SLI performing bad on brand new system

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Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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I used to have a 3570K, MSI Z77A-GD55 and 16GB DDR3 1666MHz on a 850W PSU. The motherboard gave up and I decided to get Skylake instead (6700K, MSI Z170 M5, 16GB DDR4 2666MHz with a new EVGA Supernova G2 850W).

I kept my two GTX 970 but unfortunately they are performing a lot worse in SLI on the Skylake system than on the Ivy Bridge. I've tried running both cards individually and they work great. I've also changed the SLI bridge, reinstalled Win10 and graphics drivers several times.

Witcher 3 : Wilderness 31fps (6700K) vs 75fps (3570K)
Thief : Avg 85fps (6700K) vs 111fps (3570K)
Metro LL : Avg 76fps (6700K) vs 108fps (3570K)
3DMark FS : Graphics score 20972p (6700K) vs 24080p (3570K)

What could be the problem?
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Your numbers sound like sli is not active for some reason.
That should be a nvidia driver issue, and unrelated to the cpu.
Or, look for some sort of a motherboard bios update.
Z170 is new, and I expect there to be some bios updates to fix some unique issues.
 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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You mean chipset drivers and the sort? Or VGA drivers? If it's the latter I've reinstalled them several times even using DDU.


MSI Afterburner says SLI is active but the GPU load is low for some reason.
Did a BIOS update but I may have to wait for one more.
So you reckon it's the mobo that is the problem here?
 
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Sacrem

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Aug 16, 2015
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Hi Jupi, this is the same problem that I have with my new skylake! In my case I have an ASUS z170 deluxe and a couple of titanx. I have already tested win8.1 and win10 with the latest nvidia drivers and the SLI is like half of performance than the single GPU.
This is the link of the post I raised in ASUS.

https://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20150816075401746&SLanguage=en-us&board_id=1&model=Z170-DELUXE&page=1

So, it should be some kind of driver issue.
 
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J

Jupi

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Hi Sacrem.

Yes! Looks like we have the exact same problem! Wonder if it's a VGA driver issue, chipset issue or BIOS issue. Have you noticed that some games run great? DOTA2, GTAV and GW2 seem to run better than ever BUT, I get extreme stuttering every now and then (like every 3-5 minutes). Not sure if its a NVCPL V-sync setting that is a problem (there are two "On" for us SLI users).

I also raised a ticket at MSI - check this link, maybe something helpful will be posted.
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=259785.0
 
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Sacrem

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Hi Jupi,

Don't really have a clue about which driver component needs to be updated. What is clear is that root cause is around the z170. I have updated the bios to the latest and the results are the same. Need z170 assemblers to give us some light on.

On the other hand, I have been impressed as you said how some games are performing. I am coming from a 3770k and the performance is general terms is really better in the skylake rig. But, SLI is almost useless. Really bad performance. Stutter and hiccups. Needs to be urgently solved.

Let's wait for the feedback from MSI and ASUS.

Regards.

 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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Hi Sacrem.

Indeed it must be the Z170 chipset. I've tried to google and find more topics like ours but so far no luck.

I had the 3570K before and I agree that the difference is better, when it works. But like you say, SLI is useless. I'll be able to borrow a 980Ti from a friend just to compare. Still, that's not a solution but it will be interesting to see the result.

Hey, maybe it's just our mainboards that are broken? I found this test on a Swedish site that tried both 6700K and SLI successfully.
http://www.nordichardware.com/Processorer-Recensioner/intel-core-i7-6700k-och-core-i5-6600k-vi-testar-intels-entusiastversioner-av-skylake/Speltester-med-GTX970-i-SLI.html
 
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Sacrem

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Just a quick one... Are your cards some overclocked version or have they stock clocks?

Mine are superclocked version from EVGA. They are overclocked from factory.

I am wondering if this could be the reason because in the past, I remember some SLI issues with non-stockclocking cards. And I guess the guy that tested successfully both, should use stockclocking cards.

It would be interesting to check this....
 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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My cards are factory overclocked (MSI 970 Gaming 4G) but I've tried playing with stock clocks and that doesn't really do anything.


Good info, I also got a G-sync monitor. This could of course be the problem but I highly doubt it.

Found another person with the same problem as us : http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=401782

That's three of us now and there may be more. I talked to the store where I bought the stuff and he said he could RMA my mobo but I honestly don't think that will help if it's a driver thingy.

Edit : Got a tip about a guy over at the GeForce forums having the same problem. Woah, this is getting serious.
 
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Sacrem

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I am sure there is a problem underneath that is affecting to all z170 SLI owners.

I am also sure there is no HW issue with our mobos. RMA is not a valid option, I am afraid.

