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Hey all,
Maybe this is a stupid question, but if a video card *only* works in safe mode, is that more indicative of a software problem? Or a hardware problem? Or could it be both?
I have two ATI 6970s that I just got. One of them works fine, but the other one won't work at all. Let's call them Card A (works) and card B (doesn't work).
I've tried the following configurations:
Card A by itself: Boots into windows fine, works
Card B by itself: Doesn't display any video beyond the "loading" screen in windows
Card A in slot 1, Card B in slot 2: BSOD the second that the computer tries to boot into windows
Card B in slot 1, Card A in slot 2: (same as Card B by itself), doesn't display any video beyond the "loading" screen in windows.
However, I can boot into safe mode with card B with no problems?
The fact that I can boot into windows in safe mode for Card B leaves me very puzzled. Ordinarily, I would think this was purely a software issue, but that doesn't explain why Card A works while Card B doesn't with the same drivers. They're literally the exact same card (HIS ATI 6970).
Is it possible for a it to be a hardware problem? Or is this indicative of purely a software problem and I should reinstall windows?
I'm on Catalyst 11.8 (latest), but just in case it was the drivers, I switched to 11.7 and 11.5, but to no avail.
P.S. Additional (might be relevant information). I have a card C (another ATI 6970) that I was testing configurations with, and I have card C along with card A in my computer at the moment. When I first put them both in, for a long time, Windows wouldn't recognize the 2nd GPU. It's as if I didn't plug anything into the 2nd PCIe x16 slot at all. This happened even when I switched the slots of card A and card B.
After awhile, this problem kind of "fixed itself", and the computer suddenly recognized both GPUs, but I thought this was weird, and thought that maybe it was relevant.
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In safe mode, you're not using the 'optimized' full-featured driver from the manufacturer/AMD, but generic (simple and safe) ones from Microsoft. In safe mode you're not getting access to all the horsepower of the card so to speak.
Your setup show that card B won't work with its optimized drivers.
I'm leaning towards hardware error from what you've told us.
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sounds alot like a hardware error, do you have another pc you can try card b in? a friends or family members maybe. If you can get it to work with catalyst there I'd say then time to clean format your pc.
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Unfortunately, no I don't have another comp I can try card B in. :/ It's too long to fit it any other computers that I have access to. 
I guess I don't understand why Card B would work in safe mode if it was a hardware error. I kind of figure that either it will display video or it won't, right?
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On August 26 2011 23:38 ensign_lee wrote:
I guess I don't understand why Card B would work in safe mode if it was a hardware error. I kind of figure that either it will display video or it won't, right?
No. It's very common for failed cards to work in safe mode. In safe mode the card is essentially used as a framebuffer device, so all that's used is a tiny fraction of the RAM, a bit of connecting logic and the DAC. 95%+ of the GPU goes unused.
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On August 27 2011 03:56 jaj22 wrote:Show nested quote +On August 26 2011 23:38 ensign_lee wrote:
I guess I don't understand why Card B would work in safe mode if it was a hardware error. I kind of figure that either it will display video or it won't, right? No. It's very common for failed cards to work in safe mode. In safe mode the card is essentially used as a framebuffer device, so all that's used is a tiny fraction of the RAM, a bit of connecting logic and the DAC. 95%+ of the GPU goes unused.
This. I've replaced countless cards that only fail when certain features of the card are used.
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On August 26 2011 23:38 ensign_lee wrote:
I guess I don't understand why Card B would work in safe mode if it was a hardware error. I kind of figure that either it will display video or it won't, right?
Already said it once, but I'll explain:
"In safe mode you're not getting access to all the horsepower of the card so to speak."
You're not accessing the full resources of the card, plus you're using different drivers that speak to the card differently (safe vs. full throttle)
Hope this and the above answers enlightens you 
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Ahhh, okay. Off the card goes then.
K, separate question: I wonder what would cause my computer to not recognize any GPU in the 2nd PCI x16 slot for a while, and then recognize it again later.
I've used that 2nd GPU slot a lot, with various video cards, and it has never been a problem before. Driver issues? Or is my mobo failing (don't tell me the 2nd one! :D )
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Periodically failing hardware might be due to several things (software or hardware related). I don't think I could say without getting hands-on though.
I can't rule out that you're motherboard is going bad, but it's not very likely imho. In my experience the main reasons behind failing motherboards are power-related (ie. bad capacitors or psu) and/or due to mis-handling the motherboard when ie. changing hardware.
You don't mention the model or manufacturer, but do check their homepage for BIOS updates specifically regarding that second GPU slot and/or crossifre-related issues. Theoretically there might be an issue that can be addressed with a BIOS update. Btw. as always, don't upgrade the BIOS unless there's a fix for something that is broken (or if you're really desperate).
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EPT
