AMD HD 6950 does not work
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Hi BMS community, I am here posting a problem I have at this moment, and I tried everything to make the AMD HD 6950 I have here to work without success.
First I would like to apologize if I posted in the wrong part of the forum, and will not be upset in the case a moderator moves it to correct place.
I have made a search through internet to find a solution for the problem, and no success. I tried really…
Second I want to explain the case: It is a gpu donated by our good friend Chuckles, it arrived yesterday at afternoon. I spent the night trough the morning through the rest of the day until now, and I gave up trying to find a solution. I do not want to take it to a technician before posting here a help request.
OK, now I will explain what I did and what i have so far…
When it arrived I unpacked it and after check it visually, I found better to install at once. Unfortunately I did not make a search before install it, and maybe this was my mistake. I have simply removed the old nvidea card, and installed the new one which is an AMD Radeon HD6950 2 GB gddr5.
At first attempt, it worked and showed video without any problem, and i have uninstalled the Nvidia drivers and downloaded and installed AMD ones.
I will copy and paste the name of the files here in case someone wants to know about them…
amd-catalyst-15.7.1-with-dotnet45-win7-64bit.exe
non-whql-64bit-nieg-radeon-crimson-16.2.1-win10-win8.1-win7-feb27.exe
and then after the reboot, it stopped working, the windows stopped working as well, I did not have POST screen after that…and then I reboot again, and now it seemed to be windows running, but no video ( I know because of the windows sounds).
I have removed the new gpu and installed back the old one and uninstalled the drivers, I did this 3 to 4 times without success… I tried to install it in my brother’s computer but the same case… Now I am afraid I damaged the dvi ports in some way. Nothing visible, but it does not show video…
I have a CRT monitor, that is why I am using a dvi to vga adapter, and no way for now to have (not even borrowed) a hdmi monitor.
Me and my brother searching on the net, have read about many things, and tried almost all solutions, but the one most called our attention is to use an old driver for it, instead of the updated one… the version is ATI Catalyst Driver 11.2 (Vista/7 x64)
I have also a version 12-8_vista_win7_win8_64_dd_ccc.exe uploaded by Chuckles for me, but as I cant see any video, how am I supposed to install any of these drivers and wait it to work?
Please my friends, I need help here… If no one can help me, or at lease not find a solution, I will take it to techinician, and maybe format HD and try from scratch.
Thank you very much.
Regards MetalheadASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MK1
I7-4790 3.60GHz 8GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT 1GB ddr2
Win7 SP1 64Bits 15"CRT monitor
new gpu not installed at this moment: the one in the thread name -
Is there only one dvi port?
On my 6870, iirc, when I first installed it, I had to switch to the other dvi port to see anything.Make sure that all the power supply cables are connected to the card.
Other than that, I have no more ideas I’m afraid.
Hope you get it running soon.
Regards
F -
Hello dear friend.
Well first of all, try without any “extra” graphics card to start your pc. Of course connect your monitor to your onboard HDMI output with your adaptor VGA->HDMI, since your motherboard/processor has an onboard graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 4600).
If you have a POST screen and then not log into windows 7 x64, then try to hit at POST the “F8” key to enter into “Safe Mode”.
If you can enter into Safe mode, then you are good for now.
Now put the AMD HD6950 card into the “PCIEX16_1” slot of your motherboard.
Be sure to “fit” the card correctly and hear the “click” when the card fits properly.
Connect good its extra power and connect the output of the AMD HD6950 card to your monitor BEFORE to power your pc!
Power the pc and take a look at your motherboard (leave it open the side) to check that the led at slot “PCIEX16_1” isn’t lighted.
If you can see the POST and can’t login into windows you are fine. It is a matter of driver conflict. We can fix it later.
If you can’t see the POST, then maybe it is a problem with the graphics card.
Then make this, take the extra card by your brother’s pc (be sure to be a PCI Express x16), place it into the “PCIEX16_1” slot and see if you can see the POST. No need to login into windows, as also don’t mess with windows driver for it.
Normally you should see the POST screen, so the motherboard slot “PCIEX16_1” is o.k.
If you can’t, then there is an issue with the specific slot. Then try to boot your pc with the card fitted at the “PCIEX16_2” slot, of course with the power of the pc off.Post your results in order to i have a better idea and help you more.
The driver that you have used “amd-catalyst-15.7.1-with-dotnet45-win7-64bit.exe” it is o.k. I also have used it.
A better one is here: http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/latest-catalyst-windows-beta.aspx
This one “amd-catalyst-15.11.1beta-64bit-win10-win8.1-win7-nov14.exe”, don’t be afraid that it is a beta version.
And for the moment stay away of the AMD Crimson series drivers, they are buggy!
I hope to can find the issue mate.
