8800GT SLI headache

I'm having some issues with a SLi setup with two 8800 GT 512mb. Performance increase is only about 5-10fps in games like Crysis, COD4, UT3, and the image is "jerky", like the fps isn't dropping but its "jerky" anyway.

When running S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky, the game runs so jerky, it gives me a headache. 3dmarks 06 reports no sli.

I'm wondering if the PSU is up to the job, both +12 rails have 34A combined. When I try to change the speed of the second cards fan, it doesn't change?? When overclocking both cards (same) the system goes even slower!!

System spec is;

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6000+ 3.00GHz (Socket AM2)
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe
Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 TwinX (2x1GB)
2 x Nvidia Geforce 8800GT 512mb (600MHz core) (1x XFX BlackDog, 1x Gainward Bliss)
2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache
Enermax 535W FMAII PSU
Vista HomePremium 32bit
Nvidia driver version 178.13 (newest)

Number of Processors = 2

========== CPUID Info ==========

Processor 0:

Brand = AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+

Family = 15

Model = 3

Stepping = 3



L1 Instr Cache Size = 65536

L1 Data Cache Size = 65536

L2 Cache Size = 1048576

L3 Cache Size = 0



Feature flags:



CPUID 00000001[edx]=0x178bfbff:



fpu : Processor supported vme : Processor supported
de : Processor supported pse : Processor supported
msr : Processor supported pae : Processor supported
mce : Processor supported cx8 : Processor supported
apic : Processor supported sep : Processor supported
mtrr : Processor supported pge : Processor supported
mca : Processor supported cmov : Processor supported
pat : Processor supported pse36 : Processor supported
cflush : Processor supported ds : No processor support
acpi : No processor support mmx : Processor supported
fxsr : Processor supported sse1 : Processor supported
sse2 : Processor supported ss : No processor support
htt : Processor supported tm : No processor support
sbf : No processor support






CPUID 00000001[ecx]=0x00002001:



tm2 : No processor support est : No processor support
cid : No processor support sse3 : Processor supported






CPUID 80000001[edx]=0xebd3fbff:



fpu : Processor supported vme : Processor supported
de : Processor supported pse : Processor supported
tsc : Processor supported msr : Processor supported
pae : Processor supported mce : Processor supported
cx8 : Processor supported syscall : Processor supported
mtrr : Processor supported pge : Processor supported
mca : Processor supported cmov : Processor supported
pat : Processor supported pse36 : Processor supported
mp : No processor support nx : Processor supported
ammx : Processor supported mmx : Processor supported
fxsr : Processor supported lm : Processor supported
x3dnow : Processor supported 3dnow : Processor supported


========== CPUID Info ==========

Processor 1:

Brand = AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+

Family = 15

Model = 3

Stepping = 3



L1 Instr Cache Size = 65536

L1 Data Cache Size = 65536

L2 Cache Size = 1048576

L3 Cache Size = 0



Feature flags:



CPUID 00000001[edx]=0x178bfbff:



fpu : Processor supported vme : Processor supported
de : Processor supported pse : Processor supported
msr : Processor supported pae : Processor supported
mce : Processor supported cx8 : Processor supported
apic : Processor supported sep : Processor supported
mtrr : Processor supported pge : Processor supported
mca : Processor supported cmov : Processor supported
pat : Processor supported pse36 : Processor supported
cflush : Processor supported ds : No processor support
acpi : No processor support mmx : Processor supported
fxsr : Processor supported sse1 : Processor supported
sse2 : Processor supported ss : No processor support
htt : Processor supported tm : No processor support
sbf : No processor support






CPUID 00000001[ecx]=0x00002001:



tm2 : No processor support est : No processor support
cid : No processor support sse3 : Processor supported






CPUID 80000001[edx]=0xebd3fbff:



fpu : Processor supported vme : Processor supported
de : Processor supported pse : Processor supported
tsc : Processor supported msr : Processor supported
pae : Processor supported mce : Processor supported
cx8 : Processor supported syscall : Processor supported
mtrr : Processor supported pge : Processor supported
mca : Processor supported cmov : Processor supported
pat : Processor supported pse36 : Processor supported
mp : No processor support nx : Processor supported
ammx : Processor supported mmx : Processor supported
fxsr : Processor supported lm : Processor supported
x3dnow : Processor supported 3dnow : Processor supported


========== Operating System Information ==========

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, 32-bit Service Pack 1, Build 6001

========== Motherboard Information ==========

Motherboard Vendor: Not reported
Motherboard Version: Not reported
Motherboard Model:

========== DirectX version Information ==========

DirectX 10.0 (6.0.6000.16386)

========== Driver Version Information ==========

Nforce Driver Package version 15.23
Audio Driver Not reported
Graphics Driver 178.13 (7.15.11.7813)
Ethernet Driver 67.89 (1.00.01.06789)
IDE Driver 10.3.0.42
nTune 6.02.15

