4870x2 not posting

the_syco

Hello all,
Got a HD4870x2 (single card, not crossfire) off one of the lads (SeantheMan), but when I put it into my machine, I only get a black screen. It worked fine for him, but he's since updated to two HD6870's so he gave me the HD4870x2.

When I boot, nothing comes on the screen, and the fan stays at full power. If I leave it alone, I can hear the Windows chime after about four minutes, so it seems it works, but just gives no output. Have tried both DVI ports, and have also taken it apart and cleaned the dust & cleaned and put new paste on the heatsinks, but still no joy. Have the 6pin and 8pin power conections hooked up to my 850W CoolerMaster, so there should be enough juice.

Have reseated the DIMMs, and have changed the DIMM slots (was in 1&3, tried 2&4, but no luck). Also removed the CMOS battery, booted it, shut it down, and put the CMOS battery back in to clear the settings, but it made no deifference.

I have updated the GA-X48-DS5 BIOS to F8C but still nothing.

=-=

Took out the soundcard, rejigged how I put the fan onto the 4870, and I got both cards into the PC. It runs, but still no display from the 4870x2. I have the crossfire cable connecting them both.

In fact, the PC doesn't seem to see the 4870x2 at all, either in Device Manager, in CPU-Z, GPU-Z or in MSI Afterburner.

Anyone have any ideas, or do you think the 4870x2 has died? It's not posting at all, not showing BIOS, etc, so it's not a drivers issue.

Overheal

I could be wrong but I'm of the mind the x2 can not be cross fired on a board that only supports two way crossfire. It only uses one PC bus but its still two gpus. Adding a third 4870 single might be your issue, unless I read that asswards.

the_syco

Overheal wrote: »

I could be wrong but I'm of the mind the x2 can not be cross fired on a board that only supports two way crossfire. It only uses one PC bus but its still two gpus. Adding a third 4870 single might be your issue, unless I read that asswards.

I think you're reading it asswards.

I have one 4870, and one 4870x2. The 4870x2 is by itself it doesn't display anything. With the 4870 on it's own I see post (which I currently use). If the 4870 and 4870x2 are both installed, Windows only sees the 4870, even when I plug the crossfire cable onto them both.

As Windows doesn't see the 4870x2 I'm thinking it may either be broken, or my mobo doesn't support it. There are no PCI-E options in the BIOS (latest one is installed) that I can find that would need to be configured. It worked for SeantheMan before he gave it to me, so unlikely it "just died".

The 4870x2 first came out August 2008, and the GA-X48-DS5 motherboard came out at around July 2008, with the latest BIOS update April 2009. Whilst looking for an update, have come across others using the 4870x2 with the GA-X48-DS5 motherboard.

Zab

the_syco wrote: »

Overheal wrote: »

I could be wrong but I'm of the mind the x2 can not be cross fired on a board that only supports two way crossfire. It only uses one PC bus but its still two gpus. Adding a third 4870 single might be your issue, unless I read that asswards.

I think you're reading it asswards.

I have one 4870, and one 4870x2. The 4870x2 is by itself it doesn't display anything. With the 4870 on it's own I see post (which I currently use). If the 4870 and 4870x2 are both installed, Windows only sees the 4870, even when I plug the crossfire cable onto them both.

As Windows doesn't see the 4870x2 I'm thinking it may either be broken, or my mobo doesn't support it. There are no PCI-E options in the BIOS (latest one is installed) that I can find that would need to be configured. It worked for SeantheMan before he gave it to me, so unlikely it "just died".

The 4870x2 first came out August 2008, and the GA-X48-DS5 motherboard came out at around July 2008, with the latest BIOS update April 2009. Whilst looking for an update, have come across others using the 4870x2 with the GA-X48-DS5 motherboard.

What other ports are there on the x2? Do you have any way of hooking them up?

the_syco

Zab wrote: »

What other ports are there on the x2? Do you have any way of hooking them up?

Two DVI ports and a TV out. Will try the TV out during the week.

Zab

Unless you mean a HDMI I wouldn't hold out too much hope for that.

