidia options.. this is when I discovered that I did not have the 2nd card detected...

basically, I need a serious cleanup in my laptop's config... I will first try to see if from a live distro I can see the second GPU and then go from there. At least it will tell me if it is hardware or simply software problem.

I will post back asap.

Thanks!

??? I'm posting back from the ubuntu live CD and from here I cant see the 2nd card...

lspci give sensibly the same output as within slackware.

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 0c)

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port (rev 0c)

00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)

00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)

00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)

00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 02)

00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 6 (rev 02)

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f2)

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HBM (ICH8M-E) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)

01:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:01.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8700M GT] (rev a1)

05:01.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 05)

05:01.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 22)

05:01.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 12)

05:01.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 12)

09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5754M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 02)

0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection (rev 61)

0f:00.0 Class ff00: AGEIA Technologies, Inc. Device 0000

First question I would have is "would my video card be fried?" and second why do I have 3 PCI bridge devices??

Code:

01:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:00.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

02:01.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation Device 01b3 (rev a3)

1 - who knows? let's hope not, but if doeesn't work with another OS it's not a good sign...
2 - I have those too.

Just got off the phone with Dell, and they figured that my second video card is fried... Even in Vista it does not show up. They will send a tech to my place to replace the card under my warranty.

So whenever my hardware is fixed, should I clone back my hard drive from the clone I made before I switched to vista? ot should I reinstall slackware and the nvidia driver?

Until thursday, I am stuck with vista (AHHHH!)

Thanks anyway for the help!

I am marking this thread as SOLVED and please see http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...isplay-830040/

for more info.

Thanks !