Hello everyone,
I am still rather new to these forums, I have a question about my SLI setup or settings on my new build. According to NV Control Panel under "Configure SLI, Surround, PhysX" I have SLI enabled the (Maximize 3D Performance) button is selected. The Physics card option is set to auto. Once I applied these settings I now have a Green Bar under the 2 GPU'S (GTX 980) and the option shows SLI enabled. (I do have the bridge installed)
Running GPU-Z I can see my Information for both my cards by choosing GPU-1 or 2.
 
My Problem is:
I then loaded the Valley Benchmark that came on the driver disk and tried to run the benchmark.
The Valley Benchmark Program will not start in SLI.
If I disable the SLI mode in the control panel and start Valley Benchmark it runs and I can then benchmark 1 card at a time individually...just not in SLI mode. the program will not start, it takes the settings I set on it and just goes black screen and locks up.
Any help/tips on something I may be overlooking on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
 
Asus X99 Deluxe
I7-5930k (Currently at stock speeds)
16Gb 2666MHz Dominator Platinum
EVGA GTX 980 x2 installed in slots 1 and 3. Slots are both PCI-e 3.0 x16 (SLI Bridge Installed)
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000w P2 PSU
Samsung 850 Pro x2
WD1502FAEX x2
 
 

 
 

Hello,
Thank you Sajin for the troubleshooting steps you posted above. I followed the steps and Downloaded the Valley Benchmark from the site you provided. I am able to run it in SLI mode now but not in Full Screen. If I try to run it in Full Screen it crashes and gives a warning the NVidia driver 347.09 has stopped and has recovered. In Windowed mode I do not get this error I actually am running it on custom setting on Ultra with FPS of 120-134 which I think is good.
 
The troubling part is I can not load in in full screen. I also started a game ESO and it loaded fine. SLI Visual indicator was working there. I then went from "Full Screen Windowed Mode" to just "Full Screen Mode" and again another crash.
Have you or anyone ran across this situation? And if so, What is the fix if there is one please?
 
SLI in FULL SCREEN is not functioning. Only Windowed Mode

Hello again,

1. Verified Motherboard had newest BIOS Version 1103 installed
2. Removed 1 of my GTX 980 SC Reference Cards (Leaving 1 for setup)
3. I wiped my system and started from fresh OS load.
4. Installed Fresh Windows 7 64bit OS
5. Loaded all drivers for my Asus X99-Deluxe
6. Installed newest NVidia driver 347.09 WHQL (Rebooted system)
7. Once rebooted back into windows I downloaded a fresh copy of Valley Benchmark 1.0 from  supplied by Sajin in a previous reply, then installed it and again rebooted system.
8. Once back into windows with 1 GPU in PCI-E Slot 1 x16 Gen3 I ran Valley Benchmark in both Windowed (Custom Ultra Mode) and Extreme HD (Full Screen) with no issues.
9. Shut down machine and swapped GPU into PCI-E Slot 3 x16 Gen3 and restarted system
10. Once back in windows I was able to run Valley Benchmark just like in Slot 1 in both (Windowed and Full Screen) No Issues
11. Shut down system and removed GPU-1 and replaced it with GPU-2 in PCI-E Slot 1 x16 Gen3 and restarted the system
12. For some reason Windows detected a new device and reloaded the drivers for the GPU I just installed (Not sure if that should have happened)
13. I rebooted once windows said the device is ready to use
14. Once again back in windows I then reran steps 8 though 10 with GPU-2 with no issues.
15. I shutdown the system and installed GPU-1 into PCI-E Slot 1 x16 Gen3 since GPU-2 was now in PCI-E Slot 3 x16 Gen3 (without SLI Bridge) and restarted my system
16. Once back in Windows...windows found a newly installed adapter and loaded the drivers for it, Rebooted system and installed SLI Bridge
17. Upon reboot windows now notified me my system is SLI Ready
18. I activated SLI mode using the NVidia Control Panel using the feature of "Configure SLI, Surround, PhysX" Maximize 3d Performance was selected as well as the Physics properties set to "Auto" clicked apply on the bottom right, the screen flickered and came back showing SLI Enabled and a green line under both GPU's with my monitor connection showing on GPU-1 and stating Physics will be handled by GPU-2. There is an option to have the CPU handle the physics...but I left it as set to Auto.
19. I then enabled both the SLI and Physics Visual Indicators and reboot the system.
20. I then open Valley Benchmark 1.0 and entered the first test in Custom Mode (WINDOWED) and was able to run it with no issues.
21. I then went for Extreme HD (FULLSCREEN) and the system crashed instantly with a black screen and a freeze. Once I Alt-Tab to task manager it just showed that Valley Benchmark is not responding.

