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not able to boot with single "Radeon HD 5870"- what exactly red "VGA_LED" means?

m4rtin
Level 7

‎06-18-2012 04:58 PM - last edited on ‎03-06-2024 08:30 PM by Community Admin

I have an ASUS Crosshair V Formula motherboard and two graphics cards: "Radeon HD 5870" and "Radeon HD 5850". In case I use the "Radeon HD 5850" in first x16 PCIe slot and "Radeon HD 5870" in the third one(based on manual recommendations; BIOS screenshot) I'm able to boot into operating systems(for example Windows 7 or Debian 6.0 for x86-64 architecture), but not able to create CrossFireX link. For example enabling CrossFireX under Linux fails:

root@debian64:~# aticonfig --list-adapters
* 0. 01:00.0 ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series 
  1. 07:00.0 ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series

* - Default adapter
root@debian64:~# aticonfig -v --list-crossfire-status
    Candidate Combination: 
    Master: 0:0:0 
    Slave: 0:0:0 
    CrossFire is disabled on current device
    CrossFire Diagnostics:
    CrossFire can work with P2P mapping through GART

root@debian64:~# aticonfig --adapter=0,1 --crossfire=on
Warning: No CrossFire chain defined for master adapter 1
CrossFire chain(s) enabled
CrossFire does not support on this platform
Warning: X needs to be restarted before CrossFire changes take effect.
root@debian64:~# aticonfig -v --list-crossfire-status
    Candidate Combination: 
    Master: 0:0:0 
    Slave: 0:0:0 
    CrossFire is disabled on current device
    CrossFire Diagnostics:
    CrossFire can work with P2P mapping through GART

root@debian64:~#


Under 64bit Windows 7 I'm able to boot the OS until I haven't installed the ATI graphics driver(Driver Packaging Version: 8.961-120405a-137813C-ATI). Once I have installed it and try to boot into Windows while both graphics cards are installed, I end up here:

Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Version 6.1 (Build 7600)
 6 13 2012 22:57:12.109
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\hal.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\kdcom.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\mcupdate_AuthenticAMD.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\PSHED.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\CLFS.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\CI.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\Wdf01000.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\WDFLDR.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ACPI.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\WMILIB.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\msisadrv.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\vdrvroot.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\partmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\volmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\volmgrx.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\mountmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ataport.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\msahci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\PCIIDEX.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\amdxata.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\fltmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\fileinfo.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\msrpc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\ksecdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\cng.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\pcw.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fs_Rec.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ndis.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\NETIO.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\ksecpkg.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\tcpip.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\fwpkclnt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\vmstorfl.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\volsnap.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\spldr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\SysWOW64\speedfan.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\rdyboost.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\mup.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\hwpolicy.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\fvevol.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\disk.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\CLASSPNP.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\dtsoftbus01.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\cdrom.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Null.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Beep.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\vga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\RDPCDD.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\rdpencdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\rdprefmp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Msfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Npfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\tdx.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\afd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\netbt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wfplwf.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\pacer.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\netbios.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wanarp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\termdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rdbss.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\nsiproxy.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\mssmbios.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\discache.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\csc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\dfsc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\blbdrive.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\tunnel.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\dxgkrnl.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\HDAudBus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\e1q62x64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\asmtxhci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbohci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wmiacpi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\amdppm.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\CompositeBus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\AgileVpn.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rasl2tp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ndistapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ndiswan.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\raspppoe.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\raspptp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rassstp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rdpbus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\kbdclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\swenum.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\amdiox64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\umbus.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\vga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\cdrom.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\AtihdW76.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ksthunk.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\RTKVHD64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\asmthub3.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbccgp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\hidusb.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\kbdhid.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\mouhid.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\monitor.sys



In case I remove "Radeon HD 5850" from the first x16 PCIe slot and insert the "Radeon HD 5870" instead, I'm not able to pass POST. According to Q-led panel the CPU and RAM checks are passed, but "VGA_LED" stays red. I have the latest BIOS installed:


# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.7 present.
55 structures occupying 2526 bytes.
Table at 0x000EED90.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
        Vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
        Version: 1402
        Release Date: 04/19/2012
        Address: 0xF0000
        Runtime Size: 64 kB
        ROM Size: 4096 kB
        Characteristics:


..and proper 1200W SilverStone SST-ST1200 PSU with all the necessary connectors connected both to motherboard and graphics cards.

Any general suggestions? Why is the "Radeon HD 5870" in x8 PCIe mode while it's in the third PCIe slot which should provide x16 PCIe support?
Maybe here are some ASUS engineers who are able to explain in detail which tests are performed during the POST when testing the graphics card? In other words what might trigger the "VGA_LED"? Any possibility to view detailed log in BIOS?

