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SLI for NVIDIA Quadro: Installation Guide
This document provides the information necessary to successfully install and configure your SLI-
capable graphics boards and system. You may also review the full Installation Guide for
additional information. Topics covered in this document include:
• NVIDIA SLI technology
• Motherboard and power supply requirements
• SLI hardware setup and configuration
• Display driver installation and enabling SLI
• SLI questions and answers
N
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Requirements: - Any two NVIDIA Quadro PCI Express graphics boards: NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400, 3400, 1400, 1300, 540, 330 Motherboard and Power Supply Requirements To support SLI, your PC motherboard must be PCI Express-based, with two available and adjacent PCI Express expansion slots. Both slots must be x16 mechanical with the following allowed electrical slots: x16 + x16 x16 + x8 x16 + x4 Since SLI supports up to two high-end graphics boards, the load on the system’s power sup
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Figure 2. shows two SLI-capable graphics boards installed in PCI Express expansion slots with the SLI bridge connector and auxiliary power connector cables installed. From a hardware perspective this system is ready for SLI driver installation and configuration. Figure 2. Now that we have reviewed SLI system requirements let’s proceed with the hardware installation by performing the following steps in the order given. Obtain the SLI-capable display driver (on the Quadro Utilitie
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2. Gently remove or open the systems enclosure (refer to owners manual that came with your computer if necessary). 3. Perform the installation in a static safe environment and utilize a properly grounded anti-static wristband. Place any static sensitive components in anti-static bags. 4. If a non-SLI capable graphics board occupies the x16 expansion slot, carefully remove it and replace it with your SLI-capable graphics board. 5. Install the second SLI-capable graphics board in the
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6. Click anywhere on the message above (if the message disappears, right click on the desktop and select Properties/Settings/Advanced/Quadro FX xxxx/SLI multi-GPU). Check the “Enable SLI multi-GPU” as shown in the screen capture below and select OK. Select “Restart”. Setting Up For Testing The system is now setup and configured for SLI. When you log back into Windows, you will default into “SLI Frame Rendering” (single screen) mode. SPECviewperf benchmarks are run in
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You will then need to select the appropriate profile in the control panel. You can do this by selecting: Properties/Settings/Advanced/Quadro FX xxxx/Performance & Quality Settings. In the “Active profile” drop-down menu, select “3D App – Modeling AFR”. Finally, you need to turn “Vertical sync” off. While still in the “Performance & Quality Settings” window, check the “Vertical sync” box under the “Settings for 3D App – Modeling AFR”. Then un- check the box at the bottom of the window that
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Important Benchmark Reminders NVIDIA has encountered a number of installation and configuration issues that you need to be aware of while benchmarking. Here is a checklist of things to look for when your numbers don’t match some of the numbers provided, or when applications will not run: 1. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400 and 3400 graphics solutions require the PCI Express power dongle. 2. Make sure you test at high resolutions. NVIDIA recommends testing at a minimum resolution of 1280x1024
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>Additional Properties->OpenGL Settings panel and select the appropriate application in the Custom OpenGL Application Setting pane. Application specific settings exist for many applications including: 3ds max; AutoCAD; CATIA; Maya / Studio Tools; Pro/ENGINEER; Solid Edge; SolidWorks; and Unigraphics, among others. 11. Turn off hyperthreading. To achieve maximum performance, particularly in SolidWorks, turn off hyperthreading. 12. Pay close attention to system memory size. Many benchmar
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XF86Config.sample-XF86Config.sample- 4 (7 KB) 2 (7 KB) SLI Questions and Answers Here are answers to some common SLI questions: Q: Can I take advantage of SLI and run four displays at the same time? A: Yes, you can drive four displays simultaneously by using the SLI Multi View mode – two NVIDIA Quadro FX PCI Express boards, each driving two displays. The two boards do not require the SLI bridge connector. Q: Why didn’t the POST (Power On Self Test) screen come up during the reboot
