ATi HD4870x2 and DFI

RollerJim · 27 Aug 2008 at 09:44

Some of you may not be aware, and some of you may be aware. But basically, there is a big thing about DFI and the new x2 graphics card.

In most cases it is with the X38 and x48 chipsets. It is not registring any video, and this is down to the BIOS on the DFI boards.

Here's a couple links for more information:

http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7672&page=1

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...deon-hd-4870-x2-2gb-video-card-review-22.html

Tute · 27 Aug 2008 at 09:46

I had an X48-T2R and it was pretty unhappy with my 3870X2.

In the end I just gave up trying, DFI didn't seem to care and none of the updated or custom BIOSes worked.

Slinwagh · 27 Aug 2008 at 10:36

RollerJim said:
Some of you may not be aware, and some of you may be aware. But basically, there is a big thing about DFI and the new x2 graphics card.

In most cases it is with the X38 and x48 chipsets. It is not registring any video, and this is down to the BIOS on the DFI boards.

Here's a couple links for more information:

http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7672&page=1

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...deon-hd-4870-x2-2gb-video-card-review-22.html

Tute said:
I had an X48-T2R and it was pretty unhappy with my 3870X2.

In the end I just gave up trying, DFI didn't seem to care and none of the updated or custom BIOSes worked.

There are still reported issues with that BIOS.

What grates me with DFI is the way support seems to be handed out via popular people on the forums and not via DFI themselves.

mnet674 · 27 Aug 2008 at 12:42

RollerJim said:
Some of you may not be aware, and some of you may be aware. But basically, there is a big thing about DFI and the new x2 graphics card.

In most cases it is with the X38 and x48 chipsets. It is not registring any video, and this is down to the BIOS on the DFI boards.

Here's a couple links for more information:

http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7672&page=1

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...deon-hd-4870-x2-2gb-video-card-review-22.html

If you read the thread on the DFI forum a bios fix was released for as far as I know all the affected boards, it certainly works on my LPUT X48-T2R now, although it was a touch irritating to find I had a £400 paperweight for a week

AWPC · 27 Aug 2008 at 13:59

Its not just DFI having this problem (which was fixed within a few days).

Asus & Abit are also reporting issues with 2 x 4870X2 as most people do not have such a setup then as always the early adopters have to wait a little longer for it to be fixed.

Gibbo · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:07

HI there

4870 X2 is definetely a problem in Abit IX38 Quad GT and the new X48 boards. We are waiting for a fix from Abit.

Slinwagh · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:15

Gibbo said:
HI there

4870 X2 is definetely a problem in Abit IX38 Quad GT and the new X48 boards. We are waiting for a fix from Abit.

Would it be worth updating your product description to reflect these issues, it may save you some hassle in the short term.

Gibbo · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:21

Slinwagh said:
Would it be worth updating your product description to reflect these issues, it may save you some hassle in the short term.

HI there

Its a difficult one, because if we update our decriptions to state this then our customers may think were stocking an inferior product to our competitors who don't state any issues....

Its a hard one for the simple fact we could damage our sales as we would be the only etailor listing potential issues and as such it could affect sales as a whole.

Slinwagh · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:23

Gibbo said:
HI there

Its a difficult one, because if we update our decriptions to state this then our customers may think were stocking an inferior product to our competitors who don't state any issues....

Its a hard one for the simple fact we could damage our sales as we would be the only etailor listing potential issues and as such it could affect sales as a whole.

I understand where you are coming from, it could cost you time if people start RMA'ing cards that are not faulty.

Nelly · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:30

Does this affect people using just 1 x HD4870X2 or 2 x HD4870X2 or both?

Slinwagh · 27 Aug 2008 at 15:53

Nelly said:
Does this affect people using just 1 x HD4870X2 or 2 x HD4870X2 or both?

Both I guess.

AWPC · 27 Aug 2008 at 17:48

DFI fixed it for both X38+X48 mobos on all their products for a single 4870X2.

2 x 4870X2 is still a problem so DFI have bought a 2nd 4870X2 to allow them to fix the bios but if you have such a setup it may take a week or so until they have the answer.

Slinwagh · 28 Aug 2008 at 12:14

AWPC said:
DFI fixed it for both X38+X48 mobos on all their products for a single 4870X2.

