Need help getting SLI to work.

I have a new build:

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
System Manufacturer: MSI
System Model: MS-7681
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 (x2)
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 460

Display Memory: 4065 MB
Dedicated Memory: 993 MB
Shared Memory: 3071 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (120Hz)
Monitor Name: Alienware AW2310 (Digital)
Monitor Model: Alienware2310
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.6658 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.6658
DDI Version: 11
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/7/2011 19:27:00, 12859496 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4D62-11CF-F041-7F331FC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0E22
SubSys ID: 0x13733842
Revision ID: 0x00A1

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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I have the latest drivers from Nvidea "266.58"
The old SLI fix from last years beta doesn't work for me.
Is there an updated mod to get this game to force SLI?

You have to run the game in fullscreen for the sli to work.

No SLI logo, you sure its running?

When I tried to do the following fix:
http://www.ffxivcore.com/topic/10596...25896-drivers/

I get an error message when I try to load the modified profile back.
I can import it and edit it, but exporting it back leads to an error message.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More detailed specs:


-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 64bit (build 7601)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHz
Number of Processors Logical Core Count 8 Physical Core Count 4
BIOS BIOS Date: 02/14/11 17:44:16 Ver: 04.06.04
Language English (Regional Setting: English)
Physical Memory 8174.629MB
Virtual Memory 2047.875MB
Page File 16347.457MB
Storage C:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 74.528GB Free Disk Space 18.804GB
Storage D:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 232.883GB Free Disk Space 180.631GB
Storage E:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 232.876GB Free Disk Space 232.781GB
DirectX Version DirectX 11
Graphic Device(s) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
+Device \\.\DISPLAY1
+Chip GeForce GTX 460
+Maker NVIDIA
+Video Memory 993.438 MB
+Shared Video Memory 3071.996 MB
+DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
+Display Mode 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (120Hz)
+Driver nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
+Driver Version 8.17.0012.6658
+Driver Date 1/7/2011 7:27:00 PM
+Driver Language English
+Vertex Shader 3.0
+Pixel Shader 3.0
+Vertex Texture Supported
Sound Device(s) Speakers (2- Creative SB X-Fi)
+Device ID {6C2E186B-C90C-4112-AA19-C15046D37291}
+Device Name ctaud2k.sys
+Driver Version 6.00.0001.1375
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 5/5/2010 8:30:10 PM
Sound Device(s) Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (2- High Definition Audio Device)
+Device ID {0D9F953B-12E8-450C-9EAB-9C5A48BC8700}
+Device Name HdAudio.sys
+Driver Version 6.01.7601.17514
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 11/20/2010 2:44:23 AM
Sound Device(s) SPDIF Out (2- Creative SB X-Fi)
+Device ID {7E856892-FD1D-42FB-8369-3B61A670CABE}
+Device Name ctaud2k.sys
+Driver Version 6.00.0001.1375
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 5/5/2010 8:30:10 PM
Sound Device(s) Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (2- High Definition Audio Device)
+Device ID {FFF98F57-4C56-40A6-AD37-5B069012300B}
+Device Name HdAudio.sys
+Driver Version 6.01.7601.17514
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 11/20/2010 2:44:23 AM
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Mouse
+Notes Axis 3 Button 7 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Keyboard
+Notes Axis 0 Button 128 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {2265E950-ACB0-11DF-8003444553540000}
+Name Razer Lycosa
+Notes Axis 0 Button 573 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {2265E950-ACB0-11DF-8004444553540000}
+Name Razer Lycosa
+Notes Axis 0 Button 3 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {0573A250-BF99-11DF-8001444553540000}
+Name MadCatz GamePad (Controller)
+Notes Axis 5 Button 10 Field of View 1


