Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

[draghi]

Hello,

I have the following configuration:
CPU - Intel I5 2500k running at 3,3 GHz
MB - Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3
RAM - 2X4 GB DDR3 Kingston RAM @ 1600MHz
Video - Sapphire Radeon HD6850 1GB
HDD - Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB
Power Supply - Chieftec 550W 80+
Monitor: Belinea Oplay! 24"
OS: Windows 7 x64

The problem is with the video card signal. In the MotherBoard's manual states that if you use only one video card it is recommended that you put it on the first PCIE slot (named PCIE2). If I put this card in PCIE2 I don't have any signal at the monitor. The systems boots OK but it is uses the onboard graphics. I've tried everything in BIOS, I set priority to PCI Express, I've played with onboard video settings Enable/Disable ..... No luck.
Then I've moved the card to the second PCIE slot (named PCIE4). The system boots and everything seems to be OK, but the video card is running at half of PCIE bus speed. Every diagnostic program (GPU-Z, AIDA, Sisoft Sandra) shows that the card is on a PCI Express X16 but is running at X8. I know that for this videocard X8 is more than sufficient, but still ....

I've flashed the MoBo with the latest Beta BIOS - version L1.15a but still no luck of making this video card working on first PCIE slot!

Any new ideas for using the first PCIE slot? I'm sure that the problem is BIOS related.
Thanks in advance!

[draghi]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Common, 200+ views and no new ideas?
Asrock TSD forum members please help!

[profJim]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Send a PM to ASRock TSD - Emily, include a link to this thread, and ask for her help.
Hopefully they have a beta bios that you can try.
This seems to be a recurring issue with some ASRock motherboard models with some video cards.

[draghi]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Thanks for suggestion, but if you look in Members List you'll see that the user Asrock TSD - Emily is no longer a memeber of this forum! Am I wrong?

[profJim]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Try sending a PM to ASRock TSD - Sean C.
As far as I know, Emily was the person handling all tech support for ASRock.
I don't know if Sean receives or reviews private messages.
I'll contact forum admin and see if they can help.
Be patient while we find out.
In the meantime, try: ASRock > Support Request Form.

[boondocks]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

profJim, let us know what you find out. I've got a couple PM's out to TSD-Emily myself but if she's not around.......

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Emily is still a member, and as far as I know she's still around to help Asrock users.
View Profile: ASRock TSD - Emily - TweakTown Forums

She was here three days ago, so last Thursday or Friday, so it does appear that she's still active here and I haven't heard otherwise. Hopefully she will get back to you guys in the next day or so!

[kick]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Sean C was a very short term member. Emily Im not sure.

Your gx card recognition problem, has more often than not, in the past been solved by reseating it a lot.

Turning on the monitor first before the pc and waiting till the no signal received shows then booting up the pc,
,hot rebooting,hitting the cmos reset mid post, varying the connection to the monitor from the gx card, 2nd dvi if there is one etc.
and variations on the above.

[draghi]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

@kick

I've done almost everything (I think!). I've changed connections to video card DVI1, DVI2, HDMI, VGA adapter - no luck. When the card is in the first PCIE slot the PC always boots with the onboard video. I've reset the BIOS, I removed the battery, I've load the BIOS defaults and so on. I even played with some voltages (increased them) but I cannot receive video signal on first PCIE slot.
If I enter in Windows with the onboard video card and the Sapphire card is in first PCIE slot, I don't see the PCIE card in Device Manager. The only way I can make this Radeon Card working is to put it in the second PCIE slot but then it runs at half PCIE bus speed! I didn't tried the 3rd PCIE slot because I have the PSU under it and I have no space to put the Sapphire card in it.

What means "hot rebooting" and "hitting the cmos reset mid post"?

[boondocks]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

You can try putting in a support ticket....although I have 2 in and never heard a word from Asrock. Never heard from TSD Emily, either, but maybe you'll get lucky. I've tried joining their other forum with no success, either.
Are you running the latest AMD drivers? I have 2 of these cards running on Gigabyte mobo's and never had a problem.
Running the latest drivers on my 6450 as well on the Asrock mobo, no problems so far.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Have you tested this on a cardboard box or wooden table, off the motherboard tray, just to be sure you don't have any shorts under the motherboard?

[boondocks]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

I'm with LSD, definitely try the cardboard, you never know where a little screw might fall.
And BTW I did hear from Asrock, took about a week for my support email to get answered, so I would also contact them.

[draghi]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

I will try the cardboard! To Asrock support I've send two messages. 2 weeks ago the first message!!!!! No reply till now!

[draghi]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

I've tried the cardboard solution and nothing. I've also reseated the CPU and still I can't get video signal on first PCIE slot. I put also a Sapphire 6670 card (which doesn't use additional power) on the first PCIE slot, still nothing.
It seems that I have two solutions left: one to throw away this piece of junk Mobo, or to wait for a better Bios. I think the first solution is better because Asrock support doesn't give a s**t. I've sent them 2 e-mails 3 weeks ago and no answer till now. From Emily and SeanC also no reply!!

[profJim]

Re: Sapphire HD 6850 - no video signal on first PCI-E slot

Some have decided to buy a different motherboard brand and to sell their current mobo after they have solved the problem with an RMA or a special bios version that eventually works.

There are plenty of tech support horror stories from many/most computer hardware companies.
It's too bad that most companies don't realize how important it is to provide fast and responsive tech support services.
I vote with my wallet, if I get inferior tech support, I never buy from that company again.