8800GT "No Signal" Issue

[Bret]

It's clear that I'm not the only one struggling with trying to use a new video card on a motherboard that's several years old. Moving on.

I upgraded from a 6800 to the 8800gt and received the 'No signal' message on my monitor. I know that my computer is booting properly, as I post fine and subsequently hear the Windows sign-on wav play through my headphones.

My motherboard is an older ASUS A8V-VM SE, obviously not capable of supporting pcie 2.0, but all the hype about the cards being backwards compatible caused me to not concern myself.

Well, all the research I've done leads me to believe I'm suffering from the pcie 1.0 vs 2.0 compatibility issue. Is it safe to make that assessment?

I have a roommate running two 8800's, so it wouldn't be much of a problem to have him flash the bios on my card, but...
A) I want to be relatively sure this will solve the problem, and...
B) I would need the work-around bios.

Anyway, I filled out a ticket last night.
Ticket # 140894
If there's anything else I can try, or any information I can give that might help, I'd be thrilled.

Thanks!
-Bret

PS. I've also been struggling with trying to update my motherboard's bios, but for some reason I've had zero luck. The asus update utility is garbage, and I'm running into trouble finding the most recent compatible bios. :help:

Edit: I forgot that I replaced the board that I thought I still had. Yeesh.

[cvasquez]

And you don't think is your motherboard with this issue?

[Bret]

No, I do think it's my motherboard. Sort of. It's my understanding that many of the older motherboards supporting PCIE 1.0 and 1.0a don't work properly with the 8800 PCIE 2.0 interface. Unless I'm misunderstanding what people are doing, I'm under the impression that there is a BIOS workaround for the 8800 card that 'turns off' its PCIE 2.0 capabilities and sets it back to 1.0, so as to be compatible with afore mentioned older motherboards.

If my reading comprehension is so far gone that I'm completely off my rocker with this understanding, I guess maybe I shouldn't be fiddling with my computer to begin with. ;-)

['Amp!']

I use a 8800GT with a XFX 650i ULtra motherboard. This motherboard is PCIe 1.0 and it supports the card.


I know this sounds stupid but make sure your video card has the 6-pin power cable plugged in and its making good contact.

After that make sure your PSU is up the task. A 350 - 400 watt PSU may be on the low side and without enough AMPS on the 12v rail you could be having problems there.


I hope these suggestions help you. :icon_tiphat:

[Bret]

We aren't allowed to link, otherwise I'd list several dozen other people having the exact same problem as me. =P Some of the motherboards with PCIE 1.0 work, but a great many of them don't. (Specifically ones utilizing VIA, if I recall.)

I'm only running an Antec NEOPOWER 480 ATX12V, but I even used my roommate's power supply (The 1000w PSU he's using to power both of his 8800gt's) and I still have the exact same problem, so I'm quite sure it's not a power issue.

I do appreciate your help, though, and I hope I don't come off sounding condescending. :-D

['Amp!']

I was not aware that you are using a VIA chipset. Yes there are known compatibility issues between these two components.

I think you will need a BIOS flash for the card.

XFXSUPPORT can guide you from here.

[cvasquez]

I was not aware that you are using a VIA chipset. Yes there are known compatibility issues between these two components.

I think you will need a BIOS flash for the card.

XFXSUPPORT can guide you from here.

Yeah, I have seen him around. Seems like he will be able to help.

[Bret]

That's what I was hoping for. ^_^ Thanks you two! I'll just wait around patiently. :3

[Miker]

It is just a BIOS work around, it is best to get a BIOS update from your Mobo company or get a new MoBo. But if that can't happen XFX will get you a new BIOS for your GPU that will make it work.

[Bret]

I can't justify buying a new motherboard unless I'm also going to buy a new processor, so for now (presuming the GPU BIOS will be able to be flashed back up to 2.0 capable, later on down the road) I'd rather just use the work-around. :)

[Miker]

You need to put the GPU in a PCI-e 2 save MoBo to do it. You can't use yours. Then again, you would need to put it in a PCI-e save Mobo to flash it back.