I am quickly becoming to my end with this...it has now been going on 3 days of troubleshooting and all I can figure out is that my SLI setup works in Windowed mode but can not operate in Full Screen Mode. I have been researching this a bit and have found in my searches that this is not a isolated problem and that actually many people are experiencing the same problems and ALMOST all are with the EVGA Version of these GTX 980. I hope this is not the case due to the cost of these things.
 
I am unclear on what to try next...any suggestions are welcomed.
Weird that both cards ran alone can operate in both WINDOWED and FULL SCREEN....just NO FULL SCREEN IN SLI!
Please help if possible
 

Hello again Sajin,
I will try that with the fans...and disabling the indicators.
I do not have a overheat or high heat issue...is this a workaround that fixes a bug by chance?
I will set the fans to max, remove indicators and report back with results asap

Hello these are the results of the test with the fans...still no go in full screen.
I got the error after I Black Screened in Full Screen Mode and cleared it in tack manager
What can we try next? Would really like to have these work. A lot of money in these 2 GPU's. Something this expensive should not have these problems.
 

Problem solved
I can not believe it was the SLI Bridge. I used the one that came with the Motherboard which was a 3 way ribbon type.
it was connecting on both sides of the SLI Connections. I had an older 2 way SLI cable from an older motherboard and used it on the connectors at the farthest left of the board near the expansion slots. Using those slots still produced the errors. I then shut the machine off and swapped them to the other set and Now I can run in FULL SCREEN Mode. I feel so stupid now...but I am still wondering if that is a flaw on the board and worth an RMA. What do you all think? I was under the impression that either connectors can be used. In this case they can not.
 
I thank you all for your help...going to do some more playing and see if it is stable now so I can start the OCing.
I will update with further progress as I go.
 
Monitor is Asus ROG SWIFT PG278Q
Using DP which is its only connection
Running at 2560 x 1440 - 144Hz

These are some pictures of what I found out. If I do RMA them I wonder how long before I get them back.  And if they replace them I will probably get someone's old headaches as in used GPU's

RMA activated...will update once RMA is completed.
 
Thanks again to all that helped.

j2345912
Woah!! first time I've seen defective SLI fingers! Best luck to you and wishes for a speedy RMA!

Defective SLI fingers have been popping up lately.

2nd RMA set fixed the issue...the original cards and the 1st RMA units sent out seem to have been older (earlier version) cards. The replacements that arrived last night are working perfectly, I can now run Full Screen with any SLI finger combination. I am very happy now.
A big "Thank You" to all that helped with troubleshooting tips and advise.

So glad I see this thread start.
 
I had problems running my system in SLi at full screen (red flickering). I have found the fault card and send it to for RMA to EVGA. When I got the replacement, it was working perfect and the SLi works just fine.
 
But then I noticed that the second fingers of the SLi connectors on the cards (the ones on the right, opposite of your problem), does not recognize the SLi bridge. And ofcourse I get the pop-up window 'Please connect the SLi bridge....".
 
I have connected the EVGA dual way SLi bridge connector (the one that lights up) and tried other 2 SLi bridges as well; same issue.
 
Now the thing is:
1. My system runs just fine without issues, I can play any game, runs everything smooth including any benchmarks;
2. If this is a card issue (the one I did not RMA), I am concerned if in the future I am trying to add another card and have them in 3 X SLi I will have problems;
3. The cost of shipping those cards from Canada to US is very expensive; When I shipped the first one it cost me the cheapest way possible $70.00.
 
I really do not know what to do. Probably leave the system as it is and in the future if problems come up because of the 'finger connector' issue, I will have to deal with it...

I did try just now and it is the other card (not the one I received from RMA). And my 30 days window finished about a week back... To go through RMA and spend another atleast $70 is out of the question. I am a bit upset because I spend on those two cards way too much already and now to spend again for RMA... Sad.