XFX HD 5970 Boot Issues

[chaseace]

Hello,

Im new to the forum as I just read something and wanted to ask for expert advise.

Before I begin I followed this to try resolve the issue that I am having but had no luck.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2884242

The graphics card is booting but as soon as drivers are installed, it gets passed the Windows loading screen but then just goes blank. Only way back into windows is by going into safe mode and deleting drivers

Here are the things i've tried:

- Deleting drivers and reinstalling
- Flashed using default firmware (from the thread)

The computer that I tested the card in was:

Intel Q6600
P5N-D Motherboard - SLI Only (I dont know if this could be an issue)
8GB DDR2 Ram
700W PSU

Anyone had any similar issues? I did notice that above one GPU a green LED is on. Im not sure how many there should be.

Thanks in advance

 

[shovenose]

I just had this issue with a Lenovo laptop yesterday, but with Intel HD Graphics.
If you're running WIndows 7, have you installed Service Pack 1? That fixed it for me.

 

[chaseace]

Hi thanks for the quick reply, I have service pack installed but no luck

 

[shovenose]

Hi thanks for the quick reply, I have service pack installed but no luck

In that case I unfortunately don't have a solution. Sorry, and I hope somebody else can resolve it.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Can you try it in another pc and also it sounds like you're pc is missing a driver maybe neads a reimage

 

[chaseace]

I have 2 computers, the one that I am currently using is a lot more powerful computer however the HD 5970 is too big for the case lol (So had to try in my brothers)

Just want to know if this is a sign of the graphics card being faulty?

Another thing before I actually install drivers GPU-Z reads the temperature at 80c at idle

I thought it might be driver issue giving weird readings?

Thanks

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Welcome to TPU

Please confirm the vga card XFX HD 5970 is Black Edition? or standard version?

vga bios in link is for Black Edition ONLY.

try resolve the issue

Question: What issues did the vga card have before flashing?

Question: Do both GPU's show up in device manager Example

Answer: SLi board will not effect flash or performance of card while in single slot PCIe x16

Try uninstalling drivers one more time; [note: info is for windows 7]

*Maybe the ccc control panel is confused "version conflict" of sorts, you may wish to skip the following as there are other ways of cleaning ccc drivers out; there is a sticky at the top of the Graphics Cards page on TPU

However this is the method I use. (hope it helps)

First things first; set a restore point and back-up any files and download *Driversweeper v_2.1.0 ONLY [do not use another version] available here - http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/guru3d_driver_sweeper_(no_installer).html [Select: Mirror 7]

follow the instructions very carefully and all will be well;

go to windows control panel \ add and remove programs \ uninstall catalyst driver (choose express uninstall)

reboot

enter windows safe mode (press F8) and run Driversweeper v_2.1.0 (highlite driversweeper, press right

mouse button- bring up menu run DS in administrator mode) select ATI only in DS and analyse then delete

NOTE when it ask you if you want to restart the system DONT - instead open control panel and go to

Device Manager / Display Adapters (open this) you should be able to see a vga card installed - highlight press right mouse button - will open a sub menu -you want uninstall - when the system asks you to restart DONT - Then open control panel, device manager, select view/show hidden devices/Non-Plug and play Drivers/highlight amdkmdag and press right mouse button to bring up a sub menu/select uninstall (When it ask you to restart DONT;- select No option to restart later

do not close DS leave it open on the desk top

this next step has risk's involved

follow the instructions very carefully and all will be well.

Open Regedit

goto

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\ATI and delete the ATI folder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\ATI and delete the ATI folder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\ATI Technologies and delete the ATI Technologies folder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ATI and delete the ATI folder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ATI and delete the ATI Technologies folder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\ (you will see lots of folders we need the thirteenth (13) folder down from "Class" - open the folder and you will see 0000 delete this folder and any others 0001,0002 Note the Properties folder is read only and protected leave this as it is.

close up all the sub folders and move on to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Class\ (you will see lots of folders we need the thirteenth (13) folder down from "Class" - open the folder and you will see 0000 delete this folder and any others 0001,0002 Note the Properties folder is read only and protected leave this as it is

close up all the sub folders and move on to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\ (you will see lots of folders we need the thirteenth (13) folder down from "Class" - open the folder and you will see 0000 delete this folder and any others 0001,0002 Note the Properties folder is read only and protected leave this as it is

