Help forcing two different revisions of 5870M to work in Crossfire in a m17x R2? A00 and A01

Hello,

As the title says, I'm trying to get two 5870M's of different revisions to work together.

They are both Dell part number C8245 ( I was told it doesn't matter what the part number is?)

What I've tried to get them to work:
-Updated the Vbios on both cards to 012.020.000.027.037640 (113-b96101-104)
-Updated my M17x R2 bios to A10
-Ran Driver sweeper and then Re-installed Dells stock CCC
-Did a factory restore then updated all system Drivers then installed CCC 13.1

I've ran out of options at this point that I know of.

If there is something I can do to force it to work please let me know.

Also, will the system start up if the second GPU fan isnt installed with the Second 5870..? I've only put the card in to test that it'd boot with both installed....

My second GPU fan is still coming in the mail, and same as my 240 watt AC adapter.

I may be and idiot about that but if the system wont boot unless it detects both fans installed please let me know. >.<

 

A00 or A01 no different,maybe only vbios.The fans always need together working.CCC CFX settings ON?

 

I forgot to add I can`t even get the system to boot when both cards are installed, It boots when either one are in the master PCIe slot, but when they are both in the system together, the laptop just sits at an unlit LCD with a Alien head that is barely visible. (all the other FX lighting turns on of course)

Do I absolutely need the other fan for the system to even just boot to see if they work together?

 

What happens when you disconnect the crossfire cable? Can it boot with both then?

 

No I can't. I can upload a video showing what happens with one card in the master slot, then both installed. But either way with or with out the crossfire cable I get the same issue.

 

Can someone confirm that the issue could be the power supply?

If Izen doesn't have the 240w adapter yet, would the laptop not boot because it can't draw enough power with both cards installed?

 

Ding ding ding!

He's using the 150w? Yeah, that is definitely not enough. Also, he could just update the vbios while in single card master, but I do not believe that is the problem. Almost for sure the power supply.

 

So I can't run off battery at all if I had both GPU's installed? Doesn't make sense...? I'd always need the 240 watt AC adapter plugged in?

 

Ok so I recieved the 240 watt AC adapter in the mail about 20 minutes ago, and well no change.

Ok a new a list of things I've done to try to get this working:

-Bought a 240 watt AC adapter ✓
-bought a crossfire cable ✓ (one that timmay16 suggested from Eurocom)
-flashed both cards to the latest Vbios ✓
-Flash laptop to A10 Bios ✓
-Cleaned the PCIe slot with compressed are ✓
-tried both cards with out Crossfire cable ✓
- I HAVE ORDERED A GPU FAN- Coming in the mail still-
-Take out Bios battery and hold the power button for 30 seconds ✓
-I've even taken out 1 stick of ram and still nothing ✓
-I've tried both cards in the primary slot, and the swapping the cards in a crossfire configuration and nothing
(they both work in the primary slot)

Would the system as a fail safe not boot with out the second GPU fan installed?

As I've said the system turns on, but freezes right at the alien head and the screen stays unlit.

 

Not having the fan plugged in can very well be the issue. Also what was the old configuration, and did it operate in crossfire/SLI??? it could be much deeper than just the cards being in question. If your questions are not being answered here I would recommend you post them on the Tech Inferno site.

 

It was originally just one 5870M. And I hope it is just the fact the fan isn't installed yet. I would love to get this setup going.

And ok, I've come across that site a few times, I just registered.

 

First of all let's clarify a few things:
- One needs the 240W PSU in order to run Crossfire in the M17x and M17x R2.
- The fans need to be installed for both cards
- Both cards should have the same vBIOS (latest mobility 5870 from Dell is 012.020.000.027.037640)
- Both cards will separately be able to run in any MXM slot (with their specific heatsink installed of course). The system will boot only if at least one functional GPU is installed in the primary MXM slot (left hand side). If two cards are installed and one of them is faulty, the system won't boot and will give a LCD error (8 beeps).

Now if you're impatient, try each card alone in the primary slot and make sure to properly arrange the thermal pads, apply thermal paste to the die, fit the heatsink and install the fan.
If your system will boot each time and the crossfire cable you bought is not broken, i guarantee you'll be able to enable Crossfire with the proper drivers.

 

I don't know if you read my post:

I received the 240 watt AC adapter in the mail Yesterday, and well no change.

Ok a new a list of things I've done to try to get this working:

-Bought a 240 watt AC adapter ✓
-bought a crossfire cable ✓ (one that timmay16 suggested from Eurocom)
-flashed both cards to the latest Vbios ✓
-Flash laptop to A10 Bios ✓
-Cleaned the PCIe slot with compressed are ✓
-tried both cards with out Crossfire cable ✓
-I HAVE ORDERED A GPU FAN- Coming in the mail still-
-Take out Bios battery and hold the power button for 30 seconds ✓
-I've even taken out 1 stick of ram and still nothing ✓
-I've tried both cards in the primary slot, and the swapping the cards in a crossfire configuration and nothing
(they both work in the primary slot)

Would the system as a fail safe not boot with out the second GPU fan installed?

As I've said the system turns on, but freezes right at the alien head and the screen stays unlit With both GPU's are installed with or without the Crossfire cable.

 

I think it has to do with cards, mine wont start either, with 2 fully working cards, yet when i put them in both, it doesnt boot.

 

Do you have the second GPU fan and 240 AC adapter? because if yours doesn't work with the 2nd GPU fan installed then I guess mine wont either.

 

I did read your post but listed all that info for those who may benefit from it.
I also said you need the second fan if you install the second card.

Does the BIOS recognize your adapter as a 240W PSU?
Also, if possible, can you post a GPU-Z screenshot of each card?

 

GPUz says the exact same information for both cards. And yes it does in the bios. I ordered it from dell.

Both have the same bios, Same speeds same everything.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/adnb3/

 

Yes, and yes.

But right now, my dear R2 is dead so i cant test anything further for you :/

 

How is it dead? Whats going on with it??

 

The mobo or AC adapter is faulty, to be determined. i could run if of the batery while i had som, but now it's out of juice

 

Is the AC plug on the mobo lose? Like can you see the solder joints moving if you wiggle the AC port on the mobo?

 

I think the problem is in the motherboard.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

I'm looking at your post BlueNasser, your M18x R2, are both cards still dead? And is it still available?


And how is the issue with my mobo? The MXM slot was never used as it came as a single 5870M configuration..? or do you mean the other guys mobo?

 

If you mean my mobo, then i must say no it isn't, i've just replaced it and it's still the same, waiting for new AC adapter now.

I the best would be to buy 2 cards taken from crossfire, and try them in your laptop, then you would know for sure if its a problem with mobo, CF cable or Cards...
but that would be expensive

 

Yeah I don't got the money for that, I rather sell my 150 watt AC adapter, Crossfire cable, and GPU fan and return the bought card and then sell my current 5870M and then buy a 6990 or 670MX or something. a 6990M beats a 5870M crossfire so yeah and considering I have the 240 PSU now I shouldn't have a problem upgrading the one card.

I would just love it if the crossfire works when the second GPU fan arrives. 1 or 2 more days till its here.

 

Follow up:

I returned the card as it appeared it is impossible to make two cards of the same part number to work.