New computer, slow FPS when 5 boxing

[Rokins]

I just finished building my new comp and my specs are as follows:


I7 - 930
Intel 80 GB SSD for the WoW folders
MSI Mobo
6GB Kingston 1600MHZ RAM
300GB Velociraptor
Windows 7
2x Nvidia 8800 GTS 512 MB in SLI

Now my video cards are being reused until I get a new one, but I still think that I should be able to 5 box with this rig, however i am having some issues. I get random drops in FPS down to about 30 and it stays there until I restart my game. I have also had issues when using two monitors when using these two cards where my whole computer will freeze up and the game window will freak out (game window will turn into squares that twitch around the screen until freezing) and I will have to restart the whole computer to fix this. I was thinking about getting an ATI 5870 to run these 5 copies of WoW, but I want to know if there is an issue when using two 8800's in SLI with two monitors. When I tried disabling SLI, I had an issue where my main screen would lock itself at 30FPS for no reason and stay there even with Vsync disabled. Any suggestions?

[Lax]

Here you go, you may not be using ISBoxer but the information on this link tells you your limitations:
http://isboxer.com/index.php/guides/21-using-multiple-video-cards

[Rokins]

Here you go, you may not be using ISBoxer but the information on this link tells you your limitations:
http://isboxer.com/index.php/guides/21-using-multiple-video-cards

I read that, cool stuff. But I was wondering if I should just scrap both cards and upgrade to one 5870 since I am having problems with these two that wont go away. Lockups, slowdowns, and random 30FPS locks are getting on my nerves.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

I thought SLI was specifically not supported by WoW? I may be wrong. Let me go see if I can find a linky.

[edit1] http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=24401794091&sid=1 == This link shows the 197.45 driver appears to add support for WoW. Might make sure you have at least that driver or newer.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=31055014&sid=1 == Couple of blue pointers to getting it working...but no official support from Blizzard.

[Lax]

Just don't switch to the 5970, which will have the same problems because of Crossifre ;)

Interesting that SLI may actually work with WoW now, thanks for the links ughmahedhurtz

[Rokins]

Just don't switch to the 5970, which will have the same problems because of Crossifre ;)

Interesting that SLI may actually work with WoW now, thanks for the links ughmahedhurtz

haha I know, but wouldn't the 5870 be way better than two 8800's?

[Ughmahedhurtz]

haha I know, but wouldn't the 5870 be way better than two 8800's?

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/graphics-cards,1.html

Actually, it's close enough in overall scores that the $400 for the card just isn't worth it, IMO.

[Noids]

Recently read that info also Lax. I run a GTX295 powering a single 30" screen in windows 7. I am reading tat to say I can't actually use IS to set separate instances to separate GPUs unless they are on different monitors then? In this case, is it still worthwhile disabling SLI?

Out of interest, with the latest patch downloaded, I DLed nvidia powermonitor. It tells me that when I have 5 instances running I do have both GPUs working and very rarely above 75% each. What seems to cap out quite regularly for me is CPU usage on Core1 (with the others not far behind). Temps are all fine, memory is hardly touched. CPU is i7 920 @ 3.6GHz. I struggle to get 30fps in Dal on my main, ultra settings except shadows off.