(you only need to check CCS there should be no entries in the thirteenth folder other than properties)

close up all the sub folders and move on to

HKEY_USERS \.DEFAULT\Software\ATI and delete the ATI folder

-Close Regedit

next go back to the driversweeper software (Do you want to reboot screen) and select ok

-Reboot - allow windows to start up and find a vga driver

-then install the latest AMD catalyst Drivers from their web site or use drivers that you know work well


[*ONLY do this if the card exibited issues [cold boot errors] that could not be resolved by driver updates]
If the XFX HD 5970 is Standard Edition follow this thread here

atb (all the best)

Law-II

 

[chaseace]

Hi,

I have uploaded the GPU-Z of the HD 5970.

I purchased a new case which came today and was able to try it on my computer:

Intel i5 2400 @ Stock
GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 Motherboard
16GB DDR3
650W High Power 80 Plus Rated powersupply (2x 12V @25A)
2x SSD OCZ Vertex 2 120GB
1x 1TB Hard Drive

Now I realised the same issue occurred when I installed the drivers. However after disabling one of the GPU's (think its the slave) it seems to be working. I cant load the ATI drivers I get an error however the windows graphics seems to be better however the temps are high (check attachments)

Thanks

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Go here download GPU-Z version 0.5.9

upload New screens from Master and Slave

Is this a standard edition card or Black edition ? Edit: assume this is a standard edition as it is flashed with a sapphire vbios.

it gets passed the Windows loading screen but then just goes blank

dose it do this from all vga outputs, monitor drop in to standby?

Inspected vga card for damage?
double checked the 6 & 8 pin power cables are secure?

Master and Slave are flashed to correct position 0 & 1 [any errors when flashing card?]

Using up to date drivers? notice these are 11.5 we are now up to 13.4 and 13.6 beta

atb

Law-II

 

[chaseace]

Hi,

Sorry I didnt read you asking about the XFX version, its the XFX HD 5970 2GB - Black Edition

I have attached the new shots.

As I mentioned earlier does there have to be a green led on both GPU's? As I only have a light on one? If anyone who has the same GFX can possibly confirm this?

The bios that I flashed was the Black edition for the XFX it should be the stock, flashing gave no errors and i'm pretty sure that the master = 0 and slave = 1.

Thanks

 

[chaseace]

Hi again,

Did a full format but had no luck. I have the latest drivers and have flashed it to a different bios that I found on one of your posts.

I have attached the new GPU-Z screenshots.

It seems that I am able to use one gpu fully however when I swap (disable this one - enable the other) it does not work. I take it I cannot use a slave as the only GPU.

Do you think it might be my PSU? It is a High Power 650W 80 Plus

I think its this: http://www.highpowersupply.com/HP650G14C.html

When reflashing there was no errors so abit confused if it is the GPU that is faulty why is it flashing without errors?

Could it be PSU?

Thanks

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Sorry I didnt read you asking about the XFX version, its the XFX HD 5970 2GB - Black Edition

Thanks for confirmation

I have attached the new shots.

Thank you

As I mentioned earlier does there have to be a green led on both GPU's? As I only have a light on one? If anyone who has the same GFX can possibly confirm this?

I confirm there are Three [3] small LED's Two [2] for the GPU's and One [1] for bridge chip from PLX [*these should all light up when the card is functioning as intended]

The bios that I flashed was the Black edition for the XFX it should be the stock, flashing gave no errors and i'm pretty sure that the master = 0 and slave = 1.

Thanks

I have attached the new GPU-Z screenshots.

Thanks, looks like the Slave vbios is corrupted; this may be due to drivers being installed and one of the GPU's being disabled, What error do you see in device manager?

I take it I cannot use a slave as the only GPU.

No; the card requires Master and Slave vbios; What revision is the card and where did it come from?

Do you think it might be my PSU? It is a High Power 650W 80 Plus

cannot see much wrong with the PSU as long as it is functioning as intended, saying this as it uses two 12v rails [*If it splits the usage of the rails between CPU (reserved) and the second rail for other devices it *May not be providing the 50A needed for the GPU's.
Radeon HD 5970 - 50A and a 600W PSU minimum
Source - http://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/printer/power-requirements-for-graphics-cards
"650 Watt or greater power supply one 75W 6-pin and one 150W 8-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended" Source - http://www.amd.com/us/products/desk...5970/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5970-overview.aspx#3

When reflashing there was no errors so abit confused if it is the GPU that is faulty why is it flashing without errors?

