Two Cards recognized but Crossfire isn't an option

My computer has two 5870s that were in Crossfire when I got hte computer. Somewhere along the way, the Crossfire was disabled. In the Catalyst Control Center, it says "The CrossfireX internal bridge interconnects linking your CrossFireX graphics cards are not properly connected. Both bridge interconnects must be attached." . In GPU-Z, it says that Crossfire is disabled but I can see the settings for both graphics cards individually which means both cards are on and connected. In device manager, it shows two 5870s with different PCI-E ports, etc so both cards are definitely in the computer and they are on. The computer also typically defaults to a 2-monitor setup (assuming 1 video card/monitor) even though I have only one screen. This leads to an invisible screen I can move windows or my mouse cursor into but cannot see.

After this problem was noticed, I got the latest driver and the latest VBIOS update but the problem persists.

I'm on Windows 7 64-bit, other specs are regular M17x-R2 specs.

I'd really appreciate any help I can get!

Screenshots

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c234/Foolfromhell/ATI1.png

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c234/Foolfromhell/ATI2.png

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c234/Foolfromhell/ATI3.png

 

Your crossfire cable got disconnected. You have to open it up, get to the cable, and reconnect. M17x Modifications - Alienware M17x Wiki Although that is a guide for a cooling mod, it gets you to the graphics cards really well. Hope it works out for you!

 

What are the chances that it's a broken cable instead of a disconnected one? Also the two graphics cards are on opposite ends of the computer from what I remember. From my experience with desktop SLI (nvidia, or course), the bridge was very small. It'd have to be because there would be high-density data being moved, right? What I'm getting at is, what does the cable look like?

 

If you go to the link, at one point the direction is to disconnect the crossfire cable, and it is in a box in the picture. http://a.imageshack.us/img12/6654/dsc4038c.jpg
It's that blue cable. This only shows the master side. Both should be fully connected, which the picture is a bad example of

EDIT: Better example: http://a.imageshack.us/img580/8963/dsc4027.jpg The blue cable again, this time showing the whole thing.

 

one of the cable ends was indeed not connected. I connected it but now get an ATI-related BSoD 30 seconds into boot to desktop. Still works in safe mode.

 

install the latest VBIOS, it looks like you have primary on A01 and secondry on A00

 

I installed the latest VBOiS just a few hours before the operation
should I do it again?

 

yes I think you should, but you can check what vbios you have installed in Cathalist Control Center > Graphics > Information > Graphics Hardware

Make sure that both cards match

 

The blue screen error involves atipmdag.sys.
Anyone have any enlightening thoughts?

 

Im BSODing 30 seconds into each bootup. Opening Catalyst or gpu z in particular triggers the bsod early

 

It's fixed. I reattached the cables, then went to safe mode, uninstalled the graphics cards, then booted into regular mode and installed the drivers again.

 

Glad to hear it's all cleared up! I wonder what disconnected the cable though? Crossfire gremlins?

 

No idea. Im now cocerned there was permanent damage too since im getting around 11000 3dmark06 points when I should be getting 16k+ according to similarly configured systems

 

Well, how about game performance? I don't put too much stock in synthetic benchmarks, real game performance is always what I use as a performance checker (just don't use Black Ops to check; it doesn't.... work.... well...)

 

7-10 FPS on Crysis at 1920x1200 at High and no AA...

the review on notebookcheck has it at 40FPS+ with 4870s, I'm sitting here with 5870s.

 

That sounds... Problematic. Sorry, but I have no idea what the issue may be. One of the more experienced people (joker springs to mind) could probably diagnose your issue. Wishing you luck! (I know this post didn't say anything helpful, just trying to bump it up for you )