STILL, No Picture!

[Ravenas]

I just got the new Asus rampage formula and a VisionTech 3870 X2 Overclocked 1GB PCI 2.0 x16 card, and I've got it all hooked up and I have absolutely no picture! I don't think this is another RMA, I just don't see it happening twice. Everything works, just the same symptoms as last time. No picture.

1) Is there any known issues of PCI-E 2.0 not automatically working on this board? Do you have to enable it?

2) Is there any known bios updates that fix this problem?

[DaMulta]

Try the 2ed PCIE slot

[Ravenas]

Nothing at all... This is the most frustrating thing.

[erocker]

Hummmm.... Did you try a different monitor and or monitor cable?:confused:

[DaMulta]

Another video card in the machine?

Is there a little led light on the card that stays on?

[Ravenas]

Works fine with a x800, monitor cable is fine. No red light, just 2 fans running.

[Ravenas]

Also I don't think it is a psu problem but I could be wrong. I ran a 8800 ultra on this psu

[erocker]

Try a different monitor if you can. I've come into problems from time to time with ATi cards and various monitors.

[Ravenas]

I don't think this is simply a monitor problem.

[DaMulta]

Try a different monitor if you can. I've come into problems from time to time with ATi cards and various monitors.

I have only seen flickering which can be fixed 90% in CCC.

I have found SOME boards do not like ATi cards.....BUT I don't think you should have that problem with this board. Just try all the PCI-E slots(Which I bet you have).

Do you know someone that has a PCI-E slot motherboard you could slap this into?

[Ravenas]

Nope, mines the only one I know of friend wise. This sucks...

[DaMulta]

Can you get your money back?

[Ravenas]

Can you get your money back?

Sure, but I don't want my money back. I want this card to work. This is the second x2 PCI 2.0 card that hasn't worked.

[DaMulta]

Did you not see the HD4850 today?

True the x2 is faster in some games.

[Ravenas]

Lol I don't care if some one gave me two of those... I just want this to work I don't want to rma another card.

[DaMulta]

Have you tried bending the card while it's booting? Put pressure on the card going up in the slot towards the CPU?

I have seen that in some machines.

[Ninkobwi]

try leaving your case lying down..I notice that the 3870s are kinda heavy and if they arent screwed in just perfectly they can slightly ease out of the PCI-Express slot..also make sure the back of the card (the metal part) isnt in conflict with any of your case..if your case is slightly warped that could keep the PCI-E card from being inserted entirely. Do you have any ghost-cards installed in the other PCI-E slots?

[Ravenas]

The only other card I have installed is in the PCI-E x1 slot, and that's a sound card that came with the mobo.

[xmountainxlionx]

your card might by default have a different refresh rate than your monitor can handle. you should plug a different monitor up

[Ravenas]

I just can't see that being the problem, I have a 22" Acer LCD...I'll try it though.

[ShogoXT]

Could try useing an old video card just long enough to get into the BIOS. Make sure the bios version is up to date and start fiddling with the bios settings that have to do with PCI-E. Thats all I can recommend.

[Ravenas]

Yeah I'll try updating the BIOS. I tried last night and windows is acting weird and wanting me to activate it again...However, I have no internet connection on the computer. So basically I can't log into Windows. One problem after another. :banghead:

[ShogoXT]

Got a good ol floppy drive? Flash it like the good ol days?

EDIT: Basicly saying use another comp with internet access if possible.

[Ravenas]

Got a good ol floppy drive? Flash it like the good ol days?

EDIT: Basicly saying use another comp with internet access if possible.

Hehe, no floppy. I'm thinking about just removing the HDD for now and just try booting to post.

[ShogoXT]

Make a bootable CD then, those work similar I think.

[ShogoXT]

WAIT, Something I heard before. What CPU are you using with the motherboard? I heard some rumors about some people getting mobos that didnt support the 45nm quads until they were flashed.

Hmm, but it wouldnt even get to post if that were the case huh...

[ShogoXT]

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Rampage_Formula/0403.zip

Direct link to new BIOS version 0403.

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/flash/AFUDOS236.zip

The update tool: "Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36"

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Rampage_Formula/Rampage_Formula_manual_E3559.zip

Manual in case you need it, il look it over for bios settings.

EDIT: Fixed links because the first ones didnt work (the USA ones).

[Ravenas]

What is ATI's technical support phone number?

[ShogoXT]

Learned from the manual that there is the flash program right in it. Also the only PCIE setting I can see is the frequency (make sure its 100). I dont have any other ideas for the moment.

[Ravenas]

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Rampage_Formula/0403.zip

Direct link to new BIOS version 0403.

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/flash/AFUDOS236.zip

The update tool: "Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36"

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Rampage_Formula/Rampage_Formula_manual_E3559.zip

Manual in case you need it, il look it over for bios settings.

