Graphics card only runs with X1 instead X16

Reen · Dec 20, 2023

Hi,

I have bought an RTX 3060 8GB and have now realised that it is only connected to the x16 PCI-E with X1
What could be the reason for this? There is also an M2 SSD connected to the board.

Here are the tech specs:

Board: Asus PRIME B450M-A (AM4)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G

I hope someone can help, I have already done a lot of research and removed M2 but it always remains in X1.

ThrashZone · Dec 20, 2023

Hi,
Send it back looks like it might of been cross flashed and failed.
Post some gpu-z screen shots.

TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.65.1 Download

GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU.

www.techpowerup.com

Chrispy_ · Dec 20, 2023

Just in case you haven't tried already, clear your CMOS to reset your BIOS to defaults, and update to the latest non-beta BIOS if you haven't already.

I'm with @ThrashZone though, unless your motherboard is damaged or BIOS is configured incorrectly, default behaviour of even unrecognised GPUs should be to use all the available lanes.

Jose Jeswin · Dec 20, 2023

The PCIE Slot will run only at X8 mode with Ryzen 3400G processors...as per the manual..

Screenshot 2023-12-20 at 19-02-54 E14212_PRIME_B450M-A_UM_WEB.pdf.png

Screenshot 2023-12-20 at 19-03-10 E14212_PRIME_B450M-A_UM_WEB.pdf.png

izy · Dec 20, 2023

If you disable the iGPU shouldnt it work at x16?

Reen · Dec 20, 2023

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Send it back looks like it might of been cross flashed and failed.
Post some gpu-z screen shots.

TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.65.1 Download

GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU.

www.techpowerup.com

The card is a new one from a serious shop.

izy said:
If you disable the iGPU shouldnt it work at x16?

In my opinion the IGPU is off, there is no explict switch in my bios.

Chrispy_ said:
Just in case you haven't tried already, clear your CMOS to reset your BIOS to defaults, and update to the latest non-beta BIOS if you haven't already.

I'm with @ThrashZone though, unless your motherboard is damaged or BIOS is configured incorrectly, default behaviour of even unrecognised GPUs should be to use all the available lanes.

CMOS reset is done and nothing happend. I'm still on X1.

izy · Dec 20, 2023

Reen said:
The card is a new one from a serious shop.

View attachment 326232

In my opinion the IGPU is off, there is no explict switch in my bios.

CMOS reset is done and nothing happend. I'm still on X1.

Press the ? near the x1 3.0 to put some load on the GPU , it is probably in power saving mode.

Macro Device · Dec 20, 2023

izy said:
Press the ? near the x1 3.0 to put some load on the GPU , it is probably in power saving mode.

It cuts the multiplier, not the lane count. It's something is damaged or OP's PCI-e slot is dirty enough to prevent normal functioning but not dirty enough to prevent any functioning at all.

OP, clean your PCI-e with 100% isopropyl alcohol (never use ethanol) and the softest clean brush you can find. Let it dry for half an hour, don't blow at it, don't heat it, let it be at 60...95F (+15...35C) with minimal wind around.

If that doesn't help test a different GPU or test this possibly troublesome GPU in an entirely different PC. If a different GPU behaves then you have to call for RMA/moneyback. If your GPU behaves in a different PC you will need to either get a working CPU or to fix/replace your motherboard.

P.S. I have a GTX 970 with exact same behaviour. It suffered some physical damage. Still works at x2 instead of x16 in my lil bro's PC. Some day we will upgrade his puter...

izy · Dec 20, 2023

Beginner Micro Device said:
It cuts the multiplier, not the lane count. It's something is damaged or OP's PCI-e slot is dirty enough to prevent normal functioning but not dirty enough to prevent any functioning at all.

OP, clean your PCI-e with 100% isopropyl alcohol (never use ethanol) and the softest clean brush you can find. Let it dry for half an hour, don't blow at it, don't heat it, let it be at 60...95F (+15...35C) with minimal wind around.

If that doesn't help test a different GPU or test this possibly troublesome GPU in an entirely different PC. If a different GPU behaves then you have to call for RMA/moneyback. If your GPU behaves in a different PC you will need to either get a working CPU or to fix/replace your motherboard.

P.S. I have a GTX 970 with exact same behaviour. It suffered some physical damage. Still works at x2 instead of x16 in my lil bro's PC. Some day we will upgrade his puter...

Yeah you are right , it just slipped

Reen · Dec 20, 2023

Beginner Micro Device said:
It cuts the multiplier, not the lane count. It's something is damaged or OP's PCI-e slot is dirty enough to prevent normal functioning but not dirty enough to prevent any functioning at all.

OP, clean your PCI-e with 100% isopropyl alcohol (never use ethanol) and the softest clean brush you can find. Let it dry for half an hour, don't blow at it, don't heat it, let it be at 60...95F (+15...35C) with minimal wind around.

If that doesn't help test a different GPU or test this possibly troublesome GPU in an entirely different PC. If a different GPU behaves then you have to call for RMA/moneyback. If your GPU behaves in a different PC you will need to either get a working CPU or to fix/replace your motherboard.

P.S. I have a GTX 970 with exact same behaviour. It suffered some physical damage. Still works at x2 instead of x16 in my lil bro's PC. Some day we will upgrade his puter...