A lot of motherboards won't boot without a graphics card installed. I've never tried to boot Windows but I believe it can work (assuming your mobo will allow it). I suggest you take out all the graphics cards and see if it acts the same. You could also set up some sort of remote desktop software and see what Windows is saying about the hardware it sees. How about updated firmware for the x2? I assume you don't have another machine you can test it out in.

As I'm sure you've realized this isn't looking too good.

ARGINITE

Do you see POST info with just the x2 in the system?

If not try it in a different slot and make sure all the power connectors are connected. Also try it in a different machine.

If all the above fail then my guess is the card is dead.

the_syco

Zab wrote: »

Unless you mean a HDMI I wouldn't hold out too much hope for that.

The old sort of TV-OUT with the 5 or 9 pins in it.

Zab wrote: »

A lot of motherboards won't boot without a graphics card installed. I've never tried to boot Windows but I believe it can work (assuming your mobo will allow it).

With it in, I allowed it to do whatever, and I heard the Windows "loading chime" after four minutes.

Zab wrote: »

I suggest you take out all the graphics cards and see if it acts the same.

With no graphics card, it boots, but reboots after maybe 5-15 seconds.

Zab wrote: »

You could also set up some sort of remote desktop software and see what Windows is saying about the hardware it sees.

Zab wrote: »

How about updated firmware for the x2?

No, and I don't know if I can, as the computer doesn't see the x2.

Zab wrote: »

I assume you don't have another machine you can test it out in.

Yes, but I don't know if the PSU would. Will check if one of the lads PSU will run it, but I'm pretty sure he just has my old 550W PSU, so probably not.

Zab wrote: »

As I'm sure you've realized this isn't looking too good.

Ah yes, but I don't want to "just give up" without trying every possible thing :P

ARGINITE wrote: »

Do you see POST info with just the x2 in the system?

No.

ARGINITE wrote: »

If not try it in a different slot and make sure all the power connectors are connected. Also try it in a different machine.

Have tried both PCI-Express slots, and it doesn't work in both.

ARGINITE wrote: »

If all the above fail then my guess is the card is dead.

Yes, it would seem that way, but I'll check with someone elses machine first.

fionny

Im sorry if this seems too obvious but is the system trying to use the other graphics card to output? Which card is your monitor plugged into?

the_syco

fionny wrote: »

Im sorry if this seems too obvious but is the system trying to use the other graphics card to output? Which card is your monitor plugged into?

If the 4870x2 is used alone, it doesn't post.

If 4870x2 is used with current 4870, the 4870x2 doesn't post, and when I access Windows with the 4870, I am unable to see the 4870x2 at all.

Zab

the_syco wrote: »

TWith no graphics card, it boots, but reboots after maybe 5-15 seconds.

5-15 seconds after windows loads or after power on?

By the way, I just remembered that if you have multiple AMD cards in a Windows machine without crossfire you have to have a monitor attached to each of them on boot for the GPU to be initialized. I'm not sure if they get hidden from device manager or not though.

Although let's face it, no POST being displayed usually means either the card is knackered or it's incompatible.

the_syco

Zab wrote: »

5-15 seconds after windows loads or after power on?

After power on.

Zab wrote: »

By the way, I just remembered that if you have multiple AMD cards in a Windows machine without crossfire you have to have a monitor attached to each of them on boot for the GPU to be initialized. I'm not sure if they get hidden from device manager or not though.

With or without the crossfire cable, Windows doesn't see the x2.

Zab wrote: »

Although let's face it, no POST being displayed usually means either the card is knackered or it's incompatible.

Aye, so it'd seem. Ah well. At least now I know that I'll need a new machine before I get a new gfx card.

the_syco

So, got to test it on a mates machine, and same thing happens: loud fan, no post on either port, no warning lights appear on the card. Seems it's fubar. Ah well.

Overheal

I love the multiyear warranties on those GPUs though

the_syco

Overheal wrote: »

I love the multiyear warranties on those GPUs though

Only two years for this one, and I think it's three or four years old.

=-=

Does anyone know if i can flash the graphics card? It may be worth checking out if I get a get a system that sees it.