Nikos. -
One item jumped out at me in the initial post: CRT monitor.
It seems to me that you need to reduce your resolution big time. CRTs cannot handle the high resolution modes that LED or other digital monitors can.
I think that in order to get a video display to see what you’re doing, boot up Windows in SAFE mode. It’ll load basic drivers and should come up in a low resolution mode.
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Hi Metalhead,
sounds like an issue we run into last year while setting up a test system in our labor. In stock we had had an old CRT and connected it to the DVI by using an adapter to VGA with the same result you have. It seemed the video card didn’t activate the port while not “seeing” a monitor is connected. We changed the monitor to a TFT without the adapter and every thing was fine. Maybe using an other adapter from another manufacturer will do the job.
But that’s just a guess and maybe only a little help.(Edit: spelling)
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That is a good point.
So try an other (if you can) DVI to VGA adaptor. And remember to connect your graphics card with your monitor BEFORE to power the pc.
Also tell us the model and brand of your CRT monitor, to tell you the max. resolution that supports, in case that you don’t know.
Nikos. -
Ok I made the gpu to work yesterday for a matter of an hour more or less… but it stopped working for some unknown reason.
I have been reading all these reports on some forums on the net: (requesting permission to post the links) ( not intended to brake any BMS forum rules here)how to change the firmware of amd hd 6950 https://www.google.com.br/#q=how+to+change+the+firmware+of+amd+hd+6950
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/guide-how-to-flash-back-an-amd-radeon-card.177844/
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/how-to-enable-additional-shaders-on-radeon-hd-6950.137136/#post-2134576
http://www.overclock.net/t/593427/how-to-unbrick-your-bricked-graphics-card-fix-a-failed-bios-flash
http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm
I did what I’ve read in one of these above, fliping the flash bios switch to the number 2 position, and with all Nvidea graphics drivers installed , it worked.
I enjoyed the moment and formated the hd of my pc and installed the windows as it was running.
After that, I installed the necessary drivers for win7, and video for AMD GPU. keeping the installation after reboot on of the required times, it stopped working, and I am back to the place where it does not work any way…. I tried all the suggestions above except the Nikos one, but will try it as well.
I’ll keep posting here the results.
Thanks for all the replies, very appreciated.The HD6950 is a no go so far…
Regards Metalhead -
Have you also checked your (old ?) VGA connection cable?
(maybe try another one)Cheers,
LS -
Wait you had or have an amd card working with NVIDIA drivers?
Did I read correct? -
Fabrizio,
DO NOT go with this method. You are on the dangerous side…
These should be your last reactions, NOT the first ones.
You may permanent damage the card, don’t trust everyone that post something on the Internet!
I suggest you some safe tests in order to you/me see some possible issues and then to see what can you do, if you.
When you got the stop running of the card, do you remember exactly in what state you were? Example maybe after the card driver installation and the first reboot?
Do you have check the card’s temperature? Is it inside the limits?
You can get this free util “GPU-Z” here: https://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z
Run it and go at 7th line that see “Bus Interface”. Next the box it has a blue exclamation mark, click it to open a new window.
Then click to “Start Render Test” in order to test the card in full operation. Then in the main window hit to tab “Sensors” and watch the GPU Temperature (3rd line).
Keep watching this, it is important. If the card goes hot, means above 85 deg. then stop the test by click to the top right “X” of the window “Render Test”.
Also if you see to hang/stop/reboot the pc, just note the temperature!
An other factor is a faulty PSU (Power Supply Unit) that in load can’t make it. Do you have a brand one PSU and how many watts is? Do you know how many Amperes has in the 12V rail?
Do safe steps and be sure that you know what are you doing. I’m trying to help, please don’t take me wrong ;).
Feel free to post/ask anything more.
Your friend Nikos. -
Thanks my friends, always welcome the replies…
@ Lazystone: Yes I checked, and it works with the old Nvidea gpu. The dvi-vga adapter works fine, I tested on nvidea gpu and it is ok…
@Arty: Yes, and no… lol I will explain. The nvidea gpu works fine, but it is old and I have low FPS running F433, I need a better gpu, and I was given one as donation… nice, but I cant make it to work, well you understood that… The nvidea drivers are installed because the nvidea card works, so I will not unistall it, because win7 will install a generic driver for it as long as i have it on the pc… When I test the amd gpu, I remove the nvidea, and installl amd on the pcie slot, but the drivers are still nvidea. in case it works, the win7 will install generic drivers to it, and I will make the correct driver installation. But itt is not working so far.
Actually, at 10min ago I tested it, and I noticed win7 has started, but no video, as i said, I knew it because of win sounds… I am still searching for a solution. Thank you very much for the comments.