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

FRAPS general
Need help getting SLI to work. - Mozilla Firefox


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

@BIOS
Abracadabra Instant Manual
Adobe AIR
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Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin
Adobe Reader 9.4.2
Algebra 1 Solved!
Algebra 2 Solved!
Apple Application Support
Apple Software Update
AutoHotkey 1.0.48.05
BitTorrent
BufferChm
C5500
Creative Audio Control Panel
Creative Software AutoUpdate
Creative Sound Blaster Properties x64 Edition
Destinations
DeviceDiscovery
FINAL FANTASY XIV
Fraps (remove only)
GPBaseService2
Graphing Solved!
HP Update
HPPhotoGadget
HPPhotoSmartDiscLabelContent1
HPPhotoSmartDiscLabel_PaperLabel
HPPhotoSmartDiscLabel_PrintOnDisc
HPPhotosmartEssential
HPProductAssistant
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Java Auto Updater
Java(TM) 6 Update 23
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430)
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB973688)
MarketResearch
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Microsoft Office Excel MUI (English) 2007
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Microsoft Office Proofing Tools 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Microsoft Office Shared MUI (English) 2007
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Microsoft Office Word MUI (English) 2007
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 ATL Update kb973923 - x86 8.0.50727.4053
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
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Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17
Mouse Recorder Pro 2.0.5.0
Mozilla Firefox (3.6.15)
MyBullionTracker
NVIDIA 3D Vision Video Player
NVIDIA PerfHUD 64 bit
NVIDIA PerfSDK
NVIDIA PhysX
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver
OpenAL
PS_AIO_04_C5500_Software_Min
QuickTime
Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver
Scan
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2288621)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2288931)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2289158)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2344875)
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Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer (KB2413381)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2007 (KB973709)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2007 (KB2344993)
Security Update for Microsoft Office system 2007 (972581)
Security Update for Microsoft Office system 2007 (KB974234)
SmartWebPrinting
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Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2284654)
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VC80CRTRedist - 8.0.50727.4053
Ventrilo Client
VideoLAN VLC media player 0.8.6d
WebReg
WinZip 15.0
World of Warcraft
gDEBugger
hpphotosmartdisclabelplugin
marvell 91xx driver


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

C:\GAMES\ffxiv\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV\ffxivconfig.exe 000006B4
C:\Program Files (x86)\BitTorrent\BitTorrent.exe 00000A34
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe 00000BD8
C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Shared Files\CTSched.exe 00000A40
C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\HpqSRmon.exe 00000B68
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe 00001234
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe 000006D0
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CTXFISPI.EXE 00000A9C
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Ctxfihlp.exe 00000BE0

I thought with the latest drivers the profile is already there.

SLI is working with just the driver, there is no longer any need for us to set up at profile by ourselves, this was implemented in.. I believe November?

Now, I have found that it does not always work to its fullest. When running without AA it sometimes will run both GPUs at only about 55%. It sounds odd, and well, wrong, but I have done several tests, and though it does not happen every time, it happens enough to be easily reproducible (or it may just be my setup that does this?).

For your setup I would expect the following settings to be optimal

Resolution: 1920x1080
Multisampling: 4xAA
General Drawing: 8
Background Drawing: 3
Shadows: Highest
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Depth of Field: On
Disable Cutscene Effects: Off
Hardware Mouse: On
Texture Quality: High
Texture Filtering: Highest

Play around with the Depth of Field, General Drawing and Background Drawing to fine tune to you specs.

As others have said, you no longer need a custom profile to get SLI to run.

Not sure what you mean by an SLI logo.. the only way I was able to confirm that both of my cards were running was to have MSI afterburner monitoring them in the background.

For SLI you DO NOT need to be in full-screen mode. But the same may not hold true for Crossfire.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loth

Resolution: 1920x1080
Multisampling: 4xAA
General Drawing: 8
Background Drawing: 3
Shadows: Highest
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Depth of Field: On
Disable Cutscene Effects: Off
Hardware Mouse: On
Texture Quality: High
Texture Filtering: Highest

Play around with the Depth of Field, General Drawing and Background Drawing to fine tune to you specs.

---

I was running almost that exact same settings with a single GTS 250.(granted windowed 1600x900 but even at 1920x1080 it was only laggy around cities.

If you cant max this game out everywhere with 2 GTX 460s, then i would assume SLI is just a waste of time.

My buddy had 3 GTX280(5?) and the only thing it did for him was overheat his PC.

Is SLI even worth it in the end?

Unless you have the latest and greatest cards, it is usually more cost effective and efficient to avoid SLI and crossfire.

Whether or not it's "Worth it" really depends on the prices. I notice an extreme difference between one GTS 250 and two in SLI. You should notice the difference in FFXIV right off the bat.

3 is too many..

Also, no.. two 460s cannot run this game at max settings efficiently. But that's mostly because of ambient occlusion.

Is there anyway to get SLI/Crossfire to work in Windowed mode? Alternatively, is it possible to be in Full-screen and alt-tab without generating the DirectX error that closes FFXIV.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aurelien

Is there anyway to get SLI/Crossfire to work in Windowed mode? Alternatively, is it possible to be in Full-screen and alt-tab without generating the DirectX error that closes FFXIV.

