Sapphire Nitro+ RX 6800XT display issues

[w3jamm1n]

Hello,

I am having an issue with a Sapphire Nitro+ RX 6800XT that has failed to display an image on my monitor after numerous troubleshooting steps, including un/re-installing Windows, un/re-installing drivers through both Adrenaline and through Device Manager, checking for damaged components on the motherboard of the GPU and having thermal tests conducted, installing the GPU into a different tower, and recently I flashed the BIOS as suggested by a technician who looked at my GPU but nothing has solved this issue.

In regards to flashing the BIOS on the GPU, the VBIOS that I originally had on there was P/N 113-438XTN-US5 / NAVI21EXT Gaming XT D412 I have flashed the VBIOS with every available 113-4308XTN-*** rom I could find online from TechPowerUp, and nothing has solved this issue.

Funny enough, prior to flashing I was doing some troubleshooting through TeamViewer on another device and my GPU started displaying as normal even after disconnecting. Of course, this didnt stay "fixed" after restarting my computer.

I was told the last step would be replacing the BIOS chip directly on the board of the GPU, but I am hoping for some expertise on the matter that could assist further before resorting to those extremes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I emailed AMD in regards to this issue, and included DxDiag.txt and msinfo32.nfo files. This was the response they gave me:

I understand you believe the issue is related to software or firmware; however, after reviewing your system information report I found BlueScreen, as well as several LiveKernelEvent errors witch code 1b0 that are usually found on systems experiencing hardware failure. This together with the fact that the same graphic card exhibits the same behavior in a different system, after clean windows installation; could indicate your graphics card is beginning to fail and might not be able to be brough back to life with software troubleshooting solutions.

At this point I would suggest you contact the manufacturer again, or take the card to a repair tech and ask for a diagnosis.

 

[Imperator]

Hello.
Flashing the BIOS or changing it entirely doesn't offer a solution all the time.
It could be this time a hardware failure.
As AMD said :
- clean install the windows and remake the tests
- in case of failure, take card to a tech shop for further tests.

 

[w3jamm1n]

Hello.
Flashing the BIOS or changing it entirely doesn't offer a solution all the time.
It could be this time a hardware failure.
As AMD said :
- clean install the windows and remake the tests
- in case of failure, take card to a tech shop for further tests.

AMD wasn't suggesting the fresh Windows install, I told them that was a troubleshooting step I took which drew them to the conclusion they provided.

I took the card to a tech shop, and it was the shop that suggested that I try to flash the VBIOS, or potentially replace IC chips if that fails

 

[Imperator]

OK, so from my understanding: tech shop suggested that the problems are cause ONLY by a faulty BIOS ?

 

[w3jamm1n]

His research suggested it was based on a faulty BIOS, therefore that was the step taken. He didn't say it was the only cause of the problem, but it was the most consistent solution available. They also didn't find anything physically wrong with it (2nd person who has observed all components within the GPU)

 

[Imperator]

Ok, then you need to ask him to replace the BIOS chip and to reprogram it with original file in it.

 

[w3jamm1n]

Ok, then you need to ask him to replace the BIOS chip and to reprogram it with original file in it.

That is the next step they mentioned, and I've already reached out to Sapphire to get said file from them.

 

[Imperator]

and I've already reached out to Sapphire to get said file from them.

Yeah, that is the right way to do it.

 

[VuurVOS]

Hello,

I am having an issue with a Sapphire Nitro+ RX 6800XT that has failed to display an image on my monitor after numerous troubleshooting steps, including un/re-installing Windows, un/re-installing drivers through both Adrenaline and through Device Manager, checking for damaged components on the motherboard of the GPU and having thermal tests conducted, installing the GPU into a different tower, and recently I flashed the BIOS as suggested by a technician who looked at my GPU but nothing has solved this issue.

In regards to flashing the BIOS on the GPU, the VBIOS that I originally had on there was P/N 113-438XTN-US5 / NAVI21EXT Gaming XT D412 I have flashed the VBIOS with every available 113-4308XTN-*** rom I could find online from TechPowerUp, and nothing has solved this issue.

Funny enough, prior to flashing I was doing some troubleshooting through TeamViewer on another device and my GPU started displaying as normal even after disconnecting. Of course, this didnt stay "fixed" after restarting my computer.

I was told the last step would be replacing the BIOS chip directly on the board of the GPU, but I am hoping for some expertise on the matter that could assist further before resorting to those extremes.

Some questions:

1. Which monitor are you using
2. Did you try different output like DP port or HDMI port?
3. Did you try different (brand/model) monitor?
4. Can you make a picture of the PCB on both sides?
5. Can you share the part number listed on the cooler/backplate?

About "the last step", replacing the bios chip will not change anything since the vbios is loaded otherwise you wouldn't have seen it in device manager before.

 

[w3jamm1n]

Some questions:

1. Which monitor are you using
2. Did you try different output like DP port or HDMI port?
3. Did you try different (brand/model) monitor?
4. Can you make a picture of the PCB on both sides?
5. Can you share the part number listed on the cooler/backplate?

About "the last step", replacing the bios chip will not change anything since the vbios is loaded otherwise you wouldn't have seen it in device manager before.