@ neystratiou: I did not go through this yet, as I saw the gpu worked yesteday for few moments, so I believe it is not damaged, there must be something else I did not find out yet…
To flash back the gpu bios will be the last attempt, after I take it to an experienced hardware technician.
So far, I have no way to use gpu-z, which I have as well as cpuid. It gets warm, but I believe it is whitin the normal temp, I can touch it ok after turn off pc, to remove it from the MOBO.
I have read something about screen resolution and digital analog devices, so I am trying to know more about that, have set resolution to the lowest possible 800x600, and will try again.
I ahve only flipped the flash switch, not flashed the biosas it is described below:
(In case your card does not boot at all you can use AMD’s new backup BIOS feature:Set the BIOS switch in the 2 position to enable the recovery BIOS and restart the computer. This will let you boot the card without problems.)
I did it, and it worked, but now, it is not working…
I remember exactly what I did when it stopped working in the first time, and it was due to install the amd graphics driver, after reboot, it did not work… but I have done many new attempts, and the last time, after being formated the HD and installed the drivers, it stopped working again… Strange and unknown problem…
I will keep the thread posted.
Thank you all for the help.
Regards Metalhead -
O.k. your DVI to VGA adapter is working, good. Out of the “game”.
Now since you have formatted the HDD, DO NOT install the Nvidia drivers yet.
Try to boot into the safe mode, AFTER some minutes (around 10) of the time that you have your graphics card to hang your pc. Maybe you have an overheating of the card.
Also did you check the led of the “PCIEX16_1” slot?
The brand and model of your CRT monitor?
Post any tests that you made with the results, in order to we have a better idea of the status.
Nikos. -
Well Nvidea drivers already installed. it is around 58 to 60 degrees c.
the led on the pcie was red, and now it is ok. I will explain and you all will not believe the problem… I do not really believe, but I hope this is really, and I will fix it somehow.
weight… yes the weight of the gpu is driving it downwards and it does not fit well in the pcie slot.
how I found out?
I tried to turn pc on with it installed, but red lights on the pcie led. I switch it of removed the cables and then in an close view of the MOBO, I saw it moving just a little bit. i didn’t believe, but I hold it back in the corect position, flipped the flash back switch to the number 2 position plugged all cables , and turned on, and it is working so far.I will upload the pics of the gpuz without drivers installed.
Well if this is really the problem, I will now proceed with installation praying it does not stop working anymore… cant wait to try it on F433…ah monitor is Samsung Syncmaster 753v… please do not laugh, it is only i can have for now… that os prehistoric…
Regards Metalheadsorry for the size of the pic I do not have anything but paint installed here and i do not know how to edit it using paint
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No one is laughing m8 I understand and share what u r going through. Good luck and hope everything will go ok.
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Nice, just be on it.
Did you screw well the screw at the top of the card on the case? Take a look…
For your monitor of 17", from its manual (check here: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/145476/Samsung-Syncmaster-750s-753s-753v-753ms-750ms.html?page=47#manual) you can have max. resolution of 1280x1024 at 65 Hz.
Be sure after the graphics driver to install monitor driver.
Also don’t mess the drivers. When you want to be installed the Nvidia card, leave ONLY the Nvidia driver. If you want to have the AMD card, leave ONLY the AMD driver!
It isn’t only the idea you want to think. Specific hardware need its specific driver to work flawlessly, and without any other traces of similar driver for the same bus…
I wish you a happy end.
Nikos. -
Thank you all, it is working… i formated again and will do all the pain job from scratch. Sadly i found some artifacts while installing win7 but thanks God it happened at the end of instalation. I will post soon some pics after i install the drivers. Now posting using smartphone sorry if i typed wrong and it also difficult to see read type
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For any reason the driver i installed for the gpu is also buggy it is now black screen after reboot and with artifacts onthe startup
oh god -
For any reason the driver i installed for the gpu is also buggy it is now black screen after reboot and with artifacts onthe startup
oh godWith which one AMD driver? The brand of the HD 6950 is?
And be sure that at driver installation (at every version - IF has it) DO NOT by any means choose the “AMD Gaming Evolved”! It will give you only troubles, you don’t need it.
Nikos. -
I’m afraid the vga is saying bye bye. Sorry…
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Power color HD 6950. I do not have further details other than visual and those on the gpuz, because it came out of the box. It is working and running nice.
I am almost sure the problem is the weight of the hardware, so I put a solution which will make many people happy and laughing…. its ok, because I laughed a lot… pictures soon… Now I am installing the drivers, and will install in the first place, first software, f433 and then free track and everything related to falcon… Now, I can’t wait felling is so huge…
The artifacts was due to the gpu was being pulled downward, but it has a temporary fix. I have to think in a solution other than the one I did here… pics soon…
I will not say “problem solved” yet, because I believe it requires some days of test before I trust saying that…
Regards Metalhead.