AMD6950 just returned from RMA, the PC stops in the boot screen..

[autior]

Hi, some months ago (6 months... not the fastest RMA service actually) I sent my VGA (MSI 6950 2GB Twin Frozr III Oc Edition) to my reseller because I was having problem with it, and after being repaired today I just got it again, but looks like I can't boot the PC when the VGA is inside. This is what happen:

• If I connect the monitor to the VGA, the monitor stay black without even reching the "Press F2 to setup" screen". The motherboard (Asrock Extreme 4 Gen3 Z68) show me the state b2, which is identified in the manual with: "Legacy Option ROM Initialization".
• If I connect the monitor to the motherboard's VGA while the 6950 IS still connected, I got the same problem as before: screen stay black and state b2 on the motherboard.
• If I connect the monitor to the motherboard's VGA while the 6950 ISN'T connected in the PCI-E, the PC runs as always did until now.

What should I do? I double checked the two 6-pin connectors on the VGA, looks everything ok to me, now I'll try to update the BIOS..

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Xarick]

Unplug the 4pin connector that goes to your mobo, reseat it, then remove and reseat the vga, and make sure you properly seat the 6pin connector.

My suspicion is that your card is doa. But try those items first.

 

[autior]

Unplug the 4pin connector that goes to your mobo, reseat it, then remove and reseat the vga, and make sure you properly seat the 6pin connector.

My suspicion is that your card is doa. But try those items first.

Until now I tried to use the second PCI-e slot, reset the CMOS and update the BIOS, nothing worked, now I'll try to unplug the 4-pin motheboard connector and reseat it as you said.

It's possible to receive a faulty VGA after an RMA procedure?

 

[Piotrsama]

Yes it's possible, maybe they didn't quite repair it.
Also, what's your PSU?

 

[Elixer]

It's possible to receive a faulty VGA after an RMA procedure?

I had 3 back-to-back RMAs before I got a good one.

 

[autior]

I did it, tried a few other things, the problem is still there.

Yes it's possible, maybe they didn't quite repair it.
Also, what's your PSU?

Thermaltake Thoughpower XT 775W. The PSU is ok, before the VGA had showeb any problem it run smoothly.

I had 3 back-to-back RMAs before I got a good one.

:\

Another thing: initially, when I installed the card I forget to connect the power connectors and started the PC two times for 15sec each before seeing the disconnected power connectors on the VGA. Could this have damaged the VGA?

 

[Eureka]

I did it, tried a few other things, the problem is still there.



Thermaltake Thoughpower XT 775W. The PSU is ok, before the VGA had showeb any problem it run smoothly.



:\

Another thing: initially, when I installed the card I forget to connect the power connectors and started the PC two times for 15sec each before seeing the disconnected power connectors on the VGA. Could this have damaged the VGA?

Not likely.

 

[Piotrsama]

+1. No.

Try other PCI-E slot, other 6 pin connector.
Also, check if the computer "beeps" at startup change when the GPU is inserted vs not.

 

[Xarick]

Not likely damaging it. I have had the WORST luck with RMAs. Honestly it feels like companies just don't care about good repairs anymore.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

RMAs suck.

 

[autior]

+1. No.

Try other PCI-E slot, other 6 pin connector.
Also, check if the computer "beeps" at startup change when the GPU is inserted vs not.

I tried to change connector and PCI-e port, nothing changed. And there are no "beeps" in the starts, with or without the VGA inserted, the only thing I can say is that the PC start up and continue to run, but don't reach the BIOS screen (and it's not that I can't see anything but the PC is going on anyway, because if this was the case Ubuntu should start up and do the "login screen sound").

Not likely damaging it. I have had the WORST luck with RMAs. Honestly it feels like companies just don't care about good repairs anymore.

I feel really bad, I waited all these months for the return of my VGA and now is in even more bad shape than before (when I sent it to RMA it was because it do some freezes with games, but at least it was working..)

