Crossfire Disabled

I know there are plenty of threads discussing crossfire... but my problem seems different...

GPU-Z shows Crossfire available but lists it as disabled. the Catalyst CC has the checkblock showing enable crossfire... (V10.12 drivers ...newest).

I have the A09 bios and have installed the VBIOS as well (thanks to all who have posted instructions)...

I just reloaded windows 7 ultimate (64 bit), ran the updates to windows, and have only loaded the drivers for the 6300 wifi and the new ATI drivers (no Alienware command center or anything else) as well as GPU-Z...same issue.

I received the notebook (scratch and dent) this week... Upon receiving it from Dell Outlet, I had to reinstall windows because it would not boot... it would run a few minutes, start the windows setup and then freeze every time before I could finish the setup... Reinstalling Windows solved that problem (come on Dell... at least test the system before you send them out).

After my first windows reinstall, and following the guides from this forum as to what order to install the various drivers and bios updates, I got the Power supply not supported error...

Only by booting without the battery installed was I able to get out of balanced power mode and run in high mode (according to Alienware CC). This was also the only way I could get Stealth Mode off as well (I haven't tried the program available on the forums yet).

Nothing, even uninstalling and reinstalling the latest ATI drivers changed the GPU-Z status of Crossfire [disabled (Crossfire available)...]

So I re-installed Windows again, with the minimal drivers listed above and still get the same message from GPU-Z...

What should I try next? (Open notebook to check Crossfire cable?)...

Any help is appreciated... Thankx...

 

Best thing to do would be to contact Dell directly. Clearly the notebook was not in a suitable condition to be sold and you should be given a replacement.

You could check and reseat the crossfire cable/graphics cards but they should not have sold it in a state like that in the first place.

 

Thanks for the suggestions...I'll try it tonight (tried removing battery once, but not the CMOS battery) before I resort to removing and resetting the cards and cables...

 

No luck...tried removing the battery and CMOS battery with the power drain...still shows Crossfire disabled under GPU-X....

Tried the above procedure again after uninstalling everything ATI related and reloading the original Dell drivers.... still no luck...

Next, I disassembled the computer down to the video cards... the crossfire cable appears to be properly connected, but the wires are not "neat"... appears to be gaps between the conductors along the length of the cable, not breaks, but looks like I'm not the first to move this cable...

Reassembled and still....Crossfire disabled...

Any ideas other than calling Dell?


Thanks again...

 

Still no luck.... followed your suggested procedure twice...(just to make sure)... even re-flashed video bios to see if anything changed...

Called Tech Support...half hour waiting time followed by 90 minutes of troubleshooting and tech thinks I have bad cards... (that was Saturday)... still haven't received any type of confirmation by email of approval or shipment of cards or when a tech will contact me...

I have until 12/29 to return my system to the Dell Outlet (my 21st day)...I'm beginning to think more and more that this is my preferred path. Just seems too many problems: (1) windows would not run upon unboxing; (2) power supply warning both in bios and OCD; and (3) no crossfire...


Thanks again for the suggestions...

 

Well...I contacted Dell Tech support Saturday...and after being on hold for 30 minutes and talking with the tech for 90 minutes, he informed me he would send out two new video cards... I was promised an email confirming this...but never got it...

Monday I called Tech support again and talked with a different tech... We ran the same benchmarks (3DMark11) and also Unigine... same conclusion...bad video cards (we repeated these tests because the tech could not find a record of my previous contact)... The tech then informed me he could not order parts because my system warranty had not been activated? It was too late to contact anyone to resolve that issue, so the tech told me to call again Tuesday...

Tuesday I called tech support, and as soon as I could see I was going down the path of conducting the same troubleshooting for a third time, I decided instead to transfer to customer service and get an RMA...

After being disconnected TWICE... recalling, going through the hold pattern again and again, I finally got the right department... After explaining all I went through, the representative offered to send me another computer with the same or better specs within 10-15 days, and include labels to send this one back... I got a reference number and now am in a holding pattern...

I am still concerned because I never receive an email confirming any of these phone conversations, and seeing the track record thus far, am beginning to wonder if I should wait... after all, I'll be beyond my 21 day window for return to the Dell Outlet...

Any advice? Has anyone had a problem with returns/replacement systems?

 

Call them again and make sure while you are still on the phone with them, they will send you an email confirming the same...

If they say it will take time, wait and take the name of the tech support and extension no. (this is the first thing to do); if none of this help, try to get the supervisor / manager on the phone and explain everything like you have done here...

Hope you will succeed!!!

 

Makes me wonder if I should pony up the extra cash for the NA support warranty.

 

Well...I received my new system and everything works perfectly! Crossfire works like a charm...

And then... just for giggles... I tried the new power supply (a Flextronics) in place of my old power supply (a Delta) with my "defective" M17xR2... and behold! It also works like a charm with the new power supply....!

So much for troubleshooting... And I got a brand new system (complete with all the extras: mousepad, hardcover manual, hat) in exchange for my scratch and dent (which I need to send back)... I was hoping for a processor upgrade, but...can't complain.