Flashing without errors just means that the vbios and image are fine; they are at the bottom of the food chain so to say; power breaks, dry solder joins and failed chips are next up the list.

How do the power connectors look on the vga cards PSB*?, [*is there any solder splash, grime on the PSB] what about dust under the backplate, have had a chance to use air duster?

Could it be PSU?

Test the current PSU with a power supply tester or multimeter or swap in a new PSU and cables [do you have a spare or one you could borrow]

atb

Law-II

 

[AsRock]

Maybe i missed it and and LAW-II did bring it up but i did not see a reply to it


nb: any chance of uploading a clear photo of the back of the card including closeup of label [*use a pic editor to black out the serial number]

Just to make sure your using the right one.. I don't know if whe they did different versions of the card if the newer vbios's were compatible which is why the question is catching my attention.

 

[Law-II]

Hi

thank you

Maybe i missed it and and LAW-II did bring it up but i did not see a reply to it

I edited this out, but it would be very usfull

atb

Law-II

 

[chaseace]

Hello,

Thanks for your replies really appreciate it

I have attached some images of the graphics card, I also have one image while it was functioning (you can see there is one green light on the second GPU from the display ports. Also close up of the GPU's.

I have a gut feeling the GPU might be dead? Cause the slave GPU does not work therefore the cross bridge would'nt be working either thus the lights not being turned on.

If I was to take the heatsink off would it avoid the warranty?

Thanks,

 

[chaseace]

Sorry I missed out the image you requested lol.

 

[Grnfinger]

Make sure you disable onboard video in the bios...and select PCIE and the primary
Then grab ATI Clean tool and run it and remove all ATI traces, reboot and try again.

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/catalyst-uninstall-utility.aspx

 

[Geofrancis]

Have you got a copy of your original bios roms from both graphics cards. It sounds like you only flashed one card?

I'm pretty sure the hd5970 bios comes as a pair of roms one for the primary and one for the slave. If you backed up both flash them both back to stock.

 

[Law-II]

Hi

you can see there is one green light on the second GPU from the display ports.

as explained in previous post #12 this green light is made up of Three green LED's

If I was to take the heatsink off would it avoid the warranty?

Yes; unless are able to get XFX permission first
EDIT: If you still have a warranty on the card flash original vbios and RMA it, or return it for replacement.
, if are thinking of removing the back plate to see the Three LED's these can be seen if you are at the right angle while the card is in opperation if you shine a bright tourch at them [will seprate the green glow] and allow these to be seen

atb

Law-II

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Have you got a copy of your original bios roms from both graphics cards. It sounds like you only flashed one

Screens in Post #10 & #11 of Master & Slave with original bios uploaded by Law-II and Sapphire [good bios with cold boot fix]

atb

Law-II

 

[chaseace]

Hello again,

I have taken the graphics card out and put my GTX 460 in for now.

When you said that the LED's are all in the same place I did notice that there was one green light that was blinking? I dont know if that means anything to anyone in here. But I read elsewhere people saying RMA it.

I do not have the original bios as I thought it was corrupted

Anyone know where I can get the bios? On the card it says

Bios version:
012.013.000.002

Thanks for all your help

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Anyone know where I can get the bios?

use this one View attachment HD597ACNBXOriginal.zip

This is the XFX official Catalyst fan controller vbios fix

atb

Law-II

 

[chaseace]

Just wanted to close this thread as solved, the card was faulty and XFX replaced it with a new one, however its not running as fast. I will create a new thread, if any of you guys can help.

Thanks

 

[Stanley85]

Hi,

I am not sure if this may help you out, but I expierenced a heavy difference by changing the wires that were attached to my 7870. Before I had used the two 6pins (leaving the additional 2 pin spared) that were hard attached to my PSU - by now I guess these were reserved for the CPU or something else and are not capable of fully give power to a PCIe VGA adapter.

By changing to the output stating PCIe on my cable-select PSU with a dual 6pin adapter my problems were gone. The fans of my card were spinning before but now the temp control seems working the first time. I can hear the fans speeding up etc. The performance now is at the levels where I had expected them... also I guess the card before used to much power on the PSU line attached and that slows down everything and causes bluescreens, freezes adapter loss and recover etc.

I hope this may help
Greetings Stanley