EDIT: I was thinking a thing but I don't if I can explain it well with my english, follow me: can I power the VGA with a PSU and run the motherboard and the rest of the rig that is mounting the VGA with another PSU? Like, setting two PC (PC1 and PC2) one near the other, connecting the VGA to PC2 but powering it with the PSU of PC1, then starting the two PC simultaneously. In this way I can use PC2 to test the VGA, even if it have a low power PSU. Can it work?

Because I have another PC with a poor PSU, and removing the PSU of my actual PC to mount it on the old one to test the VGA would require a BUNCH of time cause all the cables are well hidden and tied behind the backplate of the case. I'll need another bunch of time to put everything back as before, and in these days I haven't all this time to spare...

 

[Piotrsama]

I wouldn't bother with the other PSU, the Toughpower is very good.

This is the back of your card, right? (hopefully it shows, it's from newegg)

You are probably always connecting your monitor to the same output.
What if.... you use other outputs (the other DVI, or HDMI, DP)

 

[3DVagabond]

If you have a bios switch on your card try booting with the other bios.

 

[autior]

I wouldn't bother with the other PSU, the Toughpower is very good.

This is the back of your card, right? (hopefully it shows, it's from newegg)

You are probably always connecting your monitor to the same output.
What if.... you use other outputs (the other DVI, or HDMI, DP)

If you have a bios switch on your card try booting with the other bios.

I tried both of them as one of the first thing, but, again, nothing changed.

This is a list of what I tried until now with no luck:

• Tried to reset the CMOS (from what I know is the same thing that removing the battery).
• Tried to update the BIOS to the latest version.
• Tried to switch the BIOS on the VGA (is a dual BIOS card).
• Tried either DVI connector behind the VGA.
• Tried to connect the VGA on another PCI-e slot but nothing changed (also, I tried an old ATI x1650 on my motherboard to make sure it wasn't a PCI-e port problem, and the VGA boot to Windows with no problem).
• Tried to change the cables that connects the VGA to the PSU.
• Make sure that PCI-e was set as primary graphic adapter inside the BIOS.

Some other ideas? Only thinking about sending the VGA to RMA again make me feel bad.

(anyway thanks for the help until now, really appreciated)

 

[TapWater]

For me, it was my driver. Try entering via safe mode into windows. (With networking enabled).

Go to device manager, uninstall the drivers for your video card.

Download the drivers for your card, restart.

Now go back and install the drivers fresh. Re Start windows finally and log in normally, as it should now have fixed the black/blank screen.

 

[TapWater]

Otherwise I would suggest an ROA.. But yeah the above worked for me at least

 

[philipma1957]

I have two msi 7950 they can be flakey do you have the spare card the 1650? does your psu have enough power wires to hook up both cards? then boot with the 1650. if it does you could then use the pc and get into the bios to see if the pc sees the msi 6950.

I used a 7790 to do this and the drivers were corrupted for the msi 7950 . if you boot with both card in and load the msi drivers then power down and boot with the msi 6950 maybe it would work.

 

[autior]

I have two msi 7950 they can be flakey do you have the spare card the 1650? does your psu have enough power wires to hook up both cards? then boot with the 1650. if it does you could then use the pc and get into the bios to see if the pc sees the msi 6950.

I used a 7790 to do this and the drivers were corrupted for the msi 7950 . if you boot with both card in and load the msi drivers then power down and boot with the msi 6950 maybe it would work.

Hey I haven't think about this, I'm going to give it a try, thanks.

EDIT: tried with no success, the PC doesn't start.

Anyway, yesterday the shop guy called me (FINALLY I CAN TALK TO THEM) and I explained him the problem, so he said that they should test the VGA, and if they found that is faulty they'll refund me.

