Sapphire Theaterex 550 problems :(

[justlnluck]

Hi,

I received my Sapphire Theaterex 550 card from Newegg yesterday, but I cannot get it to POST in my computer. Everytime I try putting the card in any of the PCI slots of my motherboard (ECS 755-A2), the computer will not boot.

Immediately after turning the computer on, I hear one long beep, followed by two short beeps. I looked up the Award BIOS beep codes and apparently this code represents a video card problem. But I know that my AGP PowerColor Radeon 9600pro works perfectly fine. The computer operates with absolutely no problems without the 550. But if I try plugging the 550 into any of the PCI slots, the computer will not POST.

I tried installing the card in an older computer with an Epox VIA KT333 motherboard and the computer boots fine. So I am thinking that it is a compatibility issue between the Sapphire card and the ECS motherboard's BIOS. I updated my BIOS to the latest version available on the ECS website (1.0G) dated 3/31/2005, but this did not solve the problem.

I know that it is not a problem with my PCI ports because I have a DVICO Fusion HDTV3 card and Belkin wireless card plugged in them with no problems. I uninstalled these PCI cards just in case that would help and put the Sapphire 550 card in by itself, but this did not help. Any suggestions? I really don't want to have to return this card. I have e-mailed ECS and Sapphire about this matter, but I am still waiting for their replies. I was so excited about getting to use this card too

Justin

 

[snomunki]

I have heard bad things about Sapphire (in general)...I went with the Powercolor 550 instead...

 

[Bateluer]

Not familiar with that ECS board, but have you tried updating its bios at all?

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: snomunki
I have heard bad things about Sapphire (in general)...I went with the Powercolor 550 instead...

Sapphire is a quality manufacturer, and have made the majority of all ATI boards for several years now...they know what they are doing.

I've had zero issues with my Sapphire Theatrix, it does sound like a conflict in your rig. You can't rule out simply a bad board because another PC booted with it installed. Do you have another video card to try with the Theatrix in your ECS board?

 

[vailr]

Someone posted yesterday, about their AMD motherboard required flashing an updated bios, in order for their 550 based TV card
to work. Some PCI controller firmwares need updating, (which is included when updating the motherboard bios).
So probably, ECS will need to provide an update, for it to work.
Also check http://www.station-drivers.com/page/sis.htm for any updated chipset drivers.
However, for a "no boot" condition, a bios update will be the only cure.

Here's a similar problem discussed:
Text

 

[justlnluck]

Like I mentioned earlier, I am using the latest 1.0G 3/31/20005 BIOS but this does not solve the problem.

The reason I bought the Sapphire over the Powercolor is because the Sapphire was $15 cheaper and came with 3.3ns Hynix memory vs 4.0ns Hynix memory on the Powercolor. But now it seems I should have stuck with Powercolor. Although, maybe all the 550's are incompatible with this motherboard....who knows!

 

[Dal]

I am having difficulties with my Sapphire Theatrix 550 PRO too. I am trying to using it with a MSI NEO2 Platinum motherboard.

The computer will post however when I install the latest driver I get the following conflict warning "This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12". I think the conflict a memory one rather than IRQ and with system device "PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge"

I have two computers both with NEO2 motherboards and the card does the same on both.

I have unplugged all other cards and disabled on board gigabit lan and tried the card in all the slots etc.

I now have a ticket open with ATI. Their knowlegde base, for a similar problem, is suggesting this type of error is caused by the bios and is not a problem with the ATI hardware or the ATI driver!

On the MSI MB's bios there is an option which will attempt to address resource handling for plug and play devices. This is where your problem might be. On the Neo2 bios there is an option called ACPI or APIC. I think disabling this causes the hardware resource handling to be done in windows. You might want to try this. Warning though when I tried this to fix my problem I had to reinstall windows as it would not boot up when I disabled the setting.

Hope you get your problem sorted

Dal