[Guide] Installing AMD Radeon Mobility 6970 / 6990 in your M17x R2 (Single GPU and CrossfireX)

[Greywolf22]

Hi Kenny,

Thanks that's next on my list of things to try (swapping the master/slave around). I'm a bit concerned that this is my second set of cards with the exact same issues. The first set I chalked it up to a bad crossfire port (because I had 2 crossfire cables, tested them both, and the both worked...plus my 4870's are working just fine in crossfire). So my initial thought is that these cards also have a bad crossfire port (unfortunately I only have two cards, so I can't narrow down which one might have the problem). I just wonder if my luck could be so bad that I get two sets of cards with bad crossfire ports. I'm not ruling it out, as the cards arrived and don't appear to be new, but refurbished (which is fine, but could mean that they didn't test the crossfire connectors). I have tried different vbioses on the cards...stock, the ones provided by ichime in the tutorial, and the stock ones that cpt used on his cards. So I think I've narrowed out that piece.

Both cards seem to work fine individually. The temps are great, they are both identified correctly, the only piece is that the crossfire cable is listed as "not connected"...so both cards individually seem to be fine, but connected they just won't communicate.

[brlowe]

I want to order some 6970's from pkhetan also but read on another thread that he cannot get any more. I have sent a PM but no reply yet. I have already got my extra heatsinks and a crossfire cable so the cards were next. I guess I will wait and see what he says.

[katalin_2003]

@ Greywolf: Can you try resetting your CMOS (full power drain) ?

[CptXabaras]

GreyWolf, i'm really sorry ti hear about your trouble with this cards.

Only thing it comes to my mind is giving you a copy of my cards bios.. I know is not much, and maybe has nothing to do with the problem, but if you want to give it a try, just let me know and i'll send it to you..

[Greywolf22]

Thanks Cpt! Appreciate that, but I still have a copy of your card bios from last time It's actually the current bios that I'm running on the cards now. No luck...

Katalin thanks for the advice, and yup I did that already too (removed the CMOS and did a complete battery drain)..wiped the bios settings, so I know it completely cleared it out.

I also tried booting into windows with just the primary card installed, verified the driver worked, and then powered off, installed the secondary card, booted up and it saw the secondary card, but still gave the same message about the crossfire cable.

It's strange that it's the exact problem from last time and only impacts the 6970s...the 4870's boot just fine into crossfire

The only other thing I can possibly think of is something with the motherboard. I have one of the original r2's...with the 4870's before the 5870's were available...does anyone know if there was a second revision of the motherboard used and if so where I could find that (or compare against anyone else)?

I've done fresh install of windows, different drivers, different crossfire cables, different vbios, complete power drain, both catalyst and GPU-Z both report that crossfire is disabled...claiming the cable isn't plugged in or not plugged in correctly.

I'm assuming that the cable is keyed so that it'll only plug in one direction so don't believe I've got in inserted incorrectly...I've also verified that the cable is plugged in securely and completely on both ends.

I even upgraded to the modded A10 unlocked bios today just to see if that was playing any sort of role.

I'm at a complete loss at this point...is there anything else that anyone can think of that I'm missing?? It seems unusual that both sets of cards could have the same issue, and if it's not the cards or the crossfire cable, then what other part(s) could play into this? The motherboard only? I just really have no idea where to go next.

[katalin_2003]

The motherboards on the R2s are all the same, only thing they changed was the touchpad design(some were touching the screen) and a another model of RGB LED panel.

I'm so sorry to hear the bad news. Do you live close to somebody that has the 6970 cards to completely rule out everything else.

Also maybe you already thought about it but a fresh install of Windows might be worth it

[Greywolf22]

Hi Katalin, yeah fresh install has the same problem...sigh.

I am currently working with someone on the forums to send my cards too so they can give them a try and see if they work in their system.

At least that way I can rule out the cards...if the cards turn out to be the problem again then I'll need to pursue another RMA...if the cards turn out to not be the problem...then...I dunno what I'll do

[katalin_2003]

If they appear to work in another system, CF included, assuming the motherboard is fine my next step would be a Crisis recovery(yes, even though your BIOS chip is not bricked) to make sure the BIOS gets flashed properly.

If this also fails if the cards turn out to work in another R2 with your cable, then idk what to say anymore :/

Hopefully the cards are bad and your system is fine.

[Blueneon]

Hi.

Was the crossfire cable of the 4870's the same as the one for the 5870's?

[katalin_2003]

Hi.

Was the crossfire cable of the 4870's the same as the one for the 5870's?

Yes, same fan and heatsink too.