EDIT: Fixed links because the first ones didnt work (the USA ones).

Are those links for updating the bios via flash?

[ShogoXT]

I tried looking for it, but you have to be registered with them before they will give it to you.

EDIT: Yes, but after looking at the manual, you will only need the first link.

EDIT2: I would have given less direct links, but thats not how their site works. It shows support.asus.com/download Thats it.

[FatForester]

Hmm.. is that ASUS a different mobo than last time? I would say the PSU, but you really shouldn't be having any problems with the Antec Quatro. I'd say use different PCIe cables to see if you're overloading one of the 12v rails. Chances are that isn't the case, since it would boot up and crash whenever the GPUs got to full load. Just to simplify things, take out whatever you don't absolutely need or unplug it. That'll help narrowing it down at least.

So what CPU are you using? If it's still the Q6600 there shouldn't be any problems unless if the RAM for some reason went bad. That's still a long-shot though.

[ShogoXT]

So another video card will work fine?

[Ravenas]

So another video card will work fine?

Yeah works fine with a x800.

@FatForester: Using a 45nm xeon 3.0 ghz.

[Ravenas]

I just tried starting my computer with the graphics card unplugged (no 6 pins connected at all). From there, I was given no power warning message, which is a big sign that the graphics card is messed up again...

[oli_ramsay]

I would RMA it and get 2 4850s. Could just be a bad batch if two in a row are having the exact same problem.

[Ravenas]

Can't be a bad batch, they are two different cards...Could be a bad chip batch but that would be highly unlikely.

I called visiontek, they said flip the switches on the back...So I did and still no response from the card. At that point, they recommended I uninstall all video drivers from the operating system and getting the latest bios update.

Also make sure any onboard video is turned off.

[ShogoXT]

Can't be a bad batch, they are two different cards...Could be a bad chip batch but that would be highly unlikely.

I called visiontek, they said flip the switches on the back...So I did and still no response from the card. At that point, they recommended I uninstall all video drivers from the operating system and getting the latest bios update.

Also make sure any onboard video is turned off.

Wait wait! You say no video, but can you hear it go into windows?

EDIT: I know for a fact from past experiences, that if the video card dies you cant get past post more often then not. So if you HEAR and know its working past it...

[Ravenas]

I'll check on that. But I highly doubt there is anything conflicting with my video drivers...Simply because I just removed the HDD and there is still no response.

^ Ill try that though.

[oli_ramsay]

Is there another mobo you can try it on?

[Ravenas]

Is there another mobo you can try it on?

No...

[ShogoXT]

Please if you could give us details about the boot up issue. No video is one think but if you can see the computer thinking (blinking light) or hear the normal boot up Beep when you turn it on, it will clear things up.

[Ravenas]

The ram is working (I know from the lights), the fan is turning has led lights on as well. Processor seems to be fine. Everything seems to be working, even the graphics card (fans are spinning)!

No beeps though.

Everything seems to be fine.

[ShogoXT]

The ram is working (I know from the lights), the fan is turning has led lights on as well. Processor seems to be fine. Everything seems to be working, even the graphics card (fans are spinning)!

No beeps though.

Everything seems to be fine.

Video card. Sorry man bad luck again. That exactly happened to my old 9800SE modded to a Pro. I dissected the entire computer motherboard and all, but if there are no beeps, mine turned out to be the video card too. Just dead.

Like the other people have been saying, 2 4850s? I saw some good deals in my other thread.

EDIT: I could be wrong, but the same thing happened to me it seemed like, but a long time ago.

[Ravenas]

Yeah...I'm guessing I'm going to give up on trying to have a X2...

Damn ATI :banghead:

[ShogoXT]

Well I guess ive been lucky. The 9800SE didnt die til like 6 months later because of overheating. I tried putting on a arctic cooling heatsink on it, but I guess I didnt do the thermal paste right.

[Ravenas]

I went ahead and ordered two 4850s...If these cards don't work I will never buy another ATI card. :banghead:

[FatForester]

Well crap, sorry to hear about that Ravenas. From the first reviews, you'll be much better off with the two 4850's anyways, so it might all be worth it in the end.

[Ninkobwi]

I went ahead and ordered two 4850s...If these cards don't work I will never buy another ATI card. :banghead:

thats the spirit! go go 4850 :)

[Nyte]

I know exactly the problem this is. We dealt with this issue before.

It's actually the system BIOS fault. What happens is that since the 2x RV670's are behind a PCIe 1.0 SWITCH, the system is never able to enumerate the graphics cards for display. This system BIOS in particular will only look at graphics cards that are connected directly to it, not through another device (in this case a switch).

It's not the card at fault, it's Asus.