Multi-GPU crashes computer

[areyal]

Hi,

I've just installed a GTX 470 and a GTX 480 and both of them work properly one by one, but when I select both of them, the system crashes and I have to reboot.

¿Any idea?

Thanks a lot

[FooZe]

Hi Areyal,

What is your power supply wattage?
Also at what point exactly does it hang? Does it start the render at all?

Cheers
Chris.

[areyal]

The PSU is 750W

My GPUs are about 500 all of them together so I think that is not the problem.?

In the moment I select the two GPUs it seems to start rendering but at the moment the computer freezes (I cannot even move the mouse) and I have to reset it.

I have tried in both the standalone and the 3ds max editions with identical results: each of the gpus work fine alone and the computer crashes when both of them are selected and starting to work.


Thank you very much for your quick response

[FooZe]

Yeah, 750 is plenty.

I'm not sure if NVidia multi-gpu is possible for a 470+480 but i would check in the nvidia control panel to make sure it is off if available.
Also check temperatures.

I think it is best to try to fix the problem with as little going on as possible so keep it to the standalone edition. What version are you using?

Cheers
Chris.

[areyal]

It is 2.52 version

I have the latest drivers installed and I can only see a phisx menu in nvidia control panel, nothing about multigpu or sli

Cheers

[FooZe]

It might be worth a try with the latest stable release of 2.58e.
http://render.otoy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=21850

Another cause could be your motherboard - perhaps an update of your motherboard's bios may help (do this at your own risk!).

Cheers
Chris.

[Refracty]

Check if the problem shows up especially with PT . PT needs more wattage compared to Direct Lighting.
Even if your PSU has 750 W it could be that the power rails are not spreaded evenly. Try different combination of power cord connections. That should solve this problem...

[areyal]

Hi,

After 24h trying everything (I mean everything): all wire combinations, an additional 500W PSU only for one of the GPUs, GTX480 bios update (I even didn't know this could be done , and so on, the results remain the same:

Any of the GPUs works fine alone or in combination of GT430 + GTX470 and GT430+GTX480, but no GTX470+GTX480

My conclusion is that the boards maybe drain the power of the mainboard through the PCI ports. Maybe with another stronger PSU which put more power to the mainboard would work (I doubt it), but most probable is that I should get a better mainboard. Mine isn't bad but a bit old

Just information in case anybody had a similar problem

Thanks for your advice
Cheers

[FooZe]

That is strange. I hate it when problems boil down to just replacing parts until it works but that definitely is a sure fire way of fixing the problem! (And by the looks of things the only way!).
I wouldn't expect the two cards to pull more current than the PCI bus is spec'ed for, and i wouldn't think a manufacturer would make a motherboard that can't meet the standard, but perhaps it is failing due to age as you say.

Good luck.

Cheers
Chris.

[acc24ex]

shuffle all the graphics cards around, and the memory
give it a try
computers are sometimes stupid like that