---

Last I checked, to get SLI running in windowed mode you don't have to do anything except have the latest drivers. Just make sure SLI is ON in your Nvidia FFXIV profile options.

Crossfire is another matter.. and I don't have any experience with ATI cards to help you with that.

There is not a way to run FFXIV in full-screen mode and use alt-tab without crashing. However, there is a way to make windowed mode border-less. I'll have to refrain from posting that information, but you could find it with a google search.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aurelien

Is there anyway to get SLI/Crossfire to work in Windowed mode? Alternatively, is it possible to be in Full-screen and alt-tab without generating the DirectX error that closes FFXIV.

---

Grit already answered most of your questions, so just to add to that, crossfire only works in fullscreen mode.

Let me try rephrasing the questions:

1> FFXIV crashing when you alt-tab in Full Screen mode, is it a limitation of FFXIV or is it a DirectX issue? I do not have this problem playing other games in Full-screen mode, ie. World of Warcraft
2> FFXIV does not work with Crossfire in Windowed mode, is it a limitation of FFXIV or is it a AMD Catalyst driver issue?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aurelien

Let me try rephrasing the questions:

1> FFXIV crashing when you alt-tab in Full Screen mode, is it a limitation of FFXIV or is it a DirectX issue? I do not have this problem playing other games in Full-screen mode, ie. World of Warcraft

---

This is a FFXIV coding issue, that they should be able to "easily" fix.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aurelien

2> FFXIV does not work with Crossfire in Windowed mode, is it a limitation of FFXIV or is it a AMD Catalyst driver issue?

---

This is a driver issue, it is simply the way crossfire works.

The driver that was released months ago that has a FFXIV SLI profile does not work correctly so, yes, you will still need to use a program called SLI Tool and use the Crysis, Crysis Warhead or the Crysis 2 profile (from the latest SLI profile update). I have tried many times to get the original SLI profile to work without using SLI Tool and it never works out. Example: When I use the driver alone with no edits, the game will run in SLI mode just fine UNTIL a spell is cast. Once any spell is cast, my game starts to chug really bad, almost unplayable. I tried every tweak in the profile. I did start to see a little difference with the 'max frames render ahead' option. When going back to the Crysis profile, the game ran perfectly aside from server side lag (wish they would fix this). Now when doing this hotfix, you will notice (at least I do) that when going into a cutscene the image flickers very badly when fading from one scene to another. Im not talking about fading to black then to the next scene. They use a scene, keep that scene and fade into the next scene while being able to see that previous scene. Looks cool when it doesnt flicker. Single GPUs work just fine on this but when using SLI during cutscenes (getting on the boat to and from LL) you will see the flickering. Nvidia and SE need to get together and work on a better SLI profile. The GPU's are never being used at 100%. I see anything from 30% to sometimes 75%. Most of the time its at 60%. In town, it drops to the high 20's or low 30's. Which explains the lag.

My rig:
Windows x64 Ultimate SP1
6gigs DDR3 Corsair RAM
Intel Core i7 950 @ stock
2 x EVGA 480 GTX's
EVGA SLI FTW3 Mobo
Running game at 2560 x 1440
1200W PSU Thermaltake

Hope this helps. Good luck and here's hoping that SE contacts NVIDIA on multi GPU optimizations.

You're right that SLI causes some graphic glitches during cutscenes. I experience this with the Crysis profile as well.

The FFXIV profile works fine for me when casting spells.. no problems there.

Did some tests on the spell effects issue. I discovered that you can use the latest nvidia drivers with no SLI Tool profile needed and the latest SLI profile update 7. However, the Depth of Field option is causing the spell effect lag issue :( Turning this feature off yields near perfect performance even when casting spells. Cutscenes do not flicker either (this is with or without depth of field). I love depth of field and its a real shame that I have to turn it off to have the spell effects work like they should. Hopefully someone knows a workaround to enable Depth of Field and still be able to cast spells with no lag.

As long as I am running with at least 2xMSAA I have no problem with the basic driver and SLI.
With VSYNC enabled I am running at anywhere between %99 and %30 utilization of both GPUs (almost identical usage of both) depending on how much is needed to render the frames.

In my quest for optimal framerate, I have disabled Depth of Field, so I can not comment on whether that is causing issues or not, but as I wrote earlier in the thread, there seem to be issues with running SLI and no AA, at least on my setup.