My Motherboard doesn't recognize it's second PCI-e slot

[Erik_Twice]

So I have a P5N-D and can't get my computer to run a secondary graphics card. It simply doesn't appear, I can't install it. I don't think it's a hardware problem, I think I must do something with the drivers or the BIOS because the motherboards seems completely fine.

The only thing that my computer asks me to install is some Microsoft Bus for real Audio (Raw translation), something I have no idea of what it is because I have already installed my integrated audio card. It detects it as a PCI device, perhaps it's the videocard?

The videocards work fine alone in the first slot and don't work in the second. I'm using Windows XP.

Any help?

[Hobie-wan]

Maybe check if there's a BIOS update for your mobo. Also check in BIOS if there's any sort of setting for restricting cards in the second slot.

[CRTGAMER]

Should be somewhere on the motherboard to disable built in video. You want to disable the on board audio when you plug in an extra audio card as well. PCI more forgiving then ancient ISA on IRQ issues, but still could be the problem. Usually moving or removing a jumper.

[Hobie-wan]

Should be somewhere on the motherboard to disable built in video. You want to disable the on board audio when you plug in an extra audio card as well. PCI more forgiving then ancient ISA on IRQ issues, but still could be the problem. Usually moving or removing a jumper.

Its PCI-e though, there won't be any jumpers, only a bridge if one was doing 2 identical video cards. XP should just see another card and go. You can use onboard video and other cards too. As long as BIOS reports the card ok and windows had drivers, it will go.

[fastbilly1]

Sounds like either a bios or a hardware problem, update the bios if possible then come back to us.

[Niode]

Ok. What graphics cards are you trying to use? What operating system are you using and what driver version are you using?

[Hobie-wan]

Uhh, I already suggested a BIOS update and he said he's using XP.

[Niode]

If you are trying to use both cards at once then you need to plug in the SLI bridge connect for the cards to work. You should have got one in the box if your card is SLI compatible. If it doesn't have one then it's not compatible with SLI. It plugs into the connector on the top right edges of the cards (when they're installed into the system).

Also, the cards have to be the same model card. If you're trying to use different cards it won't work.

[Dylan]

Also, the cards have to be the same model card. If you're trying to use different cards it won't work.

I thought you could SLI 2 different model cards, with the performance of each limited to the weakest one.

[Hobie-wan]

You don't have to SLI them. You can just use them as separate video cards. My work machine has some crappy card running the 2 main screens and a really crappy card off my junk pile so I could have a third monitor.