[werty316]

... if and when XFX contacts use just your roommate's computer to apply the BIOS fix... when updating the BIOS make sure you video card is the only video card installed.

[Bret]

Miker: Yeah, I was aware. Like I said, my roommate has a system running two of the 8800's bridged, and he already said he'd be happy to help me flash my card.

Werty: Thanks for the tip, we were planning on taking both cards out and putting mine in alone to flash it.

Just waiting (somewhat less patiently :) ) on the BIOS workaround.

[Miker]

Did you PM XFX Support yet? If not do so. He always reads private messages before he looks here. So you will get it that much faster.

[Bret]

I sent him a PM about ten minutes before you suggested that, actually. Great minds?
I sent it straight to his PM box, not the 'send as an e-mail option.' I didn't want to be too obnoxious.

[Bret]

XFX Support was kind enough to send me the required BIOS, but we're running into trouble flashing my card.

I responded to the ticket with our problems, but I was hoping perhaps someone here would know what to do in the meantime.

We removed his GPUs and installed my 8800gt. The .zip file with the bios had a Factory and a ViaFix directory. Presuming the ViaFix is the bios I need, we ran the exe.

This returned an 'Unable to start service 0x00000241' error.

We've tried enabling all of the windows services and running in a wide variety of compatibility modes, to no avail. He's using Vista, with a 64bit proc. Is this somehow part of the issue? Does anyone else have any experience flashing the bios for an 8800?

['Amp!']

for safety and compatibility reason I think you should flash from WinXP. If this is not an option then consider trying to "Run as Administrator"

[Bret]

Thanks for the quick response, Gonz, but we already tried that and it returned the same error. My system is the only one in the house running XP at the moment. Murphy strikes again.

My system does actually load windows with the 8800 installed, it just doesn't output video signal... haha, do you think I might be able to put the flash utility in my startup folder? That sounds highly suspect, but we're fast running out of options, here.

[Miker]

Blind flash, AKA putting in start-up can work, but get XFXSupports opinion. Never flash BIOS from Vista, for MoBo or GPU as it has a nasty habit of blocking the flash half way threw.

[Bradster]

Bret, I indeed envy you so much for making this post, I bought this exact card (although an Asus product instead of XFX) the other day and could'nt get it to work with my motherboard, the exact one as yours.

The custom BIOS that they sent you, would that work with my card? I am currently using XP and would love to give this a go if it means making my card work until I buy a new MoBo. If the experts here say it will work would you mind sending me the file?

And I love the idea of blind flash. Will probably have to use that, unless you can update the cards BIOS while using onboard graphics?

[Bradster]

Please delete post

[xfxsupport]

Hmm, Vista 64 seems to allow the flash on some systems and not allow it on other systems. Let me know if you can use a different system to flash the card. If not I can make an image so you can use a floppy or a cd/dvd drive.

[Bret]

The only other person in the house uses a Mac, and I don't know anyone else with a compatible board, so yeah - that cd/dvd image would be amazing.

Bradster, I'd love to send you the file, but if you've got an Asus (Instead of an XFX) card, I don't know if you would need the same file. I suspect they use different bios', but the wonderful people on this forum would likely know.

[xfxsupport]

I just sent you an ISO image that should do the trick.

[srpeters18]

Blind flash, AKA putting in start-up can work, but get XFXSupports opinion. Never flash BIOS from Vista, for MoBo or GPU as it has a nasty habit of blocking the flash half way threw.

Or disable the UAC. I don't get those annoying pauses followed by a pop-up a couple minutes later anymore.

[Bret]

I just sent you an ISO image that should do the trick.

Thank you SO MUCH. It worked like a charm, and everything is in working order! Your card is amazing - seriously, huge performance jump. Thanks again for incredible customer service!

Do you have any higher-ups that would want to hear from a thrilled customer about your above-and-beyond customer support?