I have now done the cleaning and would leave it overnight and then test it tomorrow.

I have also tried a Geforce GTX 750 Ti 1 GB, it show the same lane count.

Dr. Dro · Dec 20, 2023

Reen said:
I have now done the cleaning and would leave it overnight and then test it tomorrow.

I have also tried a Geforce GTX 750 Ti 1 GB, it show the same lane count.

If another GPU shows the same lane count after you cleaned the slot, then the problem is with your motherboard. You can rule out the graphics card.

x8 limitation is normal given you have a Picasso APU, you'll never get x16 unless you upgrade the CPU, and 4.0 isn't compatible with your chipset, so you can rule that out entirely. Do you have a lot of add-in cards installed? Or is it just the graphics card? Ryzen Gs have limited PCIe allocation.

Reen · Dec 20, 2023

Dr. Dro said:
If another GPU shows the same lane count after you cleaned the slot, then the problem is with your motherboard. You can rule out the graphics card.

x8 limitation is normal given you have a Picasso APU, you'll never get x16 unless you upgrade the CPU, and 4.0 isn't compatible with your chipset, so you can rule that out entirely. Do you have a lot of add-in cards installed? Or is it just the graphics card? Ryzen Gs have limited PCIe allocation.

There is also an M2 SSD on the M2 slot.

Dr. Dro · Dec 20, 2023

Reen said:
There is also an M2 SSD on the M2 slot.

That shouldn't cause a regression to x1 unless you have extra components enabled on your motherboard that use up PCIe slots. Have you tried disabling the integrated Vega graphics? Last resort, try just the GPU with a SATA boot drive to troubleshoot. If all else fails, you likely have a defective motherboard

Macro Device · Dec 20, 2023

Dr. Dro said:
you likely have a defective motherboard

Or a defective CPU. Ryzen 1 and 2 ain't particularly reliable.

Reen · Dec 21, 2023

As it looks now, I must have killed the system.
Yesterday I cleaned the PCI-E slot with ISOPROPYLALKOHOL but with 70%.

This product:

https://www.amazon.de/Teofarma-s-r-l-226793-ISOPROPYLALKOHOL-Hetterich/dp/B00E6WWARY

I let everything dry overnight.
This morning I put the graphics card back in and rebooted, it started Windows but somehow there were problems with the usb ports then I rebooted again and then it didn't start anymore. So when I turn it on only the fans come on no BIOS beep.

Macro Device · Dec 21, 2023

Reen said:
but with 70%.

Yep, that's a murder. I told you to use the 100% one for a reason.

Chrispy_ · Dec 22, 2023

Beginner Micro Device said:
Yep, that's a murder. I told you to use the 100% one for a reason.

letting 70% dry overnight shouldn't have killed the board if it was unpowered.

It's not impossible that 70% killed the board but it's pretty unlikely. You can run motherboards through the dishwasher without any problems provided you dry them properly - LN2 overclockers do it all the time to remove the vaseline.

@Reen - if you haven't done so already, remove the CPU and check that the socket and pins are all in good shape, that there's no thermal compound in any of the socket holes or in the CPU pins. If it's still dead after that, try breadboxing the system (take the board out of the case and test it with minimum components on a cardboard box - not an anti-static bag). I've seen people build PCs that die because a loose screw had fallen down between the motherboard and the motherboard tray.

Dr. Dro · Dec 22, 2023

It's possible it will work again once it's fully dried (anti-surge protection is excellent nowadays), but IMHO, given how cheap a B350/B450 board is, it ain't worth the time to troubleshoot. Just buy another mobo.

Vya Domus · Dec 22, 2023

It seems to me the motherboard was starting to kick the bucket and now died for good, probably had nothing to do with you cleaning the slot, you said you already tried different GPUs and they all had the same issue, clearly there a defect with be board.

Edwired · Dec 22, 2023

Well it pointing at the motherboard and/or graphic card. Have. A look at the graphic card nearest to the strip of contacts it will have micro filters caps that is connected to shiny pads and if any of the micro filter caps is missing it will explain the X1 issue as this area is prone to getting damaged if it mishandled incorrectly

ThrashZone · Dec 22, 2023

Hi,
With any liquid on electronics fans help a lot after.
So 70% wasn't a auto killer, lack of ventilation is/ was.

Reen · Dec 22, 2023

At the moment the pc is working again.

For now i tried all options hints and advices from different forums but i think the mainboard is the limiting factor here.

Edwired · Dec 22, 2023

Reen said:
At the moment the pc is working again.

For now i tried all options hints and advices from different forums but i think the mainboard is the limiting factor here.

Yeah whatever the bios and board is doing I'm pretty sure it changing lanes if other devices is connected to that specific lanes resulting a reduced lanes available which itself isn't ideal in any given situation

A Computer Guy · Dec 22, 2023

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
With any liquid on electronics fans help a lot after.
So 70% wasn't a auto killer, lack of ventilation is/ was.

Also you don't want to die from fumes so ventilation is a good thing.

Reen said:
At the moment the pc is working again.

For now i tried all options hints and advices from different forums but i think the mainboard is the limiting factor here.

Sorry if I missed it but did you try the users suggestion below? Putting the load on the GPU should wake it up from power saving if this was the issue.