1) Dell S3220DGF
2) I have switched between HDMI and DP, no changes
3) I have had this GPU installed in different towers with different monitors connected, no changes
4) my GPU is already back together, and I don't have the confidence to take it back apart. Considering two technicians have taken it apart and looked at components, I am confident that there's no apparent damage that can be seen
5) Part number is S88-1E438-201SA

 

[VuurVOS]

4) my GPU is already back together, and I don't have the confidence to take it back apart. Considering two technicians have taken it apart and looked at components, I am confident that there's no apparent damage that can be seen

Can you confirm E438 is listed within the part number on the PCB?

Did you try the following bioses?

Performance bios:

Sapphire RX 6800 XT VBIOS

16 GB GDDR6, 500 MHz GPU, 2000 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Silent bios:

AMD RX 6800 XT VBIOS

16 GB GDDR6, 500 MHz GPU, 2000 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

 

[w3jamm1n]

View attachment 337659
Can you confirm E438 is listed within the part number on the PCB?

Did you try the following bioses?

Performance bios:

Sapphire RX 6800 XT VBIOS

16 GB GDDR6, 500 MHz GPU, 2000 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Silent bios:

AMD RX 6800 XT VBIOS

16 GB GDDR6, 500 MHz GPU, 2000 MHz Memory

www.techpowerup.com

Yes, this GPU has the exact same part number as the photo you displayed above. I tried the 3 rom files listed as compatible on this website, one of which was a duplicate file. Each one gave no change in result. I also just hit the BIOS switch that is on the GPU between restarts of the computer to see if that would suddenly work since the flashing. These VBIOS files were in fact different from the one that was installed on my GPU prior to flashing, but none provided a display on screen

Something else to note, Sapphire directed me to a company named Althon Micro in order to receive the VBIOS files. I have inquired with them and will update if/when they reply

 

[XVSBLADE]

Hi,
Had a similar issue, tried everything possible, my last step was getting it to RMA, they said its defective, and i got my money back luckily.
I had same GPU, wasted tons of time bought new PC because i thought my rig was too old for this new card, but no. Then i got new card, everything works perfect once again, zero issues.
Try it on another computer/another monitor, if you have same issues, its defective GPU, simple as that. Don't waste more time, good luck.
edit: weirdly enough, at the repair center, they had stacks of defective Sapphire cards, i don't know why they have so many failed cards.

 

[w3jamm1n]

Hi,
Had a similar issue, tried everything possible, my last step was getting it to RMA, they said its defective, and i got my money back luckily.
I had same GPU, wasted tons of time bought new PC because i thought my rig was too old for this new card, but no. Then i got new card, everything works perfect once again, zero issues.
Try it on another computer/another monitor, if you have same issues, its defective GPU, simple as that. Don't waste more time, good luck.
edit: weirdly enough, at the repair center, they had stacks of defective Sapphire cards, i don't know why they have so many failed cards.

Sapphire wont even bother with it because it's out of warranty... I also purchased it from Amazon (1st party) so I dont think I can go the RMA route

 

[VuurVOS]

@w3jamm1n
Did you try to reseat the DP/ HDMI cable like 10~20 times a row? There could be some corrosion on the outputs of the graphics card.

 

[w3jamm1n]

@w3jamm1n
Did you try to reseat the DP/ HDMI cable like 10~20 times a row? There could be some corrosion on the outputs of the graphics card.

So something I should've specified from the beginning: when the computer turns on, the boot screen will always appear on the monitor, but as soon as Windows loads it will stop sending signal to my monitor. If there was corrosion, I don't think I'd be able to even see the boot screen.

 

[VuurVOS]

So something I should've specified from the beginning: when the computer turns on, the boot screen will always appear on the monitor, but as soon as Windows loads it will stop sending signal to my monitor. If there was corrosion, I don't think I'd be able to even see the boot screen.

Likely you have screen during boot because of low resolution and low refresh rate. If there is corrosion, it might give you issues on higher resolution and refresh rates.
Did you had artifacts when you had screen in Windows before?

Can you tell us more about the monitors which where used? Brand, model, resolution, max refresh rates

 

[w3jamm1n]

Likely you have screen during boot because of low resolution and low refresh rate. If there is corrosion, it might give you issues on higher resolution and refresh rates.
Did you had artifacts when you had screen in Windows before?

Can you tell us more about the monitors which where used? Brand, model, resolution, max refresh rates

No artifacts whatsoever. I've had a very small number of instances where the display suddenly works as if there's nothing wrong, but then restarting the computer makes it not work again, so I doubt it's corrosion.

Dell S3220DGF, 1440P, 165Hz

 

[AMF]

turn off display then on again

 

[w3jamm1n]

turn off display then on again

As mentioned previously, this has been installed into numerous towers and same results across the board.

I wish it was that simple

 

[AMF]

do u have an arc/earc hdmi on monitor?

do u have an arc/earc hdmi on monitor?

try on tv

 

[VuurVOS]

As mentioned previously, this has been installed into numerous towers and same results across the board.

I wish it was that simple

You only told us about your monitor. Can you tell something about the other monitors which where used?
Is HDR enabled on the monitor? Can you disable the feature on the monitor itself?

 

[w3jamm1n]

You only told us about your monitor. Can you tell something about the other monitors which where used?
Is HDR enabled on the monitor? Can you disable the feature on the monitor itself?

Sorry, I guess I figured people would assume that I gave my GPU to people to install into their own setups with other monitors that are not mine. I am unable to get that information because some are not consistently reachable, but I plan to test the set up on my TV with an HDMI cable and see if that changes anything

 

[VuurVOS]

own setups with other monitors that are not mine

With no information about it, we could mis a common denominator which is causing the problem.