========== Processor, Bus, and Memory Speed Information ==========

CPU Speed = 3015.692
CPU Multiplier = 15.000
FSB Frequency = 201
Memory Frequency = 804.000
PCIE Frequency = 2500
tRas = 18
tRcd = 5
tRp = 5
tRc = 23
tWr = 6
tRrd = 3
tRwt = 4
tWtr = 3
tWrrd = 0
tWrwr = 2
tRdrd = 2
tRef = 7.8 us

========== GeForce Information ==========

GPU 1: GeForce 8800 GT
GPU 2: GeForce 8800 GT

========== GPU's Core and Memory Speed Information ==========


GPU Core Speed = 600
GPU Memory Speed = 900

GPU Shader Clock Speed = 1500


GPU Core Speed = 600
GPU Memory Speed = 900

GPU Shader Clock Speed = 1500

GPU SLI Mode Enabled.

========== System Voltage Information ==========

CPU Voltage = 1.400 v
Core Voltage = 0.000 v
AGP Voltage = 0.000 v
Aux Voltage = 0.000 v
Memory Voltage = 0.000 v

========== Processor and System's Temperature Information ==========

CPU Temperature = Not Reported
Second CPU Temperature = Not Reported
System Temperature = Not Reported
GPU 0 Temperature = 48 C
GPU 1 Temperature = 56 C

========== Memory SPD Information ==========

Memory Dimm 0 (0x50)
Memory type: DDR2 SDRAM

Error correction: NONE

Voltage interface level: SSTL (1.8V)

Data width: 64 bits

Number of physical banks: 1 (single sided)

Number of logical banks: 8

Number of row addresses: 14

Number of col addresses: 10

Bank density: 1024 MB

Primary RAM Width: 8 bits

Error checking RAM Width: 0 bits

Module density: 1024 MB

Refresh rate: 7812.500 us

Self-refresh: Yes

Burst lengths supported: 4 8

CAS 4.0:

Cycle time (tCYC) = 3.700 ns fMax = 270.270 MHz

Access time (tAC) = 0.500 ns fMax = 2000.000 MHz

CAS 5.0:

Cycle time (tCYC) = 2.500 ns fMax = 400.000 MHz

Access time (tAC) = 0.400 ns fMax = 2500.000 MHz

Not reportedNot reportedMin delay, Bk/Bk random cols: 0 clocks

Min row precharge time (tRP): 12.500 ns

Min row active delay (tRRD): 7.500 ns

Min RAS to CAS delay (tRCD): 12.500 ns

Min Actv to precharge (tRAS): 45.000 ns

Addr/Cmd setup time: 0.180 ns

Addr/Cmd hold time: 0.250 ns

Data setup time: 0.050 ns

Data hold time: 0.130 ns

Write recovery time (tWR) 15.000 ns

Int Wr to Rd Cmd Dly (tWTR) 7.500 ns

Int Rd to Pchg Cmd Dly (tRTP) 7.500 ns

Min Act/Auto-Rfrsh Time (tRC) 55.000 ns

Min Auto-Rfrsh/Act Cmd (tRFC) 105.000 ns

Max Dev Cycle time (tCK max) 8.000 ns

Max DQS-DQ Skew (tDQSQ max) 2.000 ns

Rd data hold skew Fctr (tQHS) 3.000 ns

PLL relock time 0.000 ns

Memory analysis probe chars: 00

DIMM type: UDIMM (module width = 133.35mm)

FET switch external enable: No

Analysis probe installed: No

Includes weak driver: Yes

Manufacturer's JEDEC ID code: 00000000 009e7f7f

Module manufacturing location: 1 (manufacture dependant)

Module part number: CM2X1024-6400C4

Module revision code: 8224 (manufacture dependant)

Module manufacturing date: Not reported

Module serial number: 00000000

SPD revision: 1.1

1680x1050, CPU should be plenty fast, others using the same get good performance in SLI.

I got rid of "choppy video" by uninstalling norton anti virus. I don't know if you use any anti virus software or how much time you spend surfing the net, but it helped cure my problem. I'm using vista 32 basic.

I don't think so. Back when the 8800gtx came out people found out that their OCed FX procs were bottlenecking the gpu. It wasn't until C2D that they unleashed the true power of it. You have a similar proc to what they were using but more gpu power. Although, at 1680x1050 you shouldn't be running into too much of a problem since that res isn't cpu bound.

I know nvidia cards don't like being different brands, especially if they are clocked differently. This could your issue, although you might just be better off getting a different gpu.

Good for you. I can tell you that mixed manufacturer SLI has been support for a while but people have had issues with it, especially when they are clocked differently. It isn't going to be an issue every time. It is just one last thing to try before giving up completely, notice how I didn't suggest it as the issue immediately since it is sort of a last resort thing to check. Besides, I don't see you helping out.