Evga 8800gts Prob, Need Help

[TJS]

Bought an EVGA 8800GTS and installed yesterday, but something didn't take...

I uninstalled the display drivers I had for my 7900GT's, shut down, swapped out my 7900GT/SLI for the 8800GTS and spent hours trying to get it to load Windows. To no avail. I tried everything I could think of in the BIOS, made sure my RAID array was intact; I later put a single 7900GT back in to load the latest GPU drivers for the 8800 series. I put the 8800 back in but still won't load Windows, the farthest I get is the 'F8' options (safe mode, networking mode, last known etc. etc.), and then it either locks up or restarts entirely.

The best thing I found on EVGA's website forum is that there is a 'VGA enable' command in the BIOS, something to do with detecting GPU's, that I might have to enable; the second relevant thing I saw was disabling onboard video, but I don't think I have it (or at least never noticed it).

I'd appreciate any and all help with this, drove me nuts last night, hope I don't have a lemon

TJS

system specs are below--v

 

[Toxcity]

Whats your PSU wattage?

 

[TJS]

I bought the almighty P.C. Power and Cooling 1KW about 9 months to a year ago, if that's my problem I'm in a world of hurt... and so is everyone else.

My system specs are in my signature.

Keep 'em comin', I know someone here will get it.

TJS

 

[markkleb]

Did you try the card in the other slot?

Also when you removed the driver did you use driver cleaner?

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

 

[TJS]

Tried both slots, neither one worked.

Will download and try the Driver Cleaner in a few minutes, thanks for the suggestion.

If anyone else wants to chime in, I have my handy-dandy HP craplaptop for internet, will continually check here for remedies, ideas, and general humor. Thanks so far...

TJS

 

[Kougar]

Nope, AW9D doesn't have a built in GPU Did you enter the BIOS and verify your primary PCIe slot is set for x16 bandwidth? The AW9D is one of those motherboards that default to x8+x8 when running SLI, and I have read 8800GTX cards will not run in a x8 speed slot. Same may apply with a GTS card...

 

[FarFarAway]

Yep driver clean first.

Then if it decides to boot you may need a repair of windows or a clean install to get the 8800 drivers working properley.

 

[TJS]

Thanks for the ideas, will check out the PCIe x16 when I get home... (this idea actually sounds very promising. not to mention something I wouldn't think about and slipped under my radar)

Went to sleep early last night without doing the driver cleaner, was waaay too tired to work on it. I'll let y'all know what the deal is when it finally works or if I send back for RMA. Any and all ideas are still welcome.

TJS

(...better damn well work...)(the video card, that is.)

 

[TJS]

Thought I'd throw this in here...

Kougar was right, I happened upon Overclockers.uk and at the bottom of the specs listing is a note: these cards won't run on x8 PCI-E lanes, so if you want to run SLI you need a dual x16 lane mobo. I haven't had a chance to run home and try out the latest fixes you have all given me, will post once I've gotten it done.

TJS

 

[Ham]

Bugger. Let us know if this is the issue, as im looking at getting one and am yet to bother to find out how to set my PCI-E slots at X16...

 

[FarFarAway]

Bugger. Let us know if this is the issue, as im looking at getting one and am yet to bother to find out how to set my PCI-E slots at X16...

Usually the BIOS detects a running card and makes it a x16 slot. Again if you have 2 is throttles them to 2 x 8. The older mobo's have switches to change them from x 16 to x 8 (in the case of the DFI SLI D's there are physically pins you have to change on the mobo).

My mobo auto-detects it no problems

 

[FragTek]

Wow you HAVE to have x16 slots to run the G80's eh? That seems a bit lame considering it doesn't really require that much bandwidth. It's the industries conspiracy to make us keep buying and keep upgrading I swear. Phooey!

Hope you get your problem sorted TJS, report back once you've given everything a try.

 

[FarFarAway]

I think it may just require that bandwidth Frag...the 7950GX2 was saturating the 8 x bandwidth as it was...

 

[FragTek]

I think it may just require that bandwidth Frag...the 7950GX2 was saturating the 8 x bandwidth as it was...

Hrmmmm, I never saw the charts for that but if you say so

 

[Rastalovich]

I`m supprized the bios never picked it up - but then again it could be something to do with the bios being older than the card.

 

[Kougar]

Well, I wasn't sure if newer boards automatically reset or not. If all else fails, then a quick BIOS reset with the GTS plugged to the primary PCIe x16 slot is worth a shot, assuming you've not already tried it anyway.

 

[TJS]

Sorry to say, but I tried it all and had to reinstall Windows for my efforts (mysteriously :cussing: up my RAID), without getting the 8800GTS to work. Cleaned out the old video drivers, reset the CMOS (and 'jumped' it), nothing would work. There is no setting in the BIOS for PCI-E X16 or X8, so I don't know if it would revert to X16 or not, though I doubt it wouldn't since only one video card (the 8800GTS) was in it.

Not that I'm terribly disappointed, I will grab a new mobo; but if ABIT doesn't come out with the IN9 32X-MAX by Friday, hello EVGA 680i! (My friends love it when I get new hardware. I usually give away the old stuff or sell for a massive discount.)

TJS

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, gonna chalk this one up to bad luck.

 

[TJS]

Update: After spending 5 days trying to reinstall WindowsXP Pro, it finally took and got both my 7900GT's in SLI. Before that, I decided to try the 8800GTS again, but before it gets to the 'WindowsXP' screen with the little blue dots running from left to right, it just goes to black and after a minute or two restarts.

I saw on EVGA's forum that someone had an analogous problem, fixed by installing the chipset drivers. I know I installed mine from the mobo cd after the first boot up, but maybe something didn't take, or an update on the ABIT site may fix this issue. Will post tonight whats what.

TJS

(I love my job... I get to web surf quite a bit.:anisx: )