Then, just after the call, I decided to test the VGA one last time before preparing the package, and what happen: the PC starts with the card inside. I was like :bang: so I toke a glass of water tring to think what could have happened (just nothing! I changed nothing!) and after a couple of minutes I saw many artifact on the login screen.. I changed the PCI-e slot, the VGA started again and artifact appeared. I did another test with the same PCI-e and this time the PC didn't arrived to boot screen (as it did until now with the VGA connected). I find out that now sometimes the VGA give me the problem I explained to you, and some other times the artifact thing... Anyway the courier has come today to take the VGA, let's see what will happen...

 

[futurefields]

They kept your gpu for 6 months?

What did you do in the meantime? Seems wrong of them. 6 months you cant use something you paid for?

 

[Dranoche]

Who are you doing the RMA through? You said in the OP you sent it to the reseller. Why not directly through MSI? Just curious, wondering if that is why the first RMA took so long.

I recently RMA'd the same card (mostly the same, older version of that cooler). Overall process took 2-3 weeks. Got a new or refurbished card back that hasn't given me any issues, but I've heard mixed stories about MSI's RMA (time, item received, etc.). I did have some issues with the online system for setting up the RMA - the part number that the system brought up when I put in my serial # and the part number the RMA department brought up when they received my item were different. The system also though I was sending them two cards instead of just one. I was a little paranoid about something like this to begin with so I put a note in the package to clarify the problem and everything I had done to troubleshoot.

I thought my RMA took a while but it seems others take a lot longer. I've been debating with myself whether or not when I get my next card if I'll find a deal or pay whatever premium to get the EVGA card I want when I'm ready to buy. Have had a good experience and heard of good experiences with their cross ship RMA.

I suppose overall though RMA is a crapshoot, and I've been fairly lucky with hardly having to do it and having no trouble each time. I'm curious to see how this turns out for you.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I tried to change connector and PCI-e port, nothing changed. And there are no "beeps" in the starts, with or without the VGA inserted

If no card is inserted and you attempt to boot up you should get the error beeps. The issue might be with the motherboard.

 

[autior]

They kept your gpu for 6 months?

What did you do in the meantime? Seems wrong of them. 6 months you cant use something you paid for?

Yeah, but probably this has been my fault too, because I have been busy and haven't press enough to have a new card/refund. Whene I started sending them 1 e-mail/day I begun to see something moving, and when I said I would pursue legal action they finally accelerated the whole process. That's a lesson I won't forget for any future RMA (let's hope as late as possible).

Who are you doing the RMA through? You said in the OP you sent it to the reseller. Why not directly through MSI? Just curious, wondering if that is why the first RMA took so long.

I recently RMA'd the same card (mostly the same, older version of that cooler). Overall process took 2-3 weeks. Got a new or refurbished card back that hasn't given me any issues, but I've heard mixed stories about MSI's RMA (time, item received, etc.). I did have some issues with the online system for setting up the RMA - the part number that the system brought up when I put in my serial # and the part number the RMA department brought up when they received my item were different. The system also though I was sending them two cards instead of just one. I was a little paranoid about something like this to begin with so I put a note in the package to clarify the problem and everything I had done to troubleshoot.

I thought my RMA took a while but it seems others take a lot longer. I've been debating with myself whether or not when I get my next card if I'll find a deal or pay whatever premium to get the EVGA card I want when I'm ready to buy. Have had a good experience and heard of good experiences with their cross ship RMA.

I suppose overall though RMA is a crapshoot, and I've been fairly lucky with hardly having to do it and having no trouble each time. I'm curious to see how this turns out for you.

Glad that you received a functional VGA back, and in not so much time. I don't jugde the MSI service, "errare humanunm est". I only hope that's a not so common thing.. Anyway I'll try another manufacturer with my next VGA.

If no card is inserted and you attempt to boot up you should get the error beeps. The issue might be with the motherboard.

When I don't have the VGA inserted I connect the monitor to the onboard VGA, so I don't think I should get error beeps (and I don't get any).

Anyway I finally got a full refund, the VGA was faulty. Thanks everyone for the help and support, we can close this.