PS: if any additional information is needed feel free to ask 😛
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4 REPLIES 4

DaemonCantor
Level 13

‎06-18-2012 07:09 PM

I'm not an Asus engineer but the first problems seems to be your HD5870 might be fried...I had a problem once before but with an nvidia doing the same 8x thing and as it turned out half was from the CHIVF which ended up in RMA and the other was somehow the CHIVF had damaged the card. now for the VGA_LED it's simple the BIOS during startup checks only the card in SLOT_1 and when you move the damaged HD5870 to SLOT_1 the BIOS is going to flag it as bad since it is bad. The only way to prove it's good or bad is to stick it into another system and see if you have problems or not.

BTW Welcome to the Forums
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m4rtin
Level 7
In response to DaemonCantor

‎06-20-2012 05:08 PM

DaemonCantor wrote:
now for the VGA_LED it's simple the BIOS during startup checks only the card in SLOT_1 and when you move the damaged HD5870 to SLOT_1 the BIOS is going to flag it as bad since it is bad. The only way to prove it's good or bad is to stick it into another system and see if you have problems or not.


Thank you for explaining this! Based on my tests Crosshair V Formula looks for graphics card in PCIe_1, then PCIe_3 and finally from PCIe_2 slot. It will not pass POST if only graphics card of the system is in the last PCIe slot- it's physically a x16 slot, but actually supports only 4 lanes maximum. Correct me if I'm wrong :rolleyes:

How does motherboard understand that it's a graphics card installed to PCIe slot not for example high-performance NIC?

Regarding the problematic Radeon HD 5870- I was able to upgrade the BIOS of the graphics card. I booted into FreeDOS and used ATIFlash. At first I stored the original BIOS image(information for this image can be seen here) with ATIFlash and then used this image for upgrade(information can be seen here). Here are both graphics cards before BIOS upgrade:

9387

Adapter nr1 is the Radeon HD 5870. Here is the upgrade procedure:

9388

And here are the graphics cards when system is reloaded and BIOS of the Radeon HD 5870 is upgraded:

9389

However, graphics card BIOS upgrade did not improve anything. I'm still not able to pass POST when only the Radeon HD 5870 is installed. As you can see, it's not totally brick because I'm able to successfully flash BIOS of the Radeon HD 5870 card and it is detected by operating systems if I use another graphics card as a primary one. Any ideas what might be wrong with the graphics card?
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DaemonCantor
Level 13

‎06-20-2012 06:22 PM

I understand, but just because it Flashed BIOS doesn't mean the card isn't fried. You still had to have a Good Card in Slot #1 to even see to Flash.

As to your question of How does it know what kinda card it is is simple. There is a Hardware ID in the PCIE Bridge Chip on the Card. you can verify it by going in to Properties of the piece of Hardware in Device Manager and in the Details Tab you'll have a Pull Down. Choose Hardware ID's and that's the Info on what kinda Hardware it is that stored in the Bridge Chip. Also to note from your Picture is Device ID and it's 6898 which will be in that list as the Device ID.
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m4rtin
Level 7
In response to DaemonCantor

‎06-21-2012 03:58 PM

DaemonCantor wrote:
As to your question of How does it know what kinda card it is is simple. There is a Hardware ID in the PCIE Bridge Chip on the Card. you can verify it by going in to Properties of the piece of Hardware in Device Manager and in the Details Tab you'll have a Pull Down. Choose Hardware ID's and that's the Info on what kinda Hardware it is that stored in the Bridge Chip. Also to note from your Picture is Device ID and it's 6898 which will be in that list as the Device ID.


Yes, I do see the same 6899 under Properties in Device Manager:



This ID points to ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series and ATI Radeon HD 5850X2 according to ATI Catalyst™ PC VENDOR ID list. However, I'm still bit confused how can motherboard use this ID? Are there certain ID ranges which are handed out to graphics card GPU producers and every motherboard BIOS is aware of those ID ranges? Or only graphics cards have such hardware ID?

DaemonCantor wrote:
I understand, but just because it Flashed BIOS doesn't mean the card isn't fried. You still had to have a Good Card in Slot #1 to even see to Flash.


Yes. I even took the Radeon HD 5870 apart, applied new AS5 thermal paste, cleaned the PCB with isopropyl alcohol and cleaned the board with compressed air. Then I searched for physical damages(burn marks, damaged components) on the PCB under bright light and using the magnifying glass, but found nothing. Few images:

PCB back
PCB front

However, if I turn on the computer, it will not pass POST and VGA_LED stays red. I'm starting to run out of ideas 😞 I guess there isn't much to do with the graphis card in case one is not able to detect any physical damage..
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