5770 stuck at 8x and other problems, bios issue?

[mastrdrver]

So I got this card open box from Newegg. I was going to return it but decided not to since it is just an extra card. I'm starting to regret it now.

Problems:
The card is always stuck in 8x mode. I have tested this in 3 different boards. One was my x58 and the other two are Gigabyte AM3 boards. Other cards I have work 16x in the same boards with no problems so I know it is the card.

If the 5770 is put in anything other than the first PCIe slot the system will not see it (yes even Windows). Even if it is the only card in the system. I tried this on my P6T6 and I got a "no video card" bios beep errors. 5870 and 4870x2 both work fine without any problems in the same third slot.

If the 5770 is in the first slot and a second card is placed in the second slot I have problems getting video to appear from the 5770. The second card does not show any video being output on any of the connectors. Only tried with with my 4650. I tried using the HDMI and a DVI-VGA with the same results. If I left the monitor on the selected input I would never get a picture from the start up screen to Windows desktop. If I would boot and not have the monitor on the selected input I would need to wait until the system was sitting on Windows desktop. I could then switch my input selection on my monitor and be able to use the system as the 5770 would output a picture.

I'm way past the 30 days so a return to Newegg is not an option. I'm just wondering if this could be a bios problem and a newer one could fix these. I'm not sure how to read the date of the bios with GPUz though. While I have not removed the cooler, there appears to be no physical damage to the card from what I can see nor any missing chips or parts from comparing the card to that of the high resolution pictures of the reference pcb in TPU's review of the 5770 at launch.

So, anyone know if their is hope?

 

[Kantastic]

Don't even bother, just talk to Newegg via their live chat (tomorrow, they're closed now) and explain the situation. Tell them you were busy or out of town for a long period of time (for work/school w/e) and they'll accept it for return.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Yea, that whole deal seems strange. Honestly, the difference in 8x and 16x on a 5770 is near non-existent. Only the upper echelon of GPU's show real performance drop when 8x is used instead of 16x, so if it is going in a rig by itself, I wouldn't sweat it.

Now for the time you had a 5000 and a 4000 series card in the rig together, I don't think the 4000 series card in the second slot is suppose to output a picture. I know Crossfire for those two was out of the question and I have never really heard of two separate cards running video at the same time from the same rig before.

 

[Mussels]

the performance difference is non existent, but if he wants to use two video cards in a system, he's screwed with that card.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

the performance difference is non existent, but if he wants to use two video cards in a system, he's screwed with that card.

Thanks....so performance lose is non-existent for sure.

If something is wrong with the card that only effects it running in 16x, most boards that would run 2 cards in CF would do it with 2 8x lanes anyway so the card may be find with another 5770 at its side or something. I am honestly curious now. But if Newegg with replace it, replace it. Whatever is going on (if it is the card) may become a real problem later.

As for if the BIOS can cause it. I don't know. Mussels might. The PCIe lanes are usually on auto in BIOS that give you control over it and may think that 8x is all the 5770 needed. See if you can find a setting in the BIOS that controls PCIe with options that say (16 up and down, 8 up and down, etc.) and set it manually to 16x. Then check it again to see if the card stills says 8x.

 

[Mussels]

its likely that some of the PCI-E pins (or traces to them) are damaged on the card, so it detects as an 8x card.

because of that damage, its not showing as a VGA card in any slot apart from the first one.

 

[mastrdrver]

Mussels, is it the back 16 pins of the PCIe slot that are the other 8x if I were to closely inspect traces? I wonder if I can use my dmm to check continuity between sides?

the performance difference is non existent, but if he wants to use two video cards in a system, he's screwed with that card.

Exactly. I think it makes it even more annoying that it has to be in the first PCIe slot too. Fwiw when I first got it I pluged it into my P6T6 with my 5870 in the 1st slot. Nothing in Windows would see it. Everest, GPUz, Windows, etc. Not even the ATI drivers picked it up.

It makes it even a tougher sell to anyone if I try to sell it. Though, I wouldn't mind doing a trade for a 4870 1gb reference card to trifire with my 4870x2.

I might try live chat on tuesday since I'm off in the evening from work.

 

[Mussels]

i have no idea how to tell what pins work and what dont, i only know that this has happened before with cards that i, or friends have owned. sometimes they'd drop to 1x, and by taping over the last few pins we could make them drop to 4x or 8x instead.

 

[HossHuge]

Have you tried cleaning the pins with an eraser?

 

[mastrdrver]

Crap! I figured it out.

Looking the board over real close and looking at the hi res pics from the TPU review. The are 2 resistors missing the connect a couple of the front 8x tabs. I mean, their gone. They were there at one time though.

Ideas? I'm pretty good at sodering. Just got to find the right parts.

 

[Mussels]

Crap! I figured it out.

Looking the board over real close and looking at the hi res pics from the TPU review. The are 2 resistors missing the connect a couple of the front 8x tabs. I mean, their gone. They were there at one time though.

Ideas? I'm pretty good at sodering. Just got to find the right parts.

soldering. soooollllllldering.

sorry, had to suffer 2 years of some american saying 'sodder' and its left me scarred mentally and emotionally.


its entirely possible to solder them back on, if you're good at it. just make sure you get them on the right way around.

 

[mastrdrver]

Ops.

I thought I missed spelling it but then I realized I got it right.......then respelled it without the l. Why, what kind of anglish u all speak down there?

I guess I could destroy my XFX 5870 for parts. I mean, its got a lifetime on it.

I'm going to see if I can work something out with Newegg first. I'm decent, but I'm not that good. Do you know what they are for? I'm sure they are there for something I just don't know what. I'm trying to keep myself from just soldering a line across the space to complete the contact.

 

[dr emulator (madmax)]

Mussels, is it the back 16 pins of the PCIe slot that are the other 8x if I were to closely inspect traces? I wonder if I can use my dmm to check continuity between sides?



Exactly. I think it makes it even more annoying that it has to be in the first PCIe slot too. Fwiw when I first got it I pluged it into my P6T6 with my 5870 in the 1st slot. Nothing in Windows would see it. Everest, GPUz, Windows, etc. Not even the ATI drivers picked it up.

It makes it even a tougher sell to anyone if I try to sell it. Though, I wouldn't mind doing a trade for a 4870 1gb reference card to trifire with my 4870x2.

I might try live chat on tuesday since I'm off in the evening from work.

here's some pci express connectors for you to look at http://pinouts.ru/Slots/pci_express_pinout.shtml