Evga X58 E760 4x 290x won't boot into Windows, but any 3 will.

[zmhaha]

Hi all.
I have come across this issue that I can't get my X58 boot into windows with 4x 290x, but 3 will.

Spec:
Evga X58 Classfied E760 + i7 920 + Corsair 3x4GB RAM
Win 7 Ultimate 64bit

290x #1: In PCI-E x1 slot (with powered 1x to 16x riser cable)
290x #2: In the 1st PCI-E x16 slot (plugged in directly, monitor plugged into this card)
290x #3: In the 3rd PCI-E x16 slot (with unpowered 16x to 16x riser cable)
290x #4: In the 4th PCI-E x16 slot (with unpowered 16x to 16x riser cable)
Corsair CX750M (only powering card #1 and #3)
Corsair HX1000w (powering everything else)

I have tried many combinations between which PSU powers which cards, none of them work on all 4 cards.
First I jump start the CX750M, then start the PC.
It is fine up to the Win 7 logo screen.
Right after the "Verifiying Pool Data...", then it reboots, then again all these.

Also tried using only 2 sticks of RAM, did not work.
Also tried first boot with 3 cards then disable 2 then shutdown then plug-in 4th, did not work.


But any combination of only 3 cards(any slots) will work. Here is what I think:
1. power supply is not the issue here.

2. the advertised 3x SLI is not the issue here because many people are using 5-6 cards on a very cheap mobo for mining. Unless it is just some issues with the X58 chipset in general or this particular X58 E760?

3. graphic card driver is not the issue cos I wont even boot into windows.

4. I am not running them in Xfire but it seems R9 series dont need a Xfire bridge and Catalyst will sometimes automatically Xfire it(after I make card swaps) and I had to disable it manually. But I don't think this is the issue here because I won't see even the Win 7 logo screen, at which point the Xfire, if any, has not kicked in yet.

5. I think it may be some bios settings? Or is it the mobo won't be able to provide enough power to all 4 cards. Or it will after I used a powered 16x to 16x riser cable? But I crash before Win7 logo screen, not much of power is needed at that point..

I have not tried plug 3 cards directly into PCI-E 16x and another in the 1x. But it should not do anything as the 16x to 16x extender does nothing but extending.
I have not tried using only PCI-E 16x with all 4 cards

Any thoughts??

 

[3DVagabond]

It could be an issue of the mobo not being able to power all 4 cards. Have you checked to see if EVGA had a bios update for Quadfire?

 

[zmhaha]

For the BIOS, I really doubt there will be.. because this mobo was designed for 3xSLI. If you look at the picture, there is no way to fit 4x dual slot cards so I doubt evga will ever publish a bios that supports that..

 

[thilanliyan]

Have you tried running all cards with POWERED risers?

 

[Tohtori]

There seems to be some problem with x58 and 4xCF setup. People at [H] have been at it (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1796442) and it seems running your RAM at dual channel will help, is it worth it is another matter completely.

 

[RaulF]

Tohtori posted a good sugestion.

But as you yourself posted the mobo is made for 3 way. Have you found anyone else with the same mobo runing 4 290's? I just dont see how you have a leg to stand on when the hardware does not support what you want.

 

[rgallant]

It could be an issue of the mobo not being able to power all 4 cards. Have you checked to see if EVGA had a bios update for Quadfire?

your right on the e760 lacking pci-e power

-the e760 needs a power booster over 1 card to stop the psu 24 pin from melting.
what it looks like
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=1083092

 

[zmhaha]

your right on the e760 lacking pci-e power

-the e760 needs a power booster over 1 card to stop the psu 24 pin from melting.
what it looks like
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=1083092

This thing takes a PCI-E slot.
Any chance a PCI-E riser cable powered by another 4-pin molex will do the job?