Still no answer from ASUS anyway.

Keep you informed.
 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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An MSI rep has started typing in my Forum thread. Still nothing more regarding the MSI ticket.

By the way, I got the 980Ti just to try and these are the results (980Ti clocked to about 1478MHz)

Witcher 3 : Wilderness 31fps (6700K/970SLI) vs 75fps (3570K) vs 77fps (6700K/980Ti)
Thief : Avg 85fps (6700K/970SLI) vs 111fps (3570K) vs 125fps (6700K/980Ti)
Metro LL : Avg 76fps (6700K/970SLI) vs 108fps (3570K) vs 111fps (6700K/980Ti)
3DMark FS : Graphics score 20972p (6700K/970SLI) vs 24080p (3570K) vs 20958 (6700K/980Ti)

The 980Ti is slower in synthetic benchmarks as you can see but since the SLI scaling is no longer a factor, it's faster 970SLI in games. Trust me when I say that I'm tempted to get one :)

ASIC was pretty mediocre though 69,5% so I had to raise the power limit which makes the temps go up to 78 degrees in some games. Now I know that this isn't the solution but still nice to know how it is. There is an upgrade cost to take into consideration but it won't be as bad when you'd sell your 970s.



Won't take long before this will be a real issue, the more we are affeced the better. I truly hope they'll come up with a fix soon.
 
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Sacrem

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Hi Jupi,

Answer from ASUS....

Basically they ask me to check the SLI setup and to make sure I have the latest BIOS before sending the mobo to the reseller.

Both points have been more than checked so, I am afraid I will have to send the mobo back for replacement. I am in conversations with the reseller.

My main concern is that I am convinced that the mobo is OK, however ASUS is pointing to be a faulty sample.

I will let you know how this ends.
 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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Thing is, it might work for you...or not. That's the problem, seems like something small is causing this and no one knows why yet.


Hey Sacrem.

MSI also replied to my thread and gave me a new BIOS to try. Unfortunately it didn't help. I once again used DDU to uninstall/reinstall but still the same low score.

Not sure what to do now to be honest. Maybe keeping the 980Ti?
 
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sparhawk765

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I'm having similar problems with my brand new 6700K-setup. I'm on a Asus Maximus VIII Hero mobo moving from a rampage IV extreme.

I ran a couple of benchmarks before I switched components and went from 7000ish points in 3dMark Firestrike Ultra down to 5000 so a pretty serious loss. Same two 980 G1 Gaming cards in SLI running Windows 10 and nvidia 355.60 drivers.

Going to report this to Asus too but from the sounds of it they dont seem willing to admit to any problem apart from broken board?
 
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Sacrem

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Yep. It seems that ASUS is keeping apart from the issue. Don't really know if there is more to do with them than with nvidia with their GeForce drivers.

There is a new version .69. Looks like to be gtx950 exclusive. Anyone managed to test it? I am not able to do any test ATM.
 
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sparhawk765

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I just got my answer from Asus Sweden on my case and I'm not liking their answer. They claim that since I went from a 40 lane Ivy-E down to a 16 lane Skylake the drop in performance by 20-30% was expected.... From everything I have read a drop from 16X to 8X should result in next to now performanceloss whatsoever given Gen3 which ofc is what I'm running so I feel like calling bullshit on their answer.
 
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Sacrem

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That's no sense. In my case, ASUS answered to check a couple of basics and then return the mobo. I don't think muy mobo is faulty neither yours. Some corrections need to be fixed in the drivers from nvidia I guess. Anyway, ASUS: this is not the way to attend people that have spent their money in your HW!
 
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A

Alex7777

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Aug 21, 2015
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I have exactly the same setup as you and i have the same issue as you :-(
Asus Maximus VIII Hero 6700K 2GTX 980 SLI.

Have no idea what to do.

 
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Sacrem

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Aug 16, 2015
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Guys, you've got new BIOS for your mobo (at the same time there is new BIOS for Deluxe also). I am not able to test it till tomorrow, are you able to test the new BIOS and post the results?
 
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J

Jupi

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Feb 24, 2012
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Hey.

So, I've tried two different beta BIOSes, a new vBIOS and all kinds of different tips and tricks, nothing helps...except one thing (although doesn't solve the problem completely) and that's running 3DMark on my TV instead of my G-sync monitor.

20321 score on TV vs 19247 score on G-sync monitor (Acer XB270HU).

I'll either return the board to the manufacturer or get a 980Ti instead, still deciding. I got stuttering in SLI anyway so that's why I was thinking about 980Ti. Still, it is tempting to replace the board just to see if it helps, otherwise I'll never know (unless any of you guys do it).
 
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