SLI Server 2003?

opieum · July 24th, 2007, 04:43 AM

Does anyone know where or how I can mod a driver (or if there is an existing driver out there) that can be modded to work with SLI in server 2003? It used to be possible to run SLI in 2003 (I used to run it) Now it is no longer possible it seems. I have to perfectly good 8800GTX with 4GB or ram running (this is why I am running server 2003.

Before I get preached to about how server 2003 is a server os and not for gaming...please spare me that. I see it alot. Anyone in the know will know that server 2003 is a very well tuned and stable OS. It also smokes windows XP in gaming. Noone has given a good reason on any forum I could find why Server 2003 is not a good OS technically. Just that it is a server OS and I had to take it on that person's say so.

Anyway. I would like to know either how to mod the Driver in such a way to make it think it is installing on XP so that the SLI option is enabled. OR If there is some other way to get SLI working on Server 2003 that would be a welcome method as well.

Thanks

**Regeneration** · July 24th, 2007, 08:12 AM

Server 2003 is almost the same like Windows XP, just with the Server services and tools. SLI should work there without any problem.

opieum · July 25th, 2007, 02:09 AM

Sadly it does not. As of 91.xx it no longer works. I have tried this configuration with 5 (2 AMD and 3 intel using nforce chipsets) different system setups using 2x 7600s and 2x 8800s. I flashed the BIOSes of the video cards to make sure they matched (even tho the models are the same make and mfg)

I am currently trying to contact Nvidia about it to see if I can get an answer to this. I got a reply and the rep is looking into it. That typically means it may not come but we'll see.

I have tried editing the INF file in order to add the 8800 into the 91.31 driver. All I got were BSODs for the effort. I am guessing they have made some modifications. I had considered using a hex editor and see exactly what changes where made.

I just want to trick the driver into thinking it is installing into XP instead of Server 2003. There is obviously some kind of OS checker that prevents the driver from enabling SLI on Win2k and win2k3. Since they are using a "unified" architecture then this should theoretically work.

Oh and as an aside I had a seperate drive for each system that had XP/linux/vista installed on it. I managed to get all those working with SLI just fine so I am positive that this is an artificial limitation. It is a question of why at this point and how I can over come it.

**Regeneration** · July 25th, 2007, 02:35 AM

Well, sadly I’ve nothing to offer you. Editing the INF file shouldn’t help since the important data is inside the ForceWare system-level driver, and it is impossible to edit. So you have seven options:

#1 - Try other drivers such as ForceWare 96.89, ForceWare 96.94, ForceWare 97.44 or ForceWare 97.94, maybe one of these will work. You can use the search feature to find more unofficial ForceWare drivers for G80.
#2 - Annoy Nvidia until they fix it (That would take years)
#3 - Use Windows XP or Vista instead.
#4 - Try to install under XP SP2 Compatibility mode and set Compatibility mode for .EXEs.
#5 - Check around, maybe there's a way to change Windows version and to emulate XP version (5.1.2600), or try to use some resource hacker tool to edit Windows files (Explorer.exe) and modify the version part, or maybe the registry.
#6 - Stick with Server 2003 without SLI support
#7 - Use ATI 2900XT Crossfire

opieum · July 25th, 2007, 06:05 AM

I tried most of those. ATI is not an option as it also has the same cripple ware built in and apparently has for some time.

Already tried Vista and XP. problem is I have 4GB of ram and only 3GB gets used. I have tried all those /pae switches but again this is an artificial limitation that MS has added in. Server can support loads more past 4GB (64GB with Enterprise Server) with the /pae switch. x64 would be an option except for too many compatibility issues I am dealing with on that platform.

I have already started the annoying nvidia part....I am not that patient to wait years :P
Compat mode wont work.

The best option I have now is to use a tool called tweaknt. I think it is possible to make it work with that. Thanks for the idea. If I get it working I will post my results.