What you need to build an SLI capable computer

A motherboard that is SLI Ready … and has working PCI-E slots.

2 or more same (some say this may not matter) graphics card that support SLI.

I have a lot of experience in this, in just a few days. I’m no expert, just I know this: if it’s not working, then change out your MB if you KNOW that both/all your graphics cards are able to work in another computer or in another slot.

There are so many articles/posts online about “no sli option in Nvidia Control Panel,” “how do I get SLI to work … ” “My computer isn’t detecting my 2nd graphics card…”

I had all my computer stuff to build a nice SLI machine. I put things together, tested it all piece by piece, ok, great. So I installed Win 8, got things really setup. I had all my Memory in, and one graphics card. Installed Nvidia graphic software from MSI disc. Shutdown, restarted. Shutdown, put 2nd graphics card in. OK. Started up again, and in Win 8, hmmm, Device Manager, not good. Showed two devices, but the 2nd card had an exclamation on it and it said it had trouble, blah, blah, blah, so it shut it down. End of story. It wouldn’t let me install a driver for it, it was not available. Restarted the machine. The 2nd card never showed up again.

I read and read and read up on it, tested everything in different slots, updated BIOS for the board, graphics cards didn’t have an update. Had manufacturers latest drivers and also tried Nvidia’s latest drivers. I was installing and uninstalling and taking this out, replacing it, flip flop twist as to determine for certain that both graphics cards worked in the first slot, but not in the 2nd. So I finally got the guts up to say to my hubby yesterday early afternoon … “I have to bring the MB back to the store”

So I took everything off of it, except for the nano transceiver for my new Cobalt Blue LE Microsoft Wireless Mouse 3500. Now, I didn’t do that on purpose. It’s so small, and masks itself so well, especially when you have a MB that has two other nodules sticking out (wifi & bluetooth built in) … so I am not able to use that wonderful brand new mouse any more. I HATE Microsoft for this!

Hubby ran to Target and got me a dark purple same kind of mouse, but I don’t like it, it’s not as nice looking and my hand can tell the difference. Anyhow, I do have a mouse. So while I was waiting for the mouse I got my new MB out and setup everything, half the memory & one graphics card.

Using Win 8 with no touchscreen and no mouse isn’t very fun. Not when you are not planning on using a computer that way. I suppose it’s doable for someone, I don’t know, but the lack of that desktop start button is big with no mouse. Metro doesn’t play nice to no mouse if you also don’t have touch. Modern webpages are ho rrific to use tab to move around on. Just a sidenote about how not planning but having to do it can be very painful.

Once I had another mouse I was back on track, felt fluid, fun, fast, everything was ok, so I shutdown and put the rest of the Memory in, restarted, all fine. Shutdown, put 2nd graphics card in. Restarted.

When Win 8 comes up, I log in, it takes one right to the Metro interface. I nearly always, actually probably always, hit Desktop immediately. So that is what I did, and on the desktop there was a bright flash kind of feeling, not really light, but something. I said, “AHA!” With all fingers and toes crossed I opened Device Manager and looked under Displays … yes, 2 graphics cards showing, one with an exclamation point on it, but it was noticeable that it was NOT the same message as the first MB build showed me. In fact it wasn’t. It said I had to restart to use the changes I’d made. All I did was put in a new piece of hardware. So I got out of Device Manager, then decided to go back in and on that device I looked at properties and then drivers, and I updated the driver by pointing it to the Nvidia folder on my C: drive, where the installation files are kept.

The system quickly accepted that and said I had to restart … duh. I just wanted to be sure about the driver.

So I restarted. When I was back into Win 8 on the desktop I got a message from the notification area that SLI was availble. Yes! I opened Nvidia Control Panel and sure enough it was right there, I just couldn’t do anything with it since I didn’t have the SLI bridge on yet.

I could have had the SLI bridge connected, but I didn’t, because of my previous problem with the first motherboard. So with the computer off, installed the SLI bridge. Restart. Hello SLI! Uh, no. I’d seen pictures of the same SLI bridge installed on other computers on sites here and there. I just put it on that way. Didn’t work. So off with the computer again, turned the bridge around, started up and voila!

Hello SLI! Yes, you are real, really easy, if one gets a good MB that has fully working Pci-e slots.

Now, this is not to mean that is everyone’s problem (of those that can’t get SLI to work) –for me it sure was.

What’s in my Cooler Master HAF 932?

MSI Z77 MPOWER Big Bang (SLI/Crossfire Ready)
Corsair AX1200 Professional Series GOLD
Corsair Vengence @1600 8mb x4 (32mb)
Intel i7 3770k (3.5ghz)
Cooler Master TPC 812
LG Bluray Writer
Samsung SSD 840 Pr0 (256GB) (OS)
Seagate (7200 RPM) 3TB (Storage)
MSI GeForce GTX-670 Power Edition (2mb) x2 (SLI capable)
Windows 8 pro with Media Center

I have to decide what else I need, like in front. The LG Bluray drive is such a nice interface and looks FANTASTIC on the HAF 932. I need to get a card reader, and I can see I’m running out of space to put things already. The head of the HAF 932 has an e-sata port. The connector is plugged into one of my sata ports on the MB. Also the LG Bluray Writer is a sata device, and then the two drives. So that leaves two sata spots. Ouch!

There is another PCI-e x16 slot, but it’s way down the board, and then those little slots, most are hidden between the graphics cards. I’d find a way to use them, with the right addin things, I guess I could, as long as … well, I’ll just save those thoughts for when and IF I need them.

I’m going to go wake up my new system. I’m writing on my Ultrabook right now. I’m glad I have it, a lighter laptop, no dvd drive. Touchscreen. It’s my perfect secondary device. I planned that before, but didn’t know when I’d be able to build my desktop. It was suddenly something I could do this past week, so I did. 🙂

My older i3 Toshiba Satellite laptop I’ll empty and refresh for some other use in the house. I don’t want it! It’s sat hardly used since I got this Ultrabook. Now I don’t need it at all. It would be too much having: my Ultrabook, Desktop, Nexus 10, HTC Evo 4g LTE, Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0, and having that laptop. It’s totally just a browsing light work, but a heavy machine (pain to lug around) so … now it’s time for my children to use it I guess. Not destroy it, but I’m sure that’s what’ll happen. Oh well.

So then, this new desktop is OC -able but I’m not touching that yet. I’m going to see what it can do the way it is now. MSI OC Genie is a nice feature on this MB and I will use it eventually.