2 x 4870X2 is still a problem so DFI have bought a 2nd 4870X2 to allow them to fix the bios but if you have such a setup it may take a week or so until they have the answer.

People are reporting it not being solved for a single card.

Durzel · 28 Aug 2008 at 12:30

Strange that such a problem would exist really. I'm running a pretty old BIOS (later BIOS don't recognise my ES chip as valid) on a pretty old (by todays standards) Asus motherboard and my HD4870X2 "just worked" when I installed it.

M1ntsauce · 11 Sep 2008 at 15:59

I've bought the following for OC (Best part of £1500)

Q9550 (Have an E4400 in at the moment as I sent this chip back due to very high core0 temps)
Abit IX48-GT3 Hotfoot Intel X48 DDR3
Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048MB
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C7 1333MHz (2x2GB) Ram
Akasa AK-P085FG-BK 850W PSU
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB
Pioneer DVR-215DBK 20x DVD RW
Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium CPU Cooler
Vista Home Premium 64bit
Samsung SM-T240 24"

Nice to know that I'm now sitting on a £350 desk ornament, as there's no signal out of the 4870x2... Any news on a Bios update from Abit? This build has proved to be a nightmare! Can I RMA the MB as it doesn't do what it says on the tin? I'm really not holding out for much support from ABit since they're pulling out the MB market and I don't want to be stuck with £500 worth of kit that arn't friends... If OC did put a note on it then of course I’d think twice about buying it, but now I’m just sitting here with something that doesn’t work, but hey... at least OC has their sale :mad:

Slinwagh · 11 Sep 2008 at 16:19

M1ntsauce said:
I've bought the following for OC (Best part of £1500)

Q9550 (Have an E4400 in at the moment as I sent this chip back due to very high core0 temps)
Abit IX48-GT3 Hotfoot Intel X48 DDR3
Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048MB
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C7 1333MHz (2x2GB) Ram
Akasa AK-P085FG-BK 850W PSU
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB
Pioneer DVR-215DBK 20x DVD RW
Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium CPU Cooler
Vista Home Premium 64bit
Samsung SM-T240 24"

Nice to know that I'm now sitting on a £350 desk ornament, as there's no signal out of the 4870x2... Any news on a Bios update from Abit? This build has proved to be a nightmare! Can I RMA the MB as it doesn't do what it says on the tin? I'm really not holding out for much support from ABit since they're pulling out the MB market and I don't want to be stuck with £500 worth of kit that arn't friends... If OC did put a note on it then of course I’d think twice about buying it, but now I’m just sitting here with something that doesn’t work, but hey... at least OC has their sale

When did you order this, was it after Gibbo ackowledge the problem?

M1ntsauce · 11 Sep 2008 at 16:35

Same day... 27th in fact it was 15mins before his post

Slinwagh · 11 Sep 2008 at 16:40

M1ntsauce said:
Same day... 27th in fact it was 15mins before his post

Good luck!

Gibbo · 11 Sep 2008 at 16:41

M1ntsauce said:
Same day... 27th in fact it was 15mins before his post

Hi there

You have three options:-

1. Keep your kit and hope Abit sorts the issue. (I advice you don't do this)
2. Send the mainboard back and swap for an alternative (We will cover shipping)
3. Send the graphics back and we will do you a pair of 4870's of your choice at our cost price. (We will cover shipping)

P.S. Website descriptions ammended, our competitors might not want to mention it but its pointless having to deal with issues like this so Abit IX48 and IX38 now list not compatible with 4870 X2.

Slinwagh · 11 Sep 2008 at 16:45

Gibbo said:
Hi there

You have three options:-

1. Keep your kit and hope Abit sorts the issue. (I advice you don't do this)
2. Send the mainboard back and swap for an alternative (We will cover shipping)
3. Send the graphics back and we will do you a pair of 4870's of your choice at our cost price. (We will cover shipping)

P.S. Website descriptions ammended, our competitors might not want to mention it but its pointless having to deal with issues like this so Abit IX48 and IX38 now list not compatible with 4870 X2.

Fair play to you although i did point it out at the time!

Have you update the descriptions on the graphics cards too, people may already have